Dr. Thomas A. Schmeling earned his B.A. from St. Olaf College and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently an associate professor of political science and chair of the political science department at Rhode Island College. At RIC, he has been a member of the Academic Committee On Retention Needs, studying ways to improve college completion, and served two terms as the chair of the Council of Rhode Island College. He has been actively involved in public education issues, and was a founder of the East Side Public Education Coalition. His teaching and research focus on state and federal courts and quantitative data analysis.

Community Engagement
Summit Neighborhood Association – Board of Directors, 2008-Present
East Side Public Education Coalition – Founding Member, 2006-2009
Superintendent’s Committee on the Future of Nathan Bishop Middle School – 2006-2008
Chair, Department of Political Science – 2008-Present
Chair, Council of Rhode Island College – 2005-2007
Director, Bachelor of General Studies Program – 2004-2010

Education

• Ph.D., Political Science | University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999
• B.A., Philosophy and Political Science | St. Olaf College, 1980