I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

I study political economy and research methods. Most of my research focuses on business and politics, with a particular focus on the role of public opinion. Many of my articles try to understand how people feel about economic globalization. My book, The Cost of Doing Politics (forthcoming at Cambridge University Press), asks how public opinion shapes corporate influence tactics. 

My methodology work is primarily focused on measurement and data collection in an effort to help more researchers answer more questions in more areas, especially in local politics. I also do research that aims to understand how demographic characteristics of researchers affect the research we do.

I primarily teach classes on research methods (although I also teach an undergraduate class on international political economy). My teaching philosophy is driven by a strong belief that learning is about iterative failure -- that is, that we come to understand by being wrong and correcting our failures. My assignments and assessments are structured with that philosophy in mind.

I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science at Emory University in 2016 and I received my B.S. from the University of Michigan in 2010. I was born and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Contact
email: jlsumner@umn.edu
office: 1472 Social Sciences Building
267 19th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455,
but really, what's an office anymore?

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