Headshot of Jason Husser

Jason Husser

Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Integrity, Director of the Elon Poll and Professor of Political Science and Public Policy

Department: Provost

Office and address: Alamance Building, office 120A 2200 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-5239

Professional Expertise

Public Opinion, Campaigns and Elections, Polling, North Carolina

Brief Biography

Jason Husser has three primary roles at Elon:

  • Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Integrity

  • Director of the Elon University Poll

  • Professor of Political Science and Public Policy

Jason researches American political behavior and survey methodology. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Assistant Director of the Elon Poll. He became Director of the Elon Poll in summer 2016. He lives in an old house in Burlington with his wife Kristina Meinking (also an Elon professor), their toddler, and two little spaniels.

 

Links

    Education

    Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, Political Science, 2012

    M.A., Vanderbilt University, Political Science, 2012

    B.A., Southeastern Louisiana University, Political Science, 2005, summa cum laude

    Employment History

    Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Integrity, 2024 –

    Director of the Elon University Poll, 2016 –

    Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, 2024 –

    Associate Professor of Political Science, 2018 – 2024

    Assistant Professor of Political Science, 2012 – 2018

    Faculty Fellow for Civic Engagement, 2014 – 2017

    Assistant Director of the Elon University Poll, 2012 – 2016

     

    Courses Taught

    Research Methods in Political Science (POL 220)

    This course introduces methodologies used in political science research. It focuses on concept formation, research design for problem solving and the measurement of data and data analysis. Political science and public administration majors should take this course in their sophomore years. Offered fall and spring.

    Public Opinion Polling (POL 321)

    The goal of this course is for students to learn how to supervise a public opinion poll. Students participate as interviewers in several polls and learn survey design, computer programming, analysis of poll data and how to write about survey results.

    Political Behavior (POL 329)

    This course focuses on political life from a micro-perspective by examining how political attitudes and behaviors are learned and how they affect our political choices, especially in regard to political socialization and electoral behavior.

     Campaigns and Elections (POL 318)
    An examination of election systems and how campaigns funtion, what prompts candidates to run for office, the role of the media and why voters choose certain candidates over others. Normative questions will be addressed, such as the extent to which elections permit citizens to have a meaningful voice in the American political process. Offered fall of even-numbered years.

    Southern Politics (POL 374)

    An overview of political institutions, political culture and political history of the eleven former states of the Confederacy.

    Civic Engagement Forum (POL 270)

    The goal of this “hands-on” course is for students to build practical civic engagement skills. Students will play critical roles in the development and execution of many Elon events related to political and civic life, broadly defined. Student will become more effective agents of policy change. Course activities and materials will focusing on objectives such as improving civic dialogue, mastering media communication and developing civic events. They will also study important literature related to political and social participation.

     

    Leadership Positions

    Jason was Interim Department Chair in Fall 2023. He was Chair of Academic Council in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

    Publications

     

    Usry, K., Husser, J., & Sparks, A. (2022). I'm Not a Scientist, I Just Know What I See: Hurricane experience and climate change acceptance. Social Science Quarterly, 103(5), 1190-1201

    Fernandez, K. E., & Husser, J. A. (2021). Public Attitudes toward State Courts. Open Judicial Politics.

    "The Southern Voice: Political Consequences of a Regional Accent." 2019. The Midsouth Political Science Review (with Carrie P. Eaves and Kenneth E. Fernandez)

    “Engaging a Campus During a Tumultuous Election: A Case Study.” 2017. PS: Political
    Science and Politics (with Carrie P. Eaves)

    "What Makes a Successful Indian American Candidate?" 2017. South Asian Diasporo (with Jason A. Kirk)

    "We Are Happier than We Realize: Underestimation and Conflation in Measuring Happiness" 2017. Journal of Happiness Studies (with Kenneth E. Fernandez)

    "Gay Marriage Is More Popular Than Same-Sex Marriage." 2016. Survey Practice 9(4) (with Kenneth E. Fernandez)

    "Polling the Pollsters: A Survey of Academic Survey Organizations." 2016. PS: Political Science and Politics. (with Kenneth E. Fernandez and Mary G. Macdonald)

    "Is Candidate Rhetorical Tone Associated with Vote Choice in Presidential Elections?" 2014. In Roderick Hart, ed., The Handbook of Research on Institutional Language. Hershey, PA: IGI-Globabl Publishers,  (with Christian R. Grose)

    "To Click, Type, or Drag? Evaluating Speed of Survey Data Input Methods." 2013. Survey Practice (with Kenneth E. Fernandez)

    "How Trust Matters: The Changing Political Relevance of Political Trust." 2012.   American Journal of Political Science 56 (2):312-25 (with Marc J. Hetherington)

    "Plus Ça Change: Race, Gender, and Issue Retrospections in the 2008 U.S. Election." 2010. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties 3:926-45 (with Christian R. Grose and Antoine Yoshinaka)

    Professional Development

    Associate Coordinator, The Vanderbilt Poll, 2011-2012

    Visiting Instructor of Political Science, Sewanee: The University of the South, 2011

    Instructor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University, 2009, 2011, 2012

    Graduate Assistant, Department of Political Science, Vanderbilt University, 2008 - 2011

    Editorial Associate, Journal of Politics, 2007