MALLIGA OCH

ABOUT

I am an Associate Professor of Politics at Denison University where I teach classes on Comparative Politics and International Relations with a focus on Europe and gender issues. From 2016-2023, I worked as an Assistant and Associate Professor of Global Studies at Idaho State University.

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I am an expert on gender and politics with a particular focus on conservative parties in the OECD region. I am the co-editor of The Right Women: Republican Activists, Candidates, and lawmakers (Praeger Press 2018) and Women and Politics: Global Lives in Focus (ABC-CLIO, 2023). I have also co-edited two special issues on conservative women: “Sell-Outs or Warriors for Change? A Comparative Look at Rightist, Political Women in Democracies” (Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy 2020), and a dialogue section “Feminism, Identities, and the Substantive Representation of Women on the Right – Crafting a Global Dialogue” (Politics, Groups, Identities 2021). I have authored 18 journal articles and book chapters. In addition, my research has been featured in 20 popular outlets including Ms Magazine, Gender & Development, The Conversation, Akzente, and Australian Outlook, and I have been quoted as an expert in USA Today, the Salt Lake Tribune, the Philadelphia Inquirer, among others. 

I received the 2020 Craig L. Brians Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research & Mentorship given by the Political Science Education Section of the American Political Science Association and the 2018 Faculty of the Year Benny award given by the Idaho State University Student Government. I also received the 2018 Yellow Rose Award (Zonta International Pocatello Club) for my contribution in the community to advance women’s equality.

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Outside of academia, I have been a Research Fellow with the Reflective Democracy Campaign (Women Donors Network, the Research Director of Political Parity (former program of Hunt Alternatives), and the Co-Chair of the Denver for CEDAW Campaign (United Nations Association Denver Chapter). My non-profit engagement includes the Public Advisory Committee of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, the Colorado Leadership Council of the White House Project, the Diversity Council of Big Sister Association Boston, Women in National Association of Asian-American Professionals Boston. I also served as a mayoral appointee on the Human Relations Advisory Committee of the city of Pocatello. 

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I hold a PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver, a MA in Political Science from the University of Colorado in Denver, and a Magister Artium in Political Science, Communications, and Law from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.