In My Defense

It’s been a few months since I posted here. In that time, I’ve been able to give several talks about how our “unelected representatives” - the senior staffers shaping policy behind the scenes in Congress - make decisions. And a couple of weeks ago, I defended my dissertation.

So, what exactly was in my defense?

Here’s the abstract:

Much has been written about the ways that policymakers access and integrate scientific information into their decisions, yet the role of legislative staffers has been largely overlooked. Congressional staffers act as critical influencers linking senators and congresspeople with knowledge, drafting legislation, and making recommendations. By conducting a research study of senior congressional legislative staff from both major political parties involved in federal science policy oversight in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, this dissertation examines 1) how scientific information is obtained and how sources are valued by staff, 2) why some communities are underrepresented in senior staff positions and 3) the changes staffers perceive that have taken place in Congress over the last half-century. It makes recommendations for 1) improving the translation of findings into evidence-based legislative policies and actions and 2) bringing the perspectives of more Americans into the decision-making process.

This has been a fascinating journey for me personally and professionally, and I am indebted to the many congressional staffers who generously shared their time and insights by participating in my research. (While there is no identifiable information included, I suspect some of you may be reading this right now. So thank you).

The first publication is already out, and that will be the subject of my next substack post…