Dr. Jonathan L. Wharton is an associate professor of political science and urban affairs. He is a faculty advisor to SCSU's College Republicans, College Democrats, and Golf Club. Wharton earned his BA (History, cum laude), MPA, Ph.D. (Political Science, state and local government) from Howard University, an MA (History) from Rutgers University and George Mason University's study abroad programs in Asia.
Wharton currently serves on the Connecticut Democracy Center board and volunteers for New York City area chapters of his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He is a choir singer and council member at New Haven's First Congregational Center Church on the Green (moderator, deacon from 2017-2021). Wharton is a frequent tri-state area NPR stations' contributor as well as ctnewsjunkie.com and Hearst CT columnist for the New Haven Register, Connecticut Post, discussing state and local issues (media portfolio: https://muckrack.com/wharton). Wharton served on the Preservation Connecticut (2019-2024) New England Political Science Association boards (2018-2022) and New Haven City Plan commission (2016-2020). He was also New Haven Republicans chairman (2016-2018) and served on the Republican State Central Committee (2018-2020).
Prior to academia, Wharton worked for US Representatives Charles Rangel (D-NY), Glenn Poshard (D-IL) and Chris Shays (R-CT). In addition, he was a research analyst in the New Jersey state legislature's Office of Legislative Services and government affairs researcher for several Washington nonprofit organizations.
