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Alumni Update: Michael Zilis, Class of 2003
Michael Zilis, graduate of the Garfield Heights High School Class of 2003, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Political Science.  

Michael joined the University of Kentucky faculty in 2015 after two years at DePaul University. He completed a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. His dissertation, "I Respectfully Dissent: Linking Judicial Behavior, Public Responses, and Media Coverage in the Study of U.S. Supreme Court Decisions," was nominated for the American Political Science Association's Corwin Award for the best dissertation in the field of public law. At the University of Michigan, Michael studied American political institutions, political behavior, and methodology.

Michael has written a book entitled "The Limits of Legitimacy" (2015), which explores public support for high profile Supreme Court rulings. Drawing on a detailed case study, content analysis of 30 years of media coverage, and a series of survey experiments, Michael demonstrated how division amongst the justices limits support for rulings. His book was selected as an "Exemplary Law Book of 2015" by the Green Bag Almanac and Reader. Michael's other work has been published or is forthcoming at Legislative Studies Quarterly, Journal of Law and Courts, Washington University Journal of Law and Policy, and Elon Law Review.

At the University of Kentucky, Michael teaches courses on constitutional law, judicial politics, and the politics of law and courts. Additionally, he serves as a faculty mentor in the research internship program and oversees the department's research colloquium.


We send congratulations to Michael on all of his accomplishments and wish him continued success in the future!