Susan Burgess is Professor of Political Science and Women’s Studies. Her areas of interest include law, justice and social change; gender and sexuality; and popular culture. Her work integrates innovative approaches into political science focusing on the intersection of public law, new institutionalism, queer theory, and cultural studies.

Her new book, The Founding Fathers, Pop Culture, and Constitutional Law: Who’s Your Daddy? is part of the Ashgate series on Law, Justice and Power, Austin Sarat series editor. Earlier publications include Contest for Constitutional Authority: The Abortion and War Powers Debates (Kansas 1992) as well as work in several disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals such as Political Research Quarterly; Polity; Review of Politics; PS: Politics and Political Science; differences: A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies; Law and Society Review; Law, Culture, and the Humanities; and Studies in Law, Politics, and Society.

Professor Burgess has held a variety of positions in professional associations. She is an elected Council member of the American Political Science Association and was selected to sit on its Administrative (Executive) Committee. She has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Law and Courts section twice, coordinator of the Constitutional Law Division, chair of the LGBT Caucus, and a member of the Committee on the Status of Women, as well as the Committee on the Status of LGBTs. Burgess is also active in the Western Political Science Association. She has sat on its Executive Council and has served twice as coordinator of its Politics and Sexuality Section. She also sits on the editorial boards of Political Research Quarterly and Law and Social Inquiry.

Professor Burgess has received departmental and university-wide awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Classes taught include: The Politics of Law and Sexuality; Legal Theory and Social Problems; Women, Gender, and Rock and Roll; and Graduate Seminar in New Feminist Scholarship.

Professor Burgess joined the Department of Political Science at Ohio University in Fall 2000, and served as the Director of Women’s Studies at OU from 2000-2005. During her term as Director, Women’s Studies undertook significant program development, including the creation of a new undergraduate major. Prior to her arrival at OU, Professor Burgess was a member of the Political Science faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1988-2000. She served as Director of Women’s Studies at UWM from 1996-2000.