My research agenda is varied but linked in its concentration on gender and minorities in politics particularly in terms of democratic representation and participation. I fuse quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques and span both American and Comparative politics subfields. I am a leading expert of women national leaders around the world. I also study women in the U.S. Congress. Other published research dealing with Muslim American political behavior  and discrimination since 9/11/(Politics & Religion 2009; 2011). Some of my current projects includin examining several case studies of women national leaders such as President Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica), President Dilma Rousseff  (Brazil) and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia). My book, Shattered, Cracked or Firmly Intact, Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide, was published by Oxford University Press (2013) and offers a comprehensive analysis of women, gender, and national leadership positions.

 At UM-Saint Louis I teach several classes on gender in politics including Gender and the Law; Politics of Gender in the U.S.; Women and Leadership World-Wide: Breaking the Glass Ceiling; and Women, Gender, and Political Institutions.  I also offer courses on Politics & the Media; Political Behavior; Diversity and Social Justice Issues; and Democratic Politics in the 21st Century. Please contact me about obtaining past course syllabi.