CV

Below you can find information on my institutional affiliations, publications, and manuscripts under review. For additional information, view my complete CV by clicking the PDF icon.

Mackenzie R. Dobson, Ph.D. Candidate

Contact Information 2015 Jenkins Nanovic Halls, Notre Dame, IN 46556
E-mail mdobson2@nd.edu
Substantive Interests American political institutions, legislative politics, state politics, bipartisanship, legislative effectiveness, and representation
Methodological Interests Quantitative methods, text-as-data, large language models, and panel data

Education

  • 2021 – 2026
    Ph.D. Government
    University of Virginia
    • American Politics & Methodology
    • Dissertation: Asymmetric Bipartisanship: Conditional Cooperation and the Limits of Legislative Reciprocity
  • 2020 – 2021
    M.A. Political Science
    Appalachian State University
    • Highest Honors
  • 2018 – 2020
    B.S. Political Science
    Appalachian State University
    • Summa Cum Laude

Affiliations

  • 2024 - Present
    Visiting Researcher
    University of Notre Dame
    • Representation and Politics in Legislatures Lab
  • 2022 - Present
    Quantitative Collaborative Graduate Student Affiliate
    University of Virginia
  • 2021 - Present
    Center for Effective Lawmaking Graduate Student Affiliate
    University of Virginia

Peer-reviewed Publications

  • Lollis, Jacob M., and Mackenzie R. Dobson. "I'm Coming Out! How Voter Discrimination Produces Effective LGBTQ Lawmakers." PS: Political Science and Politics, 2025. PDF

Manuscripts Under Review

  • Porter, Rachel, Jeffrey J. Harden, Emily Anderson, Gessica de Freitas, Mackenzie R. Dobson, Abigail Hemmen, and Emma Schroeder. "The Consequences of Elite Action Against Elections." British Journal of Political Science, Invited to Revise & Resubmit. PDF
  • Dobson, Mackenzie R., Craig Volden, and Alan Wiseman. "Outcome-Consequential Campaigning." Legislative Studies Quarterly, Invited to Revise & Resubmit.
    • Affiliated with the Center for Effective Lawmaking Working Paper Series
    PDF
  • Dobson, Mackenzie R.. "Selective Reciprocity in Bipartisan Collaboration: How Majority Security Shapes Legislative Success."
    • Winner of Best Graduate Student Paper on State Politics (2025), State Politics and Policy Conference
    • Winner of Best Graduate Student Poster Award (2024), State Politics and Policy Conference
    PDF
  • Dobson, Mackenzie R.. "The Bipartisan Path Revisited: Collaboration and Lawmaking in U.S. State Legislatures."
    • Affiliated with the Center for Effective Lawmaking Working Paper Series
    PDF
  • Dobson, Mackenzie R., Jacob M. Lollis, Justin H. Kirkland, and Jeffrey J. Harden. "Why Citizens Dislike Professional Legislatures: White-Collar Government and Policymaking for the Wealthy." PDF