About

I am currently an Associate Professor of Politics at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. I teach courses in American politics and research methods, covering topics like public policy, public opinion and survey analysis,  political communication and media, campaigns and elections, parties and interest groups, Congress, the presidency, and more. Cornell College operates on a unique block plan, which allows faculty and students to focus on one course at a time for an intensive 18 days. 

I received my Ph.D. in 2019 from the department of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where I was a graduate student affiliate of the MIT Political Methodology Lab. Before that I received my M.A. in 2013 from the department of government at Georgetown University and my B.A. in mathematics and political science from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 2011.

My work examines the dynamics of state and local politics in an increasingly nationalized context. Recent work supported by the Spencer Foundation has examined the dynamics of partisanship in local school boards, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, my research interests focus on  the relevance and consequences of a federal system when it comes to state politics and political behavior. This question is increasingly important as we are faced with evidence that state political idiosyncrasies are disappearing.

I also provide political commentary and analysis to various media organizations in Iowa and nationally. You can hear my commentary regularly on Iowa Public Radio’s River to River and on KCRG-TV9. Other examples of my public scholarship can be found here. 

Contact: mgoldberg at cornellcollege.edu