Paul Testa, assistant professor of political science, has become an essential part of the political science department, with nearly every PhD candidate in the program encountering his expertise through at least one of the five quantitative methods courses he teaches. These foundational classes equip students with the analytical skills crucial for successful research and academic careers.
Testa offers support beyond regular office hours and tailors his approach to help students at all levels. His mentorship extends beyond formal advising roles—he has provided guidance on empirical research, including supervising dissertations and conference presentations, and supporting doctoral students’ survey experiments.
“Paul unfailingly invests deeply in each student, ensuring each advisee will have a methodologically robust dissertation. His patience, dedication, and talent for elevating the quality of student work are all exemplary,” says nominator Susan Moffitt, the John Hazen White Professor of Public Policy, Chair of Political Science.
Building Research Partnerships
Testa has established himself as an exceptional research collaborator, co-authoring numerous publications with doctoral students across diverse political science subfields. This approach has provided publication opportunities for a broader range of graduate students.
According to Moffitt, Testa strategically uses these collaborations as "opportunities to extend student training beyond his deep classroom engagement," creating pathways for students to gain practical publication experience.
Beyond the classroom, Testa serves on multiple dissertation committees. His mentorship extends beyond formal advising roles—he has provided guidance on empirical research, including supervising dissertation and conference presentations, and supporting doctoral students’ survey experiments.
Impact Beyond Technical Training
Graduate student Alejandro Contreras highlights the transformative nature of Testa's mentorship: “His mentorship provided not only the technical tools to develop my research but also the confidence to articulate why it mattered.”
Testa's contributions to graduate education also include his work through the Taubman Center, where he assists with designing and analyzing public opinion polls—projects that benefit both faculty research and graduate student training. His leadership in organizing the Taubman Workshop on Political Behavior has created valuable intellectual spaces for the academic community.
Robert Blair, the Arkadij Eisler Goldman Sachs Associate Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs, notes that Testa “has helped foster a collaborative and supportive environment for discussing research. His colleagues and students alike value his constructive feedback and collegial approach.”
A Holistic Approach to Mentoring
Multiple graduate student nominators emphasized Testa's ability to make students feel genuinely seen and valued. They praised his willingness to listen attentively to their concerns and provide thoughtful guidance on navigating the complex landscape of higher education and academic career development.
Despite the significant impact he has made on countless doctoral students' educational journeys, Testa remains characteristically modest about his contributions.
"Working with our students, helping them develop as scholars and seeing the tremendous work they do is one of the great privileges of this job," he reflects. “I'm deeply grateful for this award and incredibly thankful for the many great students I've had the opportunity to work with.”
Faculty members Paul Testa, Johanna Hanink, Stephanie Jones and Anubhav Tripathi receive the Graduate School’s Faculty Award for Advising & Mentoring at the University Awards Ceremony on April 30, 2025.