Dean Caivano G’13

Assistant Professor of Political Theory
College of Arts and Sciences
Professor Caivano

What are your research interests?

Primarily, I am a democratic theorist with an emphasis on continental thought and American political thought. My work examines how ‘democracy’ has been taken up conceptually and historically, mainly within the American republic. Assessing American democracy beyond the liberal and republican paradigms, I seek to explore how moments of democratic energy and eruptions are scattered across the lifespan of the American experiment in self-government. I’m also researching the potential that storytelling—through oral traditions and from cinema and literature—maintains within the democratic imaginary.

What classes are you teaching at Lehigh?

I’ll be teaching a wide array of courses within our political theory subfield. These include classes such as Introduction to Political Thought, Politics of Authenticity, Philosophy, and American Political Thought.

What degrees do you hold and where did you earn them?

  • Ph.D., York University, Political Science
  • M.A., Lehigh University, Political Science
  • B.A., University of Pittsburgh, Philosophy and Politics.

What was your previous institution?

I’m joining Lehigh University after four years of teaching at Merced College in the Central Valley of California. There, I had the incredible opportunity to develop the political science program and curriculum at our main campus and for incarcerated students at two state prisons.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Teaching is the lifeblood of the profession. It is an experience that transforms how students see themselves and the world around them. Exploring political theory texts with students creates a vital, intimate space where the members of the classroom not only form a community, but also grapple with how ideas of the past influence the institutions that govern us and the relationships that shape us.

Why did you choose Lehigh?

Lehigh University has been the defining institution of my life. As a proud alumnus, the opportunities afforded to me as a student transformed how I engaged with the world. The university and the department of political science, in particular, refined and enhanced critical thinking skills that empower learners to be active members of their communities and to foster robust dialogue even in the face of difference. In many ways, I didn’t choose Lehigh, but Lehigh chose me to be a member of an academic campus that strives to build a more just and equitable community here in the Valley.