I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Washington College.  I received my Ph.D. in American Politics from the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University where I also served as the Call Center Manager for the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Research. Prior to joining Washington College, I was a Visiting Assistant Proessor of Polticial Science at the University of Delaware and James Madison University. I also served as the Policy Director for the 2016 Campaign to Elect Peter Jacob to NJ 7th Congressional District.

My research explores the impact of national identity rhetoric on public opinion and governance with a particular substantive focus on the Latinx community and immigration policy.  Using primarily quantitative methodologies that are supplemented with qualitative evidence, my work examines how the coupling of national identity rhetoric with narrow group interests serves to exclude social groups from American society and perpetuate various forms of inequality.  My research demonstrates that “Us vs. Them” discourses of this kind elevate issue salience, render compromise more elusive, and morph policy debates into zero-sum battles for the soul of America with devastating implications for Latinx and immigrant communities.

You can reach me via email: FlavioHickelJr@gmail.com

My Curriculum Vitae