Michael Romano

Michael Romano is the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at Shenandoah University, employed since 2015. Located in Davis Hall, his contact information includes phone (540) 665-4697 and email mromano@su.edu. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University (2002–2006) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Western Michigan University (2007–2014).

His research focuses on American Politics, Political Institutions, Mass Media & Political Communications, Judicial Politics, and Democratization. Current projects include analyzing judicial diversification’s historical influences, developing inter-court judicial ideology measures, and examining state courts’ role in maintaining democracy. Collaborations with scholars like Todd A. Curry explore topics such as state supreme court Twitter dynamics and judicial independence’s impact on democratization.

His publications span journals like State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Politics, Groups, and Identities, and Political Research Quarterly, addressing themes from gender norms in Supreme Court confirmations to electoral coattail effects. His work emphasizes the intersection of media, law, and democratic governance.

Romano’s scholarly contributions include the book Creating the Law: State Supreme Court Opinions and the Effect of Audience (2019) and chapters in edited volumes on democratization and legal systems. His research underscores the evolving role of judiciaries in safeguarding democratic principles amid political polarization.