Andrea Mayer, Ph.D., J.D.
Illinois-in-Washington Program Director | University of Illinois Faculty
Andrea Mayer is the Director of Illinois in Washington and teaches political science courses for the program. Before joining Illinois in Washington, she served as a lecturer and academic director for several programs at Georgetown University and taught political science courses at a number of other universities.
Prior to entering academia, Mayer spent nine years as a trial attorney for the federal government, specializing in litigation involving civil rights, government programs, and fraud. In that capacity, she represented the federal government in a range of roles, including Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, receivership counsel, and agency counsel. She also served on the legal staff of the U.S. Bankruptcy Review Commission and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Mayer received her J.D. from George Washington University and completed Ph.D. coursework at Georgetown University and Harvard University. Her research and teaching interests focus on American politics, political behavior, and social change.
Trevor Norton, M.A.
Illinois in Washington Program Advisor | Ph.D. Student, Department of Political Science
Trevor Norton is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds an M.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Government and Politics, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.
His research interests include political behavior, political institutions, and media. His current work examines how citizens respond to political corruption and how social welfare programs may shape those reactions. He is also interested in political communication, democratic accountability, and the ways institutional and informational environments influence public opinion.
Outside academia, Trevor previously worked on Capitol Hill in the Office of Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), focusing on social policy and international relations.
Illinois in Washington is also supported by an Advisory Board Chair and Board members. To view their biographies and learn more about their work, please visit this page.