Email: agangl@wisc.edu
Tell us about your professional background, and your current role and work at UW–Madison.
Hi, I’m Amy Gangl. I’m the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Political Science at UW–Madison, where I teach a mix of courses on political psychology, political communication, and a senior thesis seminar, along with professional development and internship seminars. I also run programs that connect students with mentors, get them involved in research, and help them figure out what’s next, whether that’s grad school, policy work, or something else entirely. I’ve spent the past couple of decades teaching, advising, and creating opportunities for students to connect what they learn in class with the world outside it.
Ever since I started teaching courses at the University of Minnesota, where I received my PhD in Political Science, my facilitation style has been pretty collaborative and grounded, and it remains so. Whether I’m leading a discussion on democratic polarization in D.C. with Global Gateway students or mentoring a group working on local policy projects through the UniverCity Alliance, I try to keep things practical and reflective. I like to bring in real examples, ask good questions, and give people space to bounce ideas around. I also co-lead a teaching colloquium for political science grad students and thoroughly enjoy facilitating mentor training with the Delta Program, where I get to work with grad students and postdocs who are building their approaches to inclusive, thoughtful mentoring.
What are your experiences with and philosophy about mentoring?
Mentoring, for me, is all about meeting people where they are and helping them get where they want to go. I try to create a space that’s supportive, honest, and low on pretense. I want students and early-career professionals to feel like they can ask real questions, take risks, and figure things out without needing to have it all perfectly mapped out. I see mentoring as a two-way relationship rooted in trust and curiosity. I’m there to offer feedback, connect folks to opportunities or people, and ask the kinds of questions that help clarify what they care about and how they might want to grow. I also try to be transparent about my path and what I’ve figured out, what I’ve stumbled through, and to remind people that learning curves are normal and valuable. I learn so much from the mentoring process and my philosophy and approach has evolved over time.
Please share something important, interesting, or fun about yourself.
When I’m not working, I enjoy reading novels, watching movies and limited series on way too many streaming services, or I am out on a run. I’ve recently taken up pickleball, and I almost always have a podcast in my ears. I love stories in all forms, whether they’re unfolding in fiction, film, or real-life conversations, and I’m always up for discussion about a good plot twist or character deep dive. I also really value time with my family. We love to travel and eat good food together.