Marija Anna Bekafigo
Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5108
Hattiesburg, MS, 39406-0001
601.266.4310
Education
University of Florida
Ph.D., Political Science, Defense Date set for June 10, 2009
Fields: American Politics, Political Behavior, Methodology
Dissertation: Parallel Leaders: Party Leader and Committee Chair Leadership from
1945-1996
Supervisory Committee: Lawrence C. Dodd (Chair), Richard S. Conley (Co-Chair), Daniel A. Smith, Beth Rosenson, Elizabeth Dale (History)
University of Connecticut
M.A., Political Science, 2000
University of South Florida
B.A., Political Science, 1996
Current Position
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Southern Mississippi, 2008-
American Government
Political Parties
Legislative Process
U.S. Presidency
Additional Education
Quality Enhancement Program Faculty Development Seminar Fellowship, Finding a Voice: Improving Oral and Written Competencies, Participation in 10 week seminar, University of Southern Mississippi, Fall 2009 ($1500 award).
Program Scholar, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan, Summer 2004. Time-Series.
Program Scholar, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan, Summer 2002. Mathematics for Social Scientists II, Mathematical Models: Game Theory, Regression Analysis II: Linear Models.
Research and Teaching Interests
U.S. Congress
American Political Parties and Interest Groups
American Campaigns and Elections
American Institutions
U.S. Presidency
Research Methods
Public Law
Teaching Experience
Assistant Professor, University of Southern Mississippi, Fall 2008-
Adjunct Instructor, University of Georgia, American Government, Spring 2007
Adjunct Instructor, University of Georgia, Introduction to Political Science, Fall 2006
Adjunct Instructor, University of Georgia, American Political Parties, Spring 2006
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida, State and Local Government, Spring 2004
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida, Cultural Diversity, Fall 2003
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida, American Federal Government, Fall 2002 and
Spring 2003
Northwestern Middle School, Jacksonville, Florida, 7th grade teacher, 2001
Substitute Teacher, Various Schools, 1994-1998 and 2000-2001
Publications
“‘No Irish Need Apply’? Veto Players and Legislative Productivity in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-2000” with Richard S. Conley (Manuscript accepted for publication at Comparative Political Studies, Forthcoming 2010.)
"Safe Seat." 2006. In Encyclopedia of American Parties and Elections, edited by H. R. Ernst and L. J. Sabato, Facts on File.
Book Reviews
Edward S. Greenberg and Benjamin I. Page, The Struggle for Democracy. New York: Longman, 2007.
Conference Presentations
“Party Leadership in the Age of Committees.” Presented at the Midwest Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL April 2009.
“An Examination of Party Leaders’ and Committee Chairs’ “Actions” in the U.S. House,
1945-1996.” Presented at the Midwest Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 2008.
"The Determinants of Legislative Productivity: Parties, Coalitions, and 'Divided Government' in the US, France and Ireland." Presented at the American Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 2006 (with Richard S. Conley).
“Evoking the Word of God: The Use of Religious Rhetoric in Congress During the Debates on Partial Birth Abortion.” Presented at the American Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, September 2005 (with Matthew K. DeSantis).
“The Ascension of Followers to Leaders in the U.S. Congress.” Presented at the American Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 2004.
“Political Ideologies of Leaders and Followers in the U.S. Congress, 1966-1999.” Presented at the Florida Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, Gainesville, FL, 2004.
Working Papers
“The Determinants of Legislative Productivity: Parties, Coalitions, and 'Divided Government' in the US, France and Ireland,” with Richard S. Conley.
“Party Leaders and Committee Chairs in Congress: A Newspaper Analysis of Influence.”
Awards and Honors
Summer Research Assistantship Award, University of Florida, 2006
Summer Research Assistantship Award, University of Florida, “Legislative Productivity and Executive Leadership in Three Republics, France, Ireland and the United States,” 2005
Grinter Scholarship Award, University of Florida, 2003, 2004, and 2005
Summer Advancement Grant, University of Florida, Department of Political Science, 2004
Nominated for Best Graduate Student Paper, Department of Political Science, University of Florida, 2004
Nominated for Barbara Noreen Roth Memorial Award, Department of Political Science, University of Florida, 2003
Travel Grant, University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2006 and 2008
Travel Grant, University of Florida, Department of Political Science, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008
Travel Grant, ICPSR, 2002 and 2004
Nominated for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship, University of Florida, 2002
Professional Experience
Coordinator for the First Annual Graduate Symposium on Methodological Pluralism in Political Science, University of Florida, 2004-2005.
Graduate Field Representative for American Government, University of Florida, 2004-2005.
Commission on Presidential Debates, Volunteer Coordinator for Vice-Presidential Debates, University of South Florida, Under the supervision of Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, 1996.
Professional Affiliations
American Political Science Association
Midwest Political Science Association