Scott L. McLean
Faculty Director of the Honors Program
Professor of Political Science
Scott L. McLean
Faculty Director of the Honors Program
Professor of Political Science
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/).
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/).
Education
- BA, Whitman College
- PHD, Rutgers-The State Univ of NJ
Areas of Expertise
- National elections and political parties
- public opinion and political psychology
- government ethics
- political ideologies
Organization
- Academic Innovation and Effect
Office Location
- Comms, Computing & Engineering 205B
Mail Drop
- SB-ACA
Courses
-
HON 212H Health Policy Immersion in DC
Fall 2025 -
HON 400H Honors Capstone Experience
Fall 2025 -
PO 101H Issues in Politics-Honors
Fall 2025 -
PO 290 Public Service Fellowship
Spring 2025 -
PO 298 Public Service Fellowship
Spring 2025 -
PO 361 DC National Security Seminar
Summer 1 2025 -
PO 395 Advanced Internship
Spring 2025 -
PO 497 TWC QU in DC Semester
Spring 2025
Quinnipiac Today
Experience
Quinnipiac University
Faculty Director of University Honors Program
Hamden, CT USA
2022 - Present
Quinnipiac University
Professor of Political Science
Hamden, CT
2008 - Present
Quinnipiac University
Director, Quinnipiac Washington DC Programs ("QU in DC")
Hamden, CT
2004 - Present
Quinnpiac University
Associate Professor of Political Science
Hamden, CT
2000 - 2008
Quinnipiac University
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Hamden, CT
1995 - 2000
Whitman College
Visiting Professor of Politics
Walla Walla WA
1994 - 1995
Selected Publications
Chapter
More than Blue, More Than Yankee: The Diversity of New England Politics in an Era of National Partisan Divides
McLean, Scott L.
“Connecticut Sings the Blues: Suburbia, Mavericks, and Policy Innovation.” 2024 Amherst, MA (University of Massachusetts Press 2024)
Chapter
Generations in American Politics: From the Silents to Gen Z and Beyond
McLean, Scott L.
“Collective Memory and the Pandemic Emergence of Generation Z.” 2024 Ann Arbor, MI (University of Michigan 2024)
Chapter
Presidential Swing States (ed. by Schultz, D. and Jacob, R.)
McLean, Scott L.
“Politics Now is All About the Purple Battlegrounds.” 3rd (2022) Lanham, MD (Lexington Books 2022)
Chapter
Generations in American Politics, (ed. by Schultz, D. and Friedman, S.)
McLean, Scott L.
Collective Memory and the Pandemic Emergence of Generation Z 1st Ann Arbor, MI (University of Michigan 2022)
Peer Reviewed Proceedings
"Teaching the Presidency When Democratic Legitimacy Is Questioned.”
McLean, Scott L.
American Political Science Association, Seattle, WA (2021)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“Arizona: On the Fast Track to Swing State Status.”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill. Oct. 30 (2020)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“Why Trump, Like Biden, Should Not Expect a Post-Convention Polling Bounce.”
McLean, Scott L.
Newsweek August 25 (2020)
Chapter
Presidential Swing States (ed. by Schultz, D. and Jacob, R.)
McLean, Scott L.
“Purple Battlegrounds: Presidential Campaign Strategies and Swing State Voters.” 2nd (2019) 5-50 Lanham, MD (Lexington Books 2019)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“A Keystone State of Mind: Is Pennsylvania A Swing State?”
McLean, Scott L.
17 (March) Juniata Voices https://www.juniata.edu/offices/juniata-voices/media/volume-17/vol17-McLean.pdf 2018 (2018)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“The Anatomy of A Swing State in the Trump-Clinton Race.”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/campaign/301245-the-anatomy-of-a-swing-state-and-why-it-matter Oct. 16 (2016)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“Arizona and Georgia: Not Swing States – Yet.”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/campaign/302775-arizona-and-georgia-not-swing-states-yet Oct. 25 (2016)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“When Swing States Stop Swinging.”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill http://origin-nyi.thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/campaign/303898-when-swing-states-stop-swinging Nov. 1 (2016)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“What’s Going On With These Final Week Election Polls?”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill http://origin-nyi.thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/304709-whats-going-on-in-thes Nov. 2 (2016)
Non-Peer Reviewed Journal
“Trump’s Candidacy and Win Didn’t Tarnish The Republican Brand.”
McLean, Scott L.
The Hill http://origin-nyi.thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/campaign/305555-trumps-candidacy-and-win-didnt-tarn Nov. 11 (2016)
Books
Social Capital: Critical Perspectives on Community and “Bowling Alone.”
McLean, Scott L., Schultz, David, and Steger, Manfred (eds).
2002 New York, NY (NYU Press 2002)