Rincker Wins Prize for Research on Women in Developing Democracies

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science Meg Rincker has been honored for her collaborative research on women’s pathways to political influence in new and developing democracies.

Rincker and her colleague, Candice Ortbals of Pepperdine University, were recently awarded the 2007 Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for Research on Women and Politics for their ongoing research studying the effectiveness of women’s organizations in countries with authoritarian histories, including Pakistan and Chile.

“Carrie Chapman Catt was one of the most charismatic leaders of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States,” said Rincker, who will use the $1,000 prize to continue surveys of women in Pakistan. “To receive an award in her name is a huge honor.”

The Catt prize, awarded annually for more than a decade, seeks to support research on women and politics in an ongoing effort to promote collaboration between political practitioners and academic researchers.

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