Terri Towner

B.A. 2002, M.A. 2004, and Ph.D. 2007, Political Science, Purdue University

Professor of Political Science at Oakland University in Michigan

Terri L. Towner is Professor of Political Science at Oakland University in Michigan. At Oakland, Terri teaches a variety of courses in American politics, including Introduction to American Politics, Elections and Voting Behavior, and Politics and the Internet. Her research focuses mainly on the role of social media in campaigns and elections, with a particular focus on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She has published over 30 manuscripts and most recently co-authored the book, The Internet and the 2016 Presidential Campaign (2017). Terri was an Honors College Visiting Scholar at Purdue University in 2016 and 2018. She was also invited by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany, to participate in a speaking tour on "Political Campaigning and Social Media in the 2018 U.S. Midterm Elections."

Terri has won numerous awards, honorariums, and grants. At the university level, she was nominated for Oakland's Teaching Excellence Award in 2013 and 2014. She received the Service Award in 2012 and the Research Award in 2018. She has received other departmental honors, such as the Faculty Service Award, Merit prizes for scholarship and teaching, and the Honors College Inspiration Award.

Service is an integral part of Terri's career. She has served as the faculty advisor to the Pi Sigma Alpha (national Political Science Honor Society) chapter since 2010. This talented student group has been named "Best Chapter" by the national office seven times and has also earned awards from Oakland's Center for Student Activities and Leadership Development. Since 2013, Terri has served as the Faculty Editor of the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, advising the student-run Editorial Board for the National Office.

During her time at Purdue, Terri was a member/officer of Purdue Student Government, the Panhellenic Association, Pi Sigma Alpha, Delta Delta Delta, and the Pre-Law Society. She is an active Purdue alum, holding a life membership with the Purdue Alumni Association and supporting the Purdue Alumni Club of Madison County.