Defended February 2012
Committee Members: James G. Gimpel (Chair), Michael J. Hanmer, Frances E. Lee, Irwin L. Morris, Joan Kahn (Sociology)
"The Cross-pressures of Religion and Contact with Gays and Lesbians and their Impact on Same-Sex Marriage Opinion." Politics & Policy, 40: 13-42, 2012.
"When War Hits Home: The Geography of Military Losses and Support for War in Time and Space," with Scott Althaus and James G. Gimpel. Journal of Conflict Resolution, Forthcoming.
"The Political Ecology of Opinion in Big-Donor Neighborhoods," with James G. Gimpel and Frances E. Lee. Political Behavior, 33:565-600, 2011.
"What Happens at the Journal Stays at the Journal: Assessing Journal Transparency and Record Keeping Practices," with Stephen Yoder. PS: Political Science and Politics, 44:363-373, 2011.
"The Local Age Distributions and Support for the Political Fringe in American Politics," Working paper.
"Pathways to the Polls: Youth Participation in Extracurricular Activities." Working paper.
Prestage-Cook Travel Award, SPSA Conference 2010
ICPSR Clogg Scholarship, summer 2009
"Voting Behavior in Old-Age Contexts and the Myth of Senior Political Power." Presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, January 12-14, 2012.
"The Old-Age Context and Cognitive Reserve for Political Knowledge and Awareness." Presented at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 17-19, 2011.
"The Local Age Distributions and Support for the Political Fringe in American Politics," with James G. Gimpel. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Seattle, WA, September 1-4, 2011.
"The Local Age Context of Older Adults and Residentsâ Political Behaviors." Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, March 31-April 3, 2011.
"The Unique Context of Youth Bulge Communities for Political Attitudes and Opinions." Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 22-25, 2010.
"Walk a Mile in My Pews: Religious Tradition and Contact Influencing Morality Politics." Presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA, January 7-9, 2010.
"When War Hits Home: The Geography of Military Losses and Support for War in Time and Space," with Scott Althaus and James G. Gimpel. Presented at the annual meeting the American Political Science Association, Toronto, ON, Canada, September 3- 6, 2009.
"Pathways to the Polls: Youth Participation in Extracurricular Activities." Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2-5, 2009.
"The Political Ecology of Opinion in Big-Donor Neighborhoods," with James G. Gimpel and Frances E. Lee. Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2-5, 2009.
Editorial Assistant for American Politics Research, June 2010-June 2011
Editorial Assistant for American Politics Research, June 2008-May 2009
American Political Science Association, member
Midwest Political Science Association, member
Southern Political Science Association, member
Instructor, GVPT 388I Public Policy Internship Program, spring 2012
Instructor, GVPT 388I Public Policy Internship Program, fall 2011
Instructor, GVPT 170 Introduction to American Government, winter 2011 (online)
Instructor, GVPT 170 Introduction to American Government, summer 2010
Teaching Asst., GVPT 422 Quantitative Political Analysis, Professor Antoine Banks, spring 2010
Teaching Asst., GVPT 473 Legislatures and Legislation, Professor Eric Uslaner, fall 2009
University of Maryland Graduate Student Association, Department of Government and Politics Co-Chair, 2010-2011
Department of Government and Politics Graduate Studies Committee, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
Ph.D., Government and Politics
University of Maryland, College Park;
Date of completion: February 2012
First Field: American Politics
Comprehensive exam passed January 2009
Second Field: Quantitative Methods
Comprehensive exam passed August 2009
M.A., Government and Politics
University of Maryland, College Park,
December 2009
B.A., Political Science
B.A., Public Relations
University of Georgia, May 2006