Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Auburn University. I received my Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego in 2021 and my Bachelor’s Degree in Policy Studies from Lafayette College.
My research focuses on politics and policymaking in the American states. Since my undergraduate studies, I have been fascinated with how institutional variation across the states translates to differences in citizens' lived democratic experiences, from direct political experiences (e.g. voting) to broader quality of life (e.g. economic opportunity). I am currently working on a book manuscript with Janine Parry on state party monopolies and their consequences for democratic functioning. True to my enthusiasm for state politics, I serve on the executive council for the State Politics APSA section and the editorial board for State Politics and Policy Quarterly.
My research is published at Political Analysis, Political Behavior, Political Research Quarterly, Political Psychology, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Environmental Politics, Publius, and Party Politics, among others. For more information on my research, I encourage you to visit my Google Scholar profile.
I am passionate about promoting equal opportunity in higher education and apply evidence-based teaching techniques in support of student success. I have taught courses in American National Government, State and Local Politics, Policy Analysis, Inequalities in Participation and Representation, Environmental Politics, Executive Politics, Public Policy (PhD Seminar), and The Politics of Economic Inequality.
As a complement to my research and teaching accolades, I am also the proud winner of the 2023 Women of Political Science March Madness Bracket and the 2024 Political Science NCAA Football Pick'em League (against-the-spread, to boot!).
When I'm not researching or teaching, you can find me playing with my daughter and husband (fellow political scientist Dr. Kal Munis), crushing miles on the Peloton, or enjoying the outdoors of the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest.