Background:

BS 1990, Social Science and Education, Michigan State University. PhD 1996, Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis. Fellow, Center for Political Economy, Washington University in St. Louis (1995-96). Assistant (now Associate) Professor, Department of Political Science, Georgia State University (1996-2006).

Teaching:

Politics, Law, and Public Administration

Research:

I study the intersection between public bureaucracy and law and the manner in which non-electoral forces (legal oversight by the judiciary, appointments by politicians) shape the discretionary policy decisions made by public officials. Most of my research addresses policymaking by large federal regulatory agencies in the United States, such as the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Communications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, or National Labor Relations Board.

Interest(s):

Public Management and Law; American political institutions; Methodology; Specializing in political appointments.

Publications:

Title: Administration & Society (2006)
Publication Information: Appointment Delay and the Policy Environment of the National Transportation Safety Board

Title: Poltical Research Quarterly (2005)
Publication Information: The Supreme Court and Opinion Content: The Use of the Federalist Papers

Title: Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization (2004)
Publication Information: Separation of Powers and Appointeee Ideology

Title: Washington University Journal of Law and Policy (2003)
Publication Information: Local Control of the Bureaucracy: Federal Appeals Courts, Ideology, and the Internal Revenue Service

Title: Rationality & Society (2003)
Publication Information: Policy Making by Different Means: The Chief Justice's Attempts to Shape Policy Through the Judicial Conference of the United States

Title: Political Research Quarterly (2002)
Publication Information: Regional Court Influence Over Bureaucratic Policymaking: Courts, Ideological Preferences, and the Internal Revenue Service

Title: Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory (2002)
Publication Information: With Friends Like These: Rulemaking Comment Submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission

Title: Public Administration Review (2001)
Publication Information: Appointment Delay for Vacancies on the Federal Communications Commission

Title: American Politics Research (2001)
Publication Information: Confirmation Delay for Vacancies on the Circuit Courts of Appeals

Title: American Politics Quarterly (2000)
Publication Information: Judicial Retirement Strategies: The Judge's Role in Influencing Party Control of the Appellate Courtes

Title: Annals of Operations Research (1998)
Publication Information: Nash Equilibrium in Multiparty Competitition with Stochastic Voters

Honors / Awards:

Principal Investigator (2001)
Description: National Science Foundation (SES 00-95962) "Independent Regulatory Commissioner Database"

Principal Investigator (2007)
Description: National Science Foundation (SES-0719724) - Doctoral Dissertation Award for "Administrative Lawa Judge Decision Making"

Principal Investigator (2007)
Description: Family Caregiver Support Project - "Cost Benefit Analysis of Caregiver Tax Credit"

Principal Investigator (2009)
Description: Long Term Care Project. U.S. Centers for Medicaid Services and Hawaii Department of Human Services