Research Interests
Urban politics and governance, American political institutions, local economic development, and Chicago politics
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Introduction to American Politics
Urban Politics and Policy
The American Presidency
Political Parties and Interest Groups
The U.S. Congress
Graduate Courses Taught
Urban Policy, Planning and Development
Civic Groups and Public Policy
Selected Publications
Forthcoming. “City Building Capacity and Special-Purpose Authorities: Institutions, Interests, and the Local State.” In Private Metropolis: The Eclipse of Local Democratic Governance, edited by Dennis R. Judd, Evan McKenzie, and Alba Alexander. University of Minnesota Press.
2020. “Comparative Approaches to Development Politics and the Quest for a More Robust Theory: New Institutions of Governance in Chicago and Berlin.” (with Annika M. Hinze). PS: Political Science 53(1): 10-14.
2019 - Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies, published by John Wiley & Sons
2013. “Into the Twenty-first Century: North American Urban Governance and Development in a Global Context.” (With Annika M. Hinze). Urban Research and Practice 6 (3): 245-254.
2012. “Venue Shopping and the Politics of Urban Development: Lessons from Chicago and Seattle.” (With Josh Sapotichne). Urban Affairs Review 48 (1): 86-110.
2010."Re-Stating Theories of Urban Development: The Politics of Authority Creation and Intergovernmental Triads in Postindustrial Chicago. Journal of Urban Affairs, 32(4): 425-448.
2007. "The New Ecology of Urban Governance: Special Purpose Authorities and Urban Development." (With Dennis R. Judd). In Jill Gross and Robin Hambleton, eds., Governing Cities in a Global Era: Urban innovation, competition and democratic reform. Hampshire, U.K.: Palgrave.
Recent Conference Presentations
Urban Affairs Association (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
American Political Science Association (2016, 2019)
Midwest Political Science Association (2014, 2018)
Indiana Political Science Association (2018, 2019)
Trip Leader, IU South Bend Study Abroad Programs
Ireland (2017, 2018)
Japan (2019)
Honors and Awards
2020, Educator of the Year, IUSB Student Life
2017, Indiana University Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching inductee
2017, Visiting Professor, University de Toulon, Toulon France
2013, Trustees Teaching Award, IU South Bend
2012, Educator of the Year, IU South Bend Student Life
2011, Trustees Teaching Award, IU South Bend
Service Activities
Acting Director, Master of Public Affairs Program
Campus Associate Director, FACET (2019-present)
IU South Bend Academic Senate Vice President (2019-2020)
2019 FACET Retreat co-chair
Board Member, Indiana Political Science Association (2015-present)
President, Indiana Political Science Association (2014-2015)
IU South Bend Undergraduate Research Conference Committee Chair 2014-2016