Welcome! I’m Dr. Ellie Shockley. My areas of expertise include quantitative social science, political psychology, and education research. I am also passionate about public service, civic engagement, and social/community issues in North Dakota. Please find my Bismarck Tribune columns, and some of my other writing and research, below.
Opinion Column, the Bismarck Tribune
2026
Sep 2026:
▪Measure 1 would hamstring voters
Aug 2026:
▪Kratom legislation should center users’ health
JuL 2026:
▪data center risks degrading Mandan’s environment
▪DOJ memo causes concerns about disability segregation
Jun 2026:
▪Let’s remember what school sports are for
May 2026:
▪June’s statewide measure is ill-defined and unneeded
Apr 2026:
▪Term limits vote is about much more than term limits
MAR 2026:
▪culture of Custer E.S. should live on after school closure
Feb 2026:
▪Talk to your family about end-of-life decisions
Jan 2026:
▪Will North Dakota’s congressional age limits be enforced?
2025
Dec 2025:
▪Prayer during Commission meeting signals Christian nationalism
Nov 2025:
▪Subjecting households to so much economic uncertainty is abuse
Oct 2025:
▪Banning gender-affirming care is a mistake
Sep 2025:
▪Did Charlie Kirk defend free speech for North Dakotans?
Aug 2025:
▪Smartphone overuse is a problem, actually
JuL 2025:
▪Cramer, Hoeven, Fedorchak not honest ABOUT 'Big, Beautiful' bill
Jun 2025:
▪What female & educator leadership means for labor movement
May 2025:
▪Breaking down lawmaker votes on term limits
aPR 2025:
▪'Pro-life' amendment was wasteful and unserious
Mar 2025:
▪Trust your perceptons, Things are Bad
Feb 2025:
▪Culture war cuts off our nose to spite our face
Jan 2025:
▪Is Senate Bill 2230 the ballot measure reform we need?
▪Can we move past ‘Means Testing’ for free school meals?
2024
Dec 2024:
▪North Dakotans evolve on abortion due to stories like Tony Bender’s
Nov 2024:
▪Slate of ballot measures shows ballot language matters
Oct 2024:
▪Does overhauling tenure honor Mike McCormack’s legacy?
Sep 2024:
▪Measure 4 uses sledgehammer where scalpel is needed
Aug 2024:
▪North Dakotans understand what JD Vance does not
JUL 2024:
▪Biden supporters & pro-life advocates have something in common
Jun 2024:
▪Could election see cannabis legalization pass in ND?
May 2024:
▪There’s much to unpack in June’s statewide measure
Apr 2024:
▪Pro-life hardliners shocked by their stance taken to conclusion
Mar 2024:
▪Tenure in ND Higher Ed ContinueS to Decline
▪Tables: institution-level trends in ND higher ed staffing
Feb 2024:
▪Indigenous voices offer insight
▪Will ND’s next governor fuel the culture war?
Jan 2024:
▪Voters Need Education on Measure 3
2023
Dec 2023:
▪Prichard’s stance on initiated measures has no audience
Nov 2023:
▪Measure 1 can reduce disability stigma
Oct 2023:
▪Don't blame third party voters
Sep 2023:
▪What's the price of small talk?
Aug 2023:
▪What does it mean to leave abortion 'to the states'?
JUL 2023:
▪Local animals needs our help
Jun 2023:
▪Tenure benefits our communities ▪Table
May 2023:
▪Anti-Trans Legislation Casts Shadow Over ND
Jan 2023:
▪Legislation may impact election processes
2022
Dec 2022:
▪Holiday labor too often falls on women
Nov 2022:
▪Lessons from the Term Limits Measure
Oct 2022:
▪Election predictions for your consideration
Sep 2022:
▪What does Measure 2 Change for the Average Person?
▪Is there a place for pro-life Democrats?
Aug 2022:
▪Why do some North Dakotans use cannabis?
JUL 2022:
▪Cut yourself some slack
Jun 2022:
▪It’s all hands on deck for teacher allies
MaY 2022:
▪Cannabis petition has real chance of success
Mar 2022:
▪Is it 'easy' to change North Dakota's constitution?
▪Ballot measure slate is shaping up
Feb 2022:
▪Higher ed staff trends may surprise you ▪Table
Jan 2022:
▪think tank files complaint against NEW Leadership
2021
Dec 2021:
▪To understand incivility, ask a woman
Nov 2021:
▪legislators seek public sector pension changes
Oct 2021:
▪Lincoln, Mandan show greatest growth rates
Sep 2021:
▪Contraception is health care
Aug 2021:
▪Who’s been changing our state constitution?
JuL 2021:
▪Term limit activists demonstrate self-governance
Jun 2021:
▪Neurodiversity enriches our community
▪Living in North Dakota offers lessons
May 2021:
▪GOP voters play role in protecting initiatives ▪Figure
Apr 2021:
▪Lawmakers should accept trans athlete study
Mar 2021:
▪Simons puts myth of 'male bumbler' on display
Feb 2021:
▪HB 1119 would suppress voter participation ▪Fig.1-2
Jan 2021:
▪COVID death trend improved Dec to early Jan ▪Fig.A-B
2020
Dec 2020:
▪Choices this month could save lives ▪Fig.1-2
Nov 2020:
▪Measure 2 Defeated, but work isn’t over
Oct 2020:
▪COVID will kill hundreds in ND by year’s end ▪Fig.1-3
Sep 2020:
▪Legislature seeks veto power over citizens
Aug 2020:
▪ND House votes reveal 3 dimensions of ideology ▪Figure
Jul 2020:
▪Ballot measure reforms higher ed board
Jun 2020:
▪primary turnout not impacted by mail ballots ▪Fig.1-2
May 2020:
▪Mandan’s D-34 Senate Race is worth watching
▪It's time to listen to experts among us
Apr 2020:
▪COVID reinforces women's econ. insecurity
Mar 2020:
▪Caucus results reveal political diversity in ND
Feb 2020:
▪Property Tax Discussions Need Nuance
Jan 2020:
▪Voting by mail can help us vote smarter
▪Bastiat was pro-refugee, so why isn't Becker?
2019
Dec 2019:
▪Would Jesus welcome 2 dozen refugees?
Nov 2019:
▪Political depolarization begins with us
Oct 2019:
▪Bis-Man water quality key to our future
Sep 2019:
▪Obsession with material goods affects community
Aug 2019:
▪Blue law repeal supports religious freedom
Jul 2019:
▪Few resources means no freedom to self-govern
Jun 2019:
▪ND election process stands out from rest of nation
May 2019:
▪Electoral College amplifies North Dakotans’ votes
Apr 2019:
▪Let’s prepare for climate change impact in Bis-Man
Mar 2019:
▪Rigid ideology has no place in ND
▪ND Constitution all about us
Feb 2019:
▪Being a union member offers opportunities
Jan 2019:
▪Hard-to-read language hurt Measure 3
2018
Dec 2018:
▪How the art of ‘hygge’ impacts North Dakotans
Nov 2018:
▪Election Day first step in government
Oct 2018:
▪Love it or hate it, ND is a purple state
Sep 2018:
▪Nuanced trends in ND direct democracy
Aug 2018:
▪State needs to reinvest in NDSU & UND
Book & SelectED Chapters
Ellie Shockley et al. (2016). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Trust.