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Brian Roberts
Dr. Brian D. Roberts

Roy W. Johnson Distinguished Professor
Professor of Political Science

TEACHING AREA

Political Science

EDUCATION

  • PhD, Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • MA, University of Virginia
  • BA, Principia College

CONTACT

In addition to his appointment in the Political Science Department, Dr. Brian Roberts is chair of the Angie W. Cox School of Government. From 2011-2016, he was Division Chair of the Social Sciences Division. Since 2017, he has served on Principia’s Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning, the committee responsible for supporting the institution’s ongoing accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. From 2001-2018, he was Principia's faculty athletics representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and also served terms on the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee and Faculty Athletics Representative Association Executive Committee.

SCHOLARLY INTERESTS

Roberts' research focuses on the topics of presidential communication, presidential approval, and presidential elections. He has also presented papers on the experiential and project-centered learning activities in his courses at the College.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIELD

  • Taught political science to undergraduates for more than two decades
  • Co-authored an entry on gubernatorial succession in the preeminent reference source for state and local government
  • Chaired panels, served as discussant, and authored/co-authored numerous papers presented at leading political science conferences

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • American Political Science Association
  • Midwest Political Science Association


AWARDS

  • Named Roy W. Johnson Distinguished Professor (2021)
  • Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence (2017)
  • Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2017)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Gaines, Brian J. and Roberts, Brian D. 2005. “Gubernatorial Incapacity and Succession Provisions.” Book of the States, vol. 37. Lexington, KY: The Council of State Governments.
  • Numerous presentations to political science conferences including the annual meetings of the American Political Science Association, Midwest Political Science Association, Southern Political Science Association, and Illinois Political Science Association

Dr. Brian Roberts CV