Keith Bentele, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor with the Southwest Institute of Research on Women SIROW) in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology. Dr. Bentele’s research has examined state-level poverty rates, inequality, homelessness, and the generosity and accessibility of various safety-net programs. He also has examined the processes shaping the passage of various types of legislation at the level of state legislatures including: voting restrictions, anti-child sex trafficking legislation, and abortion restrictions. Dr. Bentele is interested in policy-relevant research with the potential to reduce poverty and homelessness. His specific areas of methodological expertise are in the use of quantitative methods and statistics.