Janet Donavan is a teaching professor, associate chair and director of undergraduate studies in the Political Science Department. She teaches courses in American politics and American political thought and recently taught a special topics course on the role of universities in the U.S. political system. She has also coordinated the political science internship program and CU in DC. Prof. Donavan has several research areas, including research on the roles of ideas in American politics, the political construction of race and ethnicity in the United States and work on effective teaching and learning. When Prof. Donavan isn't engaged in work; she enjoys hiking, travel, reading, spending time with her family and walking her golden retriever, Sunshine.