This project will expand the work done by the Valley Votes Project, supporting a series of initiatives designed to encourage voting in the state election and the development for future election cycles.
Students at Bridgewater College will have more opportunities to get involved in voter education and registration thanks to Dr. Bobbi Gentry, Associate Professor of Political Science at BC.
Dr. Bobbi Gentry’s work through the Valley Votes program identified the town of Bridgewater and the surrounding area as a “civic desert.” That means it’s an area where there are few, if any, organizations dedicated to educating the public on how civic action, like voting, directly affects their lives.
Bridgewater College political science professor Bobbi Gentry, who specializes in youth voting behavior, said that Kamala Harris being nominated as Biden’s replacement is likely to sway some young voters in the Shenandoah Valley.
Gentry is a scholar of teaching and learning who focuses on improving student engagement in the classroom through simulations, policy problem/solution proposals, and research projects. She is also a youth voting scholar and does extensive research in political identify development. Dr. Gentry has recently published her book, Why Youth Vote: Identity, Inspirational Leaders, and Independence. Her current work on the scholarship of teaching and learning includes best practices in internships, curriculum review in higher education, and identity development in the Political Science classroom.
