Michael Armato, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, received both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University at Albany, SUNY, and a B.A. in public policy and administration from Wagner College. During his years as an undergraduate, he developed his passion for small colleges that teach students how different fields interact.

Michael brings a great deal of practical experience to the classroom, having served as an elected political party district leader from 2006 to 2007 in the former 63^rd Assembly District of New York. Additionally, he also has a diverse career in state government and the nonprofit sector that helps him in both his scholarly and teaching endeavors.

Michael is currently engaged in various projects studying local places and civic engagement.

• Urban Politics & Policy
• New York Politics
• State & Local Politics
• Civic Engagement and Political Ideology
• Political Science Pedagogy

Publications:

Armato, Michael A. 2022. “‘The One Who Spells It with a Capital L”: Liberal Party Activism in the Hudson River Valley, 1948–1963” The Hudson River Valley Review 38 (2): 44-62.

Armato, Michael A. 2018. “Money and the 2012 Elections.” in Shultz, David (ed). Money in American Politics: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.

Armato, Michael A. & Sally Friedman. 2015. “The Civically Oriented Activities of Big City Mayors: The View from Website Press Releases.” in Rogers, Michael T. & Donald Gooch (eds). Civic  Education in the 21st Century: A Multidimensional Inquiry. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Research Under Contract:

Armato, Michael A. Progressives on the Hudson: Their Impact on New York State Politics and Policymaking.  Under Contract with State University of New York Press.

Friedman, Sally, Michael A. Armato, Emily Matott. “Younger People as Political Leaders: The Case of  Mayors.” Chapter proposal accepted by David Schultz and Sally Friedman for inclusion in an edited volume on generational politics under contract with University of Michigan Press.

Research Under Review

Academic Conference Presentations (Select List):

Friedman, Sally, Michael A. Armato, Emily Matott. “Younger People as Political Leaders: The Case of Mayors.” Presented at the Northeastern Political Science Association Meeting, November 2019.

Armato, Michael A. “The Policy Activities of Hudson Valley Progressive Political Activists.” Presented at the Northeastern Political Science Association Meeting, November 2019.

Armato, Michael A. “Progressives in the Hudson Valley: A First Look.” Presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting, April 2019.

Newfeld, Daria and Michael A. Armato. “Is it Ethical for the President to Tweet? A Classroom Exercise in Ethics Education for Business and Political Science Courses.” Presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting, April 2018.

Armato, Michael A. “Incorporating Policy Memoranda in the Undergraduate Classroom.” Presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting, April 2017.

Armato, Michael A. & Sally Friedman. “The Civically Oriented Activities of Big City Mayors: the View from Website Press Releases.” Poster presented at the 2014 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting.

Armato, Michael A. “Assessing Electoral Competition: A First Look at the Influences of Partisan Voter Index Scores and Fluctuating Election Margins on the Home Styles of U.S. Representatives.” Presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting, April 2012.

Armato, Michael A. “Rebels Without A Cause: Explaining New York State Independence Party Endorsements During the 2006 State Legislative Elections.” Presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting, April 2008.

Academic Works in Progress:

Armato, Michael A. “Incorporating Policy Memoranda in the Undergraduate Classroom.”

Under revision for teaching and learning journal submission.

American Government

U.S. Congress

Public Policy

Public Administration

Urban Politics

Public Opinion and American Democracy

Participation and Ideology

Power and Seminal Readings in the American Polity

First Year Seminar on New York

Synthesis on Civic Life and the Liberal Arts

Secretary – New York State Political Science Association (2020-Present)

Section Chair for State and Local Politics – New York State Political Science Association (2019-2020)

Section Chair for American Politics – New York State Political Science Association (2016-2019)

Dr. Henry P. and M. Paige Laughlin Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching – 2019