Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan
Madeira Beach, Pinellas County
Committees:
Dr. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan is Associate Professor of Political Science, pre-law Advisor, and Founding Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where she teaches courses in American Government and Public Law. Her latest book, Congressional Participation as Amicus Curiae before the U.S. Supreme Court, explores how Members of Congress attempt to influence Supreme Court decision-making in specific cases.
Professor McLauchlan has extensive experience in American government and politics; she worked at the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the White House. A veteran of several presidential campaigns, she has managed statewide operations across the U.S., from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon.
The central theme throughout her career has been to engage citizens in the democratic process – whether guiding a tour at the U.S. Supreme Court, compiling reports about the calls coming in to the White House Comment Line, directing a state-wide campaign or teaching an American Government class – her passion has been to encourage citizens to participate more fully in our constitutional democracy.
She believes strongly in the “citizen scholar” model, and she strives to engage her students in government not only as a means of enhancing their understanding of American politics but also as a means of civic education and civic engagement. In every course she teaches, she incorporates civic engagement opportunities for her students that are related to the course objectives. (See www.stpt.usf.edu/whitehouse)
As Founding Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at USF St. Petersburg, she has led the charge to integrate civic engagement across the curriculum and to develop sustainable long-term community partnerships. (See www.stpt.usf.edu/community)
She has also explored issues related to service learning and civic engagement in her research. She has presented her findings at regional, national, and international conferences and has published articles and book chapters related to the effect of integrating civic engagement and service learning in the curriculum.
McLauchlan also serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, as the Chair of the Public Affairs Committee of the Junior League of St. Petersburg, and as President of the Florida Political Science Association. McLauchlan recently received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for community service in conjunction with the Junior League of St. Petersburg.
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