Ruth Mandel

Ruth Mandel (née Blumenstock; August 29, 1938 – April 11, 2020), usually published as Ruth B. Mandel, was an American political scientist and author who wrote about women in politics. She was the director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University for more than 20 years, where she was also a professor of politics. Before that she spent more than 20 years as the director of the Eagleton Institute's Center for American Women and Politics. Mandel was also an official at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Her daughter Maud Mandel is the 18th president of Williams College.

Early life and education Mandel was born in Vienna on August 29, 1938 to Mechel and Lea (née Schmelzer) Blumenstock. Mandel and her family, who were Jewish, attempted to flee Austria and Germany shortly before the Holocaust as refugees on the MS St. Louis.

As the director of the Center for American Women and Politics for more than 20 years, and then of the entire Eagleton Institute for another 24 years, Mandel has been credited with building substantial parts of the Eagleton Center as well as promoting the role of women in American politics more broadly. Obituaries for Mandel credited In the running with being "the first book-length account of women's experiences as candidates for political office". She remained in that position until 2006.

Mandel's work was cited, or she was interviewed, on topics relating to women and politics in news outlets like The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, The Atlantic, and Politico. Mandel was awarded both an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Chatham College and an honorary Doctor of Public Administration from Georgian Court University.