Dr. Heern received a Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science from Truman State University where he gained experience working in all three branches of the Missouri government. His research focuses on American energy and environmental politics and policy, primarily in the contexts of legislative and executive branch behavior, public opinion and representation, and partisanship. Jared’s dissertation examined partisan and institutional influences on the environmental policy decisions of state public utility commissions (PUCs). Ongoing research is concerned with the impacts of PUC decisions on conditions relevant to climate change, the relationship between legislatures and PUCs, and the involvement of interest groups in PUC proceedings.