Tessa Provins

Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Arizona. Prior to joining the  University of Arizona, I was an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Pittsburgh from 2018 to 2024.  I received my M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Merced in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and a  B.A. in Economics from Stanford University in 2013. 

My research primarily focuses on two areas: American legislative institutions and Indigenous institutions and policy. In my work on American institutions, I examine how the design of legislative bodies impacts outcomes for groups divided by race, gender, and party affiliation. My research on Indigenous institutions explores the structure of Native American tribal governments and their effects on intra-tribal, inter-tribal, and government relationships, as well as policy outcomes. While I have several ongoing projects that include tribal case studies, including work on my own tribe, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, most of my Indigenous politics research takes a pan-tribal approach. My research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Politics, Journal of Public Policy, Political Research Quarterly, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Public Choice, and Social Science Quarterly. You can find more information about my publications and ongoing projects here.

My teaching interests include American politics, race politics, gender politics, and quantitative methods.  You can find more information about my teaching including my syllabi and teaching materials here.  

Degrees

• Ph.D. Political Science
• University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States
• M.A. Political Science
• University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States
• B.A. Economics
• Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States