JEAN WAHL HARRIS'S research interests include political socialization and engagement, federalism and intergovernmental relations, and the gendered nature and effects of U.S. politics. Jean has taught introductory courses in local, state, and national government and upper-level courses in public administration, public policy, and judicial politics for the Political Science Department at the University of Scranton for 33 years. She is also a founding mother and former director of the Women's & Gender Studies Program at the university. Since 2012, Jean has coordinated the university's Ready to Run Northeastern Pennsylvania program, which educates women about why it's important to have more women in government and how to run for office. In her academic career and her community service, Jean seeks to cultivate a high sense of political efficacy in everyone she encounters, empowering and inspiring them to engage in community, state, national, and/or international politics. Jean earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 1994, the University of Scranton named her its CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) professor of the year. She was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow during the 2007-2008 academic year. Jean lives in Nicholson, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Michael. She enjoys reading on her deck overlooking the Endless Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania and the benefits of Michael's gardens.
