Matthew Hayes

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. I am also the co-director of the Washington University Summer Training Experience in Political Science (WU-STEPS).

My current research investigates how citizens evaluate the importance of descriptive, symbolic, and substantive representation. I have also published on redistricting and legislative responsiveness, the role of ethnic identity and skin tone in determining perceptions of ethnic discrimination in Latin America, and how personality shapes political trust. My research has been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and Political Behavior.

Before joining the faculty at Washington University, I earned my Ph.D. at the University of Illinois and taught at Indiana University and Rice University.  You can find my CV here.