Michael G. Bath, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Political Science
Concordia College
901 8th Street South
Moorhead, Minnesota 56562
(218) 299-3530
Email: bath@cord.edu
Teaching
Experience:
1996-present
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science
1994-1996
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Teaching Assistant, Western Civilization (a Great Books program)
1990-1994
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Instructor, Introduction to U.S. Politics
1989-1990
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Political Thought
Education:
1996
Ph.D., Political Science
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
1991
M.A., Political Science
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
1989
B.A., History
Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
Dissertation:
Independent Think Tanks and Patronage: Representation in the Policy
Process
Public policy think tanks have become increasingly important players on the
Washington policy making scene. While the political science literature has
recognized the increased presence and activity of these organizations, it has
given less attention to their role as interest representatives. In an attempt to
address this disparity, this study investigates how think tanks go about
acquiring resources for organizational maintenance. The extent to which
these organizations trade independence in agenda formulation in return for
funding from financial patrons has serious implications for their role as interest
representatives. Findings show that compatibility of agenda items between
think tanks and their patrons is of primary importance in the securing of
financial resources. This suggests a rather benign role for think tanks in the
political process, and provides support for those who view think tanks as
instruments of pluralist democracy.
Courses
Taught:
U.S. Political System
Political Parties and Interest Groups
The American Presidency
Public Policy
Politics, Power, and Policy Challenges (May Seminar)
The History of Campaigns (Communiversity course)
Publications
and Conference
Presentations:
Bath, Michael G., Corey Horien, and Jennifer L. Bath. “Public Health Policy and
Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Case for Immunization,” in Vaccines:
Benefits and Risks. (Ed.), iConcept Press. 2013. ISBN 978-14775549-5-1.
Bath, Michael G., and Michael Miller. “The Impact of Suspending Minnesota’s
PCR Program on the Campaign Finance Activity of Small Donors and Organized
Interests.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science
Association. Chicago, IL. March 31, 2011.
Bath, Michael G., and Peter Hovde, Erik George, Kacie Holcomb, and Eirik
Brunvatne. “Community and It’s Effect on Academic Integrity at a Small
Liberal Arts College. Presented at the Great Plains Conference on Teaching in
the Social Sciences. Vermillion, SD. October 10, 2010.
Bath, Michael G., and Michael Miller. “Public Financing, Competition, and
Legislative Professionalization: The Efficacy of Reform in Wisconsin, Arizona,
and Maine State Legislative Races.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, IL. April 21, 2006.
Bath, Michael G., Anthony Nownes, and Jennifer Gayvert Owen. “Female
Lobbyists: The Gender Gap and Interest Representation.” Politics and Policy,
Vol. 33, No. 1, March 2005.
Bath, Michael G. “Think Tanks.” In Research Guide to U.S. and International
Interest Groups. Clive Thomas, ed. Praeger. 2004.
Bath, Michael G., Anthony Nownes, and Jennifer Gayvert Owen. “Female
Lobbyists: The Gender Gap and Interest Representation.” Presented at the
Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, IL.
April 18-21, 2002.
Bath, Michael G. “Think Tanks, Patrons, and Funding Niches: Noncompetitive
Methods of Competition.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest
Political Science Association. Chicago, IL. April 4-6, 1995.
Sharp, Elaine B., and Michael G. Bath. 1993. “Citizenship and Economic
Development.” In Theories of Local Economic Development. Perspectives
from Across the Disciplines. Richard D. Bingham and Robert Mier, eds.
Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 1993.
Collier, Ken, and Michael G. Bath. “Andrew Jackson and Ronald Reagan: The
President as Outsider.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Southwestern Social Science Association. Austin, TX. March 18-27, 1992.
Invited Reviews:
“Plagiarism: We Know It Happens, We Mostly Know Why, But How Do
We Deal With It?,” for International Journal For Educational Integrity.
October, 2012.
“Principled or Opportunist? Perceptions of Arlen Specter and His
Party Switch During the 2010 Midterm Election,” for American Politics
Research. July, 2011.
“Men and Women Lobbyists in the American States,” for Political
Research Quarterly. June, 2010.
Comparative review of Government By the People (Burns,
Peltason, Cronin, Magelby. Prentice Hall, 17th ed., 1998) and American
Government (Wilson and DiIlulio. Houghton Mifflin, 7th ed., 1998).
January, 1998.
Other Academic/
Professional
Activity:
Panel Chair, The Causes and Effects of State Legislative Professionalism
panel. Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association. New
Orleans, LA. January 12, 2012.
Speaker, Pastor to Pastor Meeting. “Religion and Presidential Campaign
Politics.” Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. February 23, 2012.
Speaker, Concordia Language Villages Open House Weekend event.
“Leading Concordia Study Abroad Trips: Lessons From the Road.” The
Forest, near Stillwater, Minnesota. October 7, 2011.
Discussant and Panel Chair, Interest Groups and Policymaking Panel. Annual
Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association. New Orleans, LA.
January 14, 2009.
Participant, Tri-College Workshop on Service Learning. Minnesota State
University-Moorhead. October 8, 2009.
Keynote speaker, Delta Kappa Gamma dinner event. “American Political
Institutions and Electoral Reform.” Concordia College. October, 2004.
Panel Chair and Discussant, American Politics panel. The Annual Meeting of
the Midwest Political Science and Public Affairs Association. April 27, 2002.
Participant, Gregg Levoy workshop, “Helping Students to Articulate and
Clarify Callings,” sponsored by the Lilly Call to Serve Project. Concordia
College. October 25, 2002.
Centennial Scholars Lecture (co-written with Anthony J. Nownes and
Jennifer Gayvert-Owen), “Female Lobbyists: The Gender Gap and Interest
Representation.” Concordia College. January, 2001.
Lead Discussant, “Service Learning and the Classroom.” Concordia College
Talk About Teaching Series. Fall, 2000.
Panel Chair, Shared Civic Faith and Common Civic Purpose Panel. Who is
My Neighbor? Symposium. Concordia College. September 27, 1999.
Participant, Service Learning in Political Science Workshop. Sponsored by
the Minnesota Campus Compact. Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
April 3, 1998.
Panel Chair, Interest Group Organizational Maintenance panel. The Annual
Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, Illinois.
April 3, 1997.
Rewrote Test Item File for American Government (Johnson Alrich, Miller,
Revised Independent Study Student Guides for U.S. Government and
Politics; Introduction to U.S. Politics. Summer, 1992.
Panel Chair, Discussant. The American Presidency panel. Midwest Political
Science Undergraduate Students’ Convention. Atchison, Kansas. April 5
and 6, 1991.
Grants,
Certificates,
and Affiliations:
Centennial Scholars Grant, for research on the topic of female lobbying
practices. Summer, 1999.
Independent Pedagogy Project Grant, for the purpose of implementing
service learning into Public Policy course. April, 1998.
Certificate Holder, National Institute of Health, Office of Extramural
Research, for completion of training course on protecting human research
participants. 2010.
American Political Science Association, member.
Midwest Political Science Association, member.
Service to
the College:
Chair, Department of Political Science. 2004-present.
Member, Faculty Senate. Concordia College. 2001-present.
Committee Service:
 Curriculum Committee, Secretary (2010-present)
 Faculty Executive Committee (2008-2010)
 Strategic Planning Council (2008-2010)
 Budget Planning Committee
 Academic Advisement Committee (two terms as chair)
 Student Affairs Committee
 First Year Experience Coordinating Group
Member, Social Science Exploration Course Task Force—developed criteria
for Social Science Exploration Courses. 2006.
Service on four faculty evaluation committees (for faculty in CSTA, Social
Work, Education, and Physical Education departments).
Search committee membership—three successive search efforts to fill the
Comparative Politics position in the Political Science Department;
chair of search committee for 2013 Political Science hire.
Member, Pamela M. Jolicoeur Scholarship Selection Committee. Spring,
2013.
Member, steering committee responsible for organizing Fall, 2013 visit of
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Francesco Calogero.
Lead Now Mentor. 2009-present.
Participant, Dovre Center Advanced Seminar. Fall, 2011.
Participant, Vocation in Faith and Learning Workshop. Concordia College.
August 9-11, 2011.
Co-host/speaker, Fall Workshop Faculty Dinner. Concordia College. 2010.
Co-leader, New Advisors Workshop. 2001 and 2003.
Participant, faculty discussion group with President Golike, Lutheran
Church, Central African Republic. Concordia College. Spring, 2010.
Orientation Mentor. Concordia College. 2000 and 2004.
Co-leader, Department of Political Science Departmental Preview sessions.
Fall, 2006-present.
Faculty Commentator, Pi Alpha Theta Annual Colloquium. Concordia
College April 14, 2012.
Speaker, Karl Rove dinner event. Concordia College. October, 2010.
Scripture reader, Concordia College Chapel. October, 2010; October, 2009;
March, 2006.
Service to
Community:
Board Member, PACODES (Panyijiar Community Development Services), a
nonprofit organization dedicated to building and stocking the first library in
Panyijiar, South Sudan.
Participation/member at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church. Fargo,
North Dakota.
Assistant Basketball Coach, Fargo-Moorhead Comets, 6th grade girls
travelling/competitive team.