Welcome! I am a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Florida, specializing in Comparative Politics with a minor in International Relations and a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. My research examines elections, democratic institutions, political trust, voting behavior, public opinion, and political economy, with a particular interest in understanding how political institutions shape democratic accountability and citizen participation across African democracies.

My current research focuses on electoral trust and voter turnout in Nigeria, political trust in traditional authorities in Ghana, decentralization and local governance, and the political economy of elections. Using quantitative methods and large-scale survey data, I seek to explain how institutional performance influences political behavior and democratic legitimacy while contributing to broader debates in comparative politics and African politics.

I currently serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida and have also worked as a Research Assistant and Survey Research Analyst with Afrobarometer. Through these roles, I have contributed to policy-relevant research on governance, public opinion, elections, and development across Africa. My work has appeared in Afrobarometer publications and the Journal of Public Policy in Africa and has been presented at national and international conferences.

Before beginning my doctoral studies, I earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Science in Political Studies from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Prior to my graduate studies in the United States, I gained teaching and research experience in Ghana, where I developed a strong interest in democratic governance, public policy, and African politics.

My long-term research agenda seeks to advance our understanding of democracy, political institutions, and governance in Africa through rigorous, policy-relevant scholarship. As I continue my doctoral training, I aim to produce research that contributes to academic debates, informs public policy, and strengthens democratic institutions across the continent.

 Feel free to reach out to me at stephen.quansah@ufl.edu or visit my website at Stephen Quansah.