Jim is a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, where he has served on the faculty since 1992.

He holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago. His research has focused on political behavior, campaigns and elections, public opinion and immigration politics and policy. His most recent books are: Patchwork Nation (University of Michigan Press 2003) with Jason E. Schuknecht, and Cultivating Democracy (Brookings Institution Press 2003) with J. Celeste Lay and Jason E. Schuknecht.

Ongoing projects include several studies in the geography of campaign donations, volunteer networks, and voting; and a new study on the geographic redistribution of the American electorate through residential mobility. He has been at the forefront of efforts to apply new geographic analysis software tools to the study of political behavior and policy. Jim is also the current editor of American Politics Research, an academic journal specializing in the study of U.S. politics.

Jim is married to an amazing woman (Veronica) and they are the proud parents of two really cool kids (Gabriela and Graciela).

*Biographies and photos provided by Arena participants.

Immigration, Center for immigration studies, Center for Immigration Studies (CIS.org),