Lauren Davenport

Lauren Davenport is an Associate Professor of Political Science. At Stanford, she is also affiliated with the Center for American Democracy; Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity; and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her general research interests include American politics, public opinion, and race and ethnicity. In particular, her work centers around how racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. develop their identities and political attachments. Her research has appeared in journals including the American Political Science Review, American Sociological Review, American Journal of Political Science, and Journal of Politics, and has been featured in national media outlets including CNN, Time magazine, NBC News, and National Public Radio. Her book, Politics Beyond Black and White (Cambridge University Press), assesses how social, historical, and economic processes help construct multiracial Americans' identities and political outlooks.

She has received several awards for her research and teaching, including the International Society of Political Psychology’s David Sears Best Book Award, the Emerging Scholar Award from the Elections, Public Opinion and Voting Behavior section of the American Political Science Association (given to "the top scholar in the field who is within ten years of receiving her or his Ph.D."), and the Stanford University Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.