I am a fifth-year political science PhD candidate at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. I am on the 2026-2027 academic job market.

I study how social identities shape political behavior, political communication, and democratic representation in the United States. My dissertation focuses on the ways that American political elites use religious language in their political communication. I use quantitative methods, text analysis, and survey experiments in my research. My research has been supported by George Mason University’s Office of the Provost Presidential Scholars progam and the Schar School of Policy and Government Daniel Druckman Fellowship.

Prior to my doctoral studies, I earned a BA in Religion from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Villanova University. I also competed as a Division I student-athlete. My athletic career instilled in me a belief in the power of teamwork, discipline, and resilience, and these qualities continue to shape my academic and professional pursuits.

I love meeting new people and exchanging new ideas. If you’d like to chat about research, academia, athletics, or anything in between, feel free to reach out via email at jthomso4[at]gmu[dot]edu.