WSU Urban Studies Blog

The Precinct Project at Worcester State University brings together interdisciplinary teams of faculty, students, and community members who collaboratively explore the region’s political and civic cultures at both micro- and macro-levels. The project aims to examine local elections and politics at granular levels to understand how and why voters behave the ways they do, and explore how Central Massachusetts communities can increase municipal voter turnout to realize more representative democracies in their cities and towns. This work is intended to be both for and with the community. Its first publication, a report written over the summer of 2026 , establishes some of the basics of the project and a few of its methodological approaches (historical research, geospatial analysis, and quantitative statistical modeling). It contains GIS maps and data details of selected precincts, analysis of important metrics in Worcester's municipal elections, and statistical modeling that explores w...

Worcester State University faculty, students, and staff attended the recent joint NCPH/AASLH Conference in Providence, RI, which ran from September 16 - 19, 2026.  Entitled "The Work of Revolution," the National Council of Public History (NCPH) and the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) held the joint conference in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.    Dr. Erika Briesacher (History & Political Science), Dr. Thomas Conroy (Urban Studies), and Dr. Megan Moran (Binienda Center for Civic Engagement) led students from their departments to various workshops and seminars at the conference, and they also met with public history professionals and WSU alums while they were there. 

  Dr. Shiko Gathuo, Professor of Urban Studies and Graduate Program Director, has been named a 2026 recipient of the Katharine F. Erskine Award. The Katharine F. Erskine Award recognizes women who have demonstrated leadership and reached exemplary levels of achievement in their professions and communities. Award recipients show a commitment to the YWCA of Central Massachusetts’ mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Those who know Dr. Gathuo know just how much she is truly deserving of this award for her teaching and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, her collaborations with university faculty and alumni, her scholarly and creative work on Kenya and the U.S., and her various contributions to the Worcester community. Dr. Gathuo will be recognized at the YWCA Central Massachusetts Tribute to Women ceremony on September 29th at the AC Hotel Worcester. Congratulations to Dr. Gathuo for this well deserved hono...