Samuel Workman, Ph.D.

Dr. Sam Workman is a professor of political science and director of the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs in the John D. “Jay” Rockefeller School of Policy and Politics at West Virginia University. Trained as both a political scientist and statistician, his research examines public policy, regulation, and how governments use information. Dr. Workman specializes in building large-scale data infrastructures to address fundamental questions about public policy across time and space.

He is a member of the West Virginia Economic Development Council and the Consortium for University Public Service Organizations.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Workman provided statistical consulting in the private sector. His work emphasizes data-driven decision-making and management, custom reporting, and data-informed programming. He contributes to Towards Data Science, writing about practical applications of data science and statistics, and is a founding editor of 3Streams.

In addition to his editorial work, Dr. Workman writes on rural politics and public policy, with a particular focus on Appalachia. His bylines have appeared in The Charleston Gazette-Mail, The Intercept, and The Conversation.

Originally from Fayette County, West Virginia — the land between New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Gauley River National Recreation Area — Dr. Workman is proud to call West Virginia home and to serve the state and its communities.