Barbara Trish

Associate Professor of Political Science with a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. She is a generalist in U.S politics, with party and electoral politics frequently at the intersection of her teaching and scholarship. At present, she is examining the topic of technology and politics, with a particular focus on the use of "analytics" in campaigning. "The Evidence-based Revolution" appears in Campaigns & Elections Magazine. Her analysis of early Organizing for America (OFA), the policy-oriented offshoot of President Obama's campaign organization, is included in the Green/Coffey edited volume The State of the Parties (2011, Rowman and Littlefield). In one way or another, all of the courses offered by Ms. Trish expose students to the methods of empirical and quantitative political science. (She really likes data!) Most of her courses involve a significant research project in which students collect and analyze data. While at Grinnell, Ms. Trish has had a variety of involvements outside of the department. Among these are the college's Program in Practical Political Education (PPPE) and efforts to enhance quantitative literacy. Grinnell's long-standing relationship with Nanjing University is one of her special interests. Ms. Trish is currently chair of the political science department and a member of the college’s personnel committee.