Cal Poly Pomona professor Jarred Cuellar earns national recognition as 2026 Emerging Scholar

Jarred Cuellar, assistant professor of political science at Cal Poly Pomona, has been named a 2026 Emerging Scholar by The EDU Ledger, a national higher education news outlet that recognizes exceptional faculty under age 40 for excellence in teaching, research and community impact. 

Cuellar is one of just 14 scholars nationwide selected for the honor this year.

A first-generation college graduate and son of working-class parents, Cuellar grew up in Bellflower and attended high school in Lakewood before pursuing higher education through the California Community College and University of California systems.

His research focuses on Latino political behavior, representation and political identity, examining how demographic change and regional context shape democratic participation. His recent peer-reviewed article on Latino evangelicals’ vote choice in the 2020 presidential election explores the intersection of faith and politics within one of the nation’s fastest-growing demographic groups. Cuellar has also published work on political methodology, contributing to scholarship on research design and measurement. Notably, his first peer-reviewed article was published when he was just 22 years old, while still a graduate student at the University of Arkansas.

Cuellar told The EDU Ledger he became interested in Latino politics after attending a Latino caucus at an academic conference. 

“It was the first time I noticed in my academic life that I felt comfortable in a room of people,” Cuellar said. “I was able to just be myself.” 

In the classroom, Cuellar teaches political science as a form of civic empowerment, helping students move beyond understanding politics to actively engaging in it. In 2024, he led a special topics course “Iowa: 2024 Nominations,” which culminated in a 10-day field trip to the Iowa Caucus. Thirteen first-generation Latino students participated in presidential candidate Q&As, attended a six-hour campaign rally, worked with caucus captains and knocked on doors — gaining firsthand experience in grassroots national politics.

“For a lot of them, this was a chance to see the political process outside California," said Cuellar. "It wasn’t just getting an up-close look as an observer but also knocking on doors. It’s part of the learn-by-doing that sets us apart.”

Cuellar currently teaches Introduction to Race and Ethnic Politics, Research Methods for Public Administration, and a senior thesis course, while also mentoring students as faculty advisor to the Political Science Club, the I Am First mentoring program for first-generation students, and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He also chairs multiple Master of Public Administration thesis committees.

Cuellar co-authored the 2024 California Elections and Policy Poll and a statewide study on Proposition 50 redistricting and Latino representation. Together, these projects generated more than 400 mentions and interviews in the news that informed public discourse across California.

“Jarred Cuellar is an exemplary teacher-scholar: the learning experiences he gives students both in and out of the classroom crystalizes political concepts into practice and shapes appetites for lifelong learning and civic engagement,” said Provost Terri Gomez. “We are very proud that Dr. Cuellar has been recognized on a national level.”