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Leslie K. Finger

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Political Science

Email: Leslie.Finger@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Harvard University, 2017
    Major: Political Science
    Dissertation: Group Power and Policy Change in Education
  • MA, Harvard University, 2012
    Major: Political Science

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • PSCI 2316 - Honors US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, 6 courses.
  • PSCI 3300 - Political Science Research Methods, 6 courses.
  • PSCI 4490 - Topics in Public Policy, 3 courses.
  • PSCI 5050 - Seminar in American Government and Politics, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Supervised Research, "Undergraduate Capstone Thesis," Political Science. (January 2023 - May 2023).
  • Supervised Research, "Honors Contract Paper," Political Science. (January 2023 - May 2023).
  • Supervised Research, "Honors Contract Paper," Political Science. (February 2022 - May 2022).

Awards and Honors

  • Best Public Policy Paper Award, APSA Public Policy Section. (2022).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Chambers-Ju, C., Finger, L.K. (2016). Teachers’ Unions in Mexico: The Politics of Patronage.

    • Book Review

  • Finger, L.K. (2022). Firepower: How the NRA Turned Gun Owners into a Political Force by Matthew Lacombe. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2021. 328 pp. $29.95. Political Science Quarterly. 137 (4) 811-812.
  • Finger, L.K. (2021). Making Social Welfare Policy in America: Three Case Studies since 1950, Edward D. Berkowitz. Political Science Quarterly. 136 (2) 385-387. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/polq.13180
  • Finger, L.K. (2018). Citizens by Degree: Higher Education Policy and the Changing Gender Dynamics of American Citizenship. Perspectives on Politics. 26 (4) 1187-1189.

    • Journal Article

  • Finger, L.K. (2024). Advocacy Groups, Policy Subsidies & Policy Change: The Case of Teacher Evaluations. Policy Studies Journal. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psj.12538?af=R
  • Finger, L.K., Houston, D. (2023). Public Goods, Private Goods, and School Preferences. Harvard Educational Review. 93 (1) 53-82.
  • Hartney, M.T., Finger, L.K. (2022). Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education’s Response to COVID-19. Perspectives on Politics. 20 (2) 457-473.
  • Finger, L.K., Reckhow, S. (2021). Policy Feedback and the Polarization of Interest Groups. State Politics & Policy Quarterly. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/state-politics-and-policy-quarterly/article/abs/policy-feedback-and-the-polarization-of-interest-groups/E2CD649157B49DA43C6D9235909F3F8A
  • Finger, L.K., Gift, T., Miner. (2021). DCPS or Sidwell Friends? How Politician Schooling Choices Affect Voter Evaluations. American Politics Research. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1532673X211042002
  • Finger, L.K., Lastra-Anadon, C. (2021). Advocates For Hire: How Government Contracting Shapes Politics. Governance.
  • Finger, L.K., Hartney, M.T. (2019). Financial Solidarity: the Future of Unions in the post-Janus Era. Perspectives on Politics.
  • Finger, L.K. (2019). Interest Group Influence and the Two Faces of Power. American Politics Research. 47 (4) 378-401.
  • Finger, L.K. (2018). Giving to Government: The Policy Goals and Giving Strategies of New and Old Foundations. Interest Groups and Advocacy. 7 (3) 312-345.
  • Finger, L.K. (2018). Vested Interests and the Diffusion of Education Reform across the States. Policy Studies Journal. 46 (2) 378-401.
  • Finger, L.K., Gindin, J. (2015). From Proposal to Policy: Social Movements and Teachers’ Unions in Latin America. Prospects: Quarterly Review of Comparative Education. 45 (3) 365-378.

    • Magazine/Trade Publication

  • Finger, L.K., Gift, T. (2019). Some People Want Lottery-Based Admissions. That’s a Terrible Idea. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/some-people-want-lottery-based-admissions-thats-a-terrible-idea

    • Newspaper

  • Finger, L.K., Hartney, M.T. (2020). What determined if schools reopened? How many Trump voters were in a district. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/11/10/partisanship-schools-reopening-virus-trump-unions/
  • Finger, L.K., Hartney, M.T. (2020). Remote or In-Person Reopening Decisions Are Linked to Trump 2016 Vote Share, Catholic School Presence, a New Study Finds. EducationNext. https://www.educationnext.org/remote-in-person-reopening-decisions-linked-to-trump-2016-vote-share-catholic-school-presence-new-study/
  • Finger, L.K. (2011). Bˆonus de SP n˜ao deve morrer com o de NY [S˜ao Paulo’s teacher bonus shouldn’t die with New York’s]. Folha de São Paulo.

    • Research Report

  • Gindin, J., Finger, L.K. (2014). Promoting Education Quality: The Role of Teachers’ Unions in Latin America.

    • Webpage

  • Finger, L.K. (2021). Voters prefer candidates who send their children to public over private school. USAPP. USAPP (London School of Economics). https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2021/10/01/voters-prefer-candidates-who-send-their-children-to-public-over-private-school/
  • Finger, L.K., Reckhow, S. (2019). Walmart Heirs Shift From Red To Purple: The Evolving Political Contributions Of The Nation’s Richest Family. Histphil. Histphil. https://histphil.org/2019/06/03/walmart-heirs-shift-from-red-to-purple-the-evolving-political-contributions-of-the-nations-richest-family/
  • Finger, L.K. (2019). Interest groups’ influence on policy comes through the presence of faithful legislative allies – not gifts to their campaigns. USAPP. USAPP (London School of Economics). https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2019/02/28/interest-groups-influence-on-policy-comes-through-the-presence-of-faithful-legislative-allies-not-gifts-to-their-campaigns/
  • Finger, L.K. (2018). Giving To Government: Foundation Grants To State Education Agencies. Histphil. Histphil. https://histphil.org/2018/11/19/giving-to-government-foundation-grants-to-state-education-agencies/
  • Finger, L.K. (2018). Do Strikes Signal Union Strength?. EducationNext. EducationNext. https://www.educationnext.org/does-labor-activism-signal-union-strength-west-virginia/
  • Finger, L.K. (2016). How Friedrichs Saved Public Sector Unions - But Not In The Way You Think. EducationNext. EducationNext. https://www.educationnext.org/how-friedrichs-saved-public-sector-unions-but-not-in-the-way-you-think/

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Hartney, M.T. (Author & Presenter), Finger, L.K. (Author), Covid Policy Re-Examined: Science, Democracy, and the Conflict of Values, Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education’s Response to COVID-19, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Other), Politics of Education course, Interest Groups in Education, University of Georgia, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Other), Politics of Education course, Interest Groups in Education, University of Georgia, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Finger, L.K. (Author & Presenter), Benton, R. (Author), APSA Annual Meeting, Homeschooling and the Evolving Role of Public Schools in Rural America, Los Angeles, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Finger, L.K. (Author & Presenter), Southwestern Social Science Association, Tweeting for Members: How Teachers' Unions Adapt their Strategy and Rhetoric on Twitter, Fort Worth, United States of America. (2023).
  • Finger, L.K. (Discussant), APSA Annual Meeting, Education, Democracy, and Discrimination, Montreal, Canada. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Author & Presenter), APSA Annual Meeting, Tweeting for Members: How Teachers’ Unions Adapt their Strategy and Rhetoric, Montreal, Canada. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Author), Lastra-Anadon, C. (Author & Presenter), Meyerson, S. (Author), Association for Education Finance \& Policy (AEFP) Annual Conference, Altruistic Detour or New Career Path: Does Teach For America Change the Career Trajectories of its Alumni?, AEFP, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Author & Presenter), WPSA Annual Meeting, Tweeting for Members: How Teachers’ Unions Adapt their Strategy and Rhetoric, Portland, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Finger, L.K. (Author & Presenter), Hartney, M.T. (Author), APSA Annual Meeting, Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education’s Response to COVID-19, APSA, Virtual, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Finger, L.K. (Discussant), APSA Annual Meeting, Enduring Lessons in Education Politics and Policy from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Virtual, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Finger, L.K. (Discussant), Winter 2021 Comparative Labor Politics Workshop, Discussant Comments: Winter 2021 Comparative Labor Politics Workshop, APSA Labor Politics Section, Virtual, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Finger, L.K. (Discussant), APSA Annual Meeting, Discussant Comments on: “A Lone Star State of Mind: Civics Education and Texas Teachers”, Virtual, United States of America. (2020 - 2020).

    • Paper

  • Coyoli, J. (Author), Davies, E. (Author & Presenter), Finger, L.K. (Author), Phillips, J. (Author), Education Policy and Research in International Perspective Seminar Series, Bureaucratic Selection and Politics: Evidence from Teachers in Brazil, London School of Economics, Virtual, United Kingdom. (2024 - 2024).
  • Coyoli, J. (Author), Davies, E. (Author), Finger, L.K. (Author), Phillips, J. (Author & Presenter), European Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Bureaucratic Selection and Politics: Evidence from Teachers in Brazil, Cologne, Germany, Germany. (2024 - 2024).

    • Poster

  • Noh, H. (Author & Presenter), Lyon, M. (Author), Finger, L.K. (Author), APSA Annual Meeting, Protest as Political Catalyst: How Teacher Strikes Shape Political Behavior, Los Angeles, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Coyoli, J. (Author & Presenter), Finger, L.K. (Author), Davies, E. (Author), Phillips, J. (Author), APSA Annual Meeting, Bureaucratic Selection and Politics: Evidence from Teachers in Brazil, Montreal, Canada. (2022 - 2022).

Media Contributions

    Magazine

  • "Right Wingers Gain Ground in Texas School Board Elections," Texas Observer. (May 13, 2022).
  • "Facing Thousands of Unvaccinated Students, Los Angeles District Pushes Back Vaccine Mandate Until Fall," The 74. (December 10, 2021).
  • "Former NEA Chief Eskelsen Garcia, Possible Education Secretary Pick, Under Scrutiny for Comments About Special-Needs Kids," The 74. (December 9, 2020).

    • Newspaper

  • "Gov. Abbott wants a school voucher plan. Can he win over rural Texans?," KERA. (March 9, 2023).
  • "North Texas judge blocks student loan forgiveness plan," NT Daily. (December 2, 2022).
  • "Billionaire Philanthropists Pushing Charter Schools and School Vouchers Also Fund Oklahoma’s Secretary of Education’s Six-Figure Salary," Oklahoma Watch. (May 19, 2022).
  • "Conservatives’ school board victories could give Texas GOP momentum for November elections, 2023 legislative session," Texas Tribune. (May 11, 2022).
  • "Amid Critical Race Theory Panic, Conservatives Sweep 'Nonpartisan' Texas School Board Elections," Dallas Observer. (May 10, 2022).
  • "Is Gov. Abbott pitting Texas parents against teachers? Education poised to be wedge issue," The Dallas Morning News. (January 26, 2022).
  • "A bumpy, partisan fall semester," The New York Times. (August 25, 2021).
  • "After a high point in the Obama administration, philanthropies no longer drive education policy," Chalkbeat. (May 13, 2021).
  • "The pandemic and bitter partisanship polarized 2020. Now it’s seeping into school board races.," The Philadelphia Inquirer. (May 12, 2021).
  • "Paper on the Politics of School Reopenings," Chalkbeat. (January 6, 2021).

    • Radio

  • "Abbott's Campaign for Private School Choice," KERA News. (March 2, 2023).
  • "The Politics of School from Home," The Science of Politics Podcast. (January 6, 2021).
  • "How Teach for America Shapes State Education Policy," The Education Exchange. (January 14, 2019).

    • TV

  • "Texas Teachers and Administrators Hope a Teacher Pay Raise Bill Survives Political Differences," NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. (January 25, 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Finger, L.K., "Research Seed Grant for "Homeschooling and the Evolving Role of Public Schools in Rural America"," University of North Texas, $3600 Funded. (2023 - 2024).

Service

University Service

  • Member, Ad Hoc Evaluation Reform Committee. (2023 - 2023).
  • Workshop Organizer, American Politics Writing Group. (June 2022 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, Advancement Committee. (2022 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, American Politics Search Committee. (2022 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, Graduate Studies Committee. (2022 - 2023).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (August 2021 - August 2022).
  • Other (Author), Workbook. (August 2021 - August 2021).
  • Other, Election Judge. (August 2020 - August 2021).
  • Committee Member, Graduate Professionalization Committee. (August 2020 - May 2021).

Public Service

  • Other (Election Poll Worker), Election Poll Worker. Denton, (September 2020 - November 2020).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Journal Article, American Politics Research. (October 2024 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Studies in Higher Education. (July 2024 - Present).
  • Workshop Organizer, WPSA Education Politics & Policy Virtual Communities. (September 2022 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, State Politics & Policy Quarterly. (April 2024 - April 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Political Behavior. (March 2024 - March 2024).
  • Officer, President/Elect/Past, APSA Education Politics and Policy Section (Section 51). (September 2020 - September 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis. (August 2023 - August 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Perspectives on Politics. (July 2023 - August 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, American Educational Research Journal. (January 2023 - July 2023).
  • Workshop Organizer, Polisci Department American Politics Writing Group. (May 2022 - May 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Sociological Methods and Research. (September 2022 - October 2022).
  • Session Chair, APSA Annual Meeting. (September 16, 2022 - September 16, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, State Politics & Policy Quarterly. (July 2022 - August 2022).
  • Reviewer, Book, Routledge. (July 5, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Studies in Comparative International Development. (February 2022 - April 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Perspectives on Politics. (March 21, 2022 - April 22, 2022).
  • Reviewer, Book, Rutgers University Press. (October 2021 - February 2022).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Interest Groups and Advocacy. (June 8, 2021 - December 15, 2021).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Educational Policy. (December 18, 2020 - June 8, 2021).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Perspectives on Politics. (March 7, 2021 - April 7, 2021).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Comparative Politics. (October 20, 2020 - November 19, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of School Choice. (July 5, 2020 - October 9, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, American Political Science Review. (July 29, 2020 - August 29, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Sociology Compass. (April 11, 2020 - May 2, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. (February 4, 2020 - February 29, 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, American Educational Research Journal. (2019 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Latin American Politics & Society. (2019 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Policy Sciences. (2019 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, State Politics & Policy Quarterly. (2019 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, American Politics Research. (2018 - 2018).