Info
Assistant Professor of Politics, Law, and Society
Tristan M. Hightower
Tristan M. Hightower, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Department of Politics, Law, and Society. His teaching and research focus on democratic norms, theory, and application, with a particular interest in how American institutions shape political representation. Before joining the faculty at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, Prof. Hightower earned his PhD (2024) and MA (2020) in Political Science from the University of Maryland, where he also pursued a secondary concentration in quantitative methods. He completed his BA in Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2017, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. While at Tennessee, he was a member of both the Chancellor's Honors Program and the Political Science Honors Program.
Beyond academia, Prof. Hightower is a regular contributor to media outlets such as The Independent, The National Journal, Deseret News, and The American Banker.
Degrees Awarded
Ph D, University of Maryland
MA, University of Maryland
BA, University of Tennessee
Ph D, University of Maryland
MA, University of Maryland
BA, University of Tennessee
Selected Publications
Hightower, T. M., The Population Ecology of Interest Groups and Counter-Mobilization: Reproductive Rights Organizations in the United States, 1920-1985, Political Science Research and Methods, 2025.
Hightower, T. M., Packed Pews: Understanding Evangelical Group Formation, Interest Groups & Advocacy, 2022.
Gimpel, J. G.,Hightower, T. M.,Wohlfarth, P. C., TRENDS: The Geography of Law: Understanding the Origin of State and Federal Redistricting Cases, Political Research Quarterly, 2021.
Hightower, T. M., Density, SAGE Publications, Inc..
Hightower, T. M., Tennessee's Promise: Education for All?, Pursuit: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at the University of Tennessee, 2019.
Hightower, T. M., The Population Ecology of Interest Groups and Counter-Mobilization: Reproductive Rights Organizations in the United States, 1920-1985, Political Science Research and Methods, 2025.
Hightower, T. M., Packed Pews: Understanding Evangelical Group Formation, Interest Groups & Advocacy, 2022.
Gimpel, J. G.,Hightower, T. M.,Wohlfarth, P. C., TRENDS: The Geography of Law: Understanding the Origin of State and Federal Redistricting Cases, Political Research Quarterly, 2021.
Hightower, T. M., Density, SAGE Publications, Inc..
Hightower, T. M., Tennessee's Promise: Education for All?, Pursuit: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at the University of Tennessee, 2019.
Awards and Honors
Artinian Award, 2025
Love of Learning Grant, 2024
Conley C. Dillon Award, 2024
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2024
Award for Exceptional Campus Service 2019-2023, 2023
Prestage-Cook Grant, 2023
Don C. Piper Award, 2022
Roger H. Davidson Award, 2022
Harrell Rodgers Grant, 2022
Virginia Gray Graduate Research Award, 2021
Excellence in Teaching Award, 2020
Artinian Award, 2025
Love of Learning Grant, 2024
Conley C. Dillon Award, 2024
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2024
Award for Exceptional Campus Service 2019-2023, 2023
Prestage-Cook Grant, 2023
Don C. Piper Award, 2022
Roger H. Davidson Award, 2022
Harrell Rodgers Grant, 2022
Virginia Gray Graduate Research Award, 2021
Excellence in Teaching Award, 2020
Teaching Interests
Congress; Interest Groups; Representation; Political Parties and Elections; Research Methods
Congress; Interest Groups; Representation; Political Parties and Elections; Research Methods
Research Interests
Representation; Interest Group Ecology; Congressional Performance and Polarization
Representation; Interest Group Ecology; Congressional Performance and Polarization
Professional Memberships
Pi Sigma Alpha - The National Political Science Honor Society
Midwest Political Science Association
Southern Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
National Capital Area Political Science Association
Pi Sigma Alpha - The National Political Science Honor Society
Midwest Political Science Association
Southern Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
National Capital Area Political Science Association