Rate My Professor Antonio Ugues

Dr. Antonio Ugues Jr. serves as Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy Studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside (2013), an M.A. from the same institution (2009), and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from California State University, Bakersfield (2006). His research interests center on democracy, electoral systems, and electoral integrity, with current projects exploring public attitudes toward democracy and electoral integrity in contemporary Mexican and U.S. politics. Ugues joined St. Mary's College of Maryland as Assistant Professor of Political Science in July 2013, advanced to Associate Professor in August 2019, and has directed the Center for the Study of Democracy—a partnership with Historic St. Mary's City—from August 2019 to 2025. He contributes to public engagement through appointments such as the Maryland 250 Commission civics working group chair and as an international observer in Mexico's 2024 presidential election.

Ugues's publications feature in prominent outlets such as Electoral Studies, Journal of Politics in Latin America, Latin American Politics and Society, Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, Journal of Legislative Studies, Democracy and Security, Political and Military Sociology: An Annual Review, and California Journal of Politics and Policy. Key works include 'Public Perceptions of Clean Elections in Mexico: An Analysis of the 2000, 2006, and 2012 Elections' (Journal of Politics in Latin America, 2018); 'The Relationship Between Crime Victimization, Corruption, and Public Attitudes of Mexico’s Armed Forces' with Diego Esparza (Democracy and Security, 2018); 'Los Congresos Estatales y la Política Federal en México: State Legislatures and Federal Policy Making in Mexico' with D. Xavier Medina Vidal and Shaun Bowler (Journal of Legislative Studies, 2017); 'Public Evaluations of Electoral Institutions in Mexico: An Analysis of the IFE and TRIFE in 2006 and 2012' with D. Xavier Medina Vidal (Electoral Studies, 2015); and the chapter 'Electoral Management in Central America' in Advancing Electoral Integrity (Oxford University Press, 2014). His scholarship has accumulated 193 citations on Google Scholar, with emphases in comparative politics, Mexican politics, political behavior, and electoral integrity. Honors encompass Faculty Development Grants from St. Mary's College of Maryland (2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2017-2018), the Dodge Award for Outstanding Service, UC Riverside's Dissertation Year Program Fellowship (2011-2012), and UC MEXUS Small Grants Award (2011). Ugues teaches in comparative politics, Mexico and Latin America, democracy, electoral systems, and electoral integrity, and has presented research at the Latin American Studies Association, Midwest Political Science Association, and International IDEA conferences.