U.S. Politics & Legal Studies

Molly Izer’s political curiosity knows no bounds. As a second-year student in the Honors College, Izer has already explored a range of political advocacy spheres. From her high school origins in grassroots organizing in Oregon to her freshman-year congressional internships in Washington, D.C., Izer is now taking the next step with policy research at George Mason University and beyond.  

Areas of Research: U.S. Politics and Legal Studies, Social Policy, Regional Expertise – United States

Areas of Research: African American Political Behavior, Political Parties, Social Policy, The Presidency, U.S. Politics & Legal Studies, Voting Rights Policy

Robert L. Deitz was Senior Councilor to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2006 until February 2009. From September 1998 to September 2006 he was the General Counsel at the National Security Agency where he represented the NSA in all legal matters.

Areas of Research: Public Management, Public Administration Ethics, Administrative Law, Judicial Process, and Organization Theory

Areas of Research: Politics of punishment, Penal law, Law & society, Democratic theory

James P. Pfiffner is University Professor emeritus in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. His major areas of expertise are the Presidency, American National Government, public management and the national security policy process.

Areas of Research: Judicial Behavior, American elections

Areas of Research: Anthropology of Public Policy, Influence Elites, Corruption, Central and Eastern Europe, Foreign Aid, Governance, Privatization of Policy, Social Networks

Professor Laura Walker, attorney-at-law, was engaged in the private practice of law in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Virginia prior to joining the George Mason University faculty.