Michelle J. Atherton has been in the PhD program since the fall of 2002. She earned her M.A. in American politics in the fall of 2005.  Michelle teaches American politics, and thus far, has had a particular focus on the role of race and class in the functioning of American political life.  Her general interests include American political development, public policy and political ideologies. In particular, she focuses on urban public policy and development, housing and tax policy, the formation of political and social communities and debate, and political identification. She considers U.S. foreign policy a hobby of sorts. In her spare time, Michelle likes to garden, read philosophy, explore Philadelphia and wander about in Camden.