Vanessa C. Tyson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vanessa C. Tyson
|
|
|---|---|
| Education | Princeton University (B.A.) |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago (M.A., Ph.D.) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Dickinson College Scripps College |
| Thesis | Marginalization and influence: Race, representation, and political coalitions in the U.S. House (2011) |
| Doctoral advisor | Michael C. Dawson Cathy J. Cohen |
Vanessa Catherine Tyson is an American political scientist and a politician. She teaches politics as an associate professor at Scripps College. She is also a political science fellow at Stanford University. In 2020, Ms. Tyson ran for a seat in the California State Assembly. She finished in fifth place in the primary election.
Early Life and Education
Vanessa Tyson grew up in Whittier, California. When she was a senior at La Serna High School, her classmates voted her "Most likely to succeed."
She went to Princeton University and earned a bachelor's degree in politics in 1998. She also received a certificate in African American studies. At Princeton, she won the Ruth B. Simmons Thesis Prize and the 1998 Spirit of Princeton award.
Later, Ms. Tyson continued her studies at the University of Chicago. There, she earned both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in political science. Her Ph.D. research in 2011 looked at how different groups can be left out of politics but still have influence. This research became the basis for her book, Twists of Fate. Her main teachers for her Ph.D. were Michael C. Dawson and Cathy J. Cohen.
Career in Politics and Teaching
Vanessa Tyson worked as a professor at Dickinson College for about eight years. She taught classes about how the American government works. She also taught about how different groups are represented in politics. She left Dickinson College in June 2015.
Currently, she is an associate professor of politics at Scripps College. From 2018 to 2019, Ms. Tyson was a special researcher at Stanford University's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
In 2019, Ms. Tyson, who is a member of the Democratic Party, announced she would run for office. She wanted to represent the 57th District in the California State Assembly. This district includes her hometown of Whittier, California, along with Norwalk, Hacienda Heights, and La Puente. The person who held the seat before, Ian Calderon, decided not to run again.
When she announced her campaign, Ms. Tyson said she would focus on important issues. These included protecting the environment and making housing more affordable. She also wanted to help reduce poverty and improve access to education. She aimed to support women's rights and work to prevent violence. Several other people also ran for the same seat in the election.
