Former Professor Nelson Polsby Dies at 72
Olivia Drake| Posted 02/16/07 |
 Nelson Polsby, renowned political scientist, died on February 6 at the age of 72. Polsby was a member of the Wesleyan faculty from 1961 through 1968, rising meteorically from the rank of assistant professor to full professor.
According to Karl Scheibe, professor emeritus of psychology, Nelson left an indelible mark on Wesleyan, even though he was only here for seven years. Polsby was a prolific author of books and articles and editor of The American Political Science Review, the premier political science journal. Perspectives on Politics noted that Polsby ranked in the top ten of most frequently cited political scientists among those entering the field when he did. In the early 1980s, Polsby was a visiting professor at the Roosevelt Center for American Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., a private think tank that specialized in issues of defense policy and disarmament. Wesleyan President Douglas Bennet was the Roosevelt Centers first president and he and Polsby remained life-long friends. Nelson Polsby is survived by his wife, Linda, his children, and grandchildren. |
| Photo by Jane Scherr, University of California, Berkley. |
Olivia Drake
Steve Scarpa