Welcome!
I am a Professor of Political Science at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. I first began working at the College in 2013. Since 2014, I have also directed the College’s Washington Initiative, which facilitates opportunities for students in the nation’s capital. Previously, I taught courses at Georgetown University, Hood College, and James Madison University. I love teaching and offer a wide variety of undergraduate courses, including Political Parties, Interest Groups, the American Presidency, Presidential Elections, Identity Politics, the Federal Budget, Democracy Reform, and Research Methods.
Most of my recent scholarly work focuses on political inequality in the United States. My 2022 book, Everyone’s Democracy, explores this topic in detail. The book, which is aimed at a broad audience of students and politically-interested readers, argues that some citizens have a louder voice in their democracy than others, and calls for reforms. Another research interest is early and absentee voting laws. My 2013 dissertation at Georgetown University focused on the many effects of these programs, as did my more recent 2021 book, Tuesday’s Gone: America’s Early Voting Revolution.
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My research on elections and voting behavior has also been published in various scholarly journals, including American Politics Research, Election Law Journal, Presidential Studies Quarterly, State Politics & Policy Quarterly, and The Forum. I have authored opinion pieces on election reform for USA Today, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Virginia Capitol Connections, and I have appeared on local public radio (VPM News) several times.
I also co-write a textbook on American Government, titled The Basics of American Politics. The most recent (17th) edition was published in 2023 with Routledge.
When I’m not thinking about politics, I enjoy sports, especially baseball, basketball, and football. In 2021, I managed to unite my passions, co-authoring a scholarly paper for The Baseball Research Journal on the effect of empty stadiums on home-field advantage during the COVID-shortened 2020 MLB season. But I am not always an impartial sports viewer, as I unapologetically root for my Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers.
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Fandom comes naturally to me, and transcends sports. I’ve seen every episode of Seinfeld at least ten times and have attended sixteen Bruce Springsteen concerts. I also adore Rocky, The Graduate, Jaws, Back to the Future, Fletch, The Sopranos, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Gin Blossoms, George Carlin, espresso tonic drinks, and southwestern plants.
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I love to travel, especially to northern California in the summer, the American West generally, and the world’s great cities when possible. I enjoy living in Richmond, Virginia, where the beer and restaurants are great, the neighborhoods are delightful, and I have lots of wonderful friends. My wife and daughter are pretty awesome, too.