About Me

I've always had a passion for politics, so at a young age, I quickly learned the importance of civic engagement. As I got older, I developed the belief that it is also important to serve your community when you have the expertise and ability to do so. In the sections that follow, you'll learn more about me beginning with the qualities and skills I bring, and will continue to bring, to City Council.

Qualities
& Skills

I have over 10 years of experience in public and community service. As a member of City Council, I use my skills as a researcher and teacher to represent citizens and govern Brookings responsively and responsibly. I pride myself on offering creative solutions to the issues facing Brookings, being forward thinking, and responding to all citizen emails, texts, and phone calls.

1. Proven Leadership

City Council Member since 2025.
- Brookings Health System Board of Trustees Ex-Officio
- Board of Equalization
- Neighborhood Revitalization Working Group
- Leadership on legal and policy issues, such as moving the City Election date to November in response to House Bill 1130.
Over 10 years of public and community service.

2. Creative Solutions

Facilitates partnerships with South Dakota State University to inform City initiatives, expand City services, and train the next generation of public servants.
Researches best practices to respond to issues voiced by citizens; for example, pre-annexation agreements for responsible growth and development.

3. Responsive Governance

Replies to all phone calls, texts, and emails from citizens.
Incorporates citizen comments when making decisions, such as encouraging City Council to revisit the future location of the police department after residents expressed concerns about the possible site at 5th Street S and Medary Avenue S.

4. Fiscal Responsibility

Ensures the budget is balanced to avoid increases in property taxes.
Works to build up reserves to fund major projects, such as saving roughly $18M to build the new police department and main fire station.
Focuses on supporting community partners and investing in City employees, amenities, and services to strengthen the quality of life in Brookings. For example, expanding shared-use paths and building outdoor pickleball courts.
Makes strategic decisions to pursue the vision citizens have for Brookings, such as purchasing downtown properties to allow for future private redevelopment.

Public Service

Council Member Lisa Hager and Mayor Ope Niemeyer

Serving on City Council and representing the citizens of Brookings has been an extremely rewarding (and fun) experience. Here I am with Mayor Ope Niemeyer after taking my oath of office.

The opportunity to apply to be appointed to City Council came at the perfect moment as I was wrapping up my time as the Vice Chair of the Brookings Charter Review Commission. My start in public service actually began when I served as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in the Washington D.C. office of now former Representative Daniel Lipinski (IL-3).

2026 - present

Brookings City Council

Appointed in April 2025 through a competitive process involving eight total applicants.

Ex-officio to the Brookings Health System Board of Trustees.

Member of the 2026 Board of Equalization and Neighborhood Revitalization Working Group.

2024-2025

Brookings City Charter Review Commission

Served as the Vice Chair of a citizen commission that proposed revisions to the Brookings City Charter.

Presented revisions to City Council and participated in the City's public information campaign prior to the municipal election.

Revisions were accepted by 72% of Brookings voters.

2015-2016

American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow

Legislative Assistant for former Representative Daniel Lipinski (IL-3)

Policy Areas
- Education, Agriculture, Government Operations, Campaign Finance Reform, Voting Rights, and Native Americans
Science, Space and Technology Committee
STEM Education Caucus

Community Service

Lisa Hager and her husband, Jeremy Paulsen

I moved to Brookings in July 2016 not knowing hardly anyone. This led me to getting involved with the young professional and new resident committees hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation. Through my connections, I ended up joining Rotary. The opportunity to network, participate in service projects, and hear about community initiatives during weekly programs are invaluable, so I serve on the membership committee.

While I gained numerous friends through these endeavors, Mr. Right eluded me. Eventually, I did meet my now husband, Jeremy Paulsen (pictured above), in July 2020 and the rest is history!

2019 - present

Brookings Rotary Club

Joined in February 2019.

Membership Committee (August 2023-present)

Membership Director (July 2019-December 2021)

Paul Harris Fellow (March 2020)

+1 (May 2022)

Awarded to Rotarians for every $1,000 donation that is made to the Rotary Foundation.

2017-2021

Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce

Public Affairs Committee (June 2019-March 2021)

Connect 2140 Planning Committee (2017-March 2021)

Chair (May 2020-March 2021)
Co-Chair (May 2019-May 2020)
Special Event Subcommittee (July 2017-May 2018)

2017-2019

Brookings Economic Development Corporation

Young Professional Committee (October 2018-August 2019)

Beyond Connections Planning Committee (September 2017-2019)

Education

I'm originally from Grundy Center, Iowa, which is about 35 minutes south of Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Here I am with my mom and dad's dog, Addy. She no longer has to visit me because my parents retired to my forever home, Brookings!

I ran track at Wartburg College and majored in political science. During my time there, I learned becoming a college professor was a dream I could achieve. I later received my Master's and PhD in political science from Kent State University. My areas of expertise are constitutional law and American political institutions, particularly the relationship between the Supreme Court and Congress.

Work Experience

When I'm not serving on City Council or spending time with my dog, parents, and husband, you'll probably find me here: Lincoln Hall on South Dakota State University's campus.

At SDSU, I am an Associate Professor of Political Science in the School of American and Global Studies. I received tenure in 2022, which is a major milestone in every academic's life. I regularly teach courses on constitutional law and American political institutions. This is also the focus of my research. I specialize in the interaction between Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, but I also work on judicial, congressional, and executive behavior. As a faculty member, I also serve as SDSU's pre-law advisor and coordinate the Legal Studies minor, Political Science major and minor, and the Lobbying & Government Advocacy certificate.

2016

Kent State University | PhD

2013

Kent State University | MA

Fields

American Politics & Policy
Justice Politics & Policy

Dissertation

The Legal, Institutional, and Political Factors of Congressional Court-Curbing: The Purpose and Seriousness of Attempts to Constrain the United States Supreme Court

Campus Involvement:

Political Science Graduate Student Association
Graduate Student Representative on Department of Political Science Faculty Committees

2009

Wartburg College | BA

Major

Political Science

Minor

Psychology

Campus Involvement

Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)

2016-present

South Dakota State University

Associate Professor of Political Science

Promoted with tenure in August 2022.

Assistant Professor of Political Science

August 2016-July 2022

Courses Taught:

Introduction to Moot Court
Constitutional Law: Civil Rights & Liberties
Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers
Courts & Judicial Politics
the American Presidency
U.S. Congress
Interest Groups & Lobbying

Selected Publications:

2025. "Legislating Community Cultural Wealth: The Education Policy Advocacy of Latino U.S. Congressmen" (with Florencio Urías Aranda III) Journal of Latinos and Education
2024. "Judicial Guardians: Court-Curbing Bills, the Supreme Court, and Judicial Review" (with Alicia Uribe-McGuire) Journal of Law and Courts.
2024. "Educational Attainment through Community Cultural Wealth: Narratives of Latino U.S. Congressmen" (with Florencio Urías Aranda III) Journal of Latinos and Education
2021. Women's Paths to Power: Female Presidents and Prime Ministers, 1960-2020 (with Evren Çelik Wiltse), Lynne Rienner Publishers

Appointments:

Pre-Law Advisor
Legal Studies Coordinator
Pre-Law Society Faculty Advisor
Political Science Coordinator
Lobbying & Government Advocacy Certificate Coordinator

Selected Awards:

Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College Medallion Ceremony Faculty Recognition (2022, 2023, 2025, and 2026)
South Dakota State University Students' Association Faculty Advisor of the Year (2022)
South Dakota State University Timothy J. Nichols Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advising (2023)
South Dakota State University Edward Patrick Hogan Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021)
South Dakota State University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Award for Outstanding Research in the Social Sciences (with Evren Çelik Wiltse) (2021)