Hello! I’m

Alexandra Stinson-Swartout

Michigan State University

A Public Policy PhD Candidate at

Hello, my name is Alexandra Stinson-Swartout and I'm a PhD candidate here at Michigan State University. I am a passionate teacher-scholar whose research predominately focuses in education policy and the politics of education. I got my Bachelor's Degree in 2020 from the University of Tampa and my Master's from MSU in 2023. I was also an IES pre-doctoral fellow from 2022 - 2025, a program which focuses on promoting interdisciplinary social sciences work in education policy. 

My dissertation, "As The Chalk Dust Settles: School Choice's Impact on the Education Environment 30 Years Later", explores how the growth and entrenchment of school choice since the late 90s has shaped public opinion, competition introduced by public school choice, and the policymaking environment. It incorporates a variety of methodological techniques like interviews with school officials and survey research in addition to quantitative analysis. Other work I've done includes research on institutional trust, polarization, and education policy evaluation and implementation. 

In addition to my research, I spent four years serving our community on the Graduate Student Association council - two of which I was president. Pedagogy is a strong interest of mine and I have taught online and in-person as an instructor for undergraduate and masters' level courses.

ABOUT ME

WHAT AM I UP TO RIGHT NOW?

  • Working Papers

    • Finger, Reckhow, & Stinson (2023). “Polarization and Education Policy: Tracing the Causes of Rising Polarization in State-Level Education Policymaking”. Manuscript in Progress.

    • Stinson (2023). “Ideological Preferences and School Choice Advocacy: Trends and Divergencies”. Manuscript in progress.

    Conference Presentations

    • Finger, Reckhow, & Stinson (2023, April 13-16). Polarization and Education Policy: Tracing the Causes of Rising Polarization in State-Level Education Policymaking. MPSA 2023 Convention, Chicago, IL, United States.

    • Stinson (2023, August 31 - Sept 2). Ideological Preferences and School Choice Advocacy: Trends and Divergencies. APSA 2023 Convention. Los Angeles, CA, United States.

  • Research Assistantships

    • Fall ‘22: Research duties under Dr. Sarah Reckhow

    • Spring ‘23: Research duties under Dr. Sarah Reckhow

    Teaching Assistantships

    • Fall ‘21: TA for ISS 305: Evaluating Evidence under Dr. Mariana Medina

    • Spring ‘22: TA for PLS 320: Judicial Politics under Dr. Ryan Black

    • Summer ‘22: TA for ISS 305: Decisionmaking under Dr. Ryan Black

  • MITTENSS IES Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
    2022-2025

  • Graduate Student Association, Political Science

    • 2021-2022: First Year Representative

    • 2022-2023: Academic and Admissions Representative

COMING UP

APSA

September 10 - 13

2025

“Are Choice Parents a Partisan Monolith? The Impact of Identity, Ideology, and Rhetoric on Support for Choice Types”

The Politics of Private School Choice Panel
9/11/2025 - 12 to 1:30pm
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, Salon E