Dr. Laura S. Antkowiak
Dr. Laura Antkowiak (formerly Laura Hussey) serves as Associate Professor in UMBC’s Department of Political Science and Director of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program. She feels grateful to work every day with students who share her fascination with tough social challenges and public policy issues and how citizens might work on them inside or outside the political process. Dr. Antkowiak teaches multiple courses in public policy, American politics, and research methods, advises UMBC’s Maryland Student Legislature delegation, and in the summers trains and guides the Governor’s Summer Interns and Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows as they prepare policy papers for state leaders. Over the years she has assisted many students in preparing for policy-related work with internships, project mentorship, and competition for graduate school admissions and prestigious scholarships. In 2021, the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland awarded her its Excellence in Mentoring award. She has also authored a book (The Pro-Life Pregnancy Help Movement: Serving Women or Saving Babies? (University Press of Kansas, 2020) and numerous scholarly articles addressing public policy controversies, public opinion on policy issues, religion and politics, Americans whose views do not align with the major parties, and citizens’ participation in politics, social movements, and communities. Her Ph.D. in Government and Politics and Masters in Public Policy/Public Management are from the University of Maryland, College Park and her BA in Government and Certificate in Public Service are from the University of Notre Dame. She is a Baltimore native, a sports and fitness enthusiast, and the mother of teenagers.
lhussey@umbc.edu
Director, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program
Public Policy Building 319
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
410-455-6560
Jessica Cook
jrcook@umbc.edu
Associate Director, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program
Public Policy Building 315
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
410-455-2916
Kathleen Browning
kbrown4@umbc.edu
Administrative Assistant, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program
Public Policy Building 308
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250