Rutgers political science alumnus recognized for research on Black political unity, cultural institutions, and polarization in the United States
Michael Strawbridge, who earned his doctoral degree in political science from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, has been named a 2026 Andrew Carnegie Fellow. The prestigious fellowship supports scholarship in the humanities and social sciences that addresses important and enduring issues facing society.
Strawbridge is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on American politics and quantitative methodology, with particular attention to race and ethnic politics, political psychology, and Black politics. His work examines how social and cultural contexts shape the political attitudes and behaviors of Black citizens and Black political elites.
The 2026 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows marks the third year of the program’s focus on political polarization in the United States. Carnegie has committed up to $18 million to this effort over a three-year period. The fellowship provides support for up to two years, with the anticipated result of a book or major study. Fellows are selected based on the originality and promise of their research, its potential impact on the field, and their plans for communicating findings to a broad audience.
Strawbridge’s project, “In the Thick of It: The Relationship Among Black People, Black Spaces, and Black Political Unity,” investigates how African American cultural institutions foster Black political unity and collective decision-making. Through this work, he examines Black Americans’ political cohesion as a case study in how social and cultural institutions can serve as a counterweight to increasing political polarization.
The project reconceptualizes Black political attitude formation by showing how Black social networks and institutions influence Black public opinion. In doing so, Strawbridge’s research contributes to broader conversations about political identity, collective action, and the social foundations of democratic life.
Before joining Washington University in St. Louis, Strawbridge was selected as a 2024–2025 University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a former Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Scholar, and American Political Science Association Diversity Fellow.
His research has appeared in leading journals, including Political Communication; Politics, Groups, and Identities; and Political Behavior.
At Rutgers, Strawbridge was recognized with the School of Graduate Studies Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, an honor that highlights exceptional achievement among Rutgers doctoral students. His selection as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow is a result of the strength of his scholarly contributions and the broader impact of Rutgers doctoral education in preparing scholars whose work addresses pressing public questions.
“Michael Strawbridge’s recognition as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow is a wonderful example of the excellence and public relevance of Rutgers doctoral education,” said Mark Robson, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “His work brings rigorous scholarship to some of the most important questions facing American democracy, and we are proud to count him among our alumni.”
Strawbridge earned his PhD in political science from Rutgers University–New Brunswick and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and media studies from Beloit College.