CV: /cv/mbell.pdf

BA: Christopher Newport University (2005)

MA: University of Maryland (2008)

First field: American Politics

Second field: Public Policy

Dissertation: "The Many Faces of Feminism: Gender Role Attitudes, Public Opinion, and the American Electorate"

Dissertation Summary: The overarching purpose of this research project is to provide the literature with a revised conceptualization of feminism that will better explain variance in public opinion. When trying to operationalize feminist attitudes in the past, the literature has relied on measures of abortion or one-dimensional index scores- basically collapsing attitudes into a false dichotomy of feminist/antifeminist. This is problematic for many reasons. I argue that feminism should be treated as a multidimensional concept comprising three distinct dimensions: attitudes toward discrimination; attitudes toward women‘s empowerment; and attitudes toward the changing family structure and role of the mother. The second half of the dissertation applies this new approach within the areas of public opinion, candidate evaluations (both experimental and real world), and party affiliation.

Dissertation Committee: Karen Kaufmann (chair), Paul Herrnson, Michael Hanmer, Antoine Banks, and Geoffrey Layman (outside reader)

Research interests: Religion and politics; women and politics; money and politics; campaign finance reform.

Other interests: Running, cheering on the Phillies, and plotting my way onto the Amazing Race.

Words of wisdom: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.” —Albert Einstein

Biography: I was born in Philadelphia, PA, but spent most of my childhood moving around the country (the life of an army brat). After settling with my family in Newport News, VA, I attended Christopher Newport University where I graduated with a BA in Government and Politics in 2005. Following graduation, I was selected as a Governor's Fellow and then subsequently appointed under both the Warner (VA) and Kaine (VA) administrations as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Public Safety.

In 2006, I left VA and moved to the DC area to pursue my Ph.D. in political science at the University of Maryland. My research focuses on public opinion, political psychology, and women and politics.  

Email: mbell at gvpt•umd•edu