B.A. in English and literature, Shandong University; M.A. in international relations and law, College of International Relations, Beijing; Ph.D. in political science, Northern Illinois University

Specialization: Comparative political and policy analysis, international politics, and Chinese politics and policy process.

Dr. Chen teaches international policy courses. He served as President of the Association of Chinese Political Studies in 2001-2003 and on the editorial boards of three professional journals. Dr. Chen had served as Chair of Department of Political Science, International Affairs & Public Administration at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) for six years before he joined the University of Mississippi as chair of Department of Public Policy Leadership in 2013. As a scholar, he has published books and articles in professional journals and contributed chapters to many books.

Henry Barbour serves as managing partner of Capitol Resources LLC, one of the leading lobbying, government relations and issue advocacy firms in the South with offices in Washington, D.C. and nine states from Texas to Florida. He also serves as National Committeeman for Mississippi on the RNC, Chairman of The Data Trust and co-authored the RNC’s Growth and Opportunity Report following the 2012 election cycle. Barbour has run numerous political campaigns, worked and volunteered on presidential campaigns and served as a close political advisor to former governors Haley Barbour and Rick Perry and former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
He lives in Yazoo City, MS with his wife Georgie, and they have three daughters.

Mr. Barbour teaches PPL 211 Political Campaigns.

B.A., Indiana University-Bloomington; M.A. in public affairs, University of Minnesota; Ph.D. in politics, Brandeis University

Specialization: U.S. politics and the policy process, social policy, civic engagement

Dr. Bass is interested in the politics of the policy process and how they influence policy outcomes, especially as they relate to U.S. social policy—education, health care, welfare and the like—and to civic engagement—how citizens are engaged in politics and public life. She has published a book on U.S. national service policy and is currently researching U.S. infant adoption policies.

“My goal in teaching is to help students connect theory and practice, whether through civic engagement projects, service learning or writing research papers that are of use to advocates and policymakers. I want students to know that they can have an impact not just after they graduate but through their education as well.”