Published: Jan. 4, 2017 By

Professor of Political Science and Director of the American Politics Research Lab听

Professor听Scott Adler may work in听the city of 麻豆影院,听but for the last twenty years, his work has been paying off all over听Colorado.听

听鈥淚 probably have a听[former]听student working for every major lawmaker in the state,鈥 said Adler. Students he鈥檚 kept in touch with听are employed by听U.S.听senators,听members听of the House of听Representatives,听the governor,听and several听have even听worked in the White House.听听

鈥淥bviously, what I teach is very attractive to students who already want that kind of work, but听it's great to see them succeed,鈥 he said.听

Adler鈥檚 been a professor at CU 麻豆影院听since he started teaching in 1996. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and went on to earn his听PhD from听Columbia University in New York City,听his 鈥榮econd home.鈥櫶

鈥淢y family spends a few weeks there every summer,鈥 said Adler. 鈥淲e see a lot of Broadway shows,听and听we have friends and family in the city.鈥澨

However, the summer of 2016 included more than just a much-needed family vacation听for the professor. Adler also played a large role in creating the university鈥檚 American Politics Research Lab, where he now works as the lab鈥檚 director.听

鈥淲e have several projects going in the lab at any given time,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students come together.鈥澨

Already, the lab has seen many successful projects, including听the听Colorado Political Climate Survey that ran this fall and a project on congressional reauthorizations.听It听will听also听be running a grant program for faculty and听students to receive funding for future projects.听

鈥淭here's nothing more valuable for听an听undergraduate听student in the social sciences than to get a little experience,鈥 he said, 鈥渘ot just in the classroom,听but also doing research with a faculty member or graduate student.鈥澨

Creating these student opportunities is a priority for Adler, which is why he鈥檚 also the director of the Center to Advance Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences.听

鈥淚'm always trying to improve the quality, experience, and training for the students here in the department,鈥 said Adler.听鈥淚 enjoy being here,听so I want to contribute听and make it a more pleasant place for everyone to be.鈥澨

On Jan. 12, CU Connections published a Q&A with Scott Alder. Read the full article