 |
|
Lauren Bell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science |
 |
|
Joan Conners
Associate Professor of Communication |
Lauren Bell, Ph.D., (political science) and Joan Conners, Ph.D., (communication studies) gave political analysis during presidential election news coverage on two Richmond, Virginia television stations. Dr. Bell provided in-depth election night analysis on WTVR-TV6 (CBS) and Dr. Conners provided day after analysis on WRIC-TV8 (ABC). In addition, Dr. Bell was the political expert during one-hour news specials on both WRIC-TV8 and WTVR-TV6 leading up to the election.
Dr. Bell’s knowledge of the political process reaches far beyond the classroom to Capitol Hill. She is a former American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow (1997-98) in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and a former U.S. Supreme Court fellow (2006-07) at the United States Sentencing Commission. Dr. Bell experienced how the legislative process works and what it’s like to work among our country’s leaders. Her knowledge of the Supreme Court was especially valuable this election season since some of the Justices are suspected to be nearing retirement consideration.
Dr. Bell earned her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Wooster and her Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma’s Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center. She joined the faculty at Randolph-Macon College in 1999 and is currently associate dean of the College.
An accomplished writer, Dr. Bell has authored Warring Factions: Interest Groups, Money, and the New Politics of Senate Confirmation (The Ohio State University Press,2002), The U.S. Congress: A Simulation for Students (Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005 ) and co-authored, with R-MC professors Joan Conners and Ted Sheckels, Perspectives on Political Communication: A Case Approach (Allyn & Bacon, 2008). She is also author or co-author of numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles.
Dr. Conners’ extensive research of politics and the media has earned her the opportunity to present her findings at academic, journalism and communication conferences. In addition to co-authoring Perspectives on Political Communication: A Case Approach (Allyn & Bacon, 2008) with Lauren Bell and Ted Sheckels, she has authored several book chapters and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Conners’ earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mass Communication from Marquette University. She earned her Ph.D. from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She began teaching courses at Randolph-Macon College in 2002 and joined the faculty a year later. Her courses include Communication Law & Ethics, Media & Diversity, Gender Issues in Communication and American Campaigns and Elections.