Wendy J. Schiller
wendy_schiller@brown.edu
+1 401 863 1569
Blistein House, 57 Waterman Street, Room 225
Professor of Political Science
Chair of Political Science
Wendy Schiller is Professor of Political Science, Professor of International and Public Affairs, and Chair of Political Science 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.
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).
Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment, co-authored with Charles Stewart III. Forthcoming Princeton University Press Fall 2014.
"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
“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.
"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.
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
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
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
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
August 2, 2018 The Providence Journal
Democratic candidate for governor Matt Brown faces high financial hurdles in his race to unseat Gov. Gina Raimondo this year. Professor Wendy Schiller said financial struggles in August of an election year can "indicate there isn't a groundswell of support."
July 9, 2018 The Providence Journal
More female candidates than ever are running for political office in Rhode Island this year. Political scientist Wendy Schiller said the establishment party's endorsement controversy and recent pushback against pay equity, abortion rights and new sexual harassment laws has received stinging national media attention, and outrage among far-left-leaning voters could spur big wins for progressive candidates.
May 14, 2018 Associated Press
Chafee has a record of fiscal responsibility and supporting liberal causes such as environmentalism and same-sex marriage, said Faculty Fellow Wendy Schiller.
May 14, 2018 The Week
Faculty Fellow Wendy Schiller said social media filters often give us a false sense of control over data breaches and propaganda. But, she said, the ability to hand-pick our sources actually causes us to stop screening for accuracy and balance, making us more vulnerable.
February 20, 2018 NBC 10
Professor Wendy Schiller comments on the recently released fundraising agreement between Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and the Providence Democratic City Committee.
February 2, 2018 Minnesota Public Radio
Professor Wendy Schiller offers her analysis of President Trump's first State of the Union address with MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy.
January 29, 2018 The Houston Chronicle
With his first State of the Union address tomorrow, President Trump looks to address the country and promote "building a safe, strong and proud America."