dr. Olyvia R. Christley

Dr. Olyvia R. Christley received her Ph.D. in politics and methods from the University of Virginia in 2022. She also completed her M.A. and B.A. degrees in politics at UVa, the latter of which received High Distinction honors. Prior to entering academia, she worked for the United States House of Representatives and Virginia House of Delegates. While in graduate school, she was an editorial assistant for the American Journal of Political Science. 

Her teaching and research interests are primarily focused on the role gender attitudes and nationalism play in shaping public opinion and political behavior, with regional focuses in the United States and Europe. Her research has been published in Politics & Gender, and she is currently working on a variety of manuscripts dealing with topics related to gender politics, immigration, and political violence.

Dr. Christley was born and raised in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia. After being homeschooled through high school, she was first introduced to higher education by her local community college. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and watching tennis (it is her dream to attend all four majors!).