Professor Jarred Cuellar Named 2026 Emerging Scholar
Jarred Cuellar, assistant professor of political science has been named a 2026 Emerging Scholar by The EDU Ledger, a national higher education news outlet. The award honors outstanding university and college faculty under 40 years old who are making a significant impact in their classroom, in their communities and through their research. This year, only 14 scholars across the United States were selected.
A first-generation college graduate and son of working-class parents, Cuellar grew up in Bellflower and attended high school in Lakewood. His educational path through the California Community College and University of California systems informs both his teaching and his research.
In the classroom, Cuellar teaches political science as a form of civic empowerment, helping students move beyond understanding politics to actively engaging in it. In fall 2024, he taught the special topics course “Iowa: 2024 Nominations” on American grassroots politics that culminated in a 10-day field trip to the Iowa Caucus. That experience gave 13 first-generation students firsthand exposure to national electoral politics. They also participated in a presidential candidate’s Q&A and attended a six-hour candidate rally engaging with caucus captains.
“For a lot of them,this was a chance to see the political process outside California," said Cuellar. "It wasn’t just getting an up-close look as an observer but also knocking on doors. It’s part of the learn-by-doing that sets us apart.”
This semester, Cuellar is teaching Introduction to Race and Ethnic Politics (PLS 2080), Research Methods for Public Administration (MPA 5040) and a senior thesis course (PLS 4620). Beyond the classroom, he mentors undergraduates as faculty advisor to the Political Science Club, “I Am First” mentoring program for first-generation students, and the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He also chairs several Master of Public Administration thesis committees.
Cuellar’s research focuses on Latino political behavior, representation and political identity, examining how demographic change and regional context shape democratic participation. His recent peer-reviewed article on Latino evangelicals’ vote choice in the 2020 presidential election explores the intersection of faith and politics within one of the nation’s fastest-growing demographic groups. He has also published work on political methodology, contributing to scholarship on research design and measurement. Notably, Cuellar’s first peer-reviewed article was published when he was just 22 years old, while still a graduate student at the University of Arkansas.
“As a model teacher-scholar, his work on voting behavior connects rigorous research with real-world impact, and he brings that same commitment to his teaching, engaging students through coursework and field trips that are both applied and relevant to the communities we serve,” said Camille Su-lin Johnson, dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. “His scholarship exemplifies our ‘become by doing’ philosophy and our commitment to faculty excellence. This achievement reflects the caliber of work happening in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, where our faculty are preparing students to lead, serve, and champion positive change in their communities.”
Cuellar's scholarship extends beyond academic journals. Cuellar co-authored the 2024 California Elections and Policy Poll and a statewide study on Proposition 50 redistricting and Latino representation. Together, these projects generated more than 400 mentions and interviews in the news, underscoring the public relevance of his research to policy discussions and civic life across California.
“Jarred Cuellar is an exemplary teacher-scholar: the learning experiences he gives students both in and out of the classroom crystalizes political concepts into practice and shapes appetites for lifelong learning and civic engagement,” said Provost Terri Gomez. “We are very proud that Dr. Cuellar has been recognized on a national level.”
Cuellar’s Emerging Scholar Award is just the latest among national honors for CPP faculty. Other outstanding CPP faculty who have recently received national recognition include Chemistry Professor Chantal Stieber and Chemical and Materials Engineering Professor Winny Dong, recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (2023 and 2022, respectively); Anthropology Associate Professor Amy Dao recognized as an Emerging Scholar in 2022; and Music Associate Professor Jessie Vallejo, one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40”, celebrated for music education excellence (2024), and winner of the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance's Prize for Best Article published in the fields of Ethnomusicology and Musicology (2025).