I am an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan and a political scientist by training. I focus on how people understand and react to policy initiatives, especially those meant to incentivize or sanction behavior, and on their interaction with front-line workers. I have explored this topic in research on prison rehabilitation, anti-poverty programs, and most recently on immigration and immigrants. I have also worked with Arab immigrants, on interventions meant to reduce bias against Muslims, and on the causes of racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in policy success. I use a variety of methodologies, including qualitative interviews and participant observation but also surveys, experiments, and legal research.