Sheahan Virgin

American National Government

Washington and Lee University (will teach in Winter 2025)

Public Opinion and Political Behavior

Washington and Lee University (will teach in Winter 2025)

Campaigns and Elections

Washington and Lee University (will teach in Fall 2024)

Campaigns and Elections

The University of the South (taught in Spring 2024)

“I have rediscovered the importance of voting, as I had lost faith in our election system prior to this class. I learned about reform options which are actually obtainable and make more sense than our current system. This class made me want to continue to pursue politics at Sewanee.”

“Prof. Virgin has one of the best teaching styles I have encountered. I love that he does a type of concept mapping on the board that is easy to translate into my notes. He also includes some visual aids that make understanding difficult concepts easier. It is obvious he is very passionate about the course material, making his students more engaged and interested in the subject as well.”

“The math games really helped me put concepts into practice and they were a breeze to get through (as someone who isn't great at math)! I feel as though the readings selected were digestible, yet they really delved into the crux of what we were learning and were highly interesting.”

The Presidency

The University of the South (taught in Fall 2023 x2)

“This class raised awareness of certain political science approaches and theories that I had not been exposed to yet. It was very interesting to learn different philosophies in regards to the way that the office of the president works and the ways it impacts the public and others.”

“I could tell that Dr. Virgin was excited about the material. There were many times this semester that real world events and the course content overlapped; he was able to incorporate these events into class and held time dedicated to understanding the politics of today.”

“This class changed my perspective on the modern presidency. I now approach the presidency by going to founder discussions (something I did not do before, but now see value in, at least in framing why things are how they are). I also am able to see a clear line of the presidency growing while being able to critically analyze the impact of its reach today.”

Introduction to American Government

The University of the South (taught in Fall 2023, Spring 2024 x2)

“I learned so much about the American government and really appreciated the approach the professor took by comparing the US to other democracies. I feel like a more involved citizen and voter now, and I know I can take the information from this class into the real world.”

“Professor Virgin is very passionate about the content of this course and he really makes an effort for us to retain the information he's teaching and apply it to other concepts of the course. I like his teaching style and how he maps all the key points onto the board in an organized way. I think he's very fair with all students.”

“As someone who enjoys lecture–style instruction, I found Professor Virgin's lectures enthusiastic, knowledgable, and designed to both create and push past a foundational base of American political knowledge.”

Democratic Decline in the U.S.

Grinnell College (taught in Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2023)

“Course definitely increased my ability to understand current events and also to examine politicians' consequential impact in a more pronounced way. I had no idea that norms were such a major component of democracy. The figures and models will stick with me.”

“The lectures, and especially his diagrams and metaphors, were extremely helpful for understanding course materials and current events. I think the lessons from this class will be of the upmost importance in future years.”

“I greatly enjoyed this class and would definitely take more classes with Professor Virgin in the future. He was dynamic, engaging, and created a good rapport with the class that made students feel able to participate. Lectures were always clearly thoughtfully planned.”

Comparative Electoral Systems

Grinnell College (taught in Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023)

“Prof. Virgin will personally make sure you get the support you need if you ask for it. He's patient and understanding and is committed to making sure his students succeed. He thinks through the assignments strategically and makes sure they actually add value.”

“I always enjoyed his assignments, and they are very different from any class I have ever taken. They are fun and personalized, but also challenging and really reinforce the information we learn in class. I think comparative processes are highly undervalued, but it is an important skill.”

“Prof. Virgin is great at taking complicated content and speaking about it in a way that makes the content easy to understand. I enjoyed the white board lecture format: it made for good notes and made me feel like I was in a classroom again.”

Public Opinion and Political Behavior

Grinnell College (taught in Fall 2020, Spring 2022)

“Professor Virgin always did a great job dissecting the readings and concepts we were discussing. I genuinely have never seen a more clear plan about how classes would be conducted throughout the week. It really helped inform me about what was expected from me and my peers.”

“Professor Virgin's teaching style, presence, and empathetic attitude make his courses both enriching and enjoyable. He is funny, supportive, and delightful as a professor who goes the extra mile to accommodate his students. He goes out of his way to help you work on your writing skills.”

“I had a wonderful experience in this class, developed a positive and productive relationship with the professor, and I am confident it contributed significantly to my political science knowledge. Class focused on a side of politics I had not had much exposure to and really energized me.”

Introduction to Political Science

Grinnell College (taught in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022 x2, Spring 2023)

“I learned a lot about the ‘science’ of politics and how to apply it to real-world situations and everyday discussions. I really enjoyed this course and especially how the professor ran it. His investment and enthusiasm makes me want to take another course with him.”

“I feel like I now have a very strong foundation in political science, with a broad array of ideas, concepts, and ideologies explained and clarified. Honestly, this class should be mandatory for anyone looking to engage in educated political discourse. I really really enjoyed Prof. V.”

“I personally think it's brilliant to use a fictional book with a fictional world to apply our understanding of real-world political science ideas. It removes a lot of the bias we may have directed at actual countries. The novel was a unique way to test our understanding of the class.”