Arnold named chair of the VCU Department of Political Science

August 1, 2019

Jason Ross Arnold, Ph.D., has recently accepted the position of chair of the Department of Political Science. He is replacing Ravi Perry, Ph.D., who left VCU at the end of the year to serve as chair of political science at Howard University. We wish him the best in his new position.

Arnold joined VCU in 2008 and is currently an associate professor. His 2014 book "Secrecy in the Sunshine Era: The Promise and Failures of U.S. Open Government Laws" was recognized by scholars in multiple disciplines for being 'the definitive account' and 'the foundational text for understanding governmental secrecy in the modern era.' His new book "Whistleblowers, Leakers, and Their Networks: From Snowden to Samizdat" will be released on September 4.

He has also published articles on public ignorance, political corruption and public opinion, and his current research interests include misinformation and disinformation, Cold War politics and history, and national security intelligence in the U.S., Russia and other 'great powers.'

Arnold holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Minnesota. When he is not at VCU, he can be found running outside, eating spicy food, writing fiction, playing music and spending time with his wife and two daughters.