Dr. Mack D. Mariani
Professor, Political Science
Interim Director, Philosophy, Politics and the Public Program
Director, Gene Beaupre State Politics Internship
Mack Mariani, a Buffalo native, is the 2008 and 2018 chicken wing eating champion of Xavier University. He earned his BA at Canisius College (1991) and his MA and PHD at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (1992, 2006).
Mariani directs Xavier's American Founding and Constitution programs, which receive support from the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles. He serves as an Honored Visiting Graduate Faculty member in the Masters in American History and Government program at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. Mariani also serves as the Xavier liaison for the Washington Center for Internships, and coordinator of the political science department's local internship program. Mariani previously served as chair of the political science department and was Founding Director of the Gene Beaupre State Politics Internship Program.
Professor Mariani's teaching and research interests include campaigns and elections, congress and the legislative process, women and politics, and political internships/experiential learning. Mariani is co-author of Diverging Parties (Westview Press, 2003) and co-editor of The Insider's Guide to Political Internships (Westview Press, 2002). His research has appeared in Political Research Quarterly, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Science Quarterly, PS: Political Science and Politics, Politics and Gender, The Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy, Representation, the International Political Science Review, the Journal of Irish Studies, the Canadian Journal of Irish Studies, Comparative State Politics and Terrorism and Political Violence. His most recent article, "Money Matters: The Impact of Gender Quotas on Campaign Spending for Women Candidates," (with Fiona Buckley, UCC Cork) appears in The International Political Science Review.
Mariani has mentored summer research students in the Summers of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 on a number of projects, including research on the gender gap in US elections, party behavior in Ireland, gender and political violence in Ireland, and the impact of institutional changes on descriptive representation and legislative careers in the Ohio General Assembly.
Mariani has 15 years of political experience, having served as a legislative aide and press secretary for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, chief of staff for the Monroe County (NY) Legislature, and a member of the speechwriting and media relations team serving two Monroe County Executives. Mariani started in politics working as an intern for U.S. Representative Jack Kemp.
In 2023, Mariani was selected as Alpha Sigma Nu Teacher of the Year.
Anticipated Course Schedule:
- POLI 140 - Introduction to American Politics and Government (Fall and Spring semesters)
- POLI 240 - State and Local Government (Spring semesters)
- POLI 246 - Mass Media and Politics (Spring '26)
- POLI 250 - American Political Humor (Summer)
- POLI 359 - Campaigns, Elections and Parties (Spring '25)
- POLI 397 - Political Internship (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters)
- POLI 399 - Political Communication Internship (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters)
- PPUB 400 - Senior Supervision (Fall semesters)
Spring 2025 Office Hours:
Office hours will be held by appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on the main floor of the Gallagher Student Center by the coffee shop. Schedule an appointment on Calendly. If those times don't work, e-mail me at marianim@xavier.edu or text me at 513-508-6849 and we'll find a time to meet.
Expertise
Parties and Elections, the Legislative Process, Gender and Politics, Internships and Experiential Learning
First Year at Xavier
2007
Resume
Degrees
- Ph.D. Syracuse University, 2006; M.A. Syracuse University, 1992; B.A. Canisius College, 1991