Rachel Moskowitz is an Assistant Professor in the Public Policy & Law Program. Her research lies at the intersection of public policy, political behavior and public opinion, race politics, and urban politics. In her current projects, she uses survey, experimental, and qualitative methods to study educational issues and political decisions in a variety of local political contexts. Professor Moskowitz pays particular attention to to the role of equality, race, and community in the formation of attitudes and vote choices on education policies.

Professor Moskowitz earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Political Science and received her B.A. from Grinnell College. Before graduate school, she worked as a social studies teacher in Richmond, CA through Teach for America. She also worked as a legislative clerk in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Professor Moskowitz’s primary approach in the classroom is to address important and complex substantive political and policy issues. She then helps students learn how social science theories, analysis, and methods can help one explore and answer these tough questions. She aims to help students develop as critical and active thinkers for both the classroom and the political world.

Publications:

• Robison, Joshua and Rachel L. Moskowitz. 2019. “The Group Basis of Partisan Affective Polarization.” Journal of Politics 81(3): 1075-1079.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. 2019. “Policies for Aging Americans: A Look at Public Opinion and the Role of Government.” Generations  42(4): 34-41. 
• Cook, Fay Lomax & Rachel L. Moskowitz. “The Great Divide: Elite and Mass Opinions about Social Security.” In The New Politics of Old Age Policy (3rd ed.), edited by Robert Hudson, 69-96. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 2014.
• Cook, Fay Lomax, Benjamin I. Page & Rachel L. Moskowitz. “Political Engagement by Wealthy Americans.” Political Science Quarterly 129, no. 3 (2014): 381-398.

Presentations:

• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Understanding the Role of Biases and Prejudice in Assessments of Students and Preferences for Educational Policy.” Annual Meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Anaheim, CA, May 17, 2014.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Understanding the Role of Biases and Prejudice in Assessments of Students and Preferences for Educational Policy.” Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 4, 2014.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Integration and Segregation in 21st Century Schools: Voter Conflicts Over Equality, Local Control, and Community.” Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, August 30, 2013.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Integration and Segregation in 21st Century Schools: Voter Conflicts Over Equality, Local Control, and Community.” Annual Meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Boston, MA, April 12, 2013.
• Page, Benjamin I., Fay Lomax Cook & Rachel L. Moskowitz. “Wealthy Americans and the Common Good.” Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 12, 2012.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Race, Place, and Public Education: The Role of Neighborhood Context on Voter Support for School Bonds.” Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, September 1, 2012.
• Moskowitz, Rachel L. “Race, Place, and Public Education: The Role of Neighborhood Context on Voter Support for School Bonds.” Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 14, 2012.
• Cook, Fay Lomax & Rachel L. Moskowitz. “Support for Social Security Amidst Fiscal and Political Challenges: What Does the Public Think?” Annual Meeting of Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA, November 21, 2011.

• Graduate Student Teaching Award, Political Science Department, Northwestern University, 2013-2014.
• Scholars Strategy Network Graduate Fellow, Evanston Regional Branch 2012-2013.
• Norton Long Developing Scholar Award, Urban Politics Section, American Political Science Association, 2012.
• Clarence Stone Young Scholars Award, Urban Politics Section, American Political Science Association, 2012.
• Graduate Research Grant, Northwestern University, 2012 
• Conference Travel Grant, The Graduate School, Northwestern University, 2012, 2014.
• MacArthur Fund in Political Science Grant, Northwestern University, 2011.
• University Fellowship, The Graduate School, Northwestern University, 2009-2010, 2013-2014.
• Young W. Kihl '59 Political Science Award, Grinnell College, 2006.
• ESPN The Magazine , Soccer Academic All-American, First Team College Division, 2005.