Margaret Commins, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Maggie Commins is the Shelton Professor of Political Science and chair of the Department of Political Science, International Studies, and Sociology. She enjoys working with students to better understand Latin American politics, U.S.-Latin American relations, international political economy, comparative politics of developing countries, and U.S. immigration policy. She particularly enjoys embedding experiential learning opportunities in her classes. Each year she trains and leads a team of students to participate in the Washington Model Organization of American States conference in Washington, D.C. She also co-leads week-long encounters on the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2020 she was honored with Queens’ Hunter Hamilton Love of Teaching Award.

Dr. Commins’ research interests include U.S. immigration policy, municipal immigrant integration, U.S. policy toward Latin America, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Whenever possible, she welcomes students into her research projects. In 2022, she worked with two students in the Rogers Summer Research Institute to better understand immigrant integration in Charlotte. Dr. Commins is a member of the inaugural cohort of the American Political Science Association’s Institute for Civically Engaged Research and a 2016 North Carolina Campus Compact Faculty Engaged Scholar. You can check out some of her research on her Google Scholar webpage. Dr. Commins is also actively involved in the Charlotte community. She is a member of the Charlotte International Cabinet, an advisory board for the mayor and city council, and a board member of the Latin American Coalition. She is also a Fruitful Friend with Refugee Support Services.

Education

Ph.D., Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
M.A., Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
B.A., Political Science and History, Gettysburg College