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Associate Professor
Contact Information
rmcgrat2@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-4567
Fairfax Campus, Aquia Building, Room 319
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
MSN: 3F4
Personal Websites
Biography
Rob McGrath is an associate professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He specializes in American politics and quantitative political methodology and researches and teaches topics in American and comparative political institutions (legislatures, executives, and bureaucracies), public administration, and health policy.
McGrath's research tends to focus on how formal and informal governmental institutions interact to create policy outcomes in democratic systems of government. As such, his research gravitates toward the study of U.S. state politics and assesses how political reforms and institutional characteristics across the states affect the policy process, as well as important political, economic, and health outcomes. Current large-scale projects (i.e., spanning multiple papers/articles) include empirical examinations of the volume, content, and timing of state rulemaking (with Graeme Boushey, University of California, Irvine), explorations of how political inequalities and state policies drive gaps between the health of the wealthy and the health of the poor (with Bill Franko, West Virginia University), and assessments of how legislative committees are composed and operate across the spectrum of state legislatures in United States (with Josh Ryan, Utah State University).
He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Iowa and a BA from Saint Peter’s College in his native New Jersey and spent two years (2013-15) as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar in Health Policy Research at the University of Michigan.
Curriculum Vitae
View Robert J. McGrath's CV
CONTACT INFORAMTION
George Mason University
Schar School of Policy and Government
Tel: (703) 993-4567
Fax: (703) 993-1399
4400 University Dr., MSN 3F4
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
rmcgrat2@gmu.edu
mcgrath.gmu.edu
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
George Mason University – Fairfax, Virginia
Associate Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government 2017 - present
Director of Undergraduate Programs, Schar School of Policy and Government
2018 - present
Assistant Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
2014 - 2017
Assistant Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs
2011 - 2014
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar in Health Policy Research
2013 - 2015
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Political Science, The University of Iowa, July 2011
Dissertation: StrategicOversight and the Institutional Determinants of Legislative PolicyControl
Committee: Frederick J. Boehmke(Chair), Douglas Dion, Christian B. Jensen, RaymondG. Riezman, and Charles R. Shipan (University of Michigan)
B.A., Political Science & Philosophy, Saint Peter’s College,2004
ARTICLES
Graeme Boushey and Robert J. McGrath. N.d. (forthcoming). “Does Partisan Conflict Lead to Increased Bureaucratic Policymaking? Evidence from the American States” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.
Robert J. McGrath and Josh M. Ryan. 2019 (forthcoming). “Party Effects in State Legislative Committees” Legislative Studies Quarterly.
Jason A. MacDonald and Robert J. McGrath. 2019 (forthcoming). “A Race for the Regs: Unified Government, Statutory Deadlines, and Federal Agency Rulemaking” Legislative Studies Quarterly.
Robert J. McGrath, Jon C. Rogowski, and Josh M. Ryan. 2018. “Veto Override Requirements and Executive Success.” Political Science Research and Methods 6(1): 153-179.
Denise F. Lillvis and Robert J. McGrath. 2017. “Directing Discipline: State Medical Board Responsiveness to State Legislatures." Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 42(1): 123-165.
Graeme Boushey and Robert J. McGrath. 2017. “Experts, Amateurs, and Bureaucratic Influence in the American States.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 27(1): 85-103.
Note: Author order alphabetical and equal authorship on publications and papers, unless otherwise noted
- Winner of the 2015 State Politics and Policy Quarterly Award for best paper on state politics and policy presented at any professional meeting.
Jason A. MacDonald and Robert J. McGrath. 2016. “Retrospective Congressional Oversight and the Dynamics of Legislative Influence over the Bureaucracy.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 41(4): 899-934.
Robert J. McGrath and James A. Rydberg. 2016. “The Marginality Hypothesis and Supreme Court Confirmation Votes in the Senate.” Congress & the Presidency 43(3): 324-351.
John D. Marvel and Robert J. McGrath. 2016. “Congress as Manager: Oversight Hearings and Agency Morale.” Journal of Public Policy. 36(3): 489-520.
Jeeyang Rhee Baum, Christian B. Jensen, and Robert J. McGrath. 2016. “Constraining a Shadowy Future: Enacting APAs in Parliamentary Systems.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 41(2): 471-499.
Robert J. McGrath, Jon C. Rogowski, and Josh M. Ryan. 2015. “Gubernatorial Veto Powers and the Size of Legislative Coalitions.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 40(4): 571-598.
Robert J. McGrath. 2013. “Legislatures, Courts, and Statutory Control of the Bureaucracy across the U.S. States.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 13(3): 373-397.
Robert J. McGrath. 2013. “Congressional Oversight Hearings and Policy Control.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 38(3): 353-380.
Robert J. McGrath. 2013. “The Rise and Fall of Radical Civil Service Reform in the U.S. States.” Public Administration Review 73(4): 638-649.
Christian B. Jensen and Robert J. McGrath. 2011. “Making Rules About Rulemaking: A Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary Systems.” Political Research Quarterly 64(3): 656-667.
Robert J. McGrath. 2011. “Electoral Competition and the Frequency of Initiative Use in the U.S. States.” American Politics Research 39(3): 611-638.
BOOK CHAPTER
Robert J. McGrath, Jon C. Rogowski, and Josh M. Ryan. 2015. “The Power of Institutional Design: Governors, Vetoes, and Legislative Outcomes.” In The American Governor: Power, Constraint, and Leadership in the States, ed. David P. Redlawsk. New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan.
BOOK REVIEW
Review of James M. Curry, Legislating in the Dark: Information and Power in the House of Representatives (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2015), for the Journal of Politics, Volume 78, No. 2 (April 2016).
MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW
“Rulemaking Speed in the U.S. States,” with Graeme Boushey— Invited to revise and resubmit
AWARDS
State Politics and Policy Quarterly Award (State Politics and Policy Section of the American Political Science Association) for best paper on state politics and policy presented at any professional meeting for “Experts, Amateurs, and Bureaucratic Influence in the American States,” with Graeme Boushey, 2015.
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
Collaborative Research: Resource Implementations for Data Intensive Research in the Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences (RIDIR), National Science Foundation, “DAPPR: Diffusion Analytics for Public Policy Research,” with Frederick J. Boehmke, Bruce A. Desmarais, William W. Franko, Jeffrey J. Harden, Yu-Ru Lin, and Jason Windett, October 1, 2016 - September 30, 2019 [Total funding awarded: $808,128]
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholars in Health Policy Research Fellowship (University of Michigan site), 2013-2015
“The American Governor: Politics, Policy, Power and Leadership" Research Grant, Center on the American Governor—Eagleton Institute of Politics (Rutgers University), with Jon C. Rogowski and Josh M. Ryan, 2012 [$4,980 awarded]
Graduate College Summer Fellowship, University of Iowa, 2009
National Science Foundation award to attend Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models (EITM) summer institute, University of Michigan, 2009.
National Science Foundation award to attend Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models (EITM) summer institute, Washington University in St. Louis, 2008.
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Summer Fellowship for intensive course in Yucatec Maya, The Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of North Carolina-Duke University, 2005.
Political Science Graduate Fellowship, University of Iowa, 2004–2010.
WORKING PAPERS/WORKS IN PROGRESS
“The Value of State Legislative Committees,” with Josh M. Ryan — working paper
“A Voice Where it Matters: Legislative Committee Portfolios and the Substantive Representation of Women in State Legislatures,” with Josh M. Ryan and Jatia Wrighten — working paper
“U.S. State Policy and the Politics of Health Inequality,” with William W. Franko — working paper
“Occupational Licensing and Income Inequality in the States,” with William W. Franko, Wendy Chen, and Steven Beasley — work in progress
“Congressional Oversight and the Capacity of Congressional Committees,” with Jason A. MacDonald and Nicole Kalaf-Hughes — work in progress
CONFERENCE/SEMINAR PARTICIPATION
- Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL (2019 – Served as Section Chair for Bureaucratic Politics); (2016); (2015); (2014); (2013); (2012); (2011); (2010); (2009); (2008); (2007)
- State Politics and Policy Conference, State College, PA (2018); St. Louis, MO (2017); Iowa City, IA (2013); Houston, TX (2012); Springfield, IL (2010)
- “New Developments in the Study of Executive Politics” conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (2018)
- Introduction to R Programming for Statistical Inference (10-day course), Georgian Institute for Public Affairs, Tbilisi, Georgia. Invited instructor on US State Department Grant (PIs: Priscilla Regan and Eric McGlinchey), July 25 - August 6, 2016; July 23 - August 4, 2017
- Western Political Science Association, Vancouver, BC (2017); Portland, OR (2012)
- American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA (2016); San Francisco, CA (2015); Washington, DC (2014); Chicago, IL (2013); Washington, DC (2010); Boston, MA (2008)
- University of Virginia, American Politics Seminar, Charlottesville, VA(2016)
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholars in Health Policy Research Annual Meeting, Coronado, CA (2015); Indianapolis, IN (2014); Princeton, NJ (2013)
- Southern California Law and Social Science Forum, “Regulation, Law and Social Science,” University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (2015)
- “Lawmaking and Oversight in an Era of Polarization” symposium, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (2014)
- “New Frontiers in Policy Diffusion” conference, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (2014)
- Rutgers University, Eagleton Institute of Politics, New Brunswick, NJ (2013); (2012)
- Southern Political Science Association, Orlando, FL (2013)
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models (EITM) Summer Institute
- University of Michigan, June-July 2009
- Washington University in St. Louis, June 2008
The University of Iowa College of Law
- Course in Administrative Law, Fall 2007
COURSES TAUGHT
Graduate
- U.S. Policy-Making Processes: Fall 2018, Fall 2017
- Multivariate Statistical Analysis in PublicPolicy: Spring 2016
- Seminar in American Government and Politics: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
- Seminar in Congress and Legislative Behavior: Fall 2016
- Seminar in the Presidency: Fall 2015, Fall 2012
- Seminar in Politics and Bureaucracy: Spring 2012
- Seminar in Theories of Public Administration: Fall 2011
Undergraduate
- Research Methods and Analysis: Spring 2019
- Legislative Behavior: Fall 2018, Fall 2017; Spring2012, Summer 2011
- Introduction to American Government: Summer 2017; Spring 2017, 2016
- Political Partiesand Campaigns: Summer 2016
- The American Presidency: Summer2013, Fall 2012,Fall 2011
Internship Coordination
- Summer 2012
STUDENTS SUPERVISED
Dissertation Committees:
- Brian Alexander, Ph.D (Political Science, 2015), George Mason University, Committee Member (current position: Assistant Professor, Washington and Lee University)
- Kirk Heffelmire, Ph.D (Public Policy, 2018), George Mason University, Committee Member
- Scott Atherley, Ph.D Candidate (Political Science, ABD), George Mason University, Chair
- Tia Wrighten, Ph.D Student (Political Science,ABD), George MasonUniversity, Chair
- Adam Bernbaum,Ph.D Student (Political Science, ABD), George Mason University, Chair
- Brian Janssen,Ph.D Candidate (Political Science, ABD), University of Iowa, Committee Member
- Phil Pedlikin, Ph.D Candidate (Public Policy, ABD), George Mason University, Commit- tee Member
- Jihye Lim, Ph.D Student(Political Science, ABD), George Mason University, Committee Member
- Ashley Hess, Ph.D Student (Biodefense, ABD), George Mason University, Committee Member
Undergraduate Honors Theses:
- Amanda Patarino, BA (2016), GeorgeMason University, Thesis Supervisor
SERVICE
George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government:
- 2018 to present – Director of Undergraduate Programs(Schar)
- 2018 to present – Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Assistants Program (Schar)
- 2019 – Member, Public Policy PhD Admissions Committee (Schar)
- 2018 – Member, Public Policy PhD Admissions Committee (Schar)
- 2018 – Member, Undergraduate Council (University)
- 2018 – Member, Promotionand Tenure Liaison Committee (Schar)
- 2017 – Member, Political Methodology Search Committee (Schar)
- 2016 – Member, Public Policy PhD Admissions Committee (Schar)
- 2015-2016 – Coordinator, Workshop for Research in Political Science(Schar)
- 2015-2017 – Member, Curriculum Committee (Schar)
- 2015-2016 – Member, American Politics Qualifying Exam Committee (Schar)
George Mason University, Department of Public and International Affairs:
- 2012-2013 – Member, Public Administration Faculty Search Committee
- 2012-2013 – Member, American Politics Qualifying Exam Committee
- 2012 – Summer Internship Coordinator
- 2011-2012 – Member, Graduate Admissions Committee
- 2011-2012 – Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee
MANUSCRIPT REVIEW
Occasional reviewer for the following journals and publishers:
The American Journal of Political Science, American Politics Research, American Political Science Review, Canadian Journal of Political Science, The Journal of Politics, Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, Policy Studies Journal, Public Administration Review, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and for Oxford University Press, W.W. Norton & Company
Areas of Research
- Federalism/State and Local Government
- Health Policy
- Legislatures
- Presidency and Executive Branch
- Quantitative Methods