Welcome

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of South Carolina. My research and teaching focus on topics related to gender and politics, representation, political institutions, and public opinion.

My current research addresses two questions: 1) How does the inclusion of historically marginalized groups influence public opinion towards political institutions and their members? and 2) How do institutional structures influence the emergence and behavior of women in positions of power?

My research has been published in the American Political Science Review; American Journal of Political Science; Political Research Quarterly; Electoral Studies; Politics, Groups and Identities; and Politics & Gender, among other outlets. Links to these articles are available using the tabs above.

Additionally, I have two ongoing book projects. The first examines how American perceptions of women's inclusion shape evaluations of legislative bodies. This manuscript is currently under review. Early iterations of this project were selected for the 2020 Sophonisba Breckinridge Award for best paper on women and politics (MPSA), the 2021 Marian Irish Award for best paper on women and politics (SPSA), and the 2021 Pi Sigma Alpha Award for best overall conference paper (SPSA). The second focuses on the consequences of women's inclusion in police forces. A paper based on this research was awarded the 2021 Herbert Kaufman Award for best paper on public administration (APSA).

I received my PhD from Indiana University in 2018. A copy of my CV is available here.