Honoring Excellence: Michael Neblo Named 2025 Distinguished Scholar
The Ohio State University has recognized Dr. Michael A. Neblo, professor of political science and director of the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA), with its 2025 Distinguished Scholar Award, one of the highest honors the university bestows on a faculty member.
The award recognizes faculty whose research and scholarship have made a lasting impact in their field. Dr. Neblo was recently surprised with the award by senior leadership from the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK), who celebrated his outstanding contributions and influence.
Dr. Neblo's research focuses on deliberative democracy and political psychology. He developed the concept of Deliberative Town Halls (DTHs), facilitating over 100 forums globally with partners including the U.S. Congress and governments in Chile, Australia, Nigeria, and the UK. His work bridges the gap between democratic theory and practice, fostering direct communication between citizens and their representatives.
As the founding director of IDEA, Dr. Neblo has played a leading role in advancing democratic engagement. Under his leadership, IDEA has launched innovative programs that connect citizens with policymakers, strengthening democratic processes in the U.S. and internationally.
Dr. Neblo’s scholarly contributions are widely recognized. His research has appeared in top journals, including Science, Nature Communications, and the American Political Science Review. His books, Politics with the People: Building a Directly Representative Democracy and Deliberative Democracy between Theory and Practice, have shaped the field of political science and democratic studies.
He credits his success to collaboration. “Everyone does their best research in community. I’ve been blessed to work in the best research community of colleagues, students, staff, and administrators anyone could hope for.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Neblo has received fellowships and support from organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation, the Democracy Fund, and the National Science Foundation—a reflection of his deep commitment to research, public service, and impact.
Ryan King, divisional dean of social and behavioral sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, praised Dr. Neblo’s work:
“I think of your work as being brilliant theoretically, but it's also very sophisticated methodologically... there's also a clear translational aspect to your work... I love that your work is punctuated with a bit of optimism but also clear-eyed realism and pragmatism.”
We congratulate Dr. Neblo on this well-deserved recognition and celebrate his continued contributions to the field of political science and democratic engagement.
