Dr. Blackstone holds an appointment as professor of political science. Her research considers the U.S. Supreme Court's role in American policymaking and the development of legal rules in the U.S. courts of appeals. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Politics, Law & Society Review, PS: Political Science & Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and Research and Politics, among others. She teaches courses on American government, the U.S. Congress, judicial politics and constitutional law.  
Dr. Blackstone earned a master of arts and a doctorate in political science at Emory University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Indiana University. She served as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow from 2008-2009. Before coming to JMU in 2022, Dr. Blackstone was the associate dean for the Honors College at the University of North Texas.