Students Get Firsthand Access to the 2024 New Hampshire Primary
All eyes were on New Hampshire for their 2024 Primary Election, and Widener had boots on the ground to experience the festivities firsthand.
I was a political junky growing up. When I got to college, I found that my professors focused on abstract theories at the expense of current events. This experience greatly informed my teaching philosophy, which is based on using contemporary politics to understand and test theories within the discipline of political science. Consequently, I emphasize experiential learning activities such as trips to the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, Student Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, and student-led political engagement events to spur critical thinking about how government functions.
I teach a broad range of courses related to American government institutions and public policy. Among these are The Presidency, Interest Groups, and State and Local Politics. My research interests are primarily in the areas of federalism, intergovernmental lobbying, and state politics. I am a Fellow at the Center for the Study of Federalism (CSF), host CSF’s Federalism Matters podcast, serve on the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania Political Science Association, and am the former editor of Commonwealth: A Journal of Pennsylvania Politics and Policy.
My primary interests are in the fields of American federalism and state and local policy agendas. Recently I co-edited the book Teaching Federalism: Multidimensional Approaches (2023), which was published as part of Edward Elgar’s Teaching Methods series. Prior to that I researched how the American federal system has affected the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in four co-authored publications. I am currently co-editing The Health of Democracy in Federal Political Systems: Consolidating, Thriving, or Backsliding? which draws upon papers presented at the 2023 International Association of Centers for Federal Studies Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
Much of my state politics research focuses on Pennsylvania. I have co-edited Pennsylvania Politics and Policy: A Commonwealth Reader, Volume 1 (2018) and Volume 2 (2019). I am currently doing research for Governing the Commonwealth: Politics, Policy and Executive Power in Pennsylvania. The book examines how recent Pennsylvania governors have used their formal and informal powers to influence public policy across a range of issues including education, the environment, and social welfare.
All eyes were on New Hampshire for their 2024 Primary Election, and Widener had boots on the ground to experience the festivities firsthand.
Political science students Cloë A. Di Flumeri ‘23 and Jack Heavner ’21 harness SURCA research findings to gain a deeper understanding to American politics at the state and national levels.
Widener communication studies and political science students experienced the New Hampshire primary firsthand on a four-day trip to the early primary state.
Associate Professor J. Wesley Leckrone has co-edited “Pennsylvania Politics and Policy: A Commonwealth Reader Volume 2,” a book that explores important issues in Pennsylvania politics in a constructive, nonpartisan manner.
Wes Leckrone, professor and chair of political science, is featured in this segment discussing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's state budget address.
Wes Leckrone, professor and chair of political science, discusses presidential and congressional election results and reactions in Pennsylvania and across the nation.
See more election commentary from Leckrone: Penn Live, EuroNews Serbia
Wes Leckrone, professor and chair of political science, spoke with Radio France International about the culture around the presidential election in the United States and the pivotal role that Pennsylvania will play.
Leckrone is one of several experts featured in this additional segment on the same topic.
Wes Leckrone, professor and chair of political science, is one of the quoted experts in this article that examines election laws and ballot processing in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Wes Leckrone, professor and chair of political science, shares how undecided voters can play a major role in the outcome of the presidential election.
Widener honored faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Thursday, October 19 in Lathem Hall.
“The professors who were honored at our annual awards ceremony continuously display commitment to teaching, civic engagement, meaningful research, remarkable leadership, and cutting-edge innovation. They are highly valued colleagues and represent core values for which Widener stands," said Provost Andrew Workman.
The awards included:
Professor of Political Science Wes Leckrone has co-edited a newly released book, “Teaching Federalism: Multidimensional Approaches” which “presents innovative ideas for teaching a wide variety of key concepts of federalism and federal-country cases.”
The book is open access and free to read, download, and share.
Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/political-science-faculty-co-editor-new-open-access-book
College of Arts & Sciences Professor J. Wesley Leckrone has been named a Distinguished University Professor. The honor recognizes faculty of distinction and demonstrates to the broader community that Widener is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout a faculty member’s career. Distinguished professors serve for three years.
Leckrone is an impressive member of the faculty, and he is widely recognized for his teaching excellence. His extraordinary commitment to his teaching has not only earned him a national and global reputation but has led to him being a leader on campus. The energy and time that he devotes to course preparation and development illustrate his dedication to his students. Leckrone has published in highly prestigious, peer-reviewed journals, contributed articles and chapters in national and international edited volumes and edited and contributed to a two-volume set on Pennsylvania politics. In terms of service, Leckrone has contributed to multiple levels of faculty governance, as well as externally with organizations such as the Center for the Study of Federalism and the Pennsylvania Political Science Association. Leckrone’s continuous engagement with his research and his network ultimately provide a richer learning experience for Widener’s undergraduate and graduate students.
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College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished University Professor J. Wesley Leckrone has received the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is given to a faculty member who has demonstrated a history of teaching at the highest level. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching.
Leckrone is an integral member of the political science faculty who has the distinction of teaching a wide range of interdisciplinary courses and provides the highest quality instruction to both majors and non-majors. Leckrone is a specialist in U.S. government, American political culture, and state and local politics. His commitment to teaching is reflected in the innovative ways he fuses his courses with high-impact practices and actively promotes civic engagement. Leckrone continually creates transformational learning experiences for his students by planning student trips such as going to Harrisburg for Student Advocacy Days, to Washington D.C. for visits to the Supreme Court and White House, and to New Hampshire for the 2020 presidential primary contests.
Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/22556