Leadership

Gregg B. “Bagel” Johnson joined Valparaiso University in Fall 2010. He previously served as chair of Political Science and International Relations from 2015 to 2022. Dr. Johnson’s teaching focuses on Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Research Methods (statistics). His research focuses on the links between voters, political institutions, and policy in Latin America and in the United States. His research has appeared in The American Journal of Political Science, American Politics Research, Latin American Politics and Society, The Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, The Journal of Politics in Latin America, and elsewhere. He has also published several book chapters in edited volumes. Dr. Johnson earned his A.B. in Political Science and Spanish at the University of Michigan, while earning his M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from the University of Arizona.

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Richard Sévère is an Associate Professor and former Chair of the English Department. He teaches medieval literature and professional writing. In addition to his various publications on Medieval Romance, Richard has published on race and equity in graduate student writing and writing center praxis. He earned his PhD from Purdue University and his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Florida A&M University.

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Nirupama (Niru) is an Associate Professor of Economics and former Chair of the Economics Department. She earned her B.A. in Economics from Stella Maris College, India and her PhD in Economics from Clark University in Massachusetts. She teaches courses in applied economics and economic theory. She has published research on the economics of social issues and economics pedagogy. She also serves as Co-Editor of the Midwest Social Sciences Journal.

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Adrian Lee began his postsecondary degree pursuits at Lake Michigan College on a full athletic scholarship. After two years, he transferred to Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, where he graduated with his B.A. in Psychology (1999). In 2002, he began his career in higher education working for the Upward Bound Program at Lake Michigan College. While there, he attended Western Michigan University and earned his M.A. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Higher Education Administration. Throughout his career, Adrian has worked in several areas of Student Services, including Financial Aid, Academic Advising, and Grants. In November 2019, he joined Valparaiso University as Assistant Dean.

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Born and raised in Valparaiso, Dean Douglas completed her undergraduate work at Miami University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She then attended Capital University Law School, graduating summa cum laude and earning a Juris Doctorate degree with a focus in federal appellate advocacy. Before coming to Valparaiso University, Dean Douglas worked as a federal appellate judicial clerk for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and also practiced law primarily as a litigator in Columbus, Ohio. In 2012, she joined the faculty of Valparaiso University, teaching in the Communication Department for 7 years before taking on the additional role of Assistant Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Her areas of interest include intellectual property, rhetoric and public speaking, negotiation and conflict resolution, and Internet communication.