Assistant Professor of Political Science, Saint Leo University  
Saint Leo, Florida
“Attending Austin College allowed me to directly experience academic life and work by co-authoring my first publication with a faculty member, attending a professional conference, and completing a senior honors thesis. Working on a book review on the relationship between candidates, parties, and interest groups in presidential campaigns gave me the initial opportunity to experience the publication process firsthand. 

During my final semester at Austin College, I traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend the 2008 Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Attending panel sessions and hearing about the fascinating work being done in political science solidified my decision to attend graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree. I am presenting my current work at the same conference in January 2024, which will again be in New Orleans. I feel fortunate to be able to truly come full circle from my initial exposure to academia while at AC. My senior honors thesis centered on the jurisprudence of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. Writing and orally defending the importance of this work was excellent preparation for my eventual doctoral dissertation at the University of Kentucky. 

Today, as a faculty member at Saint Leo University in Florida, I find myself being afforded the continual opportunities to employ the knowledge I gained at Austin College. Last year, I created an original Research Internship course, inviting promising undergraduate students to work with me on various in-progress projects. These collaborations will result in multiple publications, and I am grateful to be able to pass on my undergraduate research experiences to these future scholars.  The knowledge I gained on Chief Justice Taney through my honors thesis is often referenced in my current Constitutional Law courses when discussing pertinent Supreme Court cases.  
My professional career would not be where it is today had it not been for the academic and professional mentorship of the dedicated Austin College faculty. I am honored to be an alumnus of an institution that truly desires to support its students achieve their professional goals.”