Welcome!

I am an Associate Professor and the Undergraduate Director in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia. I am also one of the Associate Editors of Political Behavior and an incoming member of the Governing Council of the International Society of Political Psychology.

My research investigates how partisan identities and the group norms that govern them drive political behavior — and, at times, undermine democratic life. Parts of this research are published in my book When Politics Becomes Personal (Cambridge University Press, 2024). My research has also been published in leading journals including the Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Political Behavior, and Political Psychology. I earned my Ph.D. from Stony Brook University in 2016 and previously completed my B.A. at Freie Universität Berlin.

When I am not doing political science stuff, you can usually find me in the kitchen cooking (or eating—often both), writing fiction, or spending time with my family (especially our dog, Starbuck) and friends. I’m also an avid reader, devoted NPR listener, and hot yoga enthusiast, as well as a passionate advocate for good old-fashioned print newspapers.