A GOVERNOR FOR ALL
LeRoy Collins (1909-1991)
Thomas LeRoy Collins was the 33rd governor of Florida and served from 1955 to 1961. Collins was the first governor from the South to promote ending segregation.
Who We Are
The LeRoy Collins Institute, named in honor of former Florida Governor LeRoy Collins, is a non- partisan, statewide policy organization which studies and promotes creative solutions to key private and public issues facing the people of Florida and the nation. See our By-Laws here: LCI By-Laws
Leadership
The Institute is governed by a distinguished Board of Directors that includes current and former state-elected officials, other policy makers, educators and private citizens from throughout Florida. The Institute is chaired by John Marks, III and the director is Lonna Atkeson.
Lonna Atkeson, Ph.D.,
Institute Director
Brooke Beazer,
Institute Deputy Director
John Marks III,
Board Chair
Fellows
Carson Cary
Carson Cary
Carson Cary is an undergraduate computer science major at Florida State University.
Austin Cutler
Austin Cutler
Austin Cutler is a second year PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Florida State University. His research focuses on American political behavior and public opinion. His research interests include affective polarization, race and ethnic politics, candidate selection, and partisanship. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Anthropology from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Master of Arts in political science from The University of Mississippi, and a Master of Science in political science from Florida State University.
Ryan Davey
Ryan Davey
Ryan Davey is a first year Ph.D. student in the Political Science Department. His research interests include legislative redistricting and elections. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Alabama and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Miami.
Marli Dunietz
Marli Dunietz
Marli Dunietz is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in political science. Her research investigates political influence and social norms using incentivized experiments, surveys, and quantitative methods. She received her MA (ABD) in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and her AB in mathematics from Princeton University.
Sarah Fernandez
Sarah Fernandez
Sarah Fernandez is an undergraduate student at Florida State University pursuing a B.S. in Political Science and Statistics. Outside of her research work, she is actively involved on campus as a member of Phi Mu and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and serves on the executive board for Dance Marathon at FSU. She is interested in applying data-driven research to public policy and hopes to pursue a career working on political campaigns or in government.
Sarah Holland
Sarah Holland
Sarah Holland is a second year PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Florida State University. Her research focuses on American political behavior, public opinion, and election research. Her research interests focus on polarization, partisanship, voter confidence, politics on social media, and election data. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.
Yimeng Li
Yimeng Li
Yimeng Li is a postdoctoral fellow at the Leroy Collins Institute. His research focuses on American politics and quantitative methods. His research in election administration includes voting by mail, provisional ballots, voter confidence, and voting technology. He received his M.Sc. with Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.
Sam Miller
Sam Miller
Sam Miller is an undergraduate B.S. Computer Science student at FSU and is currently interested in learning full-stack development.
Van Rumery
Van Rumery
Van Rumery is an undergraduate student at Florida State University. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Editing, Writing, & Media, with a plan to attend law school.
Kayra Serpenguzel
Kayra Serpenguzel
Kayra Serpenguzel is an undergraduate student at Florida State University pursuing a B.S. in Political Science and Creative Writing. Outside of her research work, she is a Presidential Scholar, a member of the Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program and serves as a Student Senator in the Student Government Association. She hopes to pursue a career working in law, journalism, and public service.
Jake Serwe
Jake Serwe
Jake Serwe is an undergraduate studying Computer Science at Florida State University. He is interested in computational solutions to scientific problems, particularly in physics and political science.
Tegan Webb
Tegan Webb
Tegan Webb is an Honors student at Florida State University double majoring in Political Science and International Affairs with a minor in Criminal Justice. Outside of research, Tegan is involved in campus politics and student government through the Legacy Party, where she works on campaign events, and serves on the FSU Student Union Board. She has also gained experience through legal and policy internships and is an active member of Delta Zeta and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity on campus. Tegan plans to attend law school after graduation and is interested in elections, politics, and criminal law.
The Caldwell House
The LeRoy Collins Institute is located in the Caldwell House, which is at Florida State’s Law School. The land upon which this house originated was developed as Blackwood Plantation, 800 acres which were purchased in 1828 by Charles Black (1808-1830). Black’s widow Janet Reid Black was the daughter of Florida Governor Robert Raymond Reid, and the family occupied the property until the 1840’s. Sources describe a house on the property to have been built in 1826 by Col. Robert Butler (1786-1860), Florida’s first Surveyor General and friend of Andrew Jackson.