Cameron Arnzen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Brown University
"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife."
~ John Dewey
Cameron (Cam) is political scientist studying the relationship between schools and democracy. His interests in the politics of education manifest as the study of governance institutions, public policy, and mass political behavior. His research explores both how educational experiences shape political participation and additionally how the public shapes education.
Cam currently is a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University's Annenberg Institute. He is also an affiliate of the Realizing Rights Lab, an multidisciplinary research lab devoted to understanding how individuals come to understand and exercise their rights.
Arnzen has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on American politics, public policy, federalism, and empirical research methods at Columbia University, Barnard College, and The College of Idaho.
He holds a Ph.D. is in Politics & Education from Columbia University, an M.A. in Political Science from Duke University, and a B.A. in Political Economy from The College of Idaho.
Areas of Expertise:
Politics of Education, Public Policy, Elections & Political Behavior; Civic Engagement
Teaching
Columbia University
American Politics & Education (GR)
Politics of Centralization & Decentralization (GR)
Politics & Public Policy (GR)
The College of Idaho
First Year Seminar on American Political Ideologies & Argumentation (UG)
Governance, Policy, & Politics in Education (UG)
Barnard College
Elections & Political Behavior (UG)
Empirical Methods in Political Science (UG)
Introduction to American Politics (UG)
Scholarship
Peer-Reviewed Publications
2023. “The Future of Democratic Education in an Era of Pandemics and Political Polarization.” Peabody Journal of Education.
2023. “Who Should Control Education Now? Revisiting Preferences for Local Control of Educational Decision-making.” Peabody Journal of Education.
Ongoing Projects
"Venue Democracy" with The Realizing Rights Lab at Brown University
"Education & The Gender Voting Gap" with Sarah Cohodes. (Working Paper)
"Disenfranchisement by Degree: The Direct Costs of Voting." (Working Paper)
"Civic Returns to State Education Policy Investments." (Working Paper)
Service & Involvement
American Political Science Association
Civic Engagement Section Awards Committee (2023 - )
Teaching & Learning Conference (2022 - )
American Education Research Association
Politics & Education Association Publications Committee (2021-2024)
Guest Editor, Peabody Journal of Education Special Issue on Politics & Education (2021-2022)
Columbia University
Vice President, Teachers College Senate 2020-23
Vice Chair, Columbia University Ph.D. Council 2020-22
Dissertation Defense & Committee
Dissertation Title: "Education for Democracy: Essays Exploring the Relationship Between Education and Voting"
Conversation on Doctoral Student Success
Teachers College, Columbia University
