Dr. Karra McCray Gibson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science in the McCausland College of Arts & Sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from the University of South Carolina with Leadership Distinction in Professional & Civic Engagement. She spent her undergraduate years working as a Legislative Aide at the SC House of Representatives, which catalyzed her interest in legislative politics. She later completed a Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Black Politics from Howard University. Dr. McCray Gibson earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Brown University. Her dissertation, “Black Representation in Congress: Identity, Ideology, and Geography,” examines how the intersectional representation of individual members’ behavior influences the collective narrative of Black interests and the community’s evolving demands.

More broadly, Dr. McCray Gibson’s research agenda encompasses the intersection of identity, representation, caucuses, and political advocacy and behavior. She seeks to challenge existing knowledge about Black representation and its effectiveness, explore the impact of legislative networks and coalitions within congressional caucuses, and examine the rhetorical strategies activists and elites employ to garner support while advancing their causes and responding to public concerns.