Assistant Professor of Political Science
Education
B.A., Political Science (honors), University of California, Berkeley (2009)
P.h.D., Political Science (American Politics), Columbia University (2015)
About
My research focuses primarily on health policy in the United States, and the ways in which administrative and legal barriers impede meaningful access to care. I am currently developing the book manuscript Coverage Denied: The Scope and Impact of Medical Coverage Denials in the United States, which examines the ways in which health insurers’ denials of coverage for prescribed care imposes administrative burdens on patients and physicians and has the effect of deepening health and economic inequality in the United States. My research has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, and Scientific Reports, with additional writings in such outlets as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. At Wheaton College, I teach courses on American politics, public law, and research methods. Prior to working at Wheaton College, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Oberlin College and conducted postdoctoral training in Health Policy and Management at the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. In my previous life, I worked in the field on numerous political campaigns across the United States. When not working, I enjoy watching baseball and basketball, and catching live music and stand-up.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publications
“Divided Government and the Fragmentation of American Law” (with Sean Farhang). 2015. American Journal of Political Science 60(2): 401- 17.
“Congressional Assertions of the Spending Power: Institutional Conict and Regulatory Authority.” 2015. Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization. 32(2): 272-305.
“Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among graduate students in doctoral degree programs: systematic review and meta-analysis.” (with Satinsky et al.). 2021. Scientific Reports 11: 14370.
Other writings appearing in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Public Seminar, Rewire News, and Brief-19.
Working Projects
Coverage Denied: The Scope and Impact of Medical Coverage Denials in the United States (book manuscript)
“Teaching an Old Law New Tricks: Amending ERISA to Expand Health Care Access.
Teaching Interests
Courses
Introduction to American Politics
Constitutional Law I: Separation of Powers
Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Judicial Politics
Introduction to Research Methods
Past Courses
Health Law and Politics, Law and Public Policy, Introduction to Policy Analysis, American Political Institutions
Research Interests
Health Policy: Health insurance, health equity, health law, reproductive health, mental health
American Politics: Inter-branch conflict in policy implementation, litigation
