Sharon Navarro, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science and Geography
Contact
Bio
Dr. Sharon Navarro earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a second master’s degree and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Her expertise focuses on women’s political participation and its role in strengthening democracy, as well as the broader political engagement of varied populations. She has authored several books and articles examining how broad-based political participation enhances the quality of representation.
As a 2024–2025 Jefferson Science Fellow at the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Navarro serves in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the Office of International Labor Affairs, where she contributes her expertise on international human rights and labor issues.
In addition to her work at the State Department, Dr. Navarro is writing a political biography of former Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade. She is also deeply involved in her local community, consulting with women and other populations pursuing elected office. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is an avid cyclist and runner.
Teaching
- POL 1133 Texas Politics and Society
- POL 3093 Mexican/American Politics
- POL 5113 Latino/a Politics
Research Interests
- American political participation
- International Human Rights and Labor
Degrees
- Ph.D., College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.A., College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison ,
- M.A., College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas-El Paso (Honors)
- B.A., Department of Political Science, University of Texas-El Paso (Honors)
Honors and Awards
(2024-2025) Jefferson Science Fellow, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
(2024-2025) University of Texas at San Antonio Faculty Development Leave.
(2024-2025) University of Texas at San Antonio Faculty Development Leave.
