Professor Valentino is the Donald R. Kinder Collegiate Professor of Political Science and currently serves as a PI of the American National Election Studies (ANES). He is a student of political communication, political psychology, and electoral behavior. His work focuses on political campaigns, racial attitudes, emotions, and social group cues in news and political advertising. His current work examines the intersection between racial attitudes and emotion in predicting political participation and vote choice. He formerly served as president of the International Society of Political Psychology.

Major Awards

• Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2026)
• Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award (University of Michigan, 2024)
• Tronstein Award for Undergraduate Teaching in Political Science (University of Michigan, 2017)
• Erik H. Erikson Award for Early Career Research Achievements (International Society of Political Psychology, 2005)