Jeffrey Carroll, Ph.D.

Jeffrey Carroll, Ph.D.

Jeffrey N. Carroll, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Center for Data & Society (D&S), a faculty collaboration among the computer, mathematical, and social sciences whose mission is to investigate how data and information can be best used to understand the communities in which we live. D&S’s programs comprise 10 distinct major and minor programs that include the Bachelor of Science in Data Science, the Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics, and the Minor in Data Studies for Social Good (DSSG). Jeffrey is the former President of the Pennsylvania Political Science Association, having served as Vice President and a member of the executive council. In April 2026, Jeffrey was honored by Resolution 260413 of the Philadelphia City Council, “honoring and recognizing Chestnut Hill College and its Political Science Department for their commitment to academic excellence, diversity, civic engagement, and the advancement of future leaders, and further recognizing Dr. Jeffrey Carroll for his historic leadership in the field of political science.”

Jeffrey’s scholarly interests lie in American political institutions and their intersection with urban affairs, social geography, economics, and civic health. He has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally, with his most recent work focusing on voting and inequality. Other projects delve into the political geography of Philadelphia’s voters, Pennsylvania state and local public policy, and the (under)development of American democratic institutions with his long-time colleague, historian Dr. David Contosta. Jeffrey’s work has been published in the Journal of Political Science Education, Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Commonwealth: Journal of Pennsylvania Politics and Policy, Pennsylvania Geographer, and the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, and has been featured in national media outlets such as The New York Times and Newsweek and numerous regional outlets like the Philadelphia Citizen and Philadelphia Hall Monitor. He is currently working on a book manuscript at the intersection of voting rights and geography.

Other public-facing activities include “Beatlab” (Philadelphia’s first hip-hop-centric music studio that fosters messages of social justice), a political affairs podcast, a student-led radio show on politics and mental health, and numerous initiatives that seek to bolster inclusion and belonging in civic spaces.

Prior to joining Chestnut Hill College, Jeffrey attended graduate school and then was a part-time faculty member in the Political Science and Geography & Urban Studies Departments at Temple University. He was a graduate fellow in the Information Technology & Society Research Group (ITSRG) and was instrumental in founding the Philadelphia Apps & Maps program, a youth program that taught the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Also while at Temple, Jeffrey was the teaching assistant to former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street, which included coordinating his administrative affairs at the university.

Finally, Jeffrey co-founded Urbicus LLC, a Philadelphia-based non-partisan government relations firm that specializes in research, public relations, training for current and aspiring elected officials, and helping communities navigate local government. Jeffrey played a key role in political campaigns for several state and local offices, including the PA House and Senate, Philadelphia City Council, Court of Common Pleas, and City Commissioner.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. Political Science, Temple University
  • M.A. Political Science, Temple University
  • M.A. Urban Studies, Temple University
  • B.A. English, Minor: American Studies, Boston College

Courses Taught

  • American Political System
  • Race and the American Political System
  • American State and Local Government
  • Congress: Who Represents Us
  • Mass Media and Politics
  • Politics of the American Presidency (writing-intensive seminar)
  • Senior Seminar
  • Politics and Money (special topics seminar)
  • Cities and the Environment (special topics seminar)
  • Introduction to Data Analytics
  • Globalization and the Transformation of Cities (global awareness seminar)

Scholarly Interests

  • American Political Institutions
  • Racial Politics
  • Political Geography
  • Urban Politics and Public Policy
  • State and Local Government
  • Global Cities
  • Hip-Hop Culture
  • Youth Civic Engagement

Publications

  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. and Blue Praxis. 2026. “Deep Poverty, High Turnout Reconsidered: Philadelphia’s
    Changing Political Geography.”
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. 2023. “Reflections in Student Learning about Race and Racial Politics.”
    APSA Pre-Prints. 2023 Teaching & Learning Conference of the American Political
    Science Association: Re-Energizing Political Science Education: Innovations and New
    Opportunities.
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. 2022. “Kendra Brooks: How Philadelphia’s First Third Party At-Large
    Council Candidate in 100 Years Won Election.” Accepted to a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. 2021. “How a Hip-Hop Digital Space Became an Outlet for Political
    Dialogue.” Journal of Political Science Education, Vol. 17(sup1).
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. 2020. “One Study, Four Cities: Information Impact in Neighborhood
    Economic Development.” Transforming Government: People, Process,
    and Policy. Vol. 14, No. 4.
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. and John F. McDonald. 2020. “What Explains the Housing Boomlet in the
    City of Philadelphia?” Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal. Vol. 14. No. 1.
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. 2018. “Deep Poverty, High Turnout?: Considering Philadelphia’s Political
    Geography.” The Pennsylvania Geographer. Vol. 56, No. 2.
  • Carroll, Jeffrey N. and John F. McDonald. 2018. “Should Philadelphia Have a Property Tax
    Classification System?” Commonwealth: A Journal of Pennsylvania Politics and Policy.
    Vol. 20. No. 1.

Presentations and Workshops

Selected presentations since 2020:

  • Invited Panelist. September 2025. “Civics 101 and the Constitution: Crisis or Convention?” Colloquium with Dr. Kevin Davis and Dr. Craig Stutman. Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA.
  • Panel Chair. September 2024. “Philadelphia: Pathways of Urban Democracy.” American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Panel Chair. September 2024. “Emerging Scholars Lighting Round: Graduate Student Research: Contemporary Issues in U.S. Politics: Identities, Technology, and Economic Policy.” American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Panelist. September 2024. “APSA Best Practices Roundtable for Mentors and Mentees.” American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Panelist. September 2024. “Leading a Department in a Polarized Political Climate.” American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Ongoing Lecture Series. Latest: November/October 2024. (March 2023, October 2022, November 2021. March 2021. September and October 2020. October 2018, March 2018, October 2018, October 2016). “Real Talk: An Honest Dialogue about American Politics” with Dr. David Contosta. Chestnut Hill College.
  • Guest Lecture. Summer 2024 (and Summer 2023). “Freedom of Information Act and the PA Right to Know Law in Journalism.” Drexel University Big City Journalism Boot Camp. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Guest Lecture. February 2024 (and February 2023 and February 2022). “Gentrification: The Politics of Neighborhood Change and Cultural Implications.” Dr. Bruce Campbell. AUGroove Course (study abroad in London). Arcadia University. Glenside, PA.
  • Paper Presentation. February 2023. “Reflections in Student Learning about Race and Racial Politics.” American Political Science Association Teaching and Learning Conference. Baltimore, MD.
  • Presentation. April 2022. “Lippmann’s Public Opinion: Legacy, Laments, and Lessons from the First 100 Years” with Dr. David Contosta. Pennsylvania Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
  • Invited Keynote. January 2022. “Complexities of Racial Inequality in the 2020’s: Skepticism and Hope for a National Dialogue on Race.” Gwynedd Mercy University.
  • Paper Presentation. April 2021. “Kendra Brooks: How Philadelphia’s First Third Party At-Large Council Candidate in 100 Years Won Election.” Pennsylvania Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
  • Invited Keynote. April 2021. “January 6, 2021: Confronting Race and American Political Institutions.” Neumann University. Aston, PA.
  • Invited Keynote. November 2020. “2020 Election Results, National Impact and Marginalized Populations.” Lunch and Learn Series. Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Salus University. Elkins Park, PA.
  • Invited Keynote. October 2020. “Protest Politics in the United States and the World.” International University. Akita, Japan.
  • Invited Panelist. October 2020. “Voter Disenfranchisement and the 2020 Election” with Dr. Kevin Davis and Dr. Craig Stutman. Policy and Practice Series. Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA.

Awards

  • Maguire Foundation. $4,000. “Beatlab.” Philadelphia’s first hip-hop centered, music studio dedicated to fostering messages of social justice.
  • Advisor of the Year, 2025-2026.
  • Advisor of the Year, 2017-2018.

Services

  • Faculty Senate Executive Board (President of Faculty Senate, 2026-2027).
  • Advisory Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
  • Students Political Science Association (SPSA) Faculty Advisor
  • Beatlab Faculty Advisor
  • Black Student Union Faculty Advisor
  • E-Sports Faculty Advisor

Outside of the College
*Advisor to local elected officials, community leaders, and community stakeholders on matters related to politics and public policy.

Professional Organizations

  • American Political Science Association (APSA)
    • Sections: Urban Politics, Public Policy, Teaching and Learning
  • Northeastern Political Science Association
  • Pennsylvania Political Science Association
  • Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)

Media

  • PCNTV. Television. November 2025. On the Issues. Televised interview on the 2025 Pennsylvania election results.
  • Votebeat. Print and Web. September 2024. Carter Walker. “How Philadelphia’s history of election fraud fuels Trump’s false claims about the city.”
  • PCNTV. Television. September 2024. Gun Violence: ‘On the Road’ at Chestnut Hill College. A televised debate on gun violence as part of the PCN college policy panels on Election 2024
  • WWDB860AM. Radio. August 2024. The Ark. Discussion of voting rights and the American political system.
  • Philadelphia Hall Monitor. WPPM 106.5FM.  Radio and Television. March 2023. “Why is voter turnout lower in impoverished areas?”
  • The Philadelphia Citizen. Print and Web. January 2021. Malcolm Burnley. “Who Didn’t Vote in 2020.”
  • The Caves of Altamira. Podcast. January 2021. Dr. Kevin Hockmuth. Episode 3. “A City Way to Live: Digging into Humanity’s Urbanization.”
  • Newsweek. Print and Web. November 2020. Alexandra Hutzler. “Fact Check: Does Philadelphia Have a ‘Rotten History’ on Election Integrity as Trump Claims?”
  • Dust and Dignity. Podcast. August 2019. Dr. Bruce Campbell. Episode 4. Exploration of connections between leadership, social justice, and music.
  • WWDB 860AM. Radio. May 2019. Mark and Denise in the Mornings. Discussion of the Philadelphia primary election.
  • CBS3. Television. December 2018. Eyewitness News. “Grand Opening of the Beatlab Music Studio at Chestnut Hill College.”
  • WURD 900AM. Radio. January 2018.  Talking Drumline with Barbara Grant. Discussion of presidential polling and implications of current presidential administration.
  • New York Times. Print and Web. October 2016. Emily Badger. “Fraud Claims in Philadelphia? They Add Up to Zero.”
  • Generocity. Web. March 2016. Julie Zeglen. “This CCP student is trying to start a local chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance.”
  • WURD 900AM. Radio. April 2016. Political Roundup with Barbara Grant. Discussion of presidential primary election.
  • CBS3. Television. March 2016. Good Question! With Nicole Brewer. Why are national elections held on Tuesday?