Melody Crowder-Meyer

I teach courses on American political behavior, including courses on public opinion, media, and women in American politics.

I have been fascinated by politics and political action since childhood. In college my interests became focused on a specific set of questions: Who runs for office? Why? How do the backgrounds and opinions of political leaders affect their actions in office? These questions led me to graduate study and to a career of teaching and research focused on American politics, candidate emergence, and representation.

My research investigates representation in the United States from a variety of perspectives. I have surveyed political elites - like party leaders, political candidates, local and state legislators, and campaign donors - to understand the role each group plays in the candidate emergence and success processes. I have surveyed members of the American public to understand how they gather information about politics and what they consider when deciding who to vote for. My recent research considers what American citizens and elected officials think about how government should ideally work and how legislators should make decisions in a complex governing environment. 

I also enjoy working with students on their collaborative and independent research projects as they prepare their work for presentation and publication.