A Q&A with Political Science’s Pearl K. Dowe

Pearl K. Ford Dowe, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Political Science

In this conversation, Dowe shares her passion for giving voice to the often-time voiceless, her approach to creating student success, and some exciting new adventures coming up for her and her family members. 

Q: Tell us a little about your research, academic passions and/or role within the college. What excites you about this?
I am currently serving as the chair of the Department of Political Science. Along with that duty I still teach one class a year and maintain a research agenda. My current research is focused on the political ambition of African American women. Much of the current literature isn’t applicable to these women and disregards the unique political socialization that shape Black women and provides them with political opportunities that their white counterparts do not often have access to. I am excited about this research because I want to give voice to these women while challenging my discipline to fully acknowledge the depths of African American women’s political engagement.

Q: How long have you been at Fulbright College? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?
This fall will be my tenth year in the college. I have enjoyed the collegiality of the faculty and support I have received for my research and professional growth. In many colleges our size, it can be easy for faculty to be ignored or made to feel irrelevant. I can honestly say that is not my experience in Fulbright College.

Q: What do you most hope your students remember from their classes and/or interactions with you?
Besides saying that I was hard, I hope they walk away with an understanding that they have a voice in the world and that everyone’s personal, social and political experiences should be valued and believed. I would like to think that my students felt that their success inside and outside of the class mattered to me and that I was available to them.

Q: What do you like to do during your time outside of the university?
I enjoy my family and I am an avid reader. I love works by Black women. This fall I plan to turn my attention to two biographies about Lorraine Hansberry, I’m excited about that. My husband and I both share a love of sports that includes all of the major sports. On most weekends we are watching some type of game.

Q: What’s up next on the horizon for you?
I am excited about the next few years. On a personal level, my daughter will begin kindergarten next year and my husband is progressing towards earning a Ph.D. in Public Policy. I am looking forward to completing my manuscript and pursuing my next promotion.

Photo Caption: Pearl K. Dowe taking a break while attending the International Political Science Association conference in Brisbane, Australia.