I am an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at Davidson College. I teach and conduct research about women in politics, race and ethnicity in politics, political representation, conceptions and functioning of democracy, local politics, survey research, political parties, and political behavior - with a particular focus on the United States.
My research investigates the quality and equality of political representation. For example, I ask why American elected officials often do not share the traits of those they represent. In one line of research, I examine how candidates decide to seek office, how their experiences campaigning are affected by their traits, and how this has changed post-2016. In another line of research, I investigate how political elites (like party leaders and campaign donors) affect who runs for and wins public office generally and how elite beliefs and behavior influence women's political representation specifically. In other work, I evaluate how voters respond to candidates with diverse identities (by race, ethnicity, gender, and their intersections) in a variety of electoral contexts. Finally, I also consider the roles that various identities and their intersections play in shaping public opinion and political behavior, including the factors determining openness to political compromise and orientations toward democracy in the US and a comparative context. My research has been published in outlets such as Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Politics & Gender, British Journal of Political Science, Public Opinion Quarterly, and Research & Politics.
Before coming to Davidson, I taught for several years at Sewanee. I earned my MA and PhD from the Department of Politics at Princeton University. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Educational Studies from Vanderbilt University.
Please use these links to access my CV and learn more about my research and teaching.
