Prior to her arrival at Ball State in 2009, Professor Schaal received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame where she served as academic liason for the Washington Program. While at Notre Dame she also held a Teaching Assistant position. Schaal went on to teach as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University from 2007-2008. Schaal spent two years as a Program Evaluation Analyst in the Office of the Inspector General in Washington D.C. Her field of professional specialization lies in Congress, public policy, and urban politics.