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"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife."
~ John Dewey
Cameron (Cam) is political scientist studying the relationship between schools and democracy. His interest in the politics of education encompasses the study of governance institutions, public policy, and mass political behavior. His work has been published in outlets such as Governance, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Policy Studies Journal, Peabody Journal of Education, and the Journal of Political Science Education.
Cameron (Cam) is political scientist studying the relationship between schools and democracy. His interest in the politics of education encompasses the study of governance institutions, public policy, and mass political behavior. His work has been published in outlets such as Governance, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Policy Studies Journal, Peabody Journal of Education, and the Journal of Political Science Education.
Cam is an incoming assistant professor of political science at North Central College teaching courses in American politics and political behavior. He is currently is a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University's Annenberg Institute and the Watson School of International and Public Affairs. He is also an affiliate of the Realizing Rights Lab, a multidisciplinary research lab devoted to understanding how individuals come to understand and exercise their rights.
Cam is an incoming assistant professor of political science at North Central College teaching courses in American politics and political behavior. He is currently is a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University's Annenberg Institute and the Watson School of International and Public Affairs. He is also an affiliate of the Realizing Rights Lab, a multidisciplinary research lab devoted to understanding how individuals come to understand and exercise their rights.
He holds a Ph.D. is in Politics & Education from Columbia University, an M.A. in Political Science from Duke University, and a B.A. in Political Economy from The College of Idaho.
He holds a Ph.D. is in Politics & Education from Columbia University, an M.A. in Political Science from Duke University, and a B.A. in Political Economy from The College of Idaho.
Areas of Expertise:
Areas of Expertise:
American Politics, Politics of Education, Public Policy, Political Behavior; Civic Engagement & Education
American Politics, Politics of Education, Public Policy, Political Behavior; Civic Engagement & Education
My research examines how education institutions shape democratic participation and how citizens shape the governance of public education. I focus particularly on the politics of education governance, administrative burdens in democratic participation, and the role of schools in producing civic engagement.
My research examines how education institutions shape democratic participation and how citizens shape the governance of public education. I focus particularly on the politics of education governance, administrative burdens in democratic participation, and the role of schools in producing civic engagement.
Across several projects, I combine original data—including school board election exit polls and web-scraped district information—with large administrative datasets to understand how institutional design shapes citizens’ access to democratic participation.
Across several projects, I combine original data—including school board election exit polls and web-scraped district information—with large administrative datasets to understand how institutional design shapes citizens’ access to democratic participation.
Publications
Publications
Recent Publications
"An Education in Devolution: Lessons from the Dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education." (Forthcoming at Publius: The Journal of Federalism)
“Neighborhood Democracy: The Politicization of School Boards and Implications for Democratic Education.” w/ Rebecca Jacobsen. (Forthcoming at AERA Open)
2026. "Education and the Unequal Costs of Voting: Administrative Burden and Democratic Participation." Policy Studies Journal.
2025. “Administrative Designs and Access to Political Arenas in Public Education.” Governance.
2025. "Teaching About Schooling: Integrating Education Politics into Political Science Curricula." Journal of Political Science Education.
2023. “The Future of Democratic Education in an Era of Pandemics and Political Polarization.” Peabody Journal of Education.
2023. “Who Should Control Education Now? Revisiting Preferences for Local Control of Educational Decision-making.” Peabody Journal of Education.
Papers Under Reveiw & Working Papers
"Are Rural Attitudes Exceptional in a Polarized Education Landscape?" w/ David Houston (Working Paper)
“The Influence of Partisanship in Local School Board Elections: Evidence from Exit Polls in Two States.” w/ Rebecca Jacobsen (Working Paper)
"Education & The Gender Voting Gap" with Sarah Cohodes. (Under Review)
"The Politics of Administrative Ease: Access to Special Education Information." w/ Lindsey Kaler, Alex Contreras, Bryan Natividad, Niamh Stull, and Susan Moffitt (Working Paper)
"Civic Returns to State Education Policy Investments." (Working Paper)
Ongoing Research Projects
Ongoing Research Projects
Disability & Political Participation (w/ Susan Moffitt)
The Politics of Administrative Ease (w/ Susan Moffitt, Lindsey Kaler)
The Effects of the Dissolution of the Department of Education (w/ Lindsey Kaler, Niamh Stull, & Susan Moffitt)
d/Deaf Political Attitudes & Participation
The Effects of Colleges on Voting (w/ Isabel McMullen)
Local Endorsements in School Board Elections (w/ Ariell Bertrand and Rebecca Jacobsen)
Contentious School Board Politics & Democratic Education of Youth (w/ Rebecca Jacobsen)
The Role of Education in LGBTQ+ Political Participation
Defining Citizenship: A Typology of U.S. State-Level Civic Education Policy (w/ Chloe O'Neill)
Rural Attitudes Toward Education Reforms
Dissertation Defense & Committee
Dissertation Defense & Committee
Dissertation Title: "Education for Democracy: Essays Exploring the Relationship Between Education and Voting"
Conversation on Doctoral Student Success
Conversation on Doctoral Student Success
Teachers College, Columbia University
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