Professor John Coleman, a Clark University alumnus and leading expert on political parties, elections and campaign finance in the U.S., will deliver the Fall 2011 Harrington Public Affairs Lecture, “A Primer on the Primaries: Polarized Politics and Presidential Nominations,” at 7 p.m, Monday, Oct. 24, in Tilton Hall, 2nd floor of the Higgins University Center, 950 Main Street.
Coleman is chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His lecture will provide insight into issues relevant to the 2012 presidential elections, and will promote informed citizenry and voting.
Professor Coleman has served as an expert witness on campaign finance cases. He frequently provides commentary on issues in American politics to broadcast news outlets and print journalists.
Coleman has served as president of the Political Organizations and Parties section of the American Political Science Association. He has authored and edited six books. Recently, his chapter “Parties as a Resource for Presidential Leadership: The Case of Barack Obama,” appeared in Steven Schier’s “Transforming America: Barack Obama in the White House,” and co-authored “Understanding American Politics and Government” with Kenneth Goldstein and William Howell. He has published several articles in top political science journals, including the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and the Journal of Politics.
“I’m sure everyone who attends this lecture will learn a great deal about Presidential primaries in the past and in the future.”
— Prof. Sharon Krefetz
Professor Coleman earned his Ph.D. in political science from MIT and served as a faculty member at the University of Texas before joining the University of Wisconsin in 1992. He earned his B.A. from Clark University in 1982, and majored in government and history.
“I had the pleasure of having John Coleman as a student in two of my courses when he was an undergraduate at Clark. He was an exceptionally bright student who had an avid interest in American politics. It’s been wonderful—and not at all surprising—to watch him go on to become one of the leading experts on American political parties, campaigns, and elections, and to chair one of the top Political Science Departments in the U.S.,” said Sharon Krefetz, Andrea B. and Peter D. Klein ’64 Distinguished Professor and chair of Clark’s Political Science Department. “I’m looking forward to hearing him speak. I’m sure everyone who attends this lecture will learn a great deal about Presidential primaries in the past and in the future.”
Coleman will deliver two other lectures to students during his two-day visit to campus, and will advise students about graduate programs and career opportunities in the field of political science.
This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 508-793-7155.
The Harrington Public Affairs Lecture is presented by Clark’s Political Science Department, with the generous support of the Francis A. Harrington Fund. Mr. Harrington was a Worcester native, civic leader, vice president and director of the Paul Revere Insurance Companies, and a member of Clark University’s Board of Trustees.
