Renée Van Vechten Ph.D.

Dr. Van Vechten has built her teacher-scholar profile through writing, vigorous participation in campus life and professional associations, research, and dedication to teaching rigorous courses that incorporate active learning and experiential elements. Her intellectual and teaching interests center on U.S. institutions (Congress and Presidency) and California politics. Her expertise on state-level politics is evident in her textbook, _California Politics: A Primer_, now in its 7th Edition (Sage/CQ Press, 2024), and contributions to state and local news stories. She also teaches courses about environmental politics, immigration, and food politics and policy. Her research focuses on political reforms that occur through direct democracy, such as term limits, and she is also deeply committed to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Her research on instructional practices has extended to internships, curricula, online discussion forums, simulations, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and can be found in conference proceedings for the American Political Science Association (APSA), regional associations, and works such as _Political Science Internships: Towards Best Practices_ (APSA 2021), for which she was the lead editor. Her service and leadership include association governance (former council member and executive board member of APSA) and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science honors society (executive board; chapter advisor).

• Post-doctorate Fellow, UCI Humanities Research Institute
• Post-doctorate Teaching Fellow, University of San Diego
• Ph.D., Political Science, University of California, Irvine
• M.A., Political Science, University of California, Irvine
• B.A., Political Science, University of San Diego

• Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in American Politics and Policy (2021–present); Professor of Political Science, University of Redlands (Tenured 2011)
• Program Director, Public Policy Program (2022–present), University of Redlands
• Lecturer in Political Science, University of California, Irvine (2004-05)
• Visiting Assistant Professor, University of San Diego, Department of Political Science (2003-04)
• Director/Instructor, Public Affairs Internship Program, UC Irvine (1996-2000)

• Distinguished Service Award, 2022
  Political Science Education Section, APSA
• Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in American Politics and Policy (assumed September 2021) University of Redlands
• Best Paper Presented at the 2020 Annual APSA Conference, Political Science Education Section; Awarded with Co-Author, Maureen Feeley (UCSD)
• Career Faculty Fellow, Inaugural Class, 2019-20;University of Redlands
• Nominee, Most Innovative Teaching Award, 2016; University of Redlands
• Nominee, Mortar Board Professor of the Year 2009
  University of Redlands
• Rowman & Littlefield Award for Innovative Teaching in Political Science
  Awarded through the American Political Science Association, Summer 2008
• Most Innovative Teaching Award, May 2008
  University of Redlands