Susan D. Hyde, a professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley and a 2000 Linfield graduate, will deliver the commencement address to the class of 2018.

Hyde’s achievements include receiving the International Studies Association’s 2012 Chadwick Alger Prize, American Political Science Association’s 2012 Comparative Democratization Section best book award, and the 2012 Gustav Ranis International Book Prize for the best book on an international topic by a member of the Yale ladder faculty, all for her first book, “The Pseudo-Democrat’s Dilemma: Why Election Observation Became an International Norm.”

In addition to her successful writing, Hyde serves as the Executive Director of the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) research network, a global network of scholars and practitioners dedicated to generating and disseminating rigorous evidence on governance, politics, and institutions.

She also holds the Avice M. Saint Chair in Public Policy at Berkley, and is an expert on international election observation, election fraud, and the promotion of democracy.

Before her accomplishments, Hyde studied political science whilst participating in Linfield’s track and cross-country programs. She has a master’s and a doctorate in political science from the University of California, San Diego.

Commencement will take place on the Oak Grove on Saturday, May 27.