Faculty Director, Program for Public Discourse
Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Professor
Political Science
streul@email.unc.edu
Sarah Treul Roberts is a Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Professor in the department of political science. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on American political institutions, specifically campaigns, elections and legislatures. Her most recent work examines the democratization of congressional elections and how changes to the campaign environment, coupled with the increased emphasis on primary elections, enables the success of inexperienced candidates. She is particularly interested in the anti-establishment rhetoric frequently used by inexperienced candidates for office. Her work also explores the legislative behavior of inexperienced members of Congress compared to those who came in with prior service.
Treul Roberts teaches courses on American democracy and civics, the legislative process, and campaigns and elections. She brings deliberation and debate into her courses whenever possible. One of her favorite courses to teach includes a congressional simulation that gives her students a chance to experience representing a constituency, drafting legislation and debating policy changes all while taking on the persona of a member of Congress they may or may not agree with.