Vita 01/13/17 SARA MARGARET GUBALA Office Address: Department of Political Science Lamar University 201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Building P.O. Box 10030 Beaumont, TX 77710 Office Phone: 409-880-7802 Department Fax: 409-880-1710 Electronic Mail: smgubala@lamar.edu Current Research Interests: The American Presidency: The public presidency, presidential-congressional relations, presidential agenda setting, presidents and the media, presidential approval. Public Opinion and American Politics: Attitudes toward the president and/or institutions, Political information, Sophistication and ideology; Public opinion and the economy. College Teaching and Learning: Pedagogy, Simulations, Technology and Learning, Online Teaching/Learning, I>Clickers and Learning. Teaching Interests: American Politics/Government; Political Institutions American Presidency and Congress; Public Opinion; Political Communication/Rhetoric; Political Parties and Interest Groups; Political Economy; New Institutionalism; Media and Politics; Campaigns and Elections. Education Doctoral Student Michigan State University: July 2003 2009, ABD University of South Carolina, Columbia, August 2000 July 2003 Major Field: American Government and Politics Minor Field: Research Methodology Outside Field: Economics (Macroeconomics and Public Choice) Teaching Assistant Program, Certification in College Teaching, October 2007-2009 August 2000 July 2003: University of South Carolina Passed Comprehensive Examinations in American Politics and Methodology: March 2003
Page 2 Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research University of Michigan: Summer 2002 Scaling and Time Series Recipient of the Clifford Clogg Scholarship Public Choice Outreach Student Conference Seminar sessions provided introductory material on Public Choice Economics George Mason University, May 2001 M.A., American Government American University, Washington, D.C., 1998-2000 Fields: American Politics and Applied Politics Member: Phi Delta Gamma, Pi Alpha Alpha Recipient of the Maurice J. O Connell Service & Leadership Award and the Arthur Flemming Award for outstanding scholarship Lobbying Institute American University, 2000. Campaign Management Institute American University, 1999. B.A., Political Science and Spanish Roanoke College, Salem, VA, 1994-1998 Member: Pi Sigma Alpha, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Delta Pi, Xi Theta Chi Recipient of the Annie Terrill Bushnell Prize for outstanding leadership; Roanoke College Leader of the Year-1998; Chi-Omega Sorority-Sister of the Year-1998 Teaching Experience Lamar University, Beaumont, TX Professional Participation Professional Development Faculty Development Day August 2009-2016 ACES Fellow August 2011 May 2012 (Cohort 3) Teaching Seminars and Workshops Teaching with Technology; Campus Incivility; Effective Test Making; Group Work Lamar University Student Leadership Awards Committee Spring 2012 - present Lamar University Student Services Fee Committee Spring 2012- Present Lamar University Committee on Student Organizations Fall 2012 Present Lamar University Student Leadership Summit Presenter Fall 2016 Conference Papers Predicting Presidential Speechmaking in the United States: Drawing on Election Timing Models. Presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 7-10: Chicago,
Page 3 Illinois. (With Jeremy Duff). An earlier version was also presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association: New Orleans, Louisiana. The Role of Political Sophistication and the Attitudes Toward the President. Presented at 2005 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association: New Orleans, Louisiana. Economic News, Political Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the President: Media Coverage and Public Opinion. Presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, January 8-10: New Orleans, Louisiana. Information/ Sophistication and the Variability of Public Approval of the President Presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, January 8-10: New Orleans, Louisiana. Economic News, Political Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the President: The Relationship Between Media Coverage and Public Opinion. Presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, August 28-31: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Consumer Confidence and Presidential Approval: Does Consumer Sentiment Follow the Leader or Does our Leader Follow the Sentiments of the Consumers? Presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 3-6: Chicago, Illinois. The Presidential-Economic Dance: How Do Personal Economic Variables Effect Presidential Approval? Presented at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, November 7-9: Savannah, Georgia. (With Nathan Dietz) Information Acquisition on the Changing Nature of the Public Approval of the President. Presented at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, Massachusetts. The Presidential-Economic Dance: Are New Economic Variables In Rhythm with Traditional Economic Indicators and Presidential Approval? Presented at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 25-28: Chicago, Illinois. (With Nathan Dietz). The Influence of Gender and Race on the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Presented at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 25-28: Chicago, Illinois. (With Tajuana Massie and Susan W. Johnson). Information Acquisition and the Changing Nature of Public Approval of the President. Presented at the Political Science Research Workshop, University of South Carolina, January 2002. Information Acquisition and the Changing Nature of Public Approval of the President. Presented at the 2001 Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting: Atlanta, Georgia. Reexamining Gridlock on the Legislative Process: A Transaction Cost Approach Presented at the 2001 Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting: Atlanta, Georgia. (With Brad T. Gomez). The Impact of Gender and Race on the Decisions of Judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, California. August 29 September 2, 2001. (With Tajuana Massie and Susan W. Johnson).
Page 4 Other Conference Activities Panel Assistant, panel on Non Profit Organizations At the 2010 Annual Jack Brooks Conference, March 25, 2010: Beaumont, TX. Chair and Discussant, panel on Patterns and Effects of Media Consumption At the 2008 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 3-6: Chicago, Illinois. Chair and Discussant, panel on Presidential Approval At the 2007 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 12-15: Chicago, Illinois. Discussant, panel on Election Campaigns At the 2007 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 12-15: Chicago, Illinois. Chair, panel on Media Effects in the States At the 2006 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 20-23: Chicago, Illinois. Chair and Discussant, panel on Presidential Rhetoric At the 2005 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 7-10: Chicago, Illinois. Chair and Discussant, panel on Information Processing at the 2005 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 7-10: Chicago, Illinois. Discussant, panel on Presidential Rhetoric and the Power of Persuasion at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the American Political Science Association, September 2-5: Chicago, Illinois. Discussant, panel on The Media & Candidates Campaigns at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 15-18: Chicago, Illinois. Discussant, panel on Religion and Political Participation at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 15-18: Chicago, Illinois. Invited Attendee, Conference on Researching the Public Presidency, Texas A&M University, February 27-28, 2004. Discussant, panel on Contributions and the Influence of Money in Elections at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the Southern Political Science Association, January 8-10: New Orleans, Louisiana. Discussant, panel on What Do People Think About Economics and Globalization? How Does What They Think Affect Their Behavior? at the 2003 Annual Meetings of the American Political Science Association, August 28-31: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Discussant, panel on Linkages Between Policy, Elite Behavior, and Public Opinion at the 2003 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 3-6: Chicago, Illinois. Academic Experience
Page 5 Instructor Political Science Practicum (Internship Class), Michigan State University, Summer and Fall 2005 The American Executive Process, Michigan State University, Spring 2006-2008, Summer 2006 The American Executive Process Hybrid Course, Michigan State University, Summer 2008 The American Legislative Process, Michigan State University, Summer and Fall 2007 American Government I-Theory and Politics, Lamar University, Fall 2008-present American Government II- Structure and Functions, Lamar University, Fall 2009 and Spring 2011 Introduction to Political Science, Lamar University, Spring 2009-2012, Fall 2010, Fall 2011 Guest Lecturer American Government, University of South Carolina, Fall 2001 American Government, Presbyterian College, Spring 2002 Political Parties and Interest Groups, Presbyterian College, Spring 2002 Research Assistant Dr. Donald Songer University of South Carolina (Fall 2000 Summer 2001 and Spring 2002) Dr. James Douglas University of South Carolina (Fall 2001) Dr. Brad Gomez University of South Carolina (Summer 2001) Conference Assistant Dr. Saundra Schneider State Politics and Public Policy Conference (Spring 2005) Dr. James Vanderleeuw Jack Brooks Conference (Spring 2012) Editorial Assistant Journal of Politics: Dr. William G. Jacoby, Editor (April 2002 January 2005) Fellowships and Awards Student Organization Advisor of the Year Spring 2015 Greek Council Campus Advisor of the Year Spring 2015 Best Professor Nominee Nominated by SGA Spring 2013 Ben and Julie Rogers Community Service Award November 2012 ACES Fellowship at Lamar University 2011-2012 Teaching Award Nominee Nominated at Lamar to give a lecture Bill Bewick Political Science Graduate Student Political Science Association Teaching Award - 2006 H.B. Earhart Fellowship awarded by the Earhart Foundation: Fall 2005 Spring 2007 ($17,000/year) Advanced Graduate Student Travel Grant: American Political Science Association: September 2002 University of South Carolina Graduate Student Travel Grant: 2002
Page 6 Clifford Clogg Scholarship Award (Political Science) awarded by the Methodology Section of the American Political Science Association and ICPSR: Summer 2002 Public Choice Student Outreach Conference (selected as one of 30 students to attend): Summer 2001 (all meals, travel, lodging and materials included) Professional Service and Memberships Service: Lamar University Department of Political Science Department Meetings and Committees; Jack Brooks Conference Committee Jack Brooks Conference Program Committee 2012, 2013 Public Administration Job Search Committee 2012-2013 Scholarships Committee 2013 to present Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society Adviser (Summer 2009 Present) Public Affairs Society Founding Adviser and Creator of Organization (Spring 2009 Present) College Republicans Adviser (Fall 2009- Present) Sigma Theta Chi Phi Adviser (Fall 2010 Present) Alpha Delta Pi - Campus Adviser (Spring 2012 Present) Alpha Chi Omega Campus Adviser (Fall 2013 Present) Student Government Association Faculty Adviser (Spring 2014-2015) Animal Care Committee (Spring 2014- Present) Student Conduct Hearing Board (July 2015 present) Committee on Student Organizations (Summer 2012 present) Student Services Fee Committee (Summer 2012 Present) TALH Mentor Fall 2016 present (mentoring three students) Michigan State University Department of Political Science Graduate Student Association, Vice-President (2004-2006). University of South Carolina GINT Graduate Student Association, Secretary (2000-2001); Vice-President (2001- May, 2003) Graduate Studies Committee Member Scholarship Advisor, Eta Gamma Chapter of Chi-Omega Memberships: American Political Science Association Section Memberships: Presidency Research, Political Methodology, Elections, Public Opinion and Voting Behavior, and Political Communication Midwest Political Science Association Southern Political Science Association Community Service: Bark for Life Inaugural Committee Member and Assistant Chairperson for Activities October 2, 2010 Bark for Life - Co-Chair September 24, 2011 Bark for Life Games and Activities Chairperson 2012 to present
Page 7 Beaumont Heritage Society Board Member July 2016 present PAWS 4 Love HPHP- Southeast Texas, Pet Therapy Group October 2010 to Present Mentor Hospital Coordinator Workshop Speaker HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response Team Member June 2014 to Present Pet Partners Therapy Dog Team and Evaluator February 2011 Present Diocese of Beaumont Choir member September 2009 to Present Volunteer at area nursing homes November 2010 to Present Volunteer at Baptist Hospital March 2011 Present Lamar Catholic Student Center liturgy committee member Spring 2012 to Present College ACTS Team Summer 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 St. Charles Catholic Church ACTS Teams, Lector Fall 2008 to 2012 Manuscript Reviewer: Journal of Politics Political Research Quarterly Textbook Chapter Reviewer: Cengage Learning **References Available Upon Request**