Emma Ebowe
I am an Assistant Professor of Government and Africana Studies at the College of William and Mary.
My research focusses on the social, political, and relational injustice produced by the welfare state. I have interests in theories of justice, black political thought, feminist theory, and the state. My recent work proposes ethical and policy correctives for injustice in the foster system and suggests new normative ideals to govern state intervention into intimate family life.
I have secondary interests in quantitatively examining partisan gerrymandering in congressional redistricting, specifically its implications for racial justice and democracy.
I have been a James M. and Cathleen D. Stone PhD Scholar in Inequality and Wealth Concentration and Graduate Fellow at the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics. I’m affiliated with the Center for American Political Studies, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, and the Algorithm-Assisted Redistricting Methodology (ALARM) Project.
Journal Articles
“Injustice, Relational Violence, and the Foster System.” American Journal of Political Science, Early View.
“Redistricting Reforms Reduce Gerrymandering by Constraining Partisan Actors.” Under review.
With Cory McCartan, Christopher T. Kenny, Tyler Simko, Michael Y Zhao, and Kosuke Imai.
Book Project
My current book project examines the contemporary foster systems in the US and UK, and critiques these systems for aggravating and compounding structural injustice.
To properly understand injustice in the contemporary foster system, I argue that we must correct a conceptual oversight about the definitive power of the system and how it is typically employed: the foster system engages in coercive relational intervention. More specifically, it enacts violence on our intimate relationships when it exercises its power to remove children from their carers. Much of the injustice in the system pertains to the misuse of this power, or, what I call, the capacity to employ relational violence.
An article defending my account of relational violence is available for Early View at the American Journal of Political Science.
TEACHING
I have experience teaching for courses in democratic theory, the history of political thought, justice, public policy, and black feminist thought and literature. Copies of my teaching evaluations and sample syllabi are available upon request.
Govt 402: Justice and the Family (Instructor, Fall 2025)
Senior seminar examining debates about reproduction, racial justice, gender, and patriarchal domination.
Gen Ed 1041: From Slavery to #MeToo (Teaching Fellow, Fall 2021)
An introductory course on black women’s voices and black feminist thought in the U.S.
Gov 10: Introduction to Political Theory (Teaching Fellow, Spring 2022)
An introductory course on the foundations of political theory.
Gov 1041/DPI 247: Justice by Means of Democracy (Teaching Fellow, Spring 2023)
A course at the intersection of political theory, theories of justice, and public policy.
Academic Advising
Concentration Advisor, Government Department (2021-2024)
Primary academic advisor for Government undergraduate students in Harvard’s second largest undergraduate dorm, Quincy House.
Residential Tutor, Quincy House (2021-2024)
On-call mentor and advisor to 470 sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Senior Thesis Advisor (2022-2024)
Advised theses in History and Literature, African and African American Studies, and Government.
SERVICE AND AFFILIATIONS
I have been fortunate to serve as a residential advisor and tutor in Harvard’s second largest undergraduate dorm, Quincy House, for the past four years. During my time as a residential tutor I have advised students on academic fellowships within and beyond the university community, declaring a concentration (major) in Government, going to graduate school, LQBTQ advocacy, consent, wellness, and writing a senior thesis. I have hosted dorm wide programming, events, and workshops.
Affiliations
I was a graduate student affiliate of the following centres and research groups:
The Center for American Political Studies
The Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
The Institute for Quantitative Social Science
The Algorithm-Assisted Redistricting Methodology (ALARM) Project.