Expert Faculty, Real Research: Discover Anthropology, History and Political Science at SEMO

"Students in our department learn from faculty who are actively contributing to public policy, civic life and ethical decision-making," said Dr. Laura Hatcher, Department of Anthropology, History and Political Science professor. "Our faculty's work reflects the complexity of the issues our students care about, and they bring that insight directly into their teaching and mentoring."

Faculty in the department remain actively engaged in research and publication, with work not only advancing their respective fields, but also ensuring SEMO students are learning from experts who are producing current, relevant research and applying it in real time.

Law, Property and Public Policy

Hatcher's research explores property rights, public policy and legal institutions. Her recent work, "Price Hess and the Seventh Amendment and the Power of Juries in Eminent Domain Cases," was presented at the Annual Conference of the Law, Property and Society Association in Malibu, California. She also examines how property rights attitudes influence public opposition to flood mitigation policies in the United States.

Advancing Policy, Education and Technology

Dr. Ivy Shen's research focuses on education policy and the evolving role of technology in learning. Her recent article, "The Evolution of Education Policy in Missouri," published in the Missouri Policy Journal, examines the development of education policy across the state. She has also contributed multiple book chapters exploring artificial intelligence in education, including work on generative AI, authentic learning and teacher preparation.

Regional Policy and Environmental Governance

Dr. Jason Sides and Dr. James Newman collaborate on research examining local governance, regional economic development and environmental policy, with a focus on how institutional design and intergovernmental relationships shape outcomes in municipalities and metropolitan regions. A key component of their work is the Missouri City Council Survey Project, a statewide study distributed to more than 4,900 municipal officials, placing it among the largest surveys of local leaders conducted in Missouri. Their article, "Comparative Analysis of Municipal Fragmentation," published in Missouri Policy Journal, compares economic outcomes in the St. Louis and Louisville metro regions and their broader work on environmental governance and water systems has been presented at national public administration conferences.

Sides has presented research on governance policy networks in Atlanta and on Louisville's economic development trajectory.

Newman has published research on higher education policy, including "Exploring Student Perceptions and the Potential Impact of OER in a Textbook Rental Environment," published in the Journal of Open Initiatives in Academic Libraries.

Civic Engagement and Democratic Practice

Dr. Jeremy Walling's work centers on American political development and civic education. His recent publications are the "George Warren Parker, the Pachyderms, and the Evolution of the Republican Party" in Missouri Historical Review and another on innovative approaches to teaching civic engagement in undergraduate classrooms. In addition, he serves on the design team for the 2026 American Democracy Project conference, contributing to national conversations about how colleges prepare students for engaged citizenship.

Through research collaboration, classroom discussion and mentorship, SEMO's Department of Anthropology, History and Political Science prepares students to think critically, lead thoughtfully and participate in civic engagement.

Your fearless future in public service, law, policy or civic leadership starts here: semo.edu/polisci.

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