UNLV today announced that David Damore will serve as the interim executive director of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, two public policy research centers at UNLV that focus on critical issues facing Nevada and the nation.
“David has been intimately involved with The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West for many years,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. “He is well positioned to lead the important work of these research centers to help inform good policy decisions for our community.”
Damore, a professor and chair of the university's Political Science Department, has long served as a nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings governance studies program. He has written extensively on Nevada politics and policy and is the coauthor of two recently published books, Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban/Rural Divide in America’s Swing States, with Robert E. Lang and Karen A. Danielsen, and Latinos in Nevada, with John P. Tuman, Tiffiany O. Howard, and Nerses Kopalyan.
Damore, who officially took the post on Oct. 1, steps in for long-time executive director Robert Lang, who passed away in June. Damore, like Lang, regularly provides an expert perspective on Nevada governmental and political issues for local, national, and international media outlets. Research from his coauthored book, Blue Metros, Red States, for instance, was recently cited by CNN Politics in an analysis of the conflict between conservative rural areas and liberal cities in states along the Sun Belt.
“I am honored and grateful to the funders of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, and the leadership at UNLV and the Brookings Institution for the opportunity to direct these two critically important policy centers,” Damore said. “While Rob’s passing makes the appointment bittersweet, I am excited to lead the outstanding team that Rob built and to continue pushing forward the work that he began.”
Brookings President John R. Allen said he strongly supports Damore’s appointment.
“The tragic passing of our friend and colleague, Dr. Robert Lang, left very big shoes to fill in support of both these two exemplary institutions,” he said. “I have no doubt that David will uphold Robert’s legacy of success throughout the important days to come.”
Damore teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in American Politics and Research Methods. His research interests include campaigns and elections, and applied public policy.
Damore earned his doctoral degree from the University of California, Davis, his master’s degree from the University of Georgia, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, all in political science.
