Jonathan is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). His work focuses on representation in American democratic institutions. He is an expert on redistricting, the electoral college, and elections. He has numerous publications in journals including The Proceedings of the National Academy, Election Law Journal, Political Geography, and Presidential Studies Quarterly.

Jonathan began at Carnegie Mellon University after receiving his PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. His Bachelor’s degree (also in political science) is from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His dissertation is a historical, quantitative look at the Electoral College and its consequences.

In 2021, Jonathan served as the redistricting consultant for the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission. He was appointed to that position by a vote of the commission. The final plan received a bi-partisan vote and was upheld unanimously by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. You can see these plans here.

He served as Special Master for the state of New York in 2022 [Harkenrider v. Hochel (2022)] and drew the state's 26 Congressional Districts and 63 state Senate districts.

Cervas was appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as a consultant in the matter of redistricting the state legislative districts. He filed a joint report with Dr. Bernard Grofman. That report can be found here.