Scott Barclay is the Assistant Vice President of Research in ASU's Knowledge Enterprise and a Professor of Political Science. He also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the NSF Inaugural Engines: Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE). From 2017 to 2023, Dr. Barclay served as the Director of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences in ASU's New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
He received his doctorate in political science from Northwestern University and his bachelor's degree (with first class honors) from the University of Queensland in Australia.
He previously served (2009-2011 and 2016-2017) as a Program Director in the Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation. He has held positions at Drexel University, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), University at Albany, University of Washington, and U.C. Santa Cruz.
His ongoing research project explores the interplay of political, demographic and social movement factors that influence the deployment of law. His research has been published in Law & Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, Political Research Quarterly, Perspectives on Politics and Law and Policy. His research findings have been directly referenced in the New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation and his research has been supported by private foundations.