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Dr. Joe Gershtenson began teaching at the University of North Georgia in 2022 after having previously worked at East Carolina University, Eastern Kentucky University, and St. Mary’s University of Texas. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC as an undergraduate, completed a Master’s program at the University of California, San Diego, and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas. His research interests are in the areas of public opinion and political behavior.

• Ph. D., Government (Political Science), University of Texas at Austin, 2001
• M.P.I.A., International Affairs (Political Science), University of California, San Diego, 1993
• B.S.F.S., Foreign Service (Political Science), Georgetown University, 1990

• “In Government We Distrust: Citizen Skepticism and Democracy in the United States” (with Dennis L. Plane). The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics, 13 (3): 481-505 (2015).
• “Kentucky Senate Race (Alison Lundergan Grimes v. Mitch McConnell): Insert Name Here (Republican) v. President Barack Obama (Democrat).” In Sean D. Foreman and Robert Dewhirst, eds., The Roads to Congress 2014, pp. 303-319. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books (2015).
• “Smith, James Edward.” In Gerald L. Smith, Karen Cotton McDaniel, and John A. Hardin, eds., The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia, p. 464. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky (2015).
• “Strader v. Graham.” In Gerald L. Smith, Karen Cotton McDaniel, and John A. Hardin, eds., The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia, p. 486. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky (2015).
• “Yarbrough, Marilyn V.” In Gerald L. Smith, Karen Cotton McDaniel, and John A. Hardin, eds., The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia, p. 546. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky (2015).
• “Registering to Vote is Easy, Right? Active Learning and Attitudes about Voter Registration” (with Dennis L. Plane, Joshua M. Scacco, and Jerry Thomas). Journal of Political Science Education, 9: 379-402 (2013).
• “Political Trust and the Health of Democracy in the United States: Rethinking Traditional Measures and Interpretations” (with Jeffrey Ladewig and Dennis L. Plane). Revista Mexicana de Análisis Político y Administración Pública, 2: 111-129 (2013).
• “An Alternate Measure of Political Trust: Reconciling Theory and Practice.” In John Aldrich and Kathleen McGraw, eds., Improving Public Opinion Surveys: Interdisciplinary Innovation and the American National Election Studies, pp. 117-136. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press (2012).
• “Trust and Approval in the American Political System: Federalism, Separation of Institutions, and Partisanship” (with Dennis L. Plane). Journal of Political Science, 38: 1-27 (2010).
• “Creating Better Citizens?  Effects of a Model Citizens’ Assembly on Student Political Attitudes and Behavior” (with Glenn W. Rainey, Jr., and Jane G. Rainey). Journal of Political Science Education, 6: 95-116 (April-June 2010).
• “Kentucky.” In Donald P. Haider-Markel (General ed.), Political Encyclopedia of U.S. States and Regions (Vol. 1, pp. 221-231). Washington, DC: CQ Press (2009).
• “Candidates and Competition: Variability in Ideological Voting in U.S. Senate Elections.” Social Science Quarterly, 90: 117-133 (March 2009).
• “Political Engagement, Attitude Formation, and Extremitization in the 2004 Presidential Election” (with Dennis L. Plane). The American Review of Politics, 29: 19-47. Spring & Summer (2008).
• “Ideology and Representation in the U.S. Senate: Roll Calls v. Constituent Assessments” (with Dennis L. Plane).  The Journal of Legislative Studies, 13: 558-576 (December 2007).
• “Primaries, Parties, and Candidate Positioning in U.S. Senate Elections.”  Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 17: 165-179 (July 2007).
• “Election Cycles and Partisanship in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1857-2000.” Politics and Policy, 34: 690-705 (December 2006).
• “Parties, Institutional Control, and Trust in Government” (with Jeffrey Ladewig and Dennis L. Plane). Social Science Quarterly, 87: 882-902 (December 2006).
• “Friends of the Earth?  Partisanship, Party Control of Congress, and Environmental Legislation in Congress” (with Brian W. Smith and William R. Mangun). Politics and Policy, 34: 66-92 (March 2006).
• “Ideological Centrism and the Electoral Fortunes of U.S. Senate Candidates.” Social Science Quarterly, 85: 497-508 (June 2004).
• “Candidates’ Ideological Locations, Abstention, and Turnout in U.S. Midterm Senate Elections” (with Dennis L. Plane). Political Behavior, 26: 69-93 (March 2004).
• “Mobilization Strategies of the Democrats and Republicans, 1956-2000.” Political Research Quarterly, 56: 293-308 (September 2003).
• “Partisanship and Participation in Political Campaign Activities, 1952-1996.” Political Research Quarterly, 55: 687-714 (September 2002).
• “Campbell v. Campbell: An Examination of the Original and Revised Theories of Surge and Decline.”  Journal of Political Science, 30: 1-46 (2002).

In his time away from school, Dr. Gershtenson likes to be active outside, running, hiking, and playing soccer. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and their dogs.