Curriculum Vitae
Academic Appointments
Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (July 2016 to present)
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (July 2006 to June 2016)
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas (August 2000 to June 2006)
Administrative Appointments
Interim Executive Director, The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (October 2021 to present)
Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (July 2018 to April 2023)
Graduate Coordinator, Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (July 2015 to June 2018)
Other Appointments
Senior Nonresident Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
Education
Ph.D., Political Science, University of California, Davis (2000)
M.A., Political Science, University of Georgia (1995)
B.A., Political Science, University of California, San Diego (1992)
Publications: Books
Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America’s Swing States (with Robert E. Lang and Karen A. Danielsen). 2021. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.
Latinos in Nevada: A Political, Economic and Social Profile (with John P. Tuman, Tiffiany O. Howard, and Nerses Kopalyan). 2021. Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada: University of Nevada Press.
Publications: Refereed Journal Articles
“Executive Turnovers in Sub-Saharan Africa” (with Michelle Kuenzi) International Area Studies Review, Vol. 22, No.1 (March 2019):21–40.
“Mobilizing Interests: Group Participation in Direct Democracy Elections” (with Stephen P. Nicholson) Political Behavior, Vol. 36, No. 3 (September 2014):535-552 (Winner of the 2008 Allan Saxe Best Paper Award for the Best Paper on State and Local Politics presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association).
“Agenda Setting by Direct Democracy: Comparing the Initiative and Referendum” (with Shaun Bowler and Stephen P. Nicholson) State Politics & Policy Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 4 (December 2012):367–393.
“Unhappy, Uninformed, or Uninterested? Understanding ‘None of the Above’ Voting” (with Mallory M. Waters and Shaun Bowler) Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 4 (December 2012):898–910.
“Explaining the Decision to Withdraw from a U.S. Presidential Nomination Campaign” (with Thomas G. Hansford and A.J. Barghothi). Political Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 1 (June 2010):157–180.
“The 2001 Nevada Redistricting and Perpetuation of the Status Quo.” American Review of Politics, Vol. 27 (Summer 2006): 149–168.
“Issue Convergence in Presidential Campaigns.” Political Behavior, Vol. 27, No. 1 (March 2005): 71–97.
“The Dynamics of Issue Ownership in Presidential Campaigns.” Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 57, No. 3 (September 2004): 391–397.
“Using Campaign Advertisements to Assess Campaign Processes.” Journal of Political Marketing, Vol. 3, No.1 (December 2003): 39–59.
“Gender, Employment Status, and Abortion: A Longitudinal Study (with Ted G. Jelen and Thomas Lamatsch) Sex Roles, Vol. 47, Nos.7/8 (October 2003): 321–330.
“Candidate Strategy and the Decision to Go Negative.” Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 55, No. 4 (September 2002): 669–686.
“Congressional Preferences, Perceptions of Threat, and Supreme Court Decision Making” (with Thomas Hansford). American Politics Quarterly, Vol. 28, No.4 (October 2000): 512–532.
“The Dynamics of Racialized Media Coverage in Congressional Elections” (with Nayda Terkildsen). Journal of Politics, Vol. 61, No. 3 (August 1999): 680–699.
“The Allocation of Party Controlled Resources in the House of Representatives, 1989–1996” (with Thomas Hansford). Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 2 (June 1999): 371–386.
“A Dynamic Model of Candidate Fundraising: The Case of Presidential Nomination Campaigns.” Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 2 (June 1997): 343–364.
Publications: Book Chapters
“Beating Back the Tide: Cortez Masto Prevails in Nevada’s U.S. Senate Election (with Kenneth M. Miller). In The Roads to Congress 2022, eds. Sean D. Foreman, Marcia L. Godwin, and Walter Wilson. Forthcoming. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
“Battleground Nevada Holds Steady in 2020” (with Elizabeth Maltby and Rebecca D. Gill). In Presidential Swing States, 3rd ed, eds. David A. Schultz and Rafael Jacob. 2022. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 27–49.
“Blue Metros, Red States: The Geography of the 2020 Vote in the Swing States” (with Karen A. Danielsen and Robert E. Lang). In State of the Parties 2022: The Changing Role of American Political Parties, eds. John C. Green, David B. Cohen, and Kenneth M. Miller. 2022. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield, 129–145.
“None of the Above Voting.” In Voting and Political Representation in America: Issues and Trends, Volume 2, ed. Mark P. Jones. 2020. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 422-424.
“Demography Realized? The 2016 Latino Vote and in Nevada.” In Latinos and the 2016 Election: Latino Resistance to the Election of Donald Trump, eds. Gabriel R. Sanchez, Luis Fraga, and Ricardo Ramirez. 2020. East Lansing Michigan: Michigan State University, 211-230.
“Senator Spineless and the Campaign Against Demography.” In Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Split Decision, eds. Randall E. Adkins David A. Dulio. 2020. New York: Routledge, 49-68.
“A Swing State No More? Demographic and Political Change in the Silver State” (with Rebecca D. Gill) In Presidential Swing States, 2nd ed, eds. David A. Schultz and Rafael Jacob. 018. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 121-150.
“Nevada Senate Race: The Reid Machine’s Last Stand.” In The Roads to Congress 2016, eds. Sean D. Foreman and Marcia L. Godwin. 2017. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 305-320.
“Swing-State Politics in the Silver State” (with Rebecca D. Gill). In Presidential Swing States: Why Ten Only Matter, eds. David A. Schultz and Stacy Hunter Hecht. 2015. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 195–222.
“It’s the Economy Stupid? Not so Fast: The Impact of the Latino Vote on the 2012 Presidential Election in Nevada.” In Latinos and the 2012 Election, ed. Gabriel R. Sanchez. 2015. East Lansing Michigan: Michigan State University, 181–198.
“The Prop 187 Effect: The Politics of Immigration and Lessons from California” (with Matt Barreto Elizabeth Bergman, Adrian Pantoja, and Gary M. Segura). In Latino America: How America’s Most Dynamic Population is Poised to Transform the Politics of the Nation, eds. Matt Barreto and Gary M. Segura. 2014. New York: PublicAffairs, 173–188.
“Immigration Politics and the 2014 Election” (with Matt Barreto, Elizabeth Bergman, and Gary M. Segura). In Latino America: How America’s Most Dynamic Population is Poised to Transform the Politics of the Nation, eds. Matt Barreto and Gary M. Segura. 2014. New York: PublicAffairs, 189–204.
“The Curious Candidacy of Jon Huntsman” (with Kenneth J. Retzl). In The 2012 Nomination and the Future of the Republican Party: The Internal Battle, ed. William J. Miller. 2013. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 61–76.
“Swimming Against the Tide: Partisan Gridlock and the 2011 Nevada Redistricting.” In The Political Battle over Congressional Redistricting, ed. William J. Miller and Jeremy D. Walling. 2013. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 67–86.
“Reapportionment and Redistricting in the Mountain West.” In America’s New Swing Region, ed. Ruy Teixeira. 2012. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press, 153–185.
“Reid vs. Angle in Nevada’s Senate Race: Harry Houdini Escapes the Wave.” In Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Riding the Wave, 2nd ed., eds. Randall E. Adkins and David A. Dulio. 2011. New York: Routledge, 32–53.
“The Tea Party Angle in the Nevada Senate Race.” In Tea Party Effects on 2010 Senate Elections, eds. William J. Miller and Jeremy D. Walling. 2011. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 47–66.
“Sweet Land of Liberty: Gay Marriage and Mormonism in Nevada” (with Ted G. Jelen, and Michael W. Bowers). In Religious Interests in Community Conflict, eds. Paul A. Djupe and Laura R. Olson. 2007. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 51–72.
Publications: Policy Briefs and Reports
Nevada Economic Development and Public Policy 2022–2026: A Sustainable Future for All Nevadans (with William E. Brown, Jr., Karen A. Danielsen, Robert E. Lang, Jaewon Lim, Magdalena Martinez, Fatma Nasoz, Arthur C. Nelson, and Caitlin J. Saladino). The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, May 2022.
“The Road to Carnegie R1 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas” (with Robert E. Lang). Education Series, No. 7. The Lincy Institute, March 2019.
“The Failure of Higher Education Reform and the 2017 Session of the Nevada Legislature” (with William E. Brown Jr. and Robert E. Lang). Special Report No. 6. The Lincy Institute, May 2018.
“Rethinking Cooperative Extension in Southern Nevada” (with Robert E. Lang, Fatma Nasoz, William E. Brown, Jr., and Caitlin J. Saladino). Special Report, No. 5. The Lincy Institute, March 2017.
“The End of the Democratic Blue Wall?” (with Robert E. Lang). Brookings Mountain West, December 2016.
“Beyond Density and Diversity: Understanding the Socio-Cultural Geography of Contemporary Presidential Elections” (with Robert E. Lang). Brookings Mountain West, August 2016.
“Modernizing Nevada’s Education Structures: Opportunities for the 78th Session of the Nevada Legislature” (with Magdalena Martinez). Education Series, No. 6. The Lincy Institute, April 2015.
“Held Harmless: Higher Education Funding and the 77th Session of the Nevada Legislature.” Special Report, No. 3. The Lincy Institute, October 2014.
“The Case for a New College Governance Structure in Nevada: Integrating Higher Education with the Economic Development,” (with Magdalena Martinez and Robert Lang). Education Series, No. 5. The Lincy Institute, May 2014.
“Interstate Migration Among Latinos and the Foreign–Born Latino Population in Nevada, 2007–2011” (with Jaewon Lim and John P. Tuman). Brookings Mountain West, December 2013.
“Advancing Southern Nevada’s Regional Priorities: Overview of the 77th Session of the Nevada Legislature.” Brookings Mountain West, December 2013.
“The Impact of the Great Recession on Nevada’s Latino Community” (with John P. Tuman and Maria José Flor Ágreda). Brookings Mountain West, December 2013.
“A Political Profile of Nevada’s Latino Population” (with John P. Tuman and Maria José Flor Ágreda). Brookings Mountain West, June 2013.
“Immigration and the Contours of Nevada’s Latino Population” (with John P. Tuman and Maria José Flor Ágreda). Brookings Mountain West, June 2013.
“The Impact of Diversity and Density on Reapportionment and Redistricting in the Mountain West,” Brookings Institution Issues in Governance Studies, Number 43, January 2012.
“The Message Versus The Messenger: The Campaign for Nevada’s 3rd District.” Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Policy Program’s Improving Elections Initiative, November 2002.
Conference Presentations (Last Ten Years)
“The Determinants of Presidential Electoral Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa” (with Michelle Kueniz and Zachary Billot), presented at the Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Il, April 13–16, 2023.
“Nevada’s Demographic and Economic Geography: The Three Nevadas” (with Jaewon Lim, Arthur C. Nelson, Fatma Nasoz, and Magdalena Martinez), presented at the Western Regional Science Association 61st Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ , February 17-20, 2022
“Blue Metros, Red States: The Geography of the 2020 Vote in the Swing States” (with Karen A. Danielsen and Robert E. Lang), presented at the State of the Parties: 2020 and Beyond Virtual Conference, The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron, November 4-5, 2021.
“The Geography of Diversity and Its Electoral Consequences,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, San Diego, CA, October 31–November 2, 2019.
“Red State, Blue Metro: The Case of Nevada,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, Orlando, FL, October 10–12, 2018 (Winner of the 2018 Allan Saxe Best Paper Award for the Best Paper on State and Local Politics presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association).
“The Political Economy of Nevada’s Geography,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Urban Affairs Association, Minneapolis, MN, April 19–22, 2017.
“The Latino Vote in the 2016 Presidential Election,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, Austin, TX, April 12–15, 2017.
“Latino Influence in the 2014 Elections,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Las Vegas, NV, April 2–4, 2015.
“Beyond Density and Diversity: Understanding the Obama Coalition” (with Robert E. Lang), presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, San Antonio, TX, April 17–20, 2014.
Grants and Sponsored Research
The Gender Cap in Nevada: K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce Study, Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (Brookings Mountain West) 2023.
Nevada K-12 Performance and Implications for Economic Diversification, Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (The Lincy Institute), 2023.
Southern Nevada Industrial Analysis, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research, and the UNLV Transportation Research Center), 2022-2023.
Nevada’s Plan for Recovery and Resilience, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (SRI International in collaboration with RCG Economics and Brookings Mountain West), 2019-2020
The Policymaking Capacity of the Nevada Legislature, The Lincy Institute, 2014–15.
Advancing Southern Nevada’s Regional Priorities, Brookings Mountain West, 2011 and 2013.
A Demographic, Political, and Policy Profile of Nevada’s Latino Population, Brookings Mountain West, 2013.
Vehicle Miles Travel Pilot Study Nevada Department of Transportation/University of Nevada, Reno, Sub–grant, 2009–2010.
Case Study Consultant (NV 3rd) Pew Charitable Trusts Improving Elections Initiative (principal investigators: L. Sandy Maisel and Darrell West), 2002.
Graduate Courses Taught
Research Design and Methodology
Advanced Quantitative Methods
Proseminar in American Politics
Comparative Political Behavior (with Dr. Michele Kuenzi)
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Introduction to American Politics
Research Methods in Political Science
Legislative Process
Interest Groups and Political Parties
Public Opinion and Political Behavior
Elections and Governance
Professional Service
Association Leadership (elected):
Past President, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2018–2019
President, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2017–2018
President Elect, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2016–2017
Past Vice President and Program Chair, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2015–2016
Vice President and Program Chair, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2014–2015
Vice President and Program Chair Elect, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2013–2014
Member, Executive Committee Southwestern Political Science Association, 2009–2011 and 2015–2016
Program Chair:
Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, 2015
Program Committee:
Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, 2012 and 2015
Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, 2006 and 2010
Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, 2005 and 2004
Panel Discussant:
Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, 2012, 2016, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019
Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, 2011
Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2015
Panel Chair:
Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019
Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, 2011, 2003, 2004, and 2005
Award Committees:
Journal of Politics Best Paper Award Committee, 2015–2016.
Southwestern Political Science Association Best Undergraduate Student Paper, 2011–2012.
Charles Redd Politics of the West Award Committee, 2006–2007, 2013–2014
Western Political Science Association’s Dissertation Award Committee, 2007–2008
Reviewer:
American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, American Politics Research, American Review of Politics, Asian Journal of Communication, British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Congressional Quarterly Press, Democratization, Electoral Studies, European Union Politics, The International Journal of Press/Politics, IRL Review, Journal of Politics, Journal of Public Economic Theory, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Journal of Political Marketing, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Longman Publishing, The Midsouth Political Science Review, New Media & Society, Party Politics, Perspectives on Politics, Political Behavior, Political Communication, Political Research Quarterly, Political Studies, Politics & Gender, Politics, Gender, and Identities, Politics and Policy, Politics and Religion, PS: Political Science & Politics, Public Opinion Quarterly, State Politics & Policy Quarterly, Taylor & Francis, University of Nevada Press, W.W. Norton & Company, Wadsworth, and Western European Politics.
(updated May 2023)
