Alfred G. Cuzán

• Position:  Distinguished University Professor
• Department:  Government
• Office Location:  Building 50, Room 123
• acuzan@uwf.edu
• Campus: 850.474.2345
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Biography:

Born in Havana, Cuba, Cuzán can trace his interest in politology (see here and here) to January 7, 1959, the day Fidel Castro triumphantly rode into Havana after ​Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country. Two years later, when Castro’s plans to establish a Soviet-style communist regime became evident, ​Cuzán and his family went into exile, eventually settling in Miami.

Professor Cuzán received a bachelor’s degree in government and economics from the University of Miami, and a master’s and doctorate degrees in political science, with a minor in economics, from Indiana University. During his professional career - all but four years spent at UWF - ​Cuzán​ has been awarded numerous grants and fellowships: ​two Fulbright scholar​ grants (2015 and 1983)​, ​several ​National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow​ships​ (2004, 1996, 1992, 1989 and 1988), ​a ​Reuben Askew Fellowsh​ip and a Henry Salvatori Fellow​ship. He chaired the Department of Government at UWF from 1992 to 2012. Most of his teaching and publications have been in the areas of American and comparative politics. Also, he was a founding member and co-authored several articles on the Pollyvote, a model for predicting the outcome of presidential elections. In spring ​2016, on a ​Fulbright schola​r grant, he taught at the University of Tartu, Estonia, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in northern Europe.

In gratitude, he acknowledges the many teachers and mentors who contributed to his education, the Maristas brothers in Cuba; the teachers at Miami Edison Jr. High and High School, especially Sra. Angela Veciana, also a Cuban exile, who taught him English and encouraged his writing; University of Miami professors Ramon Lemos, Bernie Schechterman, and Vergil Shipley; and Indiana University professos David Collier, Freddy Diamant, John Gillespie, Vincent and Elinor Ostrom, and James Witte.