Curriculum Vitae

Suzanne M. Robbins, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor, GeorgeMasonUniversity

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Public and International Affairs, MSN 3F4

GeorgeMasonUniversity

4400 University Drive

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

703.993.3581

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Education:

Ph.D., Political Science, StateUniversity of New York, Stony Brook, 2003

M.A., Political Science, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 1999

M.A., Political Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1997

B.A., Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1990 (with Honors)

ICPSR: Introduction to Social Network Analysis (with S. Wasserman)

Areas of Specialization:

  • Interest Groups: strategy, behavior, and networks
  • Campaign Finance
  • American political institutions
  • Quantitative methodology; Social Network Analysis

Academic Appointments:

2008-presentAssistant Professor of Government, GeorgeMasonUniversity, Fairfax, Virginia

2004 -2008Term Assistant Professor of Government/Internship Coordinator, GeorgeMasonUniversity, Fairfax, Virginia

2001-2004Assistant Professor of Government/IRAPP, MoreheadStateUniversity, Morehead, Kentucky

1997-2001Graduate Research Assistant, StateUniversity of New York, Stony Brook

1995-1997Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of South Carolina, Columbia

1989-1990Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Professional Achievement:

Books:

  • Outside Money as “Quality Subsidy”: How the New World of Campaign Finance Alters Electoral Participation. Under Contract at Routledge Press, Expected publication date: Fall 2014.

Currently under Review:

  • Small Donors in the 2008 Congressional Elections (with T. Culberson and M. McDonald), at American Journal of Political Science.

Journal Publications (peer-reviewed):

  • Play Nice or Pick a Fight? Cooperation as an Interest Group Strategy. 2010. Policy Studies Journal 38(3): 515-535.
  • Balance or Dominance? Party Competition in Congressional Politics. 2010.Political Research Quarterly63(2): 316-327 (with H. Norpoth).
  • Cash Flows: Leadership PACs in the U.S. Congress from 1992-2008. 2010. Proceedings of the HI Conference of System Sciences, published at IEEE Computer Society Press.
  • Welfare Reform and Economic and Housing Capacity for Low Income Households, 1997-1999. 2004. Policy Studies Journal 32(3): 419-440 (with H. Barcus).
  • Evaluating the Outcomes of a Rural Housing Assessment in Rowan County, Kentucky. 2004. Papers of the Applied Geography Conference 27: 390-399 (with H. Barcus and T. Torrence).

Book Chapters in Print:

  • Drugs, Doctors and Hospitals: Campaigning Post-Health Care Reform. 2012. In Herrnson, P., C. Wilcox and C. Deering, Editors, Interest Groups Unleashed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.
  • Follow the Money: The Network of Political Organizations and Candidates in 2000 (Chapter 2). 2009. In McGrath, C., Editor, Interest Groups & Lobbying: Volume One - The United States, and Comparative Studies. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press (with M. Tsvetovat).

Researchin Progress:

  • Outside Money as “Quality Subsidy”: How the New World of Campaign Finance Alters Electoral Participation.
  • Ties that Bind: Leadership PACs, Ambition and the Electoral Connection.
  • Organized Interests, Ethnicity and Networks: Symbolic Politics and Substantive Policy (with B. Alexander).
  • PACs, Centralization and Partisanship: US Campaign Finance Networks 2000/2008 (with M. Tsvetovat).
  • A Tale of Two Revolutions: Networks of Campaign Finance in 1994 and 2006.
  • Who’s Leading Whom? Leadership PAC Networks during the Republican Congressional Era.
  • State Welfare Policy Variation and Individual Vulnerability(with H. Barcus).
  • Analysts or Politicos? Aiding and Abetting Federal Agency Decision Makers (with A. Nownes).
  • Tactics, Information, and Resources: Organized Interests and the Endangered Species Act.
  • State Politics, Organized Interests and Income Inequality.

Other Publications/White Papers:

  • Morehead-RowanCounty Housing Quality Assessment Report. 2005. Final Report to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency (with H. Barcus).
  • “Kentucky Data and Analysis.” Tri-State Data-An Economic Development Resource. 2003. Economic Development Administration funded research report.Huntington, WV:
    Marshall University Press (with M.W. Hail, J. L. Hall, and S. R. Prater).

Conference Presentations:

  • SuperPACs: Coordination and Electoral Roles in the 2012 Federal Elections, Presented at the American Political Science Association Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 2013.
  • The Wild, West of Campaign Finance: A Pilot Study of How Outside Money Networked the 2012 Elections (with a glimpse at senate primaries.) Presented at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 2013.
  • The Wild, Wild West of Campaign Finance: Cohesion, Connectivity and SuperPACs. Presented at the 5th Annual Political Networks Conference, University of Colorado, Boulder, June 2012.
  • Ties that Bind: Leadership PACs, Ambition and Collective Action. Presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 2012.
  • Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Financial Contributions and Presidential Candidate Endorsements in the U.S. Congress. Presented at the 4th Annual Political Networks Conference, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, June 2011 (with H. Noel).
  • Organized Interests, Ethnicity and Networks: Symbolic Politics and Substantive Policy. Presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2011 (with B. Alexander).
  • Organized Interests, Ethnicity and Networks: Symbolic Politics and Substantive Policy. Presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, September 2010 (with B. Alexander).
  • Ties that Bind: Leadership PACs, Ambition and the Electoral Connection. Presented at the 3rd Annual Political Networks Conference, Duke University, May 2010.
  • State Politics, Organized Interests, and Income Inequality: Do Groups Make a Difference? Presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 2010.
  • State Politics, Organized Interests, and Inequality: Do Groups Matter? Presented at the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Toronto,2009.

Who’s Leading Whom: Leadership PAC Networks in the Republican Congressional Era, Presented at the 2nd Annual Political Networks Conference, Harvard University, June 2009.

  • Analysts or Politicos: Aiding and Abetting Federal Agency Decision-makers, Presented at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 2009, (with A. Nownes).
  • Guns, Babies and Labor: Networks of Money in the 2000 Elections. Presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 2008.
  • Nonprofit Networks: Uncovering the Web of Money and Issues. Presented at the 65th Annual Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 2007.
  • Poverty and Capacity: Individual Vulnerability, Five Years Post-Reform. Presented at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA, 2006 (with H. Barcus).
  • The Structure of Interest Group Issue Networks in Washington, DC. Presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 2006
  • Poverty and Capacity in the Post Welfare Reform Era. Presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL 2006 (with H. Barcus).
  • “Why Pay for a Free Show? Modeling Legislators’ Decisions to Grant Access and Interest Groups’ Decisions to Contribute.” Presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, September 2-5, 2004 (with M. Chin).
  • “A Validity Check of the 2002 Voter News Service Exit Poll.” Presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, May 13-16, 2004, Phoenix, AZ (with M. P. McDonald).
  • “Cooperation as an Interest Group Strategy: Implementation of Sections 9 & 10 of the Endangered Species Act (1982, as Amended).” Presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 15-18, 2004.
  • “Welfare Reform and Economic and Housing Capacity for Low Income Households, 1997 and 1999.” Presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Association for Public Policy and Management, Washington, DC, November 6-8, 2003 (with H. Barcus).
  • “Conflict Expansion: A Methodological Analysis of the Endogeneity of Interest Group Media Strategies.” Presented at the 99th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA, August 27-31, 2003.
  • “Two to Tango: How Interest Groups and Legislators Maximize Political Access and Campaign Contributions.” Presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 4-6, 2003. (with M. Chin).
  • “Exit or Voice? Interest Group Tactics in Environmental Policy.” Presented at the 98th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association,Boston, MA, August 29-Sept. 1, 2002.
  • “Cooperation, Conflict, and Delay: Interest Groups and Environmental Policy.” Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 25-28, 2002.
  • “Interest Group Politics: Strategic Choices in Environmental Policy Implementation.” Presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA, Nov.7-9, 2001.
  • “Consensus and Conflict: Interest Group Strategies in the Policy Process.” Presented at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, August 29-September 3, 2000.
  • “Organized Interests and the Law: Choosing to Expand the Conflict.” Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2000.
  • “In the Long Run: Stability and Change in U.S. Elections.” Presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 1999 (with H. Norpoth).
  • “The Ratings Game: Ideology, Interest Groups and the United States Senate.” Presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, MA, September 3-6, 1998.
  • “Ideological Cohesion, Divided Government, and Legislative Activity.” Presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA, November 1996 (with G. A. Krause).

Funded Grants:

  • George Mason University Internal Grant, Summer 2013, $4900.
  • U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Community Outreach Partnership Center, (Multiple Investigators), $399,999, 2002-2005.
  • MoreheadStateUniversity, Summer Research and Creative Productions Grants Program, “How Interest Groups and Legislators Maximize Political Access,” (PI, internal research grant), $1,000, 2003.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, “The Rural Environmental Academy: Addressing Environmental Justice Through and Environmental Economics and Public Policy Research Network,” (Co-PI), $20,000, 2002-2004.
  • U.S. Economic Development Administration. Tri-State Area Economic Development Incentives Study (Co-PI), $20,000, 2001-2002.U.S. Housing and Urban Development Youth Build Project, Perry County, Kentucky (Sub-contractor, applied research), $30,000, 2001-2002.
  • National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant, $5990, 2000-2001.

Fellowships, Honors and Awards:

  • Department of Political Science Graduate Assistantship, 1997-2001, SUNY Stony Brook.
  • James A. Caroliana Fellowship, 1995-1996, University of South Carolina.
  • Political Science Graduate Assistantship, 1995-1997, University of South Carolina.
  • Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Campus Leadership, 1990, University of Tennessee.
  • Ruth Stephens Scholarship in International Relations, 1989, University of Tennessee.

Courses Taught:

Graduate:

Last updated February 14, 2014.

  • Data Analysis and Problem Solving I
  • Intermediate Statistics for Public Policy
  • The Presidency and Congress
  • The Policy Process
  • Interest Group Politics
  • Scientific Method & Research Design

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Undergraduate:

Last updated February 14, 2014.

  • Senior Honors Thesis Course
  • Political Science Research Methods
  • Introduction to American Government
  • Interest Groups, Lobbying & the Policy Process
  • Politics and the Mass Media
  • The American Presidency
  • U.S. Congress and the Bureaucracy
  • Regional and Political Analysis
  • Political Parties and Elections
  • Legislative Process
  • Urban Politics

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Professional Service

Current Ph.D. and M.A. Students:

  • Jenna Frost (Dr. Nicogossian), Ph.D. candidate
  • Ayah Ibrahim (Dr. Mandaville, Chair), Ph. D. candidate

Completed Ph.D. Students:

  • K. Boakye-Agyei (Environmental Science and Public Policy, Dr. Crate, Chair)
  • T. Henry (Environmental Science and Public Policy, Dr. Gillevet, Chair)

Completed M.A.s:

  • M. Hall (2011), A. Cumming (2011)
  • N. Bauer (2007), W. Thompson (2007)
  • R. Howard (2006), K. Perkins (2006)

Completed Honors Theses:

Last updated February 14, 2014.

  • M. Jay (2012)
  • L. Cook (2012)
  • M. Medina (2011)
  • P. Smith (2010)
  • J. Newell (2006)
  • C. Heishman (2005)

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Past Referee Experience:

Last updated February 14, 2014.

  • American Journal of Political Science
  • Journal of Politics
  • American Politics Quarterly
  • Journal of Public Affairs Education
  • Political Research Quarterly
  • Social Networks
  • Policy Studies Journal
  • American Politics Research
  • American Political Science Review
  • CQ Press
  • Routledge Press
  • Taylor & Francis
  • W.W. Norton
  • Pearson

Last updated February 14, 2014.

Administrative and Professional Service

  • Southern Political Science Association
  • Political Networks Section Chair (2010-2011)
  • Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper Award Committee (2011)
  • George Mason University:
  • Public Administration Search Committee (2013)
  • American Comps Chair (2010-2011) and Committee (2013)
  • Director, American Government Minor (2010-).
  • Term Assistant Professor Methods Search Committee (2010-2011)
  • Government 300 Revision Committee (2010-2011)
  • Curriculum Committee (2009-2010)
  • Term Assistant Professor Search Committee Chair (2009)
  • Technology Across the Curriculum Cohort(2007-2008)
  • Internship Coordinator (2004-2008)
  • Morehead State University: various department, college and university committees

Professional Memberships:

  • American Political Science Association
  • Midwest Political Science Association
  • Southern Political Science Association

Last updated February 14, 2014.