I am an associate professor and the associate chair in the department of political science at Tulane University. My research focuses on American political behavior, political socialization and public policy. In addition to understanding how children’s attitudes toward politics develop, I am most interested in the interplay between political attitudes and knowledge about public policy – especially immigration and education policy – and voting and support for political parties and candidates. I am currently working on several projects related to attitudes around education reform nationally and in New Orleans. I am also part of a research team working on gender and political socialization among children.

I am the director and creator of the Summer Minor Program in U.S. Public Policy at Tulane. I serve on the editorial board of Urban Affairs Review and am the co-director for the New Orleans chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network, a nationwide organization dedicated to bridging academia and public policy.

I am the proud parent of two daughters and one very old, little white puffball dog. In my limited spare time, I enjoy traveling, scrapbooking, and watching silly reality TV competitions.