Laura Olson

Professor

Contact
Affiliated Faculty, External To CAH
Office: 230-G Brackett Hall
Phone: 864-656-0690
Email: laurao@clemson.edu

Education
Ph.D. Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1996); M.A. Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1991); B.A. Political Science, Northwestern University (1990)

Courses
Professor of Political Science (Religion and American Politics)

Laura R. Olson is professor of political science at Clemson University. A native of Racine, Wisconsin, she earned a B.A. in political science from Northwestern University in 1990, as well as an M.A. (1991) and Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She spent the 1999-2000 academic year as a visiting research fellow at the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. Her research focuses on contemporary religion, civic engagement, and American politics, and has placed special emphasis on the political attitudes and behaviors of clergy. Her work has appeared in leading scholarly journals, including Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.