Dr. David Branham
Dr. David Branham
Professor of Political ScienceSocial SciencesBiography
Dr. Branham received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Houston in 2000. Thereafter, he worked as a research associate at the University of Houston Center for Public Policy.
Dr Branham joined the faculty at the University of Houston-Downtown in the Fall of 2005. His teaching experience includes classes in American government, public administration, public policy, research methods, public opinion, education policy and the presidency.
Degrees Earned
Doctorate degree: Political Science (University of Houston)
Courses Taught
POLS 2107: Federal & Texas Constitution (1) (U)
POLS 2306: Texas Government (3) (U)
POLS 4399: Polit Science Capstone (3) (U)
POLS 6680: Non-Profit Mgmt Internship (6) (G)
SOS 4301: Special Projects (3) (U)
SOS 4380: Field Experience in Soc. Sci. (3) (U)
UHD 1307: Freshman Seminar-Pol Science (3) (U)
Experience Qualifications
David Branham Sr. received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Houston in 2000. He began his career teaching in the Masters of Public Administration program and the political science undergraduate program at the University of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He then became a senior research associate at the University of Houston Center for Public Policy. In 2005 he was hired as an assistant professor of political science at the University of Houston-Downtown. There he taught and created courses in public administration, public policy and American politics, and a minor in public policy and administration. He also taught statistics and became the internship coordinator for social sciences, providing internships in political, social and nonprofit venues.
In 2013 he became director of the new Masters in Non-Profit management program where he teaches the internship with capstone elements, and program assessment and evaluation. Branham has published many research articles and presented research papers at numerous conferences. He has also worked as a consultant doing grant evaluation, demography analysis, survey research analysis, political redistricting, and population projection analysis.
Academic Scholarship/Research/Creative Endeavors:
Branham, Sr., David. 2015. The Influence of Seclusion: Immigration and Border Security Attitudes of Registered Voters Living Behind the Interior Border Patrol Checkpoints in the State of Texas. Midsouth Political Science Review. Forthcoming.
Branham, Sr., David. 2013. Hidden Feelings or Change of Heart? A Look at Former Slave States and Their Preference for Barack Obama in the 2008 Election. National Social Science Journal 40(2), 10-18.
Branham, Sr., David. 2013. Capital Punishment in Texas: Holding Steadfast in Changing Era. Texas Politics Today. 2013-14 edition. 319-20.
Branham, Sr., David. 2011. Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini: A Texas Service Pioneer. Texas Politics Today. 2011-12 edition. Pp 187-88.
Branham, Sr., David. 2010. Texas House District 41: The Failed Attempt to Draw a Republican House of Representatives District in Hidalgo County. South Texas Studies Journal. 20:pp128-42.
Chadha, Anita and David Branham, Sr. 2010. Classroom Technology, Interior Infrastructure and the Perception of Learning Effectiveness at the University Level. Proceedings of The 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics: IMSCI 2010, Volume I. pp208-12.
Branham, David. 2009. Anatomy of a Gerrymander: The Election of Veronica Gonzáles. Texas Politics Today. 2009-10 edition. Pp 192-94.
Branham Sr., David. 2008. "Taking Advantage of an Untapped Pool: Assessing the Success of African American Head Coaches in the NFL" The Review of Black Political Economy 35:129-46.
See Lim, Colleen Barry-Goodman and David Branham. 2006. "Discrimination That Travels: How Ethnicity Affects Party Identification For Southeast Asian Immigrants", Social Science Quarterly 87: December 2006. Co-authored with Branham, David. 2004.
"The Wise Man Builds His House Upon a Rock: The Influence of School Infrastructure on Education Performance." in Social Science Quarterly. 85: December 2004. (NOTE: This is currently #4 on the ISI Citation List (4th most cited) for publications in Social Science Quarterly for the last three years. SSQ publishes about 75 articles per year.)
Crew, Jr. Robert E., David Branham, Gregory Weiher and Ethan Bernick "Political Events in a Model of Gubernatorial Popularity." in State Politics and Policy Quarterly. 2(3) Fall, 2002. Murray, Richard and David Branham. 2001.
"Texas Politics and Elections from 1990 to 2000: The Consolidation of Republican Power and the Ascendancy of George W. Bush", Chapter 20 in U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics (ed by Kent Tedin). Also appeared as Chapter 22 in The People and American Government (ed by Richard Murray) in August, 2003.
More Information
Dr. Branham's research has focused on state level public opinion and education policy and administration. He has published articles in State Politics and Policy Quarterly and Social Science Quarterly. His publications also include several book chapters and grant evaluations. He has also worked in the community as a redistricting, demographic and election consultant.