Mary Layton Atkinson

Mary Layton Atkinson is Associate Professor of Political Science at UNC Charlotte, focusing on substantive representation, media-policy relationships, and gender diversity in legislative institutions. Her research examines how media coverage shapes policy perceptions and how gender composition affects Congressional agenda-setting. As a 2022-23 APSA Congressional Fellow, she contributed to legislation on human trafficking, immigration, and gun control.

Research Focus:

• Media framing of legislative processes
• Gender differences in policy priorities
• Public opinion dynamics
• Legislative agenda formation

Atkinson's publications demonstrate methodological innovation in text analysis of congressional debates and media content. Her work reveals how gender stereotypes influence policy focus in Congress and how media portrayals of political combat affect public perceptions. Recent research includes text analytics approaches to detect diverse perspectives in defense policy debates.

Awards & Recognition: American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship (2022-23)

Student Advising: No specific advisees listed.