Udi Sommer is professor of political science at the State University of New York.
A track-and-field athlete during his high school years, Udi joined the Israeli Air Force and then went on to graduate from the Amirim program at the Hebrew University. He was the director of several projects aiming to redress social inequalities in Israel, among them the Summer Youth University at Tel Aviv, and a Dor Shalom project for emigrants from Ethiopia. His master’s degree in clinical psychology is from the Tel Aviv University and he earned a PhD in political science from Stony Brook University.
In his capacity as a professor, Udi specializes in political institutions and political behavior. Benefiting from the support of a Fulbright Doctoral Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Grant, Udi has published research on both American and Israeli politics. The graduate and undergraduate classes he regularly teaches run the gamut from constitutional law and civil liberties to comparative politics and political methodology. Apart from his academic endeavors, Udi has contributed op-ed pieces in Israeli media outlets such as Haaretz and Ynet, and is a published author with his second volume of poetry, Trucks, forthcoming. At present, he lives in New York City with his wife and kids.
Topics:
- Israeli Governmental System and Constitutional Issues
- Personal Story: Political Science in Israel and the United States
