STEM Shoutout: Dr. Sarah Dreier

Newly hired assistant professor joins UNM’s Political Science Department

Dr. Sarah Dreier recently joined UNM’s Political Science department as an assistant professor effective August 1, 2021. 

Dreier’s research interests encompass power, oppression, and resistance, specifically looking at how powerful legal, political, and religious institutions enable and restrict human rights for marginalized populations. 

“Methodologically, my work meaningfully combines qualitative research, statistical analysis, and computational natural language processing,” she said.

Dreier will be teaching Introduction to Political Analysis and Comparative Politics upon her arrival. 

Before UNM, Dreier earned her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Washington (UW). After completing her doctorate, Dreier served as a Postdoctoral Researcher, jointly appointed by UW’s political science and computer science departments. Dreier said she also has professional experience working in D.C.-based government policy analysis, advocacy, international development, and non-profit executive leadership. 

“This work shapes my approach to academic research and teaching,” Dreier said.

Her first book project examines rights for women and sexual minorities in East Africa. Dreier said her postdoctoral research “qualitatively and computationally analyzed how governments justify decisions to violate the rights of their citizens, using the United Kingdom’s Troubles in Northern Ireland as a starting point.” 

Dreier said she has received an incredible welcome and show of support from UNM’s political science chair and faculty, the ADVANCE team, and UNM’s administration. 

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the political science department and to exploring collaborative relationships with UNM’s International Studies Institute, Africana Studies, and Computer Science faculty,” she said. “I also look forward to beginning to work with our undergraduate and graduate students when I begin teaching.”