Brief Biography

Research & Teaching Interests
I teach policy studies and political science at Grinnell College, where I have been teaching for six years (PhD in public policy, George Washington University, 2012; MA in policy studies, Johns Hopkins University, 1999; BA in psychology, Grinnell College, 1991). I entered academia rather late in life after spending two decades working, first, as a community and labor organizer and, later, as an analyst and strategist for several national nonprofit organizations. I have always mixed my research interests with engagement on social problems. As an undergraduate at Grinnell College, I took a year off and through a series of strange accidents became involved with leaders in the pro-democracy movement in Haiti (living there for a time and returning there several more times over the years). After college, I worked for ACORN, the Teamsters and brief stints with other unions, Project Vote, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Food Research and Action Center. I have also consulted for two philanthropy organizations, worked in Haiti, and worked with migrant farmworkers.
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My current research interests are food security and voting rights, both in the US. Regarding the latter, I have been studying implementation, enforcement, and outcomes of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) since 1994. I am one of the few national experts on this law. I have provided technical assistance to state and federal officials. I also work with advocacy groups on litigation and remedial strategies for fair implementation of this key civil rights law. I am currently working with several groups to compile data from NVRA litigation and study the impact of their enforcement interventions. I am also working with other scholars to compile a publicly available and historical database of state election policies. My other interests include ways to incorporate policy analysis and, more broadly, public problem solving in undergraduate curricula and engaged scholarship in political science. 
  • American Politics
  • Policy Studies & Policy Analysis
  • Voting Rights & Election Policy
  • Food Security and Anti-Poverty Policies
  • Program Evaluation
  • Urban Politics & Policy
  • Political Participation
  • Engaged Scholarship in Political Science
  • Community Organizing  

Current Research Projects

  • State and local government compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
  • Research on well-being and access to food and nutrition resources for vulnerable populations.
  • Engaged scholarship in political science