Desiree Pedescleaux

Desiree Pedescleaux serves as Dean of Undergraduate Studies and is an associate professor of the political science department at Spelman College. A member of the faculty since 1991, she teaches courses in National Government, Constitutional Law, Civil Liberties, and Urban Politics. Pedescleaux is a member of the American Political Science Association, the Urban Affairs Association, Southern Political Science Association, and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists where she served as President (2007-2009). She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching at Spelman College and Emerging Scholar (Black Issues in Higher Education), Ford Foundation Dissertation Award, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.  

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pedescleaux earned a Master of Arts degree and doctorate in Political Science from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern University in 1983, graduating valedictorian.