ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Visiting Assistant Professor, Political Science 2023-Present
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Director of the Honors Program 2024-Present
Undergraduate Advisor
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Political Science, 2023
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
Dissertation title: “Chronic Illness, The Electorate, and Mass Politics”
Committee: Jeff Mondak (chair), Aleks Ksiazkiewicz, Damarys Canache, and
Tom Rudolph
M.A., Political Science, 2013
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Thesis title: “The Big Five: Impact on Political Discussion and Network Size”
Advisor: Betsy Sinclair
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, 1999
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Thesis title: “The Curriculum and Assessment Methods of the Mesa Public School
District: A Best Practice Argument for Reform”
Advisor: Robert Gryder
B.A. Secondary Education, Social Studies, 1996
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
RESEARCH & TEACHING INTERESTS
American politics, health politics, political psychology, political behavior, biopolitics, US Supreme Court, undergraduate research methods/design
COURSES TAUGHT
Northwestern University
Health Politics, Spring 2025, Fall 2025 scheduled
Senior Honors Thesis Seminar II, Winter 2025, Winter 2026 scheduled
American Politics and Government, Winter 2026 scheduled, Winter, Spring, Summer 2025; Winter, Spring, Summer 2024; Fall 2023
Political Parties, Campaigns & Elections, Fall 2024, Spring 2026 scheduled
Senior Honors Thesis Seminar I, Fall 2024, Fall 2025 scheduled
Political Psychology, Winter, Spring, Summer 2024, Summer 2025
Politics of The Supreme Court, Northwestern University Fall 2023, Spring 2026 scheduled
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The U.S. Supreme Court, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
U.S. Racial & Ethnic Politics, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
Politics of the European Union, Summer 2022
Comparative Politics in Developing Nations, Summer 2021, Fall 2019
Introduction to U.S. Government & Politics, Spring 2019
Introduction to Political Science, Fall 2019
Arizona State University
Classroom Leadership, Spring 2014
Social Studies/Diverse Language Learners in Education, Fall 2014
Student Teaching Practicum, Arizona State University, Spring 2014, Fall 2013
Rio Salado College
U.S. and Arizona Constitution, Rio Salado College (2011-2013)
American National Government, Rio Salado College (2008-2010)
ADVISING & MENTORING
Faculty Research Mentor, Posner Fellow, Northwestern University (2026)
Undergraduate Research Grant Mentor, Northwestern University (2024-2025)
Advancing Mentoring Excellence, NSF Grant training, Northwestern University (2024-2025)
Undergraduate Advisor, Political Science Department, Northwestern University (2024-present)
Farrell Fellow Faculty Research Mentor, Northwestern University (2024-present)
Faculty Mentor/Principal Investigator, Northwestern University Senior Honors Thesis (2025-2026)
Faculty Mentor/Principal Investigator, Northwestern University Senior Honors Thesis (2024-2025)
Faculty Mentor/Principal Investigator, Northwestern University Senior Honors Thesis (2023-2024)
Weinberg Grant Advisor, Northwestern University (2025-present)
Summer Undergraduate Research Grant Advisor, Northwestern University (2023-2024)
Advisor, Political Science Department, University of Illinois (Fall 2018, Summer 2018)
Note: Sole academic advisor for all Political Science freshmen and transfer students
Advisor, Honors project for two James Scholars, University of Illinois (2019)
Faculty Mentor, 18 undergraduate future teachers, Arizona State University (Spring 2014, Fall 2013)
Faculty Mentor, 12 high school teachers, Arizona State University (Spring 2014, Fall 2013)
SERVICE
Ayers Residential College of Commerce and Industry Fellow (2025-present)
Faculty Advisor Chronic Illness Alliance, Northwestern University (2025-present)
Undergraduate Program Committee, Northwestern University Political Science (2024-present)
Willard Residential College Fellow, Northwestern University (2024-present)
Chair & Discussant, Contemporary Health Policy Issues MPSA, Chicago Illinois (2025)
Chair & Discussant, Conspiracy Theories, MPSA, Chicago Illinois (2024)
CURRENT WORKING PAPERS
Pryor, M. & Hempker, B. “Chronic illness and political participation in the UK
Pryor, M. “Improving undergraduate research literacy with high impact practices.”
Pryor, M. “Too sick to care: Effects of illness on political efficacy, knowledge, and discussion”.
Pryor, M. “Flipped Discussion sections for lecture courses: Measuring flipped discussion outcomes versus the traditional post lecture discussion sections.”
Pryor, M. & Rohlfing Pryor, J. “Use of Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) with
chronically ill and well spouse dyads”.
Rohlfing Pryor, J. & Pryor, M. “A systematic review of mental health clinic voting drives”.
Ksiazkiewicz, A. & Pryor, M. “Why are conservatives (and voters) happier? Life satisfaction and the
politics of sleep and health”.
Pryor, M. “Calling in sick to election day: How illness shapes political participation”.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Rohlfing Pryor, J., Mukherjee, M., Alvarez, J., Pryor, M., Jing, D., & Nickel, L. (2025, May). In Their Own Words: Client Perspectives on Therapist Political Attunement. Presentation at the Diversity, Respect, Inclusion, Veracity & Equity Conference at Northwestern University. Evanston, IL.
Pryor, M. (2025, April). “Chronic illness and political participation in the UK using the 2020
Understanding Society data set.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Chicago, IL.
Pryor, M. & Rohlfing Pryor, J. (2024, August). “Register to vote at my therapist's office? A systematic
review of clinic voting drives.” Poster presented at the American Psychological Association
Conference. Seattle, WA.
Pryor, M., & Rohlfing Pryor, J. (2023, April). “Are you sure that's part of my job? Therapists as political
process advocates.” Presentation at 1st Annual Diversity, Respect, Inclusion, Veracity & Equity Symposium at Northwestern University. Evanston, IL.
Ksiazkiewicz, A. & Pryor, M. (2021, April). “Why are conservatives happier than liberals? Effects of
sleep and health.” Presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Chicago,
IL.
Pryor, M. (2013, December). “Rigor and relevance in coursework: Two-tiered instructional methods.”
Presentation at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University. Tempe, AZ.
Pryor, M. (2011, October). “Immersive instruction on the congressional committee system.” Workshop
presented at the Arizona Council for Social Studies Conference. Tempe, AZ.
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Survey Specialist II, 2014 - 2015
Collaborated with federal contractors on the development and deployment of study training materials and field guidance as part of the National Children’s Study
Prepared quantitative reports to monitor data collection process and quality
Conducted qualitative and cognitive interviews by phone and in person
Assisted with survey instrument development
Assisted with proposal writing, drafting participant consent forms, and IRB submissions
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Clinical Faculty/Site Coordinator, 2013 - 2014
Lead faculty member on a $650,000 grant-funded initiative by ASU and the Phoenix Suns to train and retain high quality teachers at urban Phoenix high schools
Taught, mentored, and evaluated instructional abilities of teaching candidates’ year long process. Prepared reports and presentations for site review by ASU and the Phoenix Suns Organization
Led a quasi-experimental research project on senior year teaching residency program to Arizona State University, the Phoenix Suns Organization, and Phoenix Central High School
Rio Salado College, Tempe, AZ
Adjunct Faculty, Political Science, 2008 - 2013
Instructed POS 110: American National Government, POS 220: U.S. and Arizona Constitution, and POS 221: Arizona Constitution
Developed original online learning materials and resources used by all instructors for POS 220: U.S. and Arizona Constitution
HONORS & AWARDS
Outstanding Instructor*, University of Illinois Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Spring 2018
Fall 2016
Excellent Instructor*, University of Illinois Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Spring 2020
Fall 2019
Spring 2019
Spring 2017
*This designation is calculated each semester based on student ratings of instruction obtained from the Instructor and Course Evaluation System (ICES) administered by Measurement and Evaluation, Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning. Results are published on the University of Illinois website.
GRANTS
Posner Undergraduate Research Assistant Grant (Summer 2026) – Northwestern University
$1,500 faculty award\
Undergraduate Research Assistant Program Grant(October 2024) – Northwestern University $6,500 university faculty award via blind review process to fund the work of 4 undergraduate research assistants in the awardee’s research lab
Farrell Fellowship Scholars Grant (Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, 2204-2025) –
Political Science Department at Northwestern University $2,000/quarter faculty award via application process to fund exceptional undergraduates’ research mentorship by department faculty
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