Faculty Q & A with Christopher Wendt

Christopher Wendt, Assistant Professor in Political Science

Education
Ph.D. 2009 Massachusetts Institute of Technology; B.A. 2001 University of California, Berkeley

Dissertation
Migration, Nativism and Party System Change in Western Europe 

Research and Teaching Interests
Native/Immigrant dynamics in advanced industrial countries, parties and party systems, identity politics, West European politics and the politics of German-speaking countries

What most excites you about joining the LC community?
I’m most looking forward to being in an environment where I can closely work with students on their research interests.  A large part of what keeps Political Science interesting for me is the constant exchange of knowledge between students and faculty.

What kinds of hobbies/special activies do you enjoy outside of work?
I am an avid strategy gamer and fantasy baseball geek. When I’m not home catching up on movies or reading, you can probably find me playing pub trivia.  I also suspect that Oregon is going to make me outdoorsy.

What were your childhood goals/aspirations?
In high school, I was voted “most likely to teach Government.”  If I didn’t become an academic, I probably would have entered government, or become a writer or game designer, but from an early age I was always interested in history and politics.

What are you listening to in your car right now?
I don’t have a car, but if I did probably Green Day or the Thermals.

What was your favorite childhood story?
Probably the Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4, by Sue Townsend.