Matt Evans

Assistant Professor, Political Science
Penn State University
Altoona College
3000 Ivyside Drive
Altoona, PA 16601

Tel: (814) 949-5782

Fax: (814) 949-5161

E-mail: mde15@psu.edu

 

 

 


Education

 

Ph.D.      BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV, 2006

                   Politics and Government & Inter-Disciplinary Studies

                             

M.Sc.      COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, 1989                                    

                    Urban Planning

                                       

B.A.         UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON, 1985                                

                     Journalism and History.                    

 

Professional Experience

 

Penn State University    2008 – Present

Political Science, Altoona College

 

Northwestern University    2006 – 2008

Political Science Department

 

Ben-Gurion University    2003 – 2006    

     Department of Politics and Government

 

Sapir Academic College    2005 – 2006       

     Department of Public Administration

 

Books

 

Lazin, F., N. Jayaram and M. Evans (eds.) Higher Education and Equality of Opportunity: Cross-National Perspectives, Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2010.

 

Evans, M. An Institutional Framework for Policymaking, Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2007.

 

Lazin, F., M. Evans, V. Hoffmann-Martinot, & H. Wollmann (eds.) Reform and Democracy in Local Government of Countries in Transformation, Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2007.

Refereed Journal Articles

 

Evans, M. “Exacerbating Social Cleavages: The Media’s Role in Israel’s Religious-Secular Conflict” The Middle East Journal 65, No. 2 (2011): 234-250.

 

Evans, M “Population Dispersal Policy and the 1990s Immigration Wave” Israel Studies 16, No. 1 (2011): 104-128.

 

Evans, M “Electoral Reform and Political Pluralism in Local Government” Party Politics 16, No. 3 (2010): 394–413.

 

Evans, M. “Framing International Conflicts: Media Coverage of Fighting in the Middle East” International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics 6, No. 2 (2010): 209–233.

 

Evans, M. “Electoral Competition and Public Policy in Israel” Applied Law 8 (1) (Aplikované Právo, published in English and Czech) (2010): 5-22.

 

Evans, M. “Defending Territorial Sovereignty Through Civilian Settlement: The Case of Israel’s Population Dispersal Policy” Israel Affairs 12, No. 3, (2006): 578–596. 

 

Evans, M. “Social Change and Policy Implementation: Population Dispersal in Israel” Israel Studies Forum 18, No. 1 (2003): 83–106.

 

Evans, M. “Planning Urban Streets to Suit the Needs of an Urban Population” in Environmental Planning 57 (1998): 69–82. (Hebrew)

 

Book Chapters

 

Blackmon, P. and M. Evans, “Higher Education in Africa: Development Challenges and Gender” in F. Lazin, N. Jayaram and M. Evans (eds.) Higher Education and Equality of Opportunity: Cross-National Perspectives, Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2010.

 

Evans, M. "Pluralism and Governance – Electoral Politics in Local Government in Israel" in Lazin, F., M. Evans, V. Hoffmann-Martinot, & H. Wollmann (eds.) Reform and Democracy in Local Government of Countries in Transformation, Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2007.

 

Eldor, S. and M. Evans  “Housing Policies for Immigrant Absorption” in Golani Y., S. Eldor & M. Garon (eds.) Planning & Housing in Israel in the Wake of Rapid Changes, R & L Creative Communications, Ltd., Tel Aviv, 1992.

 

 

 

Conference Papers & Presentations

Evans, M. “Reexamining Postmodern Concepts of Borders: Israel and Gaza” Pennsylvania Political Science Assn. 72nd Annual Meeting, Harrisburg, Pa., April 2011.

 

Kaynak, M.S. & M. Evans (2011) “Media, Religion and Politics in Turkey and Israel” International Studies Association, 52st Annual Convention, Montreal, 2011.

 

Evans, M. “Electoral Politics in Local Government in Israel” IGU Workshop: Commission on Geography of Governance & IPSA Research Committee, Jerusalem, July 2010.

 

Evans, M. “Israel's Population Dispersal Policy and the USSR Immigration Wave” Association of Israel Studies Association 26th Annual Conference, Toronto, May 2010.

 

Evans, M. “Israel’s Gaza Pullout and the Implementation of Population Dispersal Policy” International Studies Association, 51st Annual Convention, New Orleans, 2010

 

Evans, M. “Media, Politics & Religion in Israel” International Studies Association, 50th Annual Convention, New York, 2009

 

Evans, M. “Media Framing, Reality and Conflict” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, 2009

 

Evans, M. “The Effect of Media Framing on International Affairs: The Israeli‐Palestinian Conflict” International Studies Association, 49th Annual Convention, San Francisco 2008

 

Evans, M “Media Framing of Foreign Conflicts: The Siege of Two Refugee Camps” Association for Jewish Studies, 39th Annual Conference, Toronto, 2007.

 

Evans, M. “Returning to the Rails in Israel – Governance and Policy Change” Local Governance Initiative Conference on Planning, Management and Financing Urban Transit Programs for Efficiency and Social Justice, Budapest 2006.

 

Evans, M. “Central-Local Relations & Israeli Local Elections” Israel Political Science Association Annual Conference, Raanana, Israel, June 2006.

 

Evans, M. “Institutional Frameworks as a Determinant for Policy Tools”, Political Studies Association 55th Annual Conference, Leeds, England, April 2005.

 

Evans, M. “Institutional Change due to Electoral Shifts: Planning Policy in Israel” New York State Political Science Association Annual Conference, 2002.

 

Peer Reviewer

American Journal of Political Science

Journalism

Comparative Politics Text Book Chapters

Additional Publications

 

Evans, M. "Climate Change: Converting the Skeptics: Convincing the Public of the Effects of Climate Change." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/>

 

Evans, M., Book Review: The Struggle for Soviet Jewry in American Politics: Israel versus the American Jewish Establishment, by Fred Lazin, 2005.  Published in Hagar: Studies Culture, Polities and Identity 7, No. 2 (2007).

 

Evans, M. “Car-Struck Israel Begins to Get Back on Track” Local Governance Brief, Autumn, 2005.

 

Academic Activities

Panel Chair, International Studies Association Annual Conference, 2010 “Communication Processes in the Middle East”

 

Panel Chair, International Studies Association Annual Conference, 2009 “International Communication and Free Expression as Soft Power”

 

Panel Chair & Discussant, Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, 2009 “Transitions to Democracy: The Sub-National Dimension”

 

Panel Discussant, Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, 2007 “Authoritarian Rule And Prospects For Democracy In The Middle East”

 

Awards & Fellowships

Post Doctoral Fellowship – Northwestern University, 2006 – 2008

Kreitman Foundation Doctoral Fellowship – Ben-Gurion University, 2003 – 2005

Charles Abrams Award for Best Masters Thesis – Columbia University, 1989

 

Professional Associations

 

American Political Science Association

International Studies Association

Israeli Political Science Association

Association of Israel Studies

 

Teaching Experience

 

Penn State University   2008 – Present

Altoona College – Assistant Professor

Courses:

·         Introduction to Comparative Politics 

·         Politics & Environmental Policies

·         Urban Politics & Development

 

 

Northwestern University    2006 – 2008

Political Science Department – Visiting Assistant Professor

Courses:

·         Politics and Society in Israel

·         Media and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

·         Government and Politics in Israel

 

 

Ben-Gurion University    2003 – 2006    

     Department of Politics and Government – Adjunct Professor

Courses:

·         Public Policy

·         The Development of Liberalism

·         Governance and Planning Policy

 

     Department of Middle East Studies – Adjunct Professor

Course:

·         Politics and Society of Israel  (Graduate Course)

 

     Center for International Student Programs – Adjunct Professor

Courses:

·         Politics and Public Policy in Israel

·         Political Theory and The Israeli Political System

 

 

Sapir Academic College    2005 – 2006      

     Department of Public Administration – Adjunct Professor

Course:

·         Public Policy Formation and Implementation

 

                                                           

Professional (Non-Academic) Experience

 

April 1996 - April 1999   Ministry of Environmental Protection

                                           Environmental Planner – Tel Aviv District

                                                                                         ·   Ministry representative in district & local planning committees;

                                                                                         ·   Reviewing Environmental Impact Statements.

     

Recycling Coordinator – Dept. of Solid Waste, Jerusalem

                                                                                         ·   Project manager;

                                                                                         ·   Managed department’s budget.

 

Feb. 1992 - April 1996   Ministry of Housing, Dept. of Planning & Building, Jerusalem

                                           Urban Planner

                                                                                         ·   Ministry’s representative in regional and local planning;

                                                                                         ·   Developing planning guidelines for new neighborhoods.

 

Mar. 1991 - Feb. 1992 Israel Land Authority: Dept. Planning & Development; Jerusalem

                                           Urban Planner

                                                                                         ·   Research for planning policies;

                                                                                         ·   Work on municipal master plans.

 

July 1989 - July 1990    Allee King Rosen & Fleming Inc., New York

                                           Planner

·  Writing Environmental Impact Statements;

·  Planning and development research.

 

Oct. 1988 - June 1989   New York City Dept. of City Planning

                                           Researcher - Zoning Study Group

·  Policy analysis of zoning allowances.