Nicol Rae, DPhil

Nicol Rae has served as Associate Dean for Research and Development in the University of Arizona’s College of Applied Science and Technology since September 2021. Previously Dr. Rae was Dean of the College of Letters and Science at Montana State University (MSU) from 2013-2020. Before coming to MSU, Dr. Rae served (2008-2012) as the Senior Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (FIU). His professional administrative experience at FIU also included serving as the Chair of the Department of Political Science (1999-2005), Co-Director of the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence (2005-2007) and Director of European Studies (2005-2008).

Dr. Rae’s scholarship is often cited, and his research and teaching focus on American national political institutions, political parties and elections, and conservative politics. He is the author or co-author of five books and numerous articles and book chapters on American politics and has also served as co-editor of four scholarly volumes from leading academic publishers. Dr. Rae was awarded a Congressional Fellowship by the American Political Science Association in 1995 and served as a Capitol Hill aide to Congressman George P. Radanovich of California, and Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. He holds a doctorate in Politics from Oxford University and an undergraduate degree in Politics from Edinburgh University.