Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
Ph.D., University of Houston
M.P.A., University of Illinois at Chicago

Vitae

Assistant Professor Bianca Easterly received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Houston, and BA and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before her doctoral studies, Dr. Easterly spent several years working in both the private and public sectors including the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service.

Dr. Easterly’s interests include American and state institutions and politics, public policy, federalism and intergovernmental relations, and judicial process and behavior. Her research broadly explores morality policies and the political institutions that enhance elite responsiveness to public opinion. Her work appears in Policy Studies Journal, Law & Policy, and Social Science Quarterly. As an invited columnist for PA Times, she has written about a variety of topics related to the field of public administration and public service.

Since starting her academic career at Lamar in 2013, Dr. Easterly has been an Active and Collaborative Engagement for Students (ACES) Fellow, a Student Advising and Retention Services (STARS) Mentor, and a member of both the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Steering Committee, and Arts & Sciences Council. Lamar has demonstrated ongoing support of her research by awarding her a Research Enhancement Grant in 2016 and a Summer Faculty Research Award in 2017. She has also had the prestigious honor of being a lead presenter at a “Cardinal Conversations: An Evening of Discussion,” a lecture series held at the President and First Lady’s residence. In the spring of 2018, the students of the Reaud Honors College selected her as Professor of the year, 2017-2018.

Dr. Easterly teaches a variety of undergraduate political science courses including American government in the Reaud Honors College and graduate seminars online and face-to-face.