Betsy Sinclair, who examines the effects of politics on social connections, was inaugurated on April 17 as the Thomas F. Eagleton University Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences and the Lucille P. Markey Distinguished Professor, led the ceremony, which featured comments from Margit Tavits, the Dr. William Taussig Professor in Arts & Sciences; alongside a medallion presentation by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

In her inaugural speech, titled “The Social Citizen,” Sinclair — who also holds the role of chair of political science and assistant vice provost for digital transformation at WashU — highlighted how familiarity influences individuals’ readiness to assist each other, both on a personal level and in political contexts. She noted that get-out-the-vote initiatives are significantly more impactful when conducted by members of the community rather than by strangers.

The professorship, created in 1985, commemorates the late U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton, who served Missouri from 1968 to 1987. His spouse, Barbara Eagleton, was present at the ceremony.

Discover more about Sinclair, Eagleton, and the event on the Arts & Sciences website.

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