Brenna Armstrong

Brenna Armstrong
  • Faculty
  • Assistant Professor
  • James & Kaye Crocker Endowed Professor

Biography

Dr. Armstrong’s research focuses on elite behavior, political economy, and comparative political institutions. Specifically, her research explores how politicians’ personal characteristics shape their strategies in office and how institutional change may alter these strategies. Currently, her work focuses on the role of gender and opposition party membership and how it influences democratic behavior of elites. She has published research in the American Political Science Review, the Journal of Politics, the Journal of Latin American Politics and Society, and American Politics Research.

Education

Ph.D. in Political Science, 2023
Texas A&M University
 

B.A. in Political Science, 2018
University of Kentucky

Student Research/Collaboration

  • Comparative politics
  • Political institutions
  • Legislative politics
  • Executive politics
  • Political leadership 
  • Elite behavior
  • Political Systems of Latin America
  • Women in Politics (American or Comparative Politics)
  • Comparative Political Economy
  • Comparative Bureaucratic Politics 
  • Political administration
  • Advanced methods
  • Undergraduate methods

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • "Choice Overload in Crowded Primary Elections" with Spencer Goidel. Forthcoming at American Politics Research. 
  • “Media Treatment of Male and Female Members of Presidential Cabinets in a Cross-Country Comparison” with Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson. Forthcoming at Latin American Politics and Society. 
  • Goidel, Spencer, Thiago MQ Moreira, and Brenna Armstrong. "Party Realignment, Education, and the Turnout Advantage: Revisiting the Partisan Effect of Turnout." American Politics Research 52, no. 1 (2024): 23-29. 
  • Armstrong, Brenna, Tiffany D. Barnes, Daina Chiba, and Diana Z. O’Brien. 2024. "Financial Crises and the Selection and Survival of Women Finance Ministers." American Political Science Review 118(3): 1305-1323. 
  • Armstrong, Brenna, Tiffany D. Barnes, Diana Z. O’Brien, and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson. 2022. "Corruption, accountability, and women’s access to power." The Journal of Politics 84(2): 12071213. 

 

Conference Papers 

  • "Mirroring Gender Gap Attitudes? Latin American Elites and Democratic Transitions" with Duncan Christensen and Manuela Muñoz. Women in Legislative Studies 2024. Madison, WI. (Upcoming) 
  • “Electoral Rule Changes and Opposition Power in Presidential Regimes” with Manuela Muñoz. Women in Legislative Studies 2023. Providence, RI.  
  • “Part-Time or Full-Time? State-Level Institutional Choice and Representation”. with Spencer Goidel and Thiago M.Q. Moreira. MPSA 2023. Chicago, IL (Withdrawn). 
  • “Oversight, Corruption, and Politician Strategies” Women in Legislative Studies 2022. Houston, TX. 

  • “Oversight, Corruption, and Politician Strategies” APSA 2022. Montreal, Quebec, CA. 

     

Awards & Recognition

  • TAMU Political Science Department Travel Award: $600 for 2019-2021 period; $1000 for 2022 period 
  • 2019 Travel Award from Texas A&M: $750 Award for conference travel from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
  • Lechner Graduate Grant: $2700 Award 
  • Vandenbosch Award Semi-Finalist: Award for Outstanding Seniors in Political Science