Barnes focuses on sexual violence research

Mariel Barnes joins the La Follette School as an assistant professor of public affairs this fall. Her primary research agenda examines everyday forms of violence against women, gender, and the politics of the welfare state with a specific focus on highly industrialized countries.

Barnes is a core faculty member of UW–Madison’s Sexual Violence Research Initiative, an interdisciplinary group designed to investigate the psychological, societal, and policy aspects of sexual violence. She also is interested in the relationship between gender and institutions, including the representation and incorporate of women.

Barnes’ research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, the Mercatus Center, and the Institute for Humane Studies.

Barnes received a PhD in government from Cornell University, a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in politics and international studies, and history from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.