Bert Emerson is founder and co-director of the Democracy Lab at Whitworth University. He is an Associate Professor of English and Co-Director of the George Whitworth Honors Program. His scholarship and teaching focus on early and 19th century American Literature. He is the author of American Literary Misfits: The Alternative Democracies of Mid-Nineteenth-Century Print Cultures (UNC Press, 2024) and co-editor, with Gregory Laski, of Democracies in America: Keywords for the Nineteenth Century and Today (Oxford UP, 2023).
Matt Rains is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Whitworth University and Political Rights Lead for the Human Rights Measurement Initiative. As Lead of the non-profit organization, Matt works with a dedicated team of advocates and academics to produce annual data on eight civil and political rights, as well as additional data on which people are particularly at risk of non-enjoyment of their rights. He also serves as President of the Consortium for Rights Analysis and Measurement. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, with his research primarily focusing on human rights measurement, political violence, marginalization, and oppression.
Jason Wollschleger is a full-time Associate Professor of Sociology and Sociology Department Chair at Whitworth University. He is also the Associate Dean of DEI. Additionally, he began his position as the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director in January 2026. He is the author of “Pastoral Leadership and Congregational Vitality” and “The Rite Way: Integrating Emotion and Rationality in Religious Partiicpation. “He received his MSV from Roberts Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington.
Bert Emerson is founder and co-director of the Democracy Lab at Whitworth University. He is an Associate Professor of English and Co-Director of the George Whitworth Honors Program. His scholarship and teaching focus on early and 19th century American Literature. He is the author of American Literary Misfits: The Alternative Democracies of Mid-Nineteenth-Century Print Cultures (UNC Press, 2024) and co-editor, with Gregory Laski, of Democracies in America: Keywords for the Nineteenth Century and Today (Oxford UP, 2023).
Jess Clements is co-director of the Democracy Lab at Whitworth University. She is professor of English and director of the university’s writing center, the Whitworth Composition Commons. Her scholarship and teaching focus on ethos the role of human and object-oriented actors in contemporary multimodal communication. She is the co-author, with Kari Nixon of Optimal Motherhood and Other Lies Facebook Told Us (MIT Press, 2022) and has written award-winning articles on tutor training topics such as “The Role of New Media Expertise in Shaping Writing Consultations” (WLN, 2019).
Matt Rains is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Whitworth University and Political Rights Lead for the Human Rights Measurement Initiative. As Lead of the non-profit organization, Matt works with a dedicated team of advocates and academics to produce annual data on eight civil and political rights, as well as additional data on which people are particularly at risk of non-enjoyment of their rights. He also serves as President of the Consortium for Rights Analysis and Measurement. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, with his research primarily focusing on human rights measurement, political violence, marginalization, and oppression.
Julia Stronks is a Visiting Professor of Political Science at Whitworth University, formally serving as the Department Chair for the 2025-26 academic school year. A graduate of Dordt College, Julia Stronks earned her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. In 2003, she was honored with Dordt College’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Stronks directed both Whitworth’s initiative to serve homeless youth in Spokane and the Lives of Commitment Program. The Lives of Commitment Program was established with a $1 million grant from the M. J. Murdock Foundation and funded courses, mentoring, guest lectures, and other resources to help students connect their worldview convictions to the personal and professional decisions they make after graduation.
Jason Wollschleger is a full-time Associate Professor of Sociology and Sociology Department Chair at Whitworth University. He is also the Associate Dean of DEI. Additionally, he began his position as the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director in January 2026. He is the author of “Pastoral Leadership and Congregational Vitality” and “The Rite Way: Integrating Emotion and Rationality in Religious Partiicpation. “He received his MSV from Roberts Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington.
Grace Hansen is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth University. She is pursuing a Political Science major with minors in Law and Justice and Philosophy. Grace seeks to develop historical insights and analysis to continue to build Whitworth’s relationship with its Indigenous neighbors. On campus she also works for the Whitworth Composition Commons and competes for the Whitworth Women’s Soccer team. In her future she would like to attend law school and practice in the area of public interest law.
Olivia Kizer is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth. She is a junior majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in History and plans to pursue law after graduation. On campus, Olivia works in the Student Success Center as a peer mentor and competes on the Whitworth Ethics Bowl Team. In the last year, she was a Communio fellow at Whitworth, exploring questions of truth, beauty, and goodness, and was awarded the 2026 Political Science Dept Writing Award for her paper on indigenous sovereignty.
Olivia Kizer is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth. She is a junior majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in History and plans to pursue law after graduation. On campus, Olivia works in the Student Success Center as a peer mentor and competes on the Whitworth Ethics Bowl Team. In the last year, she was a Communio fellow at Whitworth, exploring questions of truth, beauty, and goodness, and was awarded the 2026 Political Science Dept Writing Award for her paper on indigenous sovereignty.
Melaina is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth University. She is a senior studying Philosophy and International Studies. Through the Democracy Lab, Melaina seeks to develop our understanding of human rights research and its practical applications. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue further education in Philosophy (specifically focusing on Non-Western philosophy) and eventually enter academia or the global NGO sector. She participates in numerous on-campus activities, including working as a tutor for the Philosophy Department, leading the service based club En Christo and competing on academic teams such
as Ethics Bowl and Model United Nations.
Leah Mirante is a third-year student at Whitworth University pursuing a dual major in Strategic Communication and Journalism. Leah is passionate about storytelling, ethical media, and using communication to amplify underrepresented voices, and she hopes to build a career in public relations and journalism. This year, Leah is involved in the Democracy Lab at Whitworth, where she work as a journalistic assistant to Professor Jason Wollschleger. In this role, she supports sociology research on the bombings and burning of Black churches during the Civil Rights era, contributing to work that connects historical injustice to ongoing conversations about race and democracy
Leah Mirante is a third-year student at Whitworth University pursuing a dual major in Strategic Communication and Journalism. Leah is passionate about storytelling, ethical media, and using communication to amplify underrepresented voices, and she hopes to build a career in public relations and journalism. This year, Leah is involved in the Democracy Lab at Whitworth, where she work as a journalistic assistant to Professor Jason Wollschleger. In this role, she supports sociology research on the bombings and burning of Black churches during the Civil Rights era, contributing to work that connects historical injustice to ongoing conversations about race and democracy
Jadyn Nolen is an incoming junior at Whitworth University. She is majoring in secondary education and English/Language Arts, as well as pursuing an endorsement in Multi-Lingual Learners’ education. Currently, she serves as a student researcher for Whitworth’s Democracy Lab where she studies how social media discourse contributes to political polarization among young adults. Jadyn is motivated by the belief that democracy becomes more effective when we strengthen our sense of community and more productively communicate with one another amidst our similarities and differences.
Christina Rabe is a senior at Whitworth, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English and Communication Studies. She is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth and a writing consultant for Whitworth’s Composition Commons (WCC). She has written several articles in The Whitworthian, the university’s student newspaper, and previously received the Political Science Department Writing Award for her paper of federalism and poverty. She is currently serving as a Congressional Intern for Representative Michael Baumgartner, working in his Spokane district office.
Christina Rabe is a senior at Whitworth, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English and Communication Studies. She is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth and a writing consultant for Whitworth’s Composition Commons (WCC). She has written several articles in The Whitworthian, the university’s student newspaper, and previously received the Political Science Department Writing Award for her paper of federalism and poverty. She is currently serving as a Congressional Intern for Representative Michael Baumgartner, working in his Spokane district office.Christina Rabe is a junior at Whitworth majoring in Political Science and minoring in English. She is a student researcher for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth and a writing consultant for Whitworth’s Composition Commons (WCC). She has written several news and sports articles in The Whitworthian, the university’s student newspaper, and received the Political Science Department Writing Award for her paper of federalism and poverty.
Micah Smith is an incoming Sophomore and student research fellow for the Whitworth Democracy Lab. She is an English and History major, and plays violin with the Whitworth Symphony Orchestra. She loves to travel, be it around the world or within the pages of a good book. Micah is excited to dig into how social media impacts our culture and to join the Whitworth Composition Commons in the fall.
Sophie St. Jacques is a senior Political Science and French & Francophone Studies major. She previously served as ASWU’s Cultural Events Coordinator. In 2024, she spent her summer in Portland, OR, working as a Voter Education Intern to educate Portlanders about new voting districts, ranked choice voting, and the 2024 elections.
Sophie St. Jacques is a senior Political Science and French & Francophone Studies major. She previously served as ASWU’s Cultural Events Coordinator. In 2024, she spent her summer in Portland, OR, working as a Voter Education Intern to educate Portlanders about new voting districts, ranked choice voting, and the 2024 elections.
Jordyn Bennett is a senior Peace Studies major. As a Student Associate for the Democracy Lab, Jordyn will be researching the state of democracy in the US, local and nationwide civic engagement, and siseus of judicial independence and sexual violence and their impact on democracy. She is also working internships for both the Women’s Leadership Network and Growing Neighbors, as well as continuing her role as a Political Science Research Assistant within the department.
Nyah Hill is a senior at Whitworth University, majoring in Political Science. This summer, she plans to work as a Student Associate for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth.
Nyah Hill is a senior at Whitworth University, majoring in Political Science. This summer, she plans to work as a Student Associate for the Democracy Lab at Whitworth.
Cheyenne Rodgers is a recent graduate of Whitworth University, receiving her B.A. in Political Science. During her time at Whitworth, she played on the Women’s Basketball team and competed on the Track and Field team.
