Faculty Directory
Academics at Fort Lewis College

About Dr. Paul DeBell

Dr. DeBell is an associate professor of Political Science at Fort Lewis College. He joined the College in 2016. Previously, DeBell was an instructor of record and a teaching associate for The Ohio State University focusing on American foreign policy, eastern European politics, comparative politics and modern democratic politics.

The recipient of numerous fellowships from The Ohio State University, Dr. DeBell received the Distinguished University Fellowship in 2014, the Behavioral Sciences Fellowship in 2011, and the FLAS academic year fellowship for Russian, Center for Slavic and East European Studies in 2010. Active professionally, DeBell is a member of the American Political Science Association (APSA) and co-chaired the “Violence and Human Security in Developing Countries” panel at APSA in 2014.

DeBell’s recent research includes “Undermining Democracy with Disgust: The Politics of Outrage and Democratic Back-sliding,” “What is the Value of Left and Right? Party Competition and Political Ideology in Post-Communist Europe,” and “How Emotional Response Moderates Reactions to Political Attacks in Established and Developing Democracies.”

In the news

• The Durango Herald, 2021, "Voters showed desire for status quo in Durango City Council election, observers say"
• Colorado Public Radio's Colorado Matters, 2021, "Buck, Crow On Capitol Chaos & Moving Ahead; How Will Democracy Hold Up?"
• Colorado Public Radio, 2020, "The Lauren Boebert-Diane Mitsch Bush Race In Colorado’s 3rd District Appears To Be Cast Out Of Larger Presidential Politics"
• The Durango Herald, 2020, "Drop box at Fort Lewis College aims to increase voter turnout"
• The Durango Herald, 2020, "With field set, U.S. Senate candidates prepare for November"
• The Durango Herald, 2020, "Is government response to health crisis causing irreversible damage to civil liberties?" 
• Colorado Public Radio, 2020, "The 3rd Congressional Is A Huge, Contrasting Cross Section Of Colorado. Now It’s Up To Boebert Or Mitsch Bush To Win Over Voters"
• The Durango Herald, 2020, "Rise of the unaffiliated in La Plata County"
• The Durango Herald, 2019, "As unaffiliated voters surge, major party candidates court their votes"
• FLC Magazine, 2019, "Faculty team witnesses the migrant experience in Tijuana"
• The Durango Herald, 2018, "Fort Lewis College students study what motivates young voters"
• The Durango Herald, 2018, "Fort Lewis College students seek to boost voter turnout among peers"