Email
cbrown2@wpi.edu
Office
SL 312
Fax
email: cbrown2@wpi.edu
Phone
+1 (508) 8315000 x5163
CV
ORCiD
Google Scholar
Professional Website
Affiliated Department or Office
International & Global Studies
Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS)
Africana Studies
Associate Department Head- Social Science and Policy Studies Department
Associate Director of Policy Studies Program
Director, Washington, D.C. Project Center
Education
PhD in Political Science- University of Oregon
Master of Public Administration (MPA)- Pennsylvania State University
Certificate in Data Analytics- Harvard University

Dr. Crystal Brown earned her Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus in comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. She also has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Pennsylvania State University and a certificate in Data Analytics from Harvard University.

Her scholarship examines the inclusivity of marginalized groups. As a computational social scientist, she uses mixed methods, combining statistical approaches with qualitative techniques to find insights beyond numerical data. Dr. Brown’s work examines real-world problems in politics, public policy, and governance, with a particular focus on the lived experiences of the people most affected by them.

 

Select Grants and Fellowships:

  • (PI), Subaward S-STEM NSF Grant from Virginia Tech, SHIFT: STEM Identities for Students Engagement and Transfer Pathways, (2025-2026)
  • (PI) WPI Morgan Teaching and Learning Center, REGIST: Responsible AI in Economy, Governance, Innovation, Society, and Technology (2025-2026).
  • (Co-PI) NSF S-STEM Grant, Creating a Path to Achieving Success and Sense of Belonging in Computer Science (PASS CS)  (2023-2028)
  • (PI) Russell Sage Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Proposal Development Summer Institute Fellow (Summer 2020, moved to Summer 2021)
  • Fulbright Schuman Fellow in Denmark and Sweden (2017-2018). 
Email
cbrown2@wpi.edu
Affiliated Department or Office
International & Global Studies
Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS)
Africana Studies
Associate Department Head- Social Science and Policy Studies Department
Associate Director of Policy Studies Program
Director, Washington, D.C. Project Center
Education
PhD in Political Science- University of Oregon
Master of Public Administration (MPA)- Pennsylvania State University
Certificate in Data Analytics- Harvard University

Dr. Crystal Brown earned her Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus in comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. She also has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Pennsylvania State University and a certificate in Data Analytics from Harvard University.

Her scholarship examines the inclusivity of marginalized groups. As a computational social scientist, she uses mixed methods, combining statistical approaches with qualitative techniques to find insights beyond numerical data. Dr. Brown’s work examines real-world problems in politics, public policy, and governance, with a particular focus on the lived experiences of the people most affected by them.

 

Select Grants and Fellowships:

  • (PI), Subaward S-STEM NSF Grant from Virginia Tech, SHIFT: STEM Identities for Students Engagement and Transfer Pathways, (2025-2026)
  • (PI) WPI Morgan Teaching and Learning Center, REGIST: Responsible AI in Economy, Governance, Innovation, Society, and Technology (2025-2026).
  • (Co-PI) NSF S-STEM Grant, Creating a Path to Achieving Success and Sense of Belonging in Computer Science (PASS CS)  (2023-2028)
  • (PI) Russell Sage Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Proposal Development Summer Institute Fellow (Summer 2020, moved to Summer 2021)
  • Fulbright Schuman Fellow in Denmark and Sweden (2017-2018). 
Office
SL 312
Fax
email: cbrown2@wpi.edu
Phone
+1 (508) 8315000 x5163
CV
ORCiD
Google Scholar
Professional Website
Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Quality Education Goal

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Gender Equality Goal

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Decent Work and Economic Growth Goal

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce inequality within and among countries

Reduced Inequalities Goal

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Sustainable Cities and Communities Goal

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Goal
Research Interests
comparative politics; international relations; public policy
women, marginalized groups; inclusivity
migration; race/ethnicity and politics; governance
STEM education; science-technology policy
data analytics; research methods

Scholarly Work

See Dr. Crystal Brown's CV

Professional Affiliations
American Political Science Association (APSA)
International Studies Association (ISA) - ENMISA Program Chair 2026-present
Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)
National Conference for Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS)
International Public Policy Association (IPPA)
Professional Highlights & Honors
Fulbright Schuman Scholar in Denmark and Sweden, 2017 - 2018
United States Fulbright Scholar Program

News

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Announcements

Media Coverage

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Inside Higher ED
How professors can foster inclusivity with their syllabus

Inside Higher Ed highlighted recent research by WPI researchers who looked into how syllabi can signal inclusivity in the classroom. The study, originally published in Nature’s Humanities and Social Sciences Connections, was authored by Francesca Bernardi, Crystal Brown, Lindsay Davis, Michelle Ephraim, Rebecca Moody and Raisa Trubko. 

Associated Press
Ukraine invasion spotlights the delicate state of democracy

The Associated Press spoke with Assistant Professor of Social Science & Policy Studies Crystal Brown about how the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy, and how Vladimir Putin has used the appearance and infrastructure of democracy to gain, and keep, power.