Biography
Wendy Schiller is Professor of Political Science, Professor of International and Public Affairs, and Director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Brown University. She did her undergraduate work in political science at the University of Chicago, served on the staffs of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Governor Mario Cuomo, and then earned her PhD from the University of Rochester. After fellowships at the Brookings Institution and Princeton University, she came to Brown in 1994. She teaches popular courses titled The American Presidency, Introduction to the American Political Process, and Congress and Public Policy.
Among books she has authored or co-authored are Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment (Princeton University Press), Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government (Cengage), The Contemporary Congress (Thomson-Wadsworth), and Partners and Rivals: Representation in U.S. Senate Delegations (Princeton University Press). She has also published articles in the American Journal of Political Science, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Studies in American Political Development, and the Journal of Politics.
Schiller has been a contributor to MSNBC, NPR, CNN.com, and Bloomberg News. She provides local political commentary to the Providence Journal, WPRO radio, RIPBS A Lively Experiment, and is the political analyst for WJAR10, the local NBC affiliate in Providence.
Research
Wendy Schiller’s scholarship focuses on representation in American politics. Most recently, she has worked with Charles Stewart III on the Senate Elections Data Project 1871-1913, which is a study of the indirect election of US Senators in state legislatures (1871-1913) and the impact of the adoption of the 17th Amendment. The study is the basis of our book, Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment (Princeton University Press, 2014).
Teaching
POLS 0010 Introduction to the American Political Process
POLS 0820L Philosophy of the American Founding
POLS 1130 The American Presidency
POLS 2090I American and Comparative Political Behavior
Publications
2014
Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment, co-authored with Charles Stewart III. Forthcoming Princeton University Press Fall 2014.
2013
"U.S. Senate Elections before the 17th Amendment: Political Party Cohesion and Conflict 1871–1913.” Co-authored with Charles Stewart (MIT) and Benjamin Xiong (Brown University). Journal of Politics 75 No.3: 835-837.
“Resolved the filibuster should be abolished (Con argument).” (Revised from earlier version) Chapter 14. In Debating Reform: Conflicting Perspectives on How to Fix the American Political System. Eds. Richard J. Ellis and Michael Nelson. CQ Press. 254-262.
Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government, Essentials. Co-author with John G. Geer, Jeffrey A. Segal, and Dana K. Glencross. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
1st Edition, January 2011. (640 pages)
2nd Edition, January 2013 (640 pages)
3rd Edition, January 2015 forthcoming
“The 100th Anniversary of the 17th Amendment: A Promise Unfulfilled?” co-authored with Charles Stewart (MIT). Issues in Governance Studies No. 59:1-12. Washington DC: Brookings Institution
2012
“Howard Baker’s Leadership in the U.S. Senate: Lessons in Persuasion, Civility, and Success.” Baker Center Journal of Applied Public Policy Vol. IV, No. 2: 28-48.
2011
"Senate Delegation Dynamics in an Age of Party Polarization." Co-author with Jennifer C. Cassidy. The Forum Vol. 9: Iss. 4, Article 7.
"Development of Congressional Elections" in The Oxford Handbook of the American Congress, Eds. Frances Lee and Eric Schickler. Oxford University Press.
Talks & Media
Recent Academic Lectures
Stanford University department of political science, February 2015
University of Miami department of political science, November 2014
University of Pittsburgh department of political science, February 2014
Texas Community College Teachers Association Annual Conference, keynote, February 2014
College of William and Mary department of government, April 2013
Department of State, US speaker program, (Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto) March 2013
Print and Digital Media Political Commentary
New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CNN.com, CQ Weekly, Providence Journal, Des Moines Register, The Hill, Christian Science Monitor, Financial Times, Toronto Globe and Mail, The New York Daily News, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, AP, International Business Times, The Hill, Gannett, GoLocalProv.com, The Economist
Television and Radio Political Commentary
MSNBC
CNN
FOX
Bloomberg Radio: The Hayes Advantage and On the Economy
The Factor with Bill O’Reilly
Real Time with Bill Maher
National Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Illinois Public Radio
Corus Entertainment Radio, Alberta, Canada
Political Analyst WJAR Channel 10
Political Roundtable, Rhode Island Public Radio
A Lively Experiment, Rhode Island PBS
WPRO Radio, Rhode Island
Selected Public Lectures on American Politics (2013-2014)
Rhode Island Common Cause Annual Meeting (keynote)
Miriam Hospital Women’s Association (Providence)
Brown University Club of Providence
One Day University/Dallas Co-sponsored by the Dallas Morning News
One Day University/Washington DC co-sponsored by The Atlantic
One Day University/Minneapolis Co-sponsored by Minnesota PBS
One Day University/Providence Co-sponsored by the Providence Journal
News|Recent News
May 20, 2022
Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast
In this radio segment, Professor of Political Science Wendy Schiller discusses politics, the economy, and the primary and general elections.
more
January 27, 2022
Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast
Professor of Political Science Wendy Schiller discusses how President Joe Biden will handle a Supreme Court vacancy.
more
January 21, 2022
Bloomberg Business
Wendy Schiller provided commentary on what Democrats need to do to push through key legislation and keep control of the House of Representatives in 2022.
more
January 14, 2022
Providence Business News
Wendy Schiller commented on the potential instability in Rhode Island health care leadership as Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigns from her role as director of the RIDOH.
more
January 11, 2022
Bloomberg
Wendy Schiller joined this Bloomberg podcast segment to discuss President Biden's next steps.
more
January 4, 2022
Bloomberg Surveillance
Wendy Schiller appeared on this podcast segment of Bloomberg Surveillance to discuss Biden's plans for 2022.
more
December 20, 2021
Providence Journal
Wendy Schiller offered commentary on speculation among Democrats about the 2024 election.
more
All News
Events
Apr 20, 2022
Mar 23, 2022
Mar 1, 2022
8:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Register here to attend the webinar. This event is for Brown University Community Members only.
Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, Virtual Events
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May 24, 2021
Mar 8, 2021
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Register here to attend the webinar.
Student Events
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Jan 14, 2021
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. This event has been postponed. Future date TBD.
Election 2020
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Nov 5, 2020
This event is for students only.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Register here for the debrief. The Zoom link will be sent to attendees closer to the debrief date.
Election 2020, Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
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Oct 23, 2020
This event is for students only.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Register here for the debrief. The Zoom link will be sent to attendees closer to the debrief date.
Election 2020, Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
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Oct 20, 2020
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Register here to join the webinar, or watch live here.
COVID-Today
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Oct 16, 2020
This event is for students only
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Register here for the debrief. The Zoom link will be sent to attendees closer to the debrief date.
Election 2020, Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
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Oct 8, 2020
This event is for students only.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Register here for the debrief. The Zoom link will be sent to attendees closer to the debrief date.
Election 2020, Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
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Sep 30, 2020
This event is for students only.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Register here for the debrief. The Zoom link will be sent to attendees closer to the debrief date.
Election 2020, Student Events, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
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Jun 24, 2020
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