Biography

Dr. Mark Kelso is currently Professor of Political Science at Queens University of Charlotte and the 2017 winner of the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award. He teaches a variety of courses at Queens including European Politics, Campaigns and Elections, Environmental Politics, and Congress and the Presidency. His research interests include environmental policy, electoral behavior and political leadership. His publications include: “A Lasting Legacy? Presidents, National Monuments and the Antiquities Act” in the December 2017 edition of Presidential Studies Quarterly, “Environmental Justice and Equity” in Soden and Steel eds., Global Environmental Policy and Administration (Marcel Dekker, 1999); “Environmental Priorities and the President as Legislative Leader,” co-authored with Glen Sussman, in Dennis Soden ed., and The Environmental Presidency (SUNY Press, 1999). He has also written book reviews for publications such as Presidential Studies Quarterly. He is currently working on a series of articles exploring how partisanship affects presidential decisions on environmental policy.

Dr. Kelso has presented at numerous professional conferences, including the Western Political Science Association, the Southern Political Science Association and the American Political Science Association. He also has done local presentations to a wide variety of groups, ranging from Senior Scholars to Rotary clubs to the Global Speakers series at Providence Day School.

In addition to the Hunter-Hamilton Award, Dr. Kelso was the 2003 winner of the Joseph W. Grier Distinguished Professor Award, and has been named to Who’s Who among American Teachers four times.

Dr. Kelso has traveled extensively while at Queens, leading student trips to such places as Ireland, Central Europe and Italy. He was also part of a faculty delegation to China in 1999 and has led two spring break mission trips to Guatemala. In addition, he has led two student trips to South Africa.

Education

Ph.D., Political Science, Vanderbilt University
B.A., Political Science, Murray State University