Justin Kirkland

Justin Kirkland is a Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia's College of Arts and Sciences, where he also serves as Director of Graduate Studies. His primary research lies at the intersection of American politics, legislative behavior, and political representation.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2012

His research explores how institutions, parties, and public opinion interact in American legislative settings. Kirkland specializes in representation, legislative politics, state politics, and public opinion, with a particular focus on how transparency affects accountability and how party dynamics shape political ambition and legislative outcomes. His interdisciplinary work bridges political behavior, institutional analysis, and policy studies.

His recent publications (2022–2025) reveal a consistent focus on accountability illusions, partisan evaluations of legislative rule-breaking, and the psychological foundations of political ambition. These works reflect deep engagement with both theoretical and empirical dimensions of American political institutions.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Recipient of multiple disciplinary awards (specifics not listed)
• Research funded by the National Science Foundation

Justin Kirkland has played a significant editorial role in the field, having served as Co-Editor of Legislative Studies Quarterly from 2019 to 2023 and currently serving as Co-Editor of the Cambridge Studies in American Legislatures book series. As Director of Graduate Studies, he is actively involved in mentoring and shaping the next generation of political scientists. His research has been supported by external grants, and he has co-authored three influential books on legislative behavior.

While specific lab affiliations or research teams are not mentioned in the text, his editorial leadership and collaborative book projects suggest strong integration within national scholarly networks focused on American legislatures.