I received my Ph.D. in Political Science at the Ohio State University, specialising in Comparative Politics and Political Psychology. I am also affiliated with the Cross-National Studies: Interdisciplinary Research and Training (CONSIRT) program. I held positions as a Visiting Fulbright-Hays Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. I also served as Acting Program Manager of the International Affairs Scholars Program with the OSU Honors & Scholars Center.

Prior to my time at OSU, I earned a M.A. in Political Science from the Ohio State University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida, Gainesville.

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Dissertation & Research Interests

Enriched by scholarship in social psychology and political sociology, my doctoral research focuses on political elite behaviour in new democracies, especially Central and Eastern Europe. In my dissertation, entitled Strength in Numbers: Social Identity, Political Ambition, and Group-Based Legislative Party Switching, I utilise qualitative and quantitative research methods to explain the motivations and dynamics of legislative party switching (elected representatives changing party affiliations while in office) in new democracies.

Besides research on legislative and political elite behaviour, and the politics of post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe, I am also interested in political behaviour and party politics more broadly. I look forward to pursuing research on the dynamics of elite networks in Canada (as a federal system), as well as topics in European Union politics, European integration, attitudes and issue positions (mass/elite/party-based; e.g., nationalism, Euroscepticism), and political elite research methods (e.g., interviews, survey research and design, etc.).

A Little Bit about Me

I was born and raised in the 'Great White North' and am proud to be a Canadian. Outside of pursuing intellectual passions, I am something of a hockey-addict: I am a die-hard fan of the Calgary Flames (cheering on my hometown team) with a soft-spot for the Montréal Canadiens. However, having lived in Columbus, OH for the past few years, I'll admit that I've warmed up to the Blue Jackets too.

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to travel, and I like to take advantage of any chance to sample local food and drink wherever I am. I've also started running again, but one step at a time (pun fully intended).