Resume
Academic Curriculum Vitae
LinkedIn
About Me
  • ​​Innovative and results-oriented policy strategist, social scientist, program evaluator, and writer. 
  • Graduate training and experience in applied research (from mixed-methods reserach design to analysis), policy  advocacy, ​and policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Author of numerous reports on policy problems and solutions that have received positive attention from state and national news media (such as the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR), Congress, federal and state agencies, and funders.
  • Proven track record resulting in millions of voter registrations, expanded child nutrition programs, ground-breaking and impactful voting rights litigation, and forming coalitions with solid relationships with state and federal officials and the media.
  • Expertise in voting rights, election policy, anti-poverty and food security programs, program evaluation, and evidenced-based policy analysis.
Research Projects
I have been studying the implementation, enforcement, and impact of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) since 1994. I am one of the few national experts on the NVRA. I have provided technical assistance on improving implementation of the Act to state and federal officials. With civil rights groups , I have worked on identifying non-compliant states, providing technical assistance to officials on implementation, ground-breaking litigation to enforce the law, and remedial strategies for fair implementation of this critical voting rights law. I am currently working with several groups to compile data from NVRA litigation and study the impact of enforcement interventions.

Other recent research projects include a study of food access in neighborhoods using a survey from Housing and Urban Development and compiling a historical database of state election policies. I have also studied the relationship between food security and Food & Nutrition Service programs as well as participation in these programs.

My other interests include studying how to advance civically engaged scholarship in political science and ways to incorporate policy analysis and, more broadly, public problem-solving in undergraduate curricula. 
​Teaching and Higher Education​
I have taught at Grinnell College, Smith College (DC program), George Washington University, and Georgetown University. ​ For specifics on the courses I taught, as well as information on advising, academic service, and research grants, please see my CV at the upper right of this page.
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Research & Teaching Interests
  • Policy Studies, Policy Analysis, & Program Evaluation
  • American Politics and Urban Politics & Policy
  • Voting Rights & Election Policy
  • Food Security & Anti-Poverty Policies
  • Community Organizing  & Political Participation
  • Engaged Scholarship​
Education
  • PhD in Public Policy, George Washington University
    • Social and urban policy; urban politics; American politics.
  • MA in Policy Studies, Johns Hopkins University
    • Program evaluation and nonprofit management.
  • BA in Psychology, Grinnell College
Policy Consulting Clients
  • Democracy Fund
  • Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
  • Project Vote
  • Food Research and Action Center
  • New Venture Fund
  • ACT Alexandria (Virginia)
  • Rockefeller Family Fund
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