Faculty and Staff Profile

Michael Jones

Educational Background

University of Oklahoma, 2010 Ph.D. Political Science

Idaho State University, 2004 M.A. Political Science

Idaho State University, 2000 B.S. Political Science

Courses Taught

Politics and Film (Undergraduate)
The Narrative Policy Framework (Graduate)
Foundations of Social Science Research (Graduate)
Policy Proseminar (Graduate)

Profile

Michael D. Jones is the Thurmond Professor of Political Science at Clemson University. He received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma in 2010 and holds an MA and BS in Political Science from Idaho State University. Following his doctorate, he was a residential and non-residential research fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. Dr. Jones’s research focuses on policy theory, with particular emphasis on the development of the Narrative Policy Framework, which examines how stories, characters, and moral claims shape political conflict, public opinion, and policy outcomes. His work has appeared in leading journals across political science and public policy, including Policy Studies Journal, Political Psychology, Social Science Quarterly, Policy & Politics, and Critical Policy Studies. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Policy Studies Journal and has received multiple honors, including the Policy Studies Organization’s Enduring Contribution Award, the Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award from Idaho State University, and recognition by Stanford University and Elsevier as a Top 2% Most-Cited Scientist Worldwide based on standardized citation indicators.

Honors and Awards

Recognized as a Top 2% Most-Cited Scientist Worldwide (Stanford University–Elsevier standardized citation indicators), 2025.

PSO Enduring Contribution Award, Policy Studies Organization, Washington, D.C., 2023

Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award, Idaho State University, Pocatello ID, 2022

Links