About

Greetings.

I am a Professor in the Political Science department at Texas A&M University. I have served as Director of Graduate Studies, and more recently as Associate Department Head.

My research is in mass political behavior and public opinion. My current work focuses on the political determinants and consequences of well-being, with a specific focus on life satisfaction and happiness. Research examining the impact of the size of government, the welfare state, organized labor, and public employment has appeared in Political Science Research Methods (reprint), European Journal of Political Research, Perspectives on Politics, Social Forces, Social Indicators Research, Politics and Policy, and Labor Studies Journal. Additional work with graduate students on the impact of LGBTQ policies globally on well-being is in progress.

I have recently begun a major cross-national study, with Benjamin Radcliff (University of Notre Dame) on political factors mitigating loneliness and social isolation. I am also beginning a project on the political consequences of subjective well-being.

Prior research on turnout and vote choice has appeared in American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Comparative Political Studies, British Journal of Political Science, and Scandinavian Political Studies. I continue to work in this area, albeit sporadically.

I welcome requests to comment on any work in progress germane to my interests...please feel free to contact me.

This site is itself a work in progress, so please be patient as I continue filling in gaps here and there.