Timothy J. Conlan

Timothy J. Conlan is University Professor emeritus of policy and government at George Mason University. He holds a PhD in government from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Chicago.

Prior to joining the faculty of Mason in 1987, Conlan served as a senior research analyst with the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and as the assistant staff director of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations.

Conlan is the author of many books, articles and research monographs in the areas of federalism, intergovernmental relations, and public policy. His works include Governing Under Stress: The Implementation of Obama’s Economic Stimulus Program, (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2017) [with Paul Posner and Priscilla Regan]; Pathways of Power: The Dynamics of National Policymaking (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2014) [with Paul Posner]; “Whiplash: American Federalism in the Age of Obama,” Revue Française de Science Politique 64:2 (April 2014), 221-244; Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century (Washington, Brookings Institution, 2008), [with Paul Posner]; and From New Federalism to Devolution: Twenty-five Years of Intergovernmental Reform, (Washington: Brookings Institution, 1998).

Conlan is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. He has been honored with several awards in political science and public administration, including the Daniel J. Elazar Distinguished Federalism Scholar Award, the Donald C. Stone Scholar Award for lifetime contributions to the fields of intergovernmental relations and management, the Deil Wright Award for Best Paper on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations, and the Martha Derthick Award for the best book on federalism and intergovernmental Relations.

Areas of Research

• Federalism
• Federal Policy Making
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Public Administration
• U.S. and Comparative Federalism
• U.S. Politics

View CV