Welcome!

My name is Melanie L. Thompson and I am  currently a PhD Candidate at the Charles and and Louise Travers Political Science department at the University of California, Berkeley.

My research agenda focuses on the progress of equity in politics. Specifically,
my dissertation looks at the barriers to candidacy in sub-Saharan Africa.  I have conducted multiple rounds of fieldwork in Zambia.

I hold a Masters in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in  International Studies; Political Science with distinction from the University of California, San Diego. I was also a McNair Scholar at UC San Diego.