September 09, 2005
Clinton named full-time chair of political science
An expert on public law and political theory, he took over as acting chair in December 2004.
The SIU Board of Trustees OK'd his permanent appointment on Thursday, Sept. 8, at a monthly meeting on the Edwardsville campus.
Clinton takes the helm from Uday Desai, who chaired the department for a decade and returns to teaching following his sabbatical last year in Malaysia.
"We're blessed with a very experienced senior faculty and a large number of new, energetic young faculty, whom we will work hard to mentor. Together, we'll build on the departments many strengths as we strive to offer the best academic program possible," Clinton said.
Clinton began teaching at SIUC in 1985 and directed the graduate program in his department from 1995-99. He previously taught political science at a variety of universities and community colleges in Texas.
And he spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Malta.
He is the author of books and journal articles challenging long-held assumptions about the power of the Supreme Court.
Clinton holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Tech University (1974 and 1977, respectively) and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985.
Seeking and celebrating faculty excellence are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the long-range plan the University is following as it nears its 150th anniversary in 2019.