Rate My Professor Polly Diven

Polly Diven is a Professor of Political Science and Director of the International Relations Program at Grand Valley State University, joining the faculty in 1994. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1995), an M.A.L.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (1985), and a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Hamilton College (1982). Her fields of expertise include international relations, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S. politics. Diven teaches courses such as International Relations, U.S. Foreign Policy, Great Decisions, Capstone in International Relations, and Capstone in Political Science. She became International Relations Coordinator and Internship Director in 2005, founded and advised the International House in Murray Living Center from 2010 to 2014, and coordinated the STAIR program—a joint degree initiative funded by the European Union and U.S. Department of Education involving students from Hungary, Poland, and GVSU—from 2009 to 2014.

Diven's research focuses on the intersection of domestic politics and U.S. foreign policy, particularly how domestic interest groups like agribusiness and "big pharma" shape policy, determinants of public opinion on U.S. foreign policy, comparative public opinion, and hyperpluralism's role in eroding trust in government. Selected publications include “Can’t Buy Me Love (with Foreign Aid)” in Foreign Policy Analysis 19:4 (2023, co-authored with John Constantelos and Whitt Kilburn); “The Hyperpluralism of U.S. Food Aid” in Foreign Policy Analysis 2:4 (2006); “The Domestic Determinants of U.S. Food Aid Policy” in Food Policy 26 (2001); “U.S. AIDS Policy in Africa: Balancing Competing Interests in PEPFAR Policy-Making” in Africa and the New World Era (2010); and “The Roots of Confidence in the European Union” in Horizons of Politics 4:8 (2014, co-authored with John Constantelos). She has presented at conferences such as the International Studies Association and European Consortium for Political Research. Awards and honors include the Fulbright Specialist Teaching Fellowship to Tunghai University, Taiwan (2023); 2025 Hillman-Orr Award from the World Affairs Council of West Michigan; GVSU Student Senate “Last Lecture” award (2022); Pew Teaching Award (2004); and multiple international grants. Diven has taught overseas at institutions in Taiwan, Germany, Romania, Sri Lanka, Poland, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, and organizes public lectures by experts on foreign policy and diplomacy to promote global awareness in West Michigan.