2003-04 Lecture Series: Mathematics Across the Disciplines Lecture #3: Quantitative Analysis and Political Science (AKA-- Yes, you really do need to understand math to understand politics!) Dr. Rhonda Kinney Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science Dr. Kinney joined the Political Science department faculty at Eastern Michigan University in 1994 becoming Department Head in May 2000. She also served as Women’s Studies Program Director from 1998 to January 2000. Dr. Kinney received her B.A. in political science and history from the University of Iowa. She also received her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1996. Her dissertation-- “The Changing Legislative Process: A Time Series Model of Presidential Success in the U.S. House of Representatives—examined the possibilities for presidential leadership since the Watergate scandal. She has published numerous book chapters, along with articles and reviews in journals including the American Journal of Political Science, the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, Perspectives in Political Science and the Academy for Business Communications Journal. Lexington Press will publish her co-authored (with Michael Harris) volume, Innovation and Entreprenuership in State and Local Government later this year.

Dr. Kinney is the recipient of many awards during her career at Eastern Michigan University including most recently the Ralph Cowan National Security Fellowship. She also received the EMU Alumni Association’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2000 and was recognized for outstanding instruction by the American Political Science Association in 2001. EMU’s Women’s Center recognized Dr. Kinney on three occasions as a Woman of Excellence, including a citation for Exceptional Excellence in 2001. Dr. Kinney holds an honorary faculty membership in the Golden Key National Honor Society and was recently cited as one of 2000 Notable Women in the area of educational leadership.