Dr. Paul Lenchner

Paul Lenchner received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1973. He has taught at Texas A&M -- Commerce since 1974. He specializes in American government and politics, political behavior, and public policy. He regularly teaches upper-level classes on congressional politics, American political parties and electoral behavior, and public opinion, as well as the introductory classes on United States government and Texas government. Dr. Lenchner has published articles on Congress, party politics, and Texas politics in the Journal of Politics , Social Science Quarterly , American Politics Quarterly , and other journals and edited collections. He has also presented papers at professional conferences. His current research focuses on changing dynamics within political parties in Texas. During his years at Texas A&M -- Commerce, he has served on numerous panels and committees, including terms as President of the Faculty Senate, Chair of the Honors Committee, and Co-chair of the Sam Rayburn Symposium Committee. He was named Honors Professor of the Year for 1994-1995.  He was head of the Department of Political Science from 1994 to 2008. He lives in Commerce with his wife, Charlene, a former elementary school teacher.  They have one daughter, Jessica, a graduate of Texas A&M -- College Station, who works in sports media.

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