Dr. Ryan LaRochelle

Ryan LaRochelle is a Senior Lecturer at the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine, where he teaches courses in both leadership studies and political science. He received his B.A. in Political Science and History from St. Michael’s College and his Ph.D. in Politics from Brandeis University. Prior to coming to the University of Maine, he was a visiting lecturer at Brandeis and a fellow at the Gordon Center for American Public Policy.

Prof. LaRochelle’s research and teaching interests include American political development, U.S. social policy, social movements, and political history. He is currently working on two major research projects: an oral history and biography of Secretary William S. Cohen and a book-length analysis of the political and policymaking legacies of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society initiatives. His scholarly research has been published in Studies in American Political Development, the Journal of Policy History, The Forum, and the Maine Policy Review.

Prof. LaRochelle is also a member of the Maine Scholars Strategy Network. For several years, he co-led an SSN Working Group on Social Policy and the Safety Net, which brought together experts from across the state to inform public debate on issues related to poverty, inequality, and the safety net. As part of his work with SSN, Prof. LaRochelle has authored and co-authored articles on U.S. social policy in national and international venues including the Washington Post, Washington Monthly, the London School of Economics US Politics and Policy blog, along with several local news outlets.