Samuel F. Harper

Samuel F. Harper serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Tampa, specializing in state government, public opinion dynamics, and cross-state policy diffusion. His teaching portfolio includes Introduction to American Government, Florida Politics, and Religion in American Politics, reflecting his expertise in regional political systems and sociocultural influences on governance.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Arkansas (2020)
• M.A. in Political Science from the University of Iowa (2021)
• Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Iowa (2025)

Harper's research examines how state-level policies generate opinion spillovers across non-adopting states, with methodological innovations in measuring state ideology evolution and identifying legislative actors driving policy diffusion. His work extends to critical contemporary domains including electoral integrity, pandemic response governance, and direct democratic mechanisms, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement with political behavior and institutional design.

His scholarly impact is recognized through the Tom Carsey Award for Graduate Student Research from the American Political Science Association's State Politics and Policy Section (2022-24), highlighting contributions to subnational political analysis.

Publication records indicate research dissemination in premier journals including Political Research Quarterly and Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties, though specific advising relationships and grant funding details remain unspecified in available materials.

No institutional research teams or laboratory affiliations are documented in current sources.