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Doctoral Student
American Politics

• Fields of Study

  • Lobbying and Political Influence
  • Legislative Politics
  • Policy Feedback and Diffusion

• About

  Geoff examines the effect of non-governmental actors such as interest groups, lobbyists, and think tanks on policy outcomes at the federal and state levels.  His current research examines networks among interest groups working on complex healthcare legislation. Additionally, Geoff is developing a theory on the role of groups such as the American Bar Association and the American Legislative Exchange Council in encouraging cross-state policy diffusion through “model legislation.” Before coming to the University of Michigan, Geoff worked as a lobbyist at the Texas state legislature on a diverse array of issues, including healthcare coverage, mental health, energy, driver education, and local government issues.

• Education

  • Stanford University, Master of Arts, 2008
  • Duke University, Bachelor of Arts (with distinction), 2006

• Awards

  • Robert S. Rankin Award, Duke University, 2006
  • William J. Griffith Service Award, Duke University, 2006

• Grants

  • Political Networks Training Fellowship, 2012
  • Rackham Spring/Summer Collaborative Research Grant, 2012
  • Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, US Dept of Education, 2008
  • Takahashi Fellowship, Stanford University, 2007

• Presentations

  • "Interest Group Coalitions Over the Policy Process," (with Michael Heaney), APSA - September 2012 and Political Networks Conference - June 2012