Julian Wamble is currently assistant professor of political science at George Washington University
May 2025 – Drew University alum Julian Wamble C’11 recently published his first book, We Choose You: How Black Voters Decide Which Candidates to Support.
The book stemmed from Wamble’s PhD dissertation research which examined how Black voters make political decisions.
Julian Wamble C’11
“For too long, there has been a tendency, both in academic circles and in broader public discourse, to assume that voters will naturally support candidates who share their racial identity,” explained Wamble. “But when we look closer, history tells a different, more complex story.”
Now an assistant professor of political science at George Washington University, Wamble looks back on his undergraduate academic career at Drew as a launching pad for his career and passion.
“My time at Drew gave me the confidence to pursue the questions I cared about and the tools to pursue them rigorously,” said Wamble. “It taught me that good research is not just about answering questions, but about asking better ones, a lesson that has stayed with me at every career stage.”
In particular, Wamble points to his advisor, Patrick McGuinn, professor of political science and education, and his encouragement to participate in the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute, which gave Wamble early exposure to the world of academic research and planted seeds for his future scholarship.
“Returning to Drew, I completed an honors thesis in political science. This experience taught me how to frame research questions, navigate complex literatures, and write clearly and purposefully.”
For Wamble, the publication of his first book is a culminating moment.
“I am simply grateful,” said Wamble. “Writing this book was a labor of both passion and responsibility, and I am thankful for the mentors, experiences, and community that made it possible. The foundation I built at Drew was instrumental, and I hope this work can contribute to the larger conversation about how we understand Black political behavior, not just as a reaction to exclusion, but as a form of enduring strategy, agency, and vision.”
