Political Science Faculty

Dr. Elissa Alzate
Professor

Minné 118

507.457.5404

Elissa Alzate teaches a broad range of courses in Political Theory, including the history of political thought series, American Political Thought, and Feminist Political Thought.She also teaches courses in International Relations.

Her research centers on the relationship between the individual and the community, the role of religion in politics, and civic education with a focus on the early modern period, particularly John Locke.

Education

  • PhD | University of California, Davis (2010)
  • MA | University of California, Davis (2006)
  • BA | Florida International University (2003)
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Dr. Matthew Bosworth
Professor

Minné 123

507.457.5009

Originally hailing from Stillwater, OK, Matthew H. Bosworth came to Winona State in 1997.

He is the author of Courts as Catalysts: State Supreme Courts and Public School Finance Equity (SUNY Press, 2001) and research articles in Publius: The Journal of Federalism and the Journal of Law and Courts.

In Fall 2019 he received a Pracademic Fellowship from the American Political Science Association to work at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C.  where he worked in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations on issues of lead in drinking water and coal ash disposal.

Most of his courses at WSU examine the intersection between law and politics, including Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Judicial Process and Politics, Constitutional Politics, and the First Amendment.

Education

  • PhD: Political Science | University of Wisconsin-Madison (1997)
  • MA | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore MD (1992)
  • BA | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD (1991)

View Matthew Bosworth’s curriculum vitae (PDF).

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Dr. Darrell Downs
Professor

Minné 117

507.457.5405

Dr. Darrel Downs’s teaching areas are American public policy; government environmental policy, public administration, and public service with additional research interests in natural resource management and higher education labor issues.

Downs enjoys bicycling, kayaking on the Mississippi backwaters, fly fishing in Montana, and spending time with family.

Education

  • PhD: Political Science | Colorado State University (1992)
  • MS: Resource Geography | Oregon State University (1985)
  • BA: Political Science | Montana State University (1982)
  • BS: Earth Science | Montana State University (1982)

Organizations & Affiliations

  • WSU Faculty Association Past President
  • MN Vote Smart Advisory Board
  • Udall Scholarship Campus Representative
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Dr. Edward Guernica
Associate Professor

Minné 119

507.457.5664

Dr. Guernica received his PhD in political science from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

His areas of study are Authoritarianism and Democratization in Latin America (Southern Cone Countries, Colombia, and Cuba) and European politics and elections.

Currently, Dr. Guernica is working on an interactive textbook for Intro to Comparative Politics with Great River Learning.

In addition to his academic and teaching duties, Dr. Guernica is also the faculty advisor and coach of the Model United Nations club at Winona State and a member of the Faculty Senate.

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Dr. Fredrick Lee
Professor

Minné 115

507.457.5657

Dr. Frederick Lee’s teaching areas are American politics and political theory and research areas include political parties and public opinion.

Lee enjoys watching the Travel Channel, walking around Lake Winona, and paying bills on time.

Education

  • PhD | University of Michigan (1992)
  • AM | University of Michigan
  • AB | University of New Orleans

Organizations & Affiliations

  • Minnesota Political Science Association
  • Winona County Human Rights Commission
  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina Historical Society
  • WSU Faculty Association
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Dr. Kara Lindaman
Professor, Department Chair

Minné 116

507.457.5406

Dr. Kara Lindaman received a PhD from University of Kansas.

View Kara Lindaman’s curriculum vitae (PDF).

Interests

  • Public Administration: Public Management, Governance, and Public Budgeting and Finance
  • American Politics: Voting Behavior and Democratic Citizenship
  • Public Policy: Health and Welfare Policy
  • Comparative Politics: Comparative budgeting and administration

Courses Taught

  • Public Service: Introduction to Public Administration
  • Public Budgeting and Finance
  • Health Policy and Politics
  • Public Research Seminar
  • American Congress
  • American National Government and Politics
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Tara López
Ethnic Studies Program Director, Assistant Professor

Minné 322

507.457.5633

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Dr. Kim Park Nelson
Associate Professor

Minné Hall 219

507.457.2856

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Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
Dr. Linda D'Amico
Professor (Global Studies & World Languages)

Minné 129

507.457.5403

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Dr. Mary Jo Klinker
Associate Professor (Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies)

Minné 328

507.457.2791

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Dr. Gretchen Michlitsch
Professor (English)

Minné Hall 319

507.457.5857

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Kayla Olson
Assistant Professor (Library Services)

Krueger Library 122A

507.457.5145

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Dr. Weidong Zhang
Professor (Global Studies)

Minné 114

507.474.5790

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