About

I am dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University (Virginia, USA) where I hold the Hazel Faculty Chair in Public Policy. My research interests focus on the intersection of religion and politics, the politics of the US South, the US presidency, and federalism. Among my latest written and co-written books are: The Changing Political South: How Minorities and Women are Transforming the Region. Oxford University Press, 2024 (with C. Bullock, S. MacManus, and J. Mayer). African American Statewide Candidates in the New South. Oxford University Press, 2022 (with C. Bullock, S. MacManus, and J. Mayer). Winner of the 2023 SPSA V.O. Key Award for Best Book on the U.S. South. The Unitary Executive Theory: A Danger to Constitutional Government. University Press of Kansas, 2020 (with J. Crouch and M. Sollenberger). Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy, and Accountability. University Press of Kansas, 2020 (4th edition). The South and the Transformation of US Politics. Oxford University Press, 2019 (with C. Bullock, S. MacManus, and J. Mayer). Federalism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2019 (with C. Wilcox).

Research Interests

Elections, Federalism, Government, Interest Groups, Public Policy, Religion, Social Movements, USA, Higher Education

Current/Upcoming Events

Standing Groups and Research Networks

• Federalism and Regionalism
• Presidential Politics
• Religion and Politics