Stella M. Rouse

Stella M. Rouse is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government and Politics, Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, and Associate Director of the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll.

Rouse’s research and teaching interests focus on youth politics, Latino politics, minority politics, state politics, civic engagement, and immigration. She is the author of two books: "Latinos in the Legislative Process: Interests and Influence" (Cambridge University Press, 2013), and "The Politics of Millennials: Political Beliefs and Policy Preferences of America’s Most Diverse Generation" (co-authored with Ashley Ross), which was published in August 2018. She has published articles on how generational and ethnic identities influence climate change beliefs, the effect of electoral structures on minority representation, religion and ethno-racial political attitudes, and Latino representation and education.

Rouse is a board member for the “Women Also Know Stuff” initiative and a former fellow at the Public Religion Research Institute.

A native of Colombia, Rouse grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after her parents immigrated there when she was two years old. She fluently speaks, reads and writes Spanish.