State of Florida

Carol Weissert

Dr. Weissert became the director of the Institute in October of 2007. She is also the LeRoy Collins Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor of Political Science at Florida State University. Prior to taking that position in August 2003, she was professor of political science and director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on federalism and intergovernmental issues and state policy, particularly health policy. 

Education: PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Patrick Merle

A French native, formerly involved in international news (coverage of Sept 11, 2001, 2004 preparation of Athens Olympics) for global news organizations and still freelancing in journalism and public relations, Patrick Merle studies media effect with an emphasis on political and international perspectives.  

Education:

Ph.D., Mass Communications, 2013, Texas Tech UniversityPost-master's degree, 1998, Journalism and Mass Communication, Institut Francais de Presse, Paris, FranceM.A. History, 1997, St Patrick's College, IrelandB.A., History, 1996, Universite Pierre Mendes France, France

Amanda Driscoll

My research considers legislators' incentives for instigating conflict with national judicial institutions, and how legislators' might use said conflict for their own electoral gain. In addition, I have ongoing research projects which consider the outcome and influence of judicial elections in comparative perspective and legislative position taking via legislative speech and bill initiations.

Education: PhD, Washington University at St. Louis, 2012

Summer Harlow

Summer Harlow, who has a Ph.D. in journalism and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, is a former newspaper journalist and blogger with 10 years of experience reporting from the United States and Latin America.

Education: PhD in journalism, University of Texas at Austin.MA in Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin.Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, University of Missouri-Columbia.

Matt Pietryka

Dr. Pietryka's research focuses on understanding how the social and political contexts in which individuals are embedded influence their political attitudes and behavior. In particular, he studies how political discussion with friends and family impacts individual political behavior. His current work uses a mix of experimental and observational methods to separate instances of social influence from patterns of clustering that arise due to shared characteristics and contexts.

Education: PhD Political Science, University of California, Davis, June 2012 

Kevin Fahey

Kevin Fahey is a PhD Candidate at Florida State University. He oversees the collection, distribution, and cleaning of data. Secondary duties include working with undergraduates on CAP-related research. His research focuses on how institutions shape individual legislative behaviors.

Teresa Cornacchione-Stanquist

Teresa Stanquist is a PhD student at Florida State University. As Director of Undergraduate Research, she recruits, trains, and oversees data-collection efforts and research projects by undergraduate students and coders involved with the project. Her research interests include right-wing political mobilization in Europe and agenda-setting in legislatures.