We the People Summer Institute Scholar Presenters 2024

Dr. Bridgett King – June 24

Session: Societal Confidence in Election Outcomes

Associate Professor of Political Science – University of Kentucky

Bridgett A. King, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kentucky. Current overarching themes in her scholarship include the administrative structure of felony disenfranchisement and its effect on participation and representation, citizen confidence in electoral outcomes, and the consequences of administrative discretion on voter experiences and democratic representation. She also works on interdisciplinary projects that apply systems and architectural engineering approaches to the field of election administration to address challenges associated with administrative decision-making and voter experiences. As an extension of this work, she has an expanding research agenda that considers how citizens engage in democratic participation in Liberia.

Dr. King’s research has appeared in the Election Law Journal, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Journal of Black Studies, Social Science Quarterly, Government Information Quarterly, Policy Studies, and the Journal of Information Technology and Politics. She has received external support for her election research from the National Science Foundation, Rockefeller Family Fund, Democracy Fund, and others. She holds positions in several election administration applied and research-focused projects and initiatives. She is currently on the Electoral Integrity Project International Academic Advisory Board, a track leader with the Election and Voting Information Center (EVIC), a Research Partner with the Democracy, Power, and Innovation Fund, and a Research Partner with the University of Rhode Island Voter Operations and Election Systems (URIVOTES), and The Global Development Solutions Lab.

Lastly, she regularly contributes to the broader elections community by speaking on domestic and international academic and practitioner panels on issues related to election administration and participates in domestic and international election observation efforts.

Dr. Robert Dion – June 25

Session: Origin of Civil Rights Act Legislation

Associate Professor of Political Science / Igleheart Chair – University of Evansville

Robert Dion firmly believes that citizens need to understand and be involved in the political system. He has taught American politics courses at the University of Evansville since 2001. Before he came to the University of Evansville, he taught at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and at Wabash College. Outside the classroom, Professor Dion serves as the chairperson of the local civil rights commission and on the boards of several organizations. He is regularly quoted in news stories about political developments in Indiana or in the United States, and he has appeared frequently on radio and television news programs, including several French-language broadcast outlets.

The Indiana Bar Foundation would like to recognize Dr. Dion’s continued support of civic education & social studies educators in Indiana. We value his mainstay presence at the WTP Summer Institute.

Professor Judy Failer – June 26

Session: Evolving Understanding of What Makes a Citizen

Associate Professor, Political Science – Indiana University

Judith Lynn Failer is an associate professor of political science at Indiana University in Bloomington. Her research focuses primarily on rights: what they are, their moral, constitutional, and legal foundations, who has which rights, and how we should resolve conflicts between competing rights-claims. She teaches courses in political theory, constitutional government, constitutional rights and liberties, ethics and public policy, and jurisprudence. Her work with the “We the People” program spans more than 20 years.