Expert on campaigns to deliver Clark Lecture at WMU

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A nationally recognized expert on campaigns and elections will visit the Western Michigan University campus this week as part of the Samuel I. Clark Lecture Series.

Dr. Daron R. Shaw, professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Fetzer Center's Putney Auditorium. His presentation, titled "A Brief but Useful Guide to the 2016 Elections," is free and open to the public.

In his presentation, Shaw will look at how the 2016 presidential race is shaping up to be the most competitive and contentious in recent memory, with more than 15 Republicans and five Democrats vying for their parties' nomination. Ideologically, the field is as broad as ever, from conservative to libertarian to democratic socialist. Shaw will break it all down, drawing on his many years' experience with presidential and other campaigns.

Dr. Daron R. Shaw

Shaw specializes in such areas as public opinion and voting behavior, applied survey research and campaigns and elections. His books include "Unconventional Wisdom" and "The Race to 270," which analyzed campaign effects in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Shaw has published articles in leading political science journals and has worked as a survey research analyst in political and marketing campaigns, as a survey research and targeting expert for three presidential campaigns and as a member of the Fox News Decision Team and co-director of the Fox News Poll. He has also served as a lead academic advisor for the Presidential Commission on Election Administration.

About the Sam Clark Lecture

The Sam Clark Lecture is an annual event honoring Dr. Samuel L. Clark, WMU professor emeritus of political science and the founding dean of the Lee Honors College.

For more information, contact Dr. Peter Wielhouwer, WMU associate professor of political science, at peter.wielhouwer@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5685.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.