Education

  • Ph.D., M.A. University of Notre Dame
  • B.A. Wake Forest University

Areas of Expertise

  • U.S. and N.C. politics
  • Reproductive rights

Background

I teach courses in Congress, the Presidency, Parties & Interest Groups, Campaign Strategy and Public Policy.

My research includes work on activism on reproductive policy, interest groups, political capital and hashtag politics, among others.

I am an experienced commentator on radio and TV, appearing frequently on WFAE Charlotte Public Radio, WUNC NC Public Radio, NPR, Spectrum TV, WSOC, WCNC, BBC and FOX 46.

I have published op-eds in the Washington Post and been quoted in The Charlotte Observer, The Charlotte Post, CSM, NPR, Reuters’, Politico, among others. I worked with WBT Radio for a number of years as a weekly contributor.

I was recently the recipient of the Diane Blair Award from the Southern Political Science Association “presented biennially to a political scientist who has played an outstanding role in politics and/or government during his or her career.”

Less than Perfect: Congress and the Presidency

Why does conflict between Congress and the Presidency seem inevitable? Differences among constituencies, term limits and political polarization within Congress all contribute to dysfunction between the executive and legislative branches of government.