Michael J. Nelson
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Affiliate Law Faculty Jeffrey L. Hyde and Sharon D. Hyde and Political Science Board of Visitors Early Career Professor in Political Science and Associate Professor of Political Science, Penn State University Location: University Park
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814-865-7515About Nelson
Michael Nelson, associate professor of political science and affiliate law faculty, specializes in American politics, state politics, and judicial politics. His research examines the effects of judicial elections on the development of the law as well as the determinants and effects of public support for state and federal courts in the United States. Michael holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis and a B.A. in Political Science and English from Drake University. His research has been published or is forthcoming in the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Law and Courts, Political Research Quarterly, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and Judicature.
Education
Ph.D., Washington University
B.A., Drake University
Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law are reunifying to operate as Penn State University’s single law school, which will be known as Penn State Dickinson Law. While ABA approval for the reunification is pending, both schools are currently fully accredited. We submitted an application for acquiescence to operate as a single law school in July 2024 and plan to enroll a unified class in Fall 2025. Once reunification is complete, the separate faculties of each school will be members of the reunified Penn State Dickinson Law faculty.