Scott McLean

Scott L. McLean

Faculty Director of the Honors Program

Professor of Political Science

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Dr. Scott McLean is Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University, and Faculty Directory of the University Honors Program. He earned his Ph.D. in political theory at Rutgers University.

Professor McLean has a national reputation as a leader and scholar in civic education. In 2018, he was recognized with the Quinnipiac Center for Excellence in Teaching Award. He currently serves his term as President of the New England Political Science Association.

McLean's research expertise is in the fields of national elections, public opinion, political thought, and civic education. His essays and expert analysis appear frequently in state, national and international media, including appearances in the New York Times, the London Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, CNN, Fox News, Hartford Courant, Newsweek and TIME magazine.

McLean's most recent research includes: “Connecticut Sings the Blues: Suburbia, Mavericks, and Policy Innovation.” in More Than Blue: Complexity and Change in New England Politics (Univ. Massachusetts Press, 2024); Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter, ed. by D. Schultz (Lexington Books 2015 edition, 2017 edition, 2022 edition and 2025 forthcoming edition); and “Collective Memory and the Pandemic Emergence of Generation Z” in Generations in American Politics, edited by Sally Friedman and David Schultz (University of Michigan Press, 2023). He is co-author and editor (with David Schultz and Manfred Steger) of the book Social Capital: Critical Perspectives on Community (New York University Press, 2002).

Professor McLean lives in New Haven, where he is active on grassroots issues of food insecurity. He is former President of the Board of Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Inc. (https://www.deskct.org/).