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About Rollins

Donald Davison, PhD

Professor of Political Science

donald davison polical science professor

Dr. Davison specializes in political behavior, American institutions, public policy and formal theory and methodology. His research focuses upon the effects of race and religion on political behavior and the reactions by majority populations to minority voting rights. During Poland’s transition to democracy in the 1990s he taught courses on democracy and rights at the Graduate School of the University of Warsaw as a Senior Fulbright Scholar. In 2022 Professor Davison was selected as the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in American Studies to the Swedish Institute for North American Studies at Uppsala University, Sweden. His research enables him to travel extensively including to South Africa, Turkey, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Malta, and Spain. Dr. Davison served as the Associate Dean of the Faculty from 2009 - 2011. His most recent publications include “American Conservatism: The Influence of the Tea Party on the Republican Party,” (2013); “Immigration Federalism and Partisan Sorting: The Importance of State-Level Actions,” The Political Chronicle, (Miami), Fall 2018; “Family Values Don't Stop at the Rio Grande . . . : Can the Republican Party Convert Hispanic Voters?,” American Review of Politics, Vol. XX, No. X, 2019; and “Time Taxes and Voting Queues: The Voting Rights Act after Shelby County v. Holder (2013),” National Political Science Review, No. 20.1, February 2019.

He was the editor for the European peer reviewed Politics and Religion Journal’s special edition on the United States and a member of its international editorial board. In 2016 Dr. Davison received the Graham-Frey Civic Award which recognizes a single faculty member from all colleges and universities in the State of Florida for outstanding contributions to the development of civic learning and engagement in sustaining our participatory democracy. Dr. Davison has also appeared as an expert in several cases including the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. District Court.

T. 407.646.2505

Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
M.A.,  University of Notre Dame
B.A,  St. Louis University, (Phi Beta Kappa) 

Editor, Politics and Religion Journal, special edition on the United States
International Editorial Board, Politics and Religion Journal

“Family Values Don’t Stop at the Rio Grande . . . : Can the Republican Party Convert Hispanic Voters? (forthcoming 2018)
 
Immigration Federalism and Partisan Sorting: The Importance of State-level Actions (forthcoming 2018)
 
The Comparative Effects of Electoral Laws on Voter Rationality: Plurality versus Proportional Election Rules, with Margaret Lewicki, The Political Chronicle, January 2018.
 
Times Taxes and Voting Queues: The Voting Rights Act after Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder (2012), (working paper)

  • donald davison teaching
  • Campaigns and Elections
  • American Civil Rights Policy
  • Quantitative Methods
  • The American Presidency
  • American Social Policy
  • Introduction to American Politics

  • American Political Science Association        
  • Electoral Behavior Working Group
  • Public Policy Working Group
  • Midwest Political Science Association

donald davison

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