About Me

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Mississippi. I am expecting to defend my dissertation, Ballots or Bullets: Electoral Participation, Legitimacy, and Political Violence in May 2027. Before this, I also obtained my B.A. in English and Political Science and M.A. in Political Science at the University of Mississippi in 2021 and 2025 respectively.

I was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but have moved around a lot. I lived in Southern California for 9 years as a child, then Middle Tennessee for high school. My sister, her husband, and my nieces still live in Mount Juliet, Tennessee; many of my close friends still live in Nashville.

When I'm not working intensely on my dissertation, I enjoy reading historical nonfiction or science fiction books. I have an unpublished science fiction manuscript that I revise when I can. I enjoy traveling and have been to 24 countries on four continents. I speak Spanish conversationally and have also been teaching myself German for the last several years.

My CV

Education

University of Mississippi

Ph.D. in Political Science (expected May 2027)

Dissertation: Ballots or Bullets: Electoral Participation, Legitimacy, and Political Violence
Committee Members: Miles T. Armaly (chair), Steven Schaaf, Jonathan Winburn, Andy Hales
Major Field: American Politics
Minor Field: Comparative Politics

M.A. in Political Science (August 2022 – May 2025)

B.A. in Political Science and English (August 2017 – May 2021)

Working Papers

“Observable and Non-Observable Critiques of American Democracy and Their Influence on Participation.” Presented at the Barbour Center for the Study of American Politics conference, June 2026.
“This House Ain’t Loyal: Examining Partisan Loyalty in Congress”
“Affirmative Authoritarians: The Great Replacement and Democracy”

Teaching Experience

Introduction to American Politics (scheduled Spring 2027)
Guest lectured for Constitutional Law, Political Participation classes
Developed lecture and slides
Particularly interested in introducing undergraduates to academic articles and analysis

Research and Teaching Interests

Teaching: Political participation, political behavior, elections, political parties, campaigns, media, Congress, the presidency.
Research: Political violence, political participation, political behavior, Congress.

Professional Experience

Political Campaigns

Joe Biden for President (2020)
Mike Espy for Senate (2020)
Jim Hood for Governor of Mississippi (2019)
John Ray Clemons for Mayor of Nashville (2019)
Mike Espy for Senate (2018)
David Baria for Senate (2018)
Randy Wadkins for House (2018)

(615) 419 7138

ryanammenheuser@gmail.com

(615) 419-7138