ASU political science professors named Foundation Professors

Newly named Foundation Professors Kim Fridkin and Patrick Kenney.

By Matt Oxford |
October 14, 2016

ASU political science professors Patrick Kenney and Kim Fridkin have been named Foundation Professors. These distinctions are conferred by the president and provost to honor outstanding faculty.

Kenney, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been a professor of political science at ASU since 1986. From 2009 to 2012, Kenney was the founding director of the School of Politics and Global Studies.

Kenney received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate from the University of Iowa. Kenney has authored and co-authored articles in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics and several other journals. He has co-authored three books with Kim Fridkin, "The Spectacle of U.S. Senate Campaigns" (Princeton Press, 1999), "No-Holds Barred: Negativity in U.S. Senate Campaigns" (Prentice Hall, 2004) and "The Changing Face of Representation" (University of Michigan Press, 2014). His research areas are in campaigns, elections, and voting behavior.

“I am humbled to receive this distinction at Arizona State University,” Kenney said. “I appreciate the recognition. Professor Fridkin and I have collaborated over a long period of time, and we enjoy our research a great deal.”

Kim Fridkin received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate from the University of Michigan. She began teaching at ASU in 1989. She has written four books; the most recent book, "The Changing Face of Representation: The Gender of U.S. Senators and Constituent Communications," was published by the University of Michigan Press in 2014. She has published numerous articles, including articles in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Politics, and the Journal of Politics. Her current research interests are negative campaigning, women and politics, and political psychology.

“I am honored to be named as a Foundation Professor,” Fridkin said. “It is very satisfying to be recognized for my research contributions. I am also happy that my co-author for over 20 years, Patrick Kenney, was also recognized as a Foundation Professor at the same time.”