As someone who is always in go mode, I've learned in graduate school, you must slow things down and take it day by day.”
Monique Newton (she/her)
PhD Candidate in the Department of Political Science
Monique Newton is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She studies how police killings and traumatic events affect local Black political participation and the use of collective memory within the Black Lives Matter Movement. Monique is a 2024 recipient of the prestigious Presidential Fellowship and former Northwestern Prison Education Program instructor. Outside of academics, she is a lifelong athlete and avid sports fan.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
As a scholar of American politics, I examine local Black political behavior in American cities. Overall, my research explores how traumatic events by state agents, such as officer-involved killings or housing discrimination, impact local Black political participation in the United States. I focus on one traumatic event in particular: police killings of Black Americans. In my dissertation, I examine the evolution of collective memory, traumatic events, and their impact on collective action concerning the contemporary Black Lives Matter Movement that began in 2013.
I also study the local reparations movement in the United States, focusing primarily on the recent reparations policy passed in Evanston, Illinois.
What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns of your career?
As a sixth-year PhD candidate, I can honestly say that each year presents different challenges and new beginnings. Each year of the program has been unique. The COVID-19 pandemic began in my second quarter of graduate school, and I really struggled to complete the remaining year and a half of coursework online. Year 3 was pivotal for me regarding confidence, giving myself grace, and setting boundaries.
Tell us what inspired your research and/or work.
The killing of Tamir Rice in November 2014 sparked my interest in how local Black communities respond to state violence. Tamir was a 12-year-old Black boy killed in Cleveland, Ohio, at a park by a white police officer immediately upon arriving on the scene. After attending protests and watching others shut down the highway as a freshman at nearby Oberlin College, I thought to myself: “What happens next?” I’ve been studying local Black political behavior ever since!
Whom do you admire in your field and otherwise, and why?
I admire the plethora of Black women academics who do a fantastic job of setting boundaries. Two of them (Dr. Traci Burch and Dr. Sally Nuamah) are on my committee, but overall, I admire academics who maintain a work-life balance. That is something I constantly strive for. It is easier said than done, but it is a major goal of mine.
How do you unwind after a long day?
I'm a huge sports and music fan! I was a collegiate athlete and spent a little bit of time as a beat reporter covering Chicago's professional women's basketball team. I enjoy listening to whole albums on Friday mornings and going to live concerts. In addition to music and sports, my friends and my Chicago community are crucial for helping me unwind after a long day of studying Black political violence.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
My advice for my younger self would be to give myself grace. As someone who is always in go mode, I've learned in graduate school, you must slow things down and take it day by day. Moment by moment, even. It can be challenging, given the nature of the work, but it is essential to let yourself make mistakes and learn from them.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I was recently awarded the Northwestern Presidential Fellowship, so I'm excited to focus on my dissertation project for the next two years without TAing or teaching responsibilities. I am the first Political Science Presidential Fellow since 2006. I am also super excited to get to know the other Fellows!
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I am most proud of having made it this far in the program while staying true to myself and my communities back home. A native of Sacramento, California, I don't get to go home as much as I would like. However, not a day goes by where I don't think of how much folks are struggling to survive back home. Everything I accomplish is for them.
Publish Date: September 24, 2024
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