Political science professor, election historian to present Inauguration Week lecture

Dr. Peter L. Francia, a professor of political science at East Carolina University and director of ECU's Center for Survey Research, will present a lecture on North Carolina elections to help kick off Campbell President Dr. William M. Downs' Inauguration Week on March 23.

Francia's presentation, "Split-Ticket Voting in North Carolina: Understanding the 2024 Elections and the Road to 2026," will be held at 7 p.m. in the Oscar N. Harris Student Union Theater.

Francia is former president of both the Southern Association for Public Opinion Research and the North Carolina Political Science Association. His research examines American elections, public opinion, campaign finance and interest groups. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and scholarly articles, including four editions of Conventional Wisdom and American Elections: Exploding Myths, Exploring Misconceptions.

His analyses of U.S. politics have been featured by national media outlets including Fox News, CNN, National Public Radio, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

That the Inauguration Week lecture focuses on political science is no coincidence. In addition to being an accomplished leader in higher education, Downs is an accomplished political science scholar, earning his Master's Degree and Ph.D. in the field from Emory University in Atlanta.

He was also dean and a professor of East Carolina University's Thomas Harriott College of Arts and Sciences, and as dean, he appointed Francia as director of the Center for Survey Research after overseeing its move to the college.

Downs' research has focused on various areas of political science, including political extremism, anti-immigration movements, political parties and electoral systems and nationalism and ethno-territorial politics. He has served as a member of several regional and national political science associations and was an elected member of the executive board for the Georgia Political Science Association.

Inauguration Week will start with a worship service at 7 p.m. on March 22, and Francia's lecture will be held the following evening. Wiggins Memorial Library will host its annual Academic Symposium on March 24, and March 25 will feature a Founder's Day Celebration, Honors Recital and Movie Night. March 26 will mark a Day of Service at Campbell with a cookout hosted by the Downs family and live concert that evening at Saylor Park.

Downs will be formally inaugurated as Campbell University's sixth president during the Investiture Ceremony at 2 p.m. on March 27 in the Pope Convocation Center.

Learn more about Inauguration Week at campbell.edu/inauguration