David C. Wilson

David C. Wilson is the dean of the Goldman School and a Professor of Public Policy.

Wilson’s research examines how individuals formulate their political preferences about race and justice, and how social cognition shapes broader survey response behaviors. His research is published widely in areas of inquiry that include the application of double standards in evaluating racial groups and related policy issues, attitudes toward voter identification laws and electoral malfeasance, blame attributions toward elected leaders and political groups, and how diversity culture and climate affect organizational employee engagement. He is also the co-author Racial Resentment in the Political Mind (University of Chicago Press, 2022).

Wilson’s academic specializations include survey research methods and experiments (psychology of survey response), political psychology, and American politics, with an emphasis on the measurement and analysis of intergroup attitudes and political behavior. He holds life memberships in several organizations including the American Political Science Association (APSA), the International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP), Midwest Political Science Association, Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. He most recently served on the executive council for the American Association of Public Opinion Researchers, and on the Advisory Committee and Editorial Board of Public Opinion Quarterly (POQ).

Prior to joining the Goldman School, Wilson was the senior associate dean for the social sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Delaware and a full professor in the department of political science and international relations with a joint appointment in the department of psychological and brain sciences.

Wilson has also held senior positions with the Gallup Polling Organization, leading national and international survey projects examining topics ranging from workplace creativity to prejudice in politics. He served as a product application consultant for the SPSS statistical software corporation, assisting public and private sector clients in data analysis and market research.

He earned a BA in government from Western Kentucky University. He holds an MPA (public policy and administration), MA in political science, and a PhD in political science, all from Michigan State University.

David C. Wilson is a military veteran with 19 years of service to the US Army Reserves, including combat tours for Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.

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Areas of Expertise

• Political Psychology
• Politics
• Race & Policy
• Race/Racial Justice
• Democracy Policy

Curriculum Vitae

Download a PDF (330KB, updated 06-26-2022)

Last updated on 03/18/2024