Dr. David L Trowbridge

Associate Professor

Dr. David L Trowbridge
(615) 904-8036
Room 255, Peck Hall (PH)
MTSU Box 29, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Office Hours

Changes by semester. Email david.trowbridge@mtsu.edu to set up an appointment. 

Departments / Programs

Degree Information

  • PHD, SUNY University at Albany (2018)
  • MA, SUNY University at Albany (2011)
  • BS, Sacred Heart University (2009)

Areas of Expertise

Public Law; Cause lawyering; Legal Mobilization; Law & Social Movements; Judicial Behavior; Pedagogy in Higher Education

 

Biography

David is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at MTSU within the Pre-law concentration. Previously, David taught courses in American Politics and Public Law at the University at Albany, SUNY in upstate New York while earning his doctorate. David's current research focuses on the behavior of cause lawyers and legal organizations working within social movements. His dissertation examined the agenda setting and tactics of organizations including NCLR and Lambda Legal, both legal non-profi...

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David is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at MTSU within the Pre-law concentration. Previously, David taught courses in American Politics and Public Law at the University at Albany, SUNY in upstate New York while earning his doctorate. David's current research focuses on the behavior of cause lawyers and legal organizations working within social movements. His dissertation examined the agenda setting and tactics of organizations including NCLR and Lambda Legal, both legal non-profits working within the LGBTQ movement. David is also interested in the training of graduate students and faculty to teach at colleges and universities. 

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Publications

"Understanding the Litigation Priorities of Legal Impact Organizations." Law and Social Inquiry, Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 September 2023. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-social-inquiry/article/understanding-the-litigation-priorities-of-legal-impac...

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"Understanding the Litigation Priorities of Legal Impact Organizations." Law and Social Inquiry, Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 September 2023. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-social-inquiry/article/understanding-the-litigation-priorities-of-legal-impact-organizations/DA1F0CCD952121D4474B94D685E618A1 

With Dr. Jennifer Woodward. "Attitudes and Opportunities Regarding Teaching and Pedagogical Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic." Journal of Political Science Education, July 30, 2023. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15512169.2023.2239968

“Beyond Litigation: Policy Work within Cause Lawyering Organizations.” Law & Society Review 56, no. 2 (2022): 286–308. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/lasr.12605?casa_token=MDkDQ9tM1poAAAAA%3AIkV8jk8kHXUmHVGveHuwB2pSFDYSVkWgIrqPNuirqNrv4UsFIHteOW012HaOKF7eZrFmGoYa5yHesWA

 “Art, Not a Science: How Legal Impact Organizations Identify Community Need.” Law & Policy 44, no. 2 (2022): 144–61. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/lapo.12185?casa_token=PIBBok6KBxQAAAAA%3AvlYH4MfR5pf_aXWwKoUA4qaM9UXp9L7RJjDU7kMNfYHJN7w_97uw0gok289vakSrf8bOsP7ocZ911cM

With Dr. Jennifer Woodward. “Pedagogy Training among Political Scientists: Opportunities, Interest, and Obstacles.” Journal of Political Science Education, July 28, 2020, 1–18. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15512169.2020.1795666

"Engaging Hearts and Minds: How and Why Legal Organizations Use Public" Law and Social Inquiry, Volume 44, Issue 4 November 2019, pp. 1196-1220. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-social-inquiry/article/engaging-hearts-and-minds-how-and-why-legal-organizations-use-public-education/DF3A39EDF4B570D088CD8DF3485B5568

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Awards

American Political Science Association Kenneth Sherrill Prize recognizing the best doctoral dissertation proposal for an empirical study of LGBT topics in political...

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American Political Science Association Kenneth Sherrill Prize recognizing the best doctoral dissertation proposal for an empirical study of LGBT topics in political science.  Fall 2016

Hayward R. Alker Student Paper Award, for “Culture in the Court: Explaining Bower v. Hardwick through Frame Analysis”, from the Interpretive Methodologies and Methods Conference Group of the American Political Science Association, Spring 2015

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, SUNY, 2013

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In the Media

‘MTSU On the Record’ researcher says LGBTQ rights attorneys are educating public too',  GINA LOGUE. 4 FEBRUARY 2020 https://mtsunews.com/trowbridge-on-the-record-feb2020/

"GOP Lawmakers Aim to Criminalize Drag Shows Where Children Could Be Present," by STEPHEN ELLIOTT. 14 DECEMBER 2022 https://stateline.org/2022/12/14/gop-lawmakers-aim-to-criminalize-drag-shows-where-children-could-be-present/

Courses

  • PS 1005: Introduction to American Politics
  • PS 2110 Moot Court (1 credit)
  • PS 2440: Law & the Legal System
  • PS 3360: Law & Policy
  • PS 3370: Constitutional Law I: Institutional Powers 
  • PS 3380: Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
  • PS 3530: Legal Research & Writing
  • PS 4015: Topics in Law & Courts