Office: University of Delaware                                   Home: 9 Briar lane
           Newark, Delaware 19716                                        Newark, Delaware 19711
           302-831-4079                                                         302-731-5065
           liberty@strauss.udel.edu
 

Professional Positions:

1992-present  Alumni Distinguished Professor
1989-1994  Chair, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware
1984-1992   University of Delaware, Professor
Spring 1977  Florida State University, Visiting Associate Professor, Public Administration
1971-1984  University of Delaware, Associate Professor
1971-1972  University of Connecticut, Special Assistant to the President
1968-1971  University of Delaware, Assistant Professor
1964-1968  University of Maryland, Lecturer
1962-1964  University of Virginia, Jefferson Fellow in Government
1961-1962  Florida State University, Instructor
1960-1961  Florida State University, Graduate Assistant
 

Education:

Ph.D. Government, 1968   University of Virginia
M.S. Government, 1961   Florida State University
B.S. History, 1957    Florida State University
 

Honor Societies:

Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Sigma Alpha, Omicron Delta Kappa
 

Awards and Recognition:

James R. Soles Fellowship created at Center for Public Integrity (1998)
CASE, Delaware Professor of the Year (1993)
The Alexis I. Bayard Award for Distinguished Service to the Democratic Party (1993)
Named Alumni Distinguished Professor (1992)
Honoree, Delaware Day Annual State Dinner (1992)
The del Tufo Award for Distinguished Service to the Humanities, the Delaware Humanities Forum (1991)
Order of Excellence, Delaware State Board of Education, 1988
Liberty Bell Award (jointly with Ada Leigh Soles), Delaware Bar Association, May 1, 1987
Fellow, American Council on Education, Academic Administration Internship, 1971-72
Fellow, Salzburg Seminar (1987)
Danforth Associate
Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Delaware, (1971) (1983)
Excellence in Advising Award, University of Delaware, 1988
Improvement of Instruction Grant, (1971) (1978) (1982)
Institute to Transform Undergraduate Education (1998)
 

I.    Teaching

A.    Regular Courses taught in the Department:

POSC 105:  The American Political System
POSC 285:  Currents in Political Thought
POSC 303:  The Administrative Process
POSC 307:  Politics of Dissent
POSC 340:  Politics and the Media*
POSC 380:  Introduction to Law*
POSC 387:  American Political Thought*
POSC 402:  Civil Liberties I
POSC 404:  The Judicial Process*
POSC 406:  Civil Liberties II
POSC 407:  American Presidency*
POSC 409:  Contemporary Problems of World Politics
POSC 413:  Problems in American Politics
POSC 436:  Politics and Literature
POSC 442:  Problems of Western European Politics
POSC 453:  Public Personnel Administration*
POSC 808:  Seminar:  American Political Institutions

* courses created at Delaware

B.    Experimental Courses:

Practical Politics, a course which provided students with the opportunity to learn how to be effective in political activities and to actually spend eighty hours working for a candidate of their choice.  (1970)  (1972)

The Political Science House, a living-learning program conducted from 1970-1972.

Resources for Political Science Research (with James K. Oliver), a one credit course designed to acquaint students with data sources and how to use them.  (1973)

Law With Justice, a special course that centered around twenty public lectures delivered by nationally prominent policymakers and scholars in law enforcement, the courts and corrections. (Summer, 1970)

Campaign Finance, a winter session course which utilized the records of the federal campaign finance reporting system to analyze the sources and expenditures of campaigns for congress. (1974)

The Changing Nature of American Politics, a graduate seminar which examined the nature and extent of change occurring in the political system. (1975)

The Future of American Politics,  this course centered about twelve visitors who addressed the central topic as it related to their particular areas of expertise.  Each visitor met with a regular undergraduate section, an honors seminar section and a graduate seminar section of the class. (1978)

Re-Writing the American Constitution, an honors seminar in which students study, analyze and then re-write the constitution. (1977) (1978) (1979) (1987)

The 1980 Presidential Election, an honors seminar which analyzed the 1980 Presidential election in terms of historical patterns and trends. (1980)

Political Leadership, an honors seminar which explored the nature, sources, and types of political leadership historically and across cultures, with particular emphasis upon the American experience. (1982) (1996)

Sunbelt Politics, a study tour of 11 Sunbelt states that combined traditional course requirements with the opportunity to meet and discuss the political and economic changes taking place in the south with public officials, business and economic leaders, members of the media, and Republican and Democratic party officials.  (Winter, 1983)

Greek Political Culture, a 28-day study tour of Greece which combined traditional course requirements with meetings with Greek governmental and political leaders.  (Winter, 1986)

International Terrorism, a 30-day study tour of Italy which combined traditional course requirements with meetings with Italian political leaders, journalists and scholars.  (Winter, 1988)

Comparative Federalism, a study tour of Germany and Austria which emphasized the growth and development of federalism in the two countries.  It included meetings with scholars, political leaders and a visit to the Salzburg Seminar.  (Winter, 1989)

Political Life, a course exploring the impact of politics upon the individuals who participate.  Topics included careers, family, finances, privacy, ethics, media, ideology, priorities, health, and learning. (Winter, 1995)

Twentieth Century Delaware Politics, (with Dr. Carol Hoffecker) a course exploring the nature and change in politics and government in Delaware during the Twentieth century.  Students researched material that will form the basis for an Almanac of Twentieth Century Delaware Politics. (Fall, 1996)

C.    Participation in National Conferences on Teaching:

Participant, Short Course on Cognition and Teaching
National Science Foundation, University of Hartford, 1980

Participant, Annual Conference on The Freshman Year Experience
University of South Carolina, 1985

Presenter: "Success from Day One"
National Conference on Successful College Teaching, 1987

Presenter: "Re-writing the American Constitution: A Bicentennial Approach to Teaching the Constitution" Bicentennial Conference on Teaching the Constitution, 1987

Seminar Leader: "Creating a Campus Climate for Teaching"
POD Think Tank Seminar on Teaching Excellence, 1990

Demonstration Lecture: "James Madison and the Constitution"
American Bar Association Bill of Rights Institute for Teachers, 1990

Participant, C-SPAN Seminar for Professors, 1991

Guest, Bill of Rights 2000
Division of Public Education
The American Bar Association, 1991

Seminar Leader: "Teaching Others to Teach"
Wakonse Conference on College Teaching, 1992

Participant, "Teaching, Learning, and Technology"
Fifth Annual National Conference on College Teaching and Learning, 1994

Seminar Leader: "The Tough Problems in Teaching"
Wakonse East Conference on College Teaching, 1994

Participant, Workshop on Technology in Teaching Political Science
The American Political Science Association, 1994

Presenter: "Multi-Dimensional and Dynamic Simulations"
The Sixth Annual Conference on College Teaching and Learning, 1995

Presenter: "The Final Exam Period as the Capstone Class"
Lilly Conference on Excellence in College Teaching, 1995

Participant, Fourth Annual Multimedia in Education Conference Association for Applied Interactive Multimedia, August, 1995

Participant, "The Professional Apprenticeship:  TAs in the 21st Century."
Fifth National Conference on the Education and Employment of Graduate Teaching Assistants.  November, 1995

Presenter, "The Final Exam as a Collaborative Learning Experience."
The Seventh National Conference on College Teaching and Learning, March, 1996

Presenter, "Testing the Tenets:  What's Appropriate in Student-Faculty Relationships."
Lilly South Conference on Excellence in College Teaching, May, 1996

Presenter, "In Defense of the Lecture:  Intellectual Engagement in the Classroom" Wakonse East Conference on College Teaching, June, 1996

Presenter, "Rewriting: A tool for Exploratory and Cooperative Learning.  Seminar in the Smokies, July, 1996.

Presenter, "Kindly Old Technology: Implementing the Wingspread Principles Through Technology,"  The Eighth National Conference on College Teaching and Learning, April, 1997.

Presenter, "Friend or Foe: Technology and the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education."  Lilly Atlantic Conference on College Teaching, April, 1997.
 

 II.    Scholarly Activities

Research Support:

Research Grant, Delaware Bicentennial Commission, 1975
Research Grant, University of Delaware, (1974) (1986)
University of Delaware Summer Research Grant, 1969
U.S. Department of Education, "First State Focus on the Federalist Papers", $50,000 grant for statewide project, September, 1988  (Jointly with Joseph Pika)

Electronic Media:

"Delaware:  The First State."  A television series consisting of 39 programs featuring aspects of government and society in Delaware.  Co-produced with Louise Conner for CBS, Channel 10, Philadelphia, 1981-82.

Dissertation Monograph:

Mr. Justice Black and The Rights of the Accused.  Ann Arbor:  University Microfilms, 1968.

Book:

Government of Delaware, Newark:  University of Delaware, 1976, (co-author).

Articles or Chapters in Books:

"Delaware," Reapportionment Politics.  Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1981.
"Epilogue," in Crisis in Confidence, edited by Donald Harward, Little, Brown, 1974.
"Information:  The Missing Ingredient in University Governance," Educational Record, Winter, 1972.
"Crusader on the Court:  Hugo Black and the Right to Counsel," in Resolving Conflict in America, edited by Ernest Chaples, McCruthun Publishing Co., 1972.
 

III.    Selected Professional Activities

Leader, Politics Seminar, National 4-H Congress, Chicago, Illinois, December 1971.
Management Consultant, Greater Philadelphia Movement, Public School Study 1972-1974.
Seminar Instructor, Federal Executive Center, United States Civil Service Commission, 1975-1979.
Instructor, Taft Institute on Politics, (Salisbury State College, June, 1980) (University of Delaware 1988, 1990, 1991)
Board of Editors, Delaware History (1993-Present)
Consultant, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 1994
Instructional Consultant, Thomas Jefferson Medical College, 1996.
 

IV.    Major Invited Lectures and Addresses

"To Keep the Republic," Bi-Centennial Lecture, Delaware State College, October 29, 1975.
"Law:  Language of Liberty" Law Day Address, Delaware Bar Association, May 1, 1981.
"The Community of the Free," Commencement Address, University of Delaware, June 6, 1981.
"Delaware Politics:  1932-1983" Annual Lecture, Delaware Historical Society, October 9, 1985.
"James Madison:  Architect of the Constitution," Law Day Address, New York Bar Association, May, 1987.
"James Madison and the 27th Amendment," The Federalist Society, Annual Meeting, March, 1991.
"Women and the Law in 17th Century America," Keynote Address, National Convention, Society of Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, June, 1993.
"The Politics of Judicial Review," The Olin Lecture, The United States Naval Academy, April, 1994.
"The Remarkable Mr. Madison," The Eighth Annual Furlong Lecture, St. Francis College, April, 1995.
"The Honorable Richard S. Cordrey," Delaware Day Dinner, December 7, 1996.

A Visit With James Madison:  A one man dramatic recreation of James Madison reminiscing about the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and/or the creation of the Bill of Rights.  Presented widely before historical, patriotic, educational and civic groups across the United States from 1986 to 1996.
 

V.    Selected University Service

Department:

Chair, 1989 - 1994
Chair, Undergraduate Committee (1969-71) (1973-74) (1987-88)
Member, Undergraduate Committee (1968-67) (1972-73) (1978-82) (1985-87) (1994-Present)
Chair, Department Recruitment Committee  (1968-69)
Chair, Department Budget Committee (1968-1971)
Chair, Graduate Admissions & Financial Aid Committee (1977-78)
Chair, Departmental Honors Committee (1978-80) (1981-1994) (member 1994-Present)
Member, Executive Committee (1972-73) (1975-76) (1978-80)
 

College:

Chair, Committee on Admissions and Standing (1978-79)
Member, College Senate (1973-74) (1977-78)
Member, College Senate Steering Committee (1978-79)
 

University:

President, University Faculty Senate (1985-86)
University Senate, Departmental (1980-83) (1987-88) Arts and Science at Large, (1975-77)
Member, President's Council (1985-88)
Chair, University Committee on Student/Faculty Honors (1984-85) Member, (1985-86)
Chair, University Committee on Student Life (1982-83)
Member, University Trustee Committee on Student Affairs (1972-74) (1982-83)
Member, Trustee Committee on Awards & Honors (1984-87)
Member, President's Commission on Undergraduate Education (1984-86)
Member, Commission on the Status of Women (1982-83)
Member, President's Ad Hoc Committee on the Education of Women Students (1981-82)
Member, University Black Studies Committee (1969-70)
Director, Governor's Summer Fellows Program (1972-73)
University Representative, Truman Memorial Fellowship Program (1976-81)
Chair, Committee on the Freshman Year (1989-91)
Member, Enrollment Management Committee (1991-92)
Member, University 2002 Committee (1991-92)
Chair, Provost's Committee on the Promotion and Recognition of Excellence in Teaching (1991-1996)
Member, University Technology Committee (1995-1997)
Member, University Promotion and Tenure Committee (1996-1997)
Member and Chair, University Committee on Honors and Honorary Degrees (1996-present)
Vice-Chair, University Committee on T.A. Training (1996-1997)
 

VI.    Selected Public Service Activities

Chair, Board of Trustees, Delaware Technical and Community College (1997-present)
Chairman, Delaware Heritage Commission (1989 to 1992) (1995-1996)
President, First State Constitutional Scholarship Corporation (1989 to 1992) (1995-1996)
Member, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Education Committee (1990 to 1992)
Member, Constitutional Bicentennial Committee, Delaware State Bar Association (1985-87)
Member, Regional Selection Committee, White House Fellows Program (1990-1994)
Member, Governor Thomas R. Carper's Transition Committee (1992-1993)
Member, Executive Committee, Delaware Law Related Education Program (1990-1994)
Member, Academies Nomination Committee, Congressman Michael N. Castle (1993-1994)
Member, Delaware Humanities Forum Board (1994-present)
Member, Board of Trustees, Historical Society of Delaware (1994-Present)
Member, Public Policy Committee, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (1994-1997)
Member, Delaware Historical Records Review Board (1994-Present)
Member, Delaware Task Force on Citizen Involvement in the Judicial System (1995-present)
Newark Board of Elections (1972-74)
Newark Community Development Committee (1975-78)
New Castle County Community Development Council (1975-1979)
Newark School District Advisory Board (1975-78)
Newark Jefferson Meeting Committee (1987)
Newark Constitutional Bicentennial Committee (1986-87)

Democratic Candidate for Congress (1974)
Chair, Western New Castle County Democrats (1975-76)
New Castle County Democratic Executive Committee (1975-79)
Vice-Chair, Democratic State Committee (1976-78)
Chair, Citizens for Tom Carper (1976-1980)