DEFERENCE IN TRANSITION: FEDERAL AGENCY DISCRETION IN POST-CHEVRON SNAP ADMINISTRATION

"How does the change from Chevron deference to Skidmore deference affect federal agencies’ discretion to interpret eligibility and implementation rules in social safety net programs such as SNAP?"

First and foremost, I want to thank my mentor and thesis advisor, Dr. Sarah Larson, for her invaluable guidance and steady encouragement throughout this research. I am also sincerely grateful to Dr. Matthew Arbuckle for his support as my departmental advisor and reader.

I extend my appreciation to Dr. Anne Whitesell for her thoughtful insight and material assistance, and to Dr. Kevin Reuning for his patience, support, and help in refining my thinking. I am likewise thankful to the Sociology faculty for their guidance in deepening my understanding of the social and human dimensions of this work.

I wish to thank Jessica Green and the City of Oxford City Manager’s Office for their continued support, particularly for providing practical insight into local governance and for helping connect this research to real-world administrative contexts. I am equally grateful to the Department of Political Science at Miami University for fostering an academic environment that encouraged critical inquiry, rigorous analysis, and the development of this work. 

Finally, I am deeply grateful to my family for their unwavering belief in me. This accomplishment would not have been possible without your constant support.

Over the course of my project I have gained the skills of -

Career & Self-Development: I engaged in continuous self-assessment, incorporated mentor feedback, and set clear professional goals; actively pursued learning opportunities and built professional relationships.

Communication: I presented research findings, produced analytical writing, and conveyed complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

Critical Thinking: I analyzed data, integrated multiple perspectives, and applied evidence-based reasoning to solve problems, anticipate challenges, and develop well-supported conclusions in dynamic research environments.