About Peay…

I am currently an Assistant Professor in the department of Political Science at Georgia State University. My research examines how those from under-represented communities employ collective strategies to shape political processes and outcomes from within and outside political institutions in America. My research can be found in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and Politics, Social Science Quarterly, and the National Review of Black Politics.

My broader research question results in two distinct, yet complementary, branches of research. On one hand, I look to update a surprisingly scant scholarly account of the most influential collective of Black representatives - the Congressional Black Caucus. I examine how underlying forces – like institutional and interpersonal marginalization, intraparty issue avoidance, tokenism, and a denial to vital policy information – have long constrained Black lawmakers’ ability to achieve substantive gains in Black-interest areas. I argue, in response to these conditions, the Congressional Black Caucus has transformed from a loosely-tied group of Black lawmakers to a cohesive caucus with tremendous leverage over legislative processes by leaning on a collective approach to reorienting legislative attention, strategically defining and re-defining policy problems and solutions, serving in key information brokerage positions, and building diverse and sizeable coalitions within the chamber.

The second line of research examines the impetus, implications, and effectiveness of racial protests in modern America. Here, I examine the electoral and policy ramifications of the Black Lives Matter movement. I also study state responsiveness and state sponsored repression of the movement. This line of research is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Build and Broaden Program. To explore these questions and others, I draw on a diverse set of empirical tools including Social Network Analysis and a Bayesian approach to Maximum Likelihood Estimation. Theoretically, I lean heavily on theories of the policy process (agenda-setting, policy diffusion, and coalition building) in conjunction with traditional theories of political institutions, representation, and elite political behavior.

Personally, I am a native of Southeast Texas. I received my Ph.D. from The University of Oklahoma in 2020. Prior to my enrollment in graduate studies, I spent 7 years working in secondary education in the Houston metropolitan area. Aside from my studies, I am an avid music connoisseur, an enthusiastic foodie, and a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Last updated August 2021