Margaret Ferguson (political scientist) explained

Birth Date:	10 October 1968
Birth Place:	Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Fields:	Political science
Workplaces:	Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Alma Mater:	University of Southern Mississippi (BA) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MA, PhD)
Known For:	State politics, governors, Southern politics, welfare politics, American politics

Margaret Robertson Ferguson (born October 10, 1968) is an American political scientist specializing in state politics,^[1] governors, and Southern politics at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis.^[2]

Early life and education

Ferguson was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the daughter of Jim Robertson, a one-time member of the Mississippi Legislature and political science professor from Liberty, Mississippi. She graduated with a BA in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi. She earned an MA and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Scholarship and academic career

Ferguson joined the academic staff of Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis in 1996. Now a professor,^[3] in 2012 she was head of the Department of Political Science, and was named assistant vice president for statewide academic relations at the university.

She was one of Justin Knapp’s professors, and has said she was not surprised by his dedication to editing Wikipedia.^{[4] [5]}

Ferguson's research includes comparing the structures of state-level government institutions in the United States^{[6] [7]} and analyzing legislative procedures.^[8] She is often quoted in news reports about political issues.^[9] She writes opinion articles for the Indianapolis Business Journal, and has also written a number of other articles about American politics.^{[10] [11]} In 2015 a book she edited, The Executive Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics, is in the collections of more than 700 libraries.^[12]

In 2016, she became senior associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at IUPUI.^[13]

Selected publications

• "Governors and the Executive Branch", in Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis.^[14]
• The Executive Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics (editor), ABC-CLIO, 2006^[15]
• Assessing Perceived Gubernatorial Influence on State Administrators, 1978–1988, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1992.
• "Divided Government, Interest Representation, and Policy Differences: Competing Explanations of Gridlock in the Fifty States", CJ Bowling, MR Ferguson – Journal of Politics, 2001.^[16]

External links

• Faculty Profile at IUPUI's site

Notes and References

1. http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2014/nov/30/lincoln-chafee/gov-lincoln-chafee-says-ri-legislature-strongest-u/ "Gov. Lincoln Chafee says R.I. legislature is strongest in U.S"
2. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dick-lugar-a-washington-insider-on-his-way-out/ "Dick Lugar: A Washington insider on his way out?"
3. http://www.theindychannel.com/news/politics/house-dems-upbeat-day-after-bauer-ousted "House Dems Upbeat Day After Bauer Ousted"
4. Web site: In the News - June 2012 . Vinci . Angela . Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis News . July 5, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170203162028/https://liberalarts.iupui.edu/news/index.php/news_article/in_the_news_-_june_2012/ . February 3, 2017 . February 2, 2017.
5. News: Week in Wiki out: Hoosier is top contributor to online encyclopedia . Guerra . Kristine . June 18, 2012 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618180217/http://www.indystar.com/article/20120611/LOCAL/206110312 . January 1, 2018 . June 18, 2012.
6. Book: Cal Jillson. Texas Politics: Governing the Lone Star State. July 30, 2015. Routledge. 978-1-317-55335-9. 177–.
7. http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20141203/NEWS/312039903 "R.I.'s weak governor"
8. Book: Alan Rosenthal. The Best Job in Politics: Exploring How Governors Succeed as Policy Leaders. registration. March 9, 2012. CQ Press. 978-1-4522-3999-6. 90, 100.
9. https://www.npr.org/2012/05/07/152183979/6-options-for-the-aging-politician "5 (Plus 1) Options For The Aging Politician"
10. Book: Todd Donovan. Daniel Smith. Christopher Mooney. State and Local Politics: Institutions and Reform. January 13, 2012. Cengage Learning. 978-1-133-71326-5. 319–.
11. Book: Jeffrey E. Cohen. Public Opinion in State Politics. August 25, 2006. Stanford University Press. 978-0-8047-6797-2. 17–.
12. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70203622 "The executive branch of state government : people, process, and politics"
13. Web site: Margaret Ferguson Appointed to Interim Senior Executive Leadership Post at IUPUI . . November 18, 2015.
14. Book: Donald P. Haider-Markel. Political Encyclopedia of U.S. States and Regions. November 19, 2008. SAGE Publications. 978-1-4522-6735-7. 761–.
15. Book: Thomas H. Little. David B. Ogle. The Legislative Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics. registration. January 1, 2006. ABC-CLIO. 978-1-85109-761-6. 194–.
16. Book: Thomas T. Holyoke. Competitive Interests: Competition and Compromise in American Interest Group Politics. August 22, 2011. Georgetown University Press. 978-1-58901-779-5. 179–.