News

Vincent Hutchings, Center for Political Studies Research Professor, was newly appointed as the Hanes Walton Jr. Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Afroamerican and African Studies, and honored among 32 University of Michigan award recipients celebrated at the Faculty Awards Celebration yesterday.

The Board of Regents created the Distinguished University Professorship award in 1947 to recognize senior faculty for exceptional scholarly or creative achievement, national and international reputation, and superior records of teaching, mentoring, and service. Faculty selected for the recognition, in consultation with the dean of the school or college in which they hold an appointment, name the professorship after a person of distinction in their field of interest. The duration of the appointment is unlimited. Newly appointed Distinguished University Professors are expected to deliver an inaugural lecture during the first year of appointment.

Hutchings has shaped the understanding of racial and ethnic politics in the U.S., training a generation of political scientists. He earned a B.A. from San Jose State University (1988), and an M.A. (1992) and Ph.D. (1997) from the University of California, Los Angeles, before joining U-M. His research explores voting, elections, campaigns, media, polarization and the foundations of racial prejudice. In his 2003 book, “Public Opinion and Democratic Accountability: How Citizens Learn About Politics,” he showed that low-information voters across the political spectrum are “sleeping giants” who, when roused, demand accountability from elected officials. He has contributed to the American National Election Study, served on 59 doctoral dissertation committees and co-authored “Race and Inequality in American Politics: An Imperfect Union.” His honors include the Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award (2022) and the Tronstein Award (2020), his department’s highest undergraduate teaching honor.

Read more about this recognition and the awardees in The Record.