I am a Rice University PhD who graduated with a doctorate in political science in May 2024. Currently, I work as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden. My research investigates electoral accountability and candidate evaluation in contexts of subpar democratic performance and challenges to good governance. Much of my work focuses on how political corruption impacts voter behavior, politician behavior, and political representation. I am especially interested in how corruption impacts women's access to politics. I study these themes in the context of Latin American democracies and have conducted fieldwork in Argentina. As a postdoc at the University of Gothenburg, I work on a project that examines how environmental crises impact women's access to politics in the Global South.

At Rice, I was a Graduate Student Ambassador and member of the Ambassador Leadership Council for 4 years. I was also a co-founder and president of the Political Science Graduate Student Association, and I served as the Political Science Graduate Student Liaison for Rice's Center for Teaching Excellence for several years. Prior to earning my PhD, I earned my BA (2018) at The University of Alabama where I double majored in political science and Spanish. I am originally from Massachusetts. In my free time, I enjoy reading novels, traveling, trying out new coffee shops, and, as of September 2024, exploring my new home, Sweden!

Favorite Rice Memory:
Cutting my tie at Valhalla after I passed my dissertation defense.

Favorite thing about Houston:
So many diverse, locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and breweries!

Emily is happy to connect on:
Department culture, Rice life, Houston life, what to expect during a Ph.D.