Dr. McQuide comes to us from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his Ph.D. in political science and taught Introduction to American Government as well as Introduction to Public Policy. He has also taught courses in American politics at Illinois State University. Dr. McQuide was also the recipient of the University of Illinois Department of Political Science Marvin G. Weinbaum Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. He has complemented the department by offering on-line courses over the summer. His research focuses on interest groups’ strategic use of information in lobbying Congress as well as Congressional deliberation of new policy issues. He is also working on a new project assessing state legislatures’ capacities to address new technology issues on the policy agenda. In addition to his teaching and research activities, Dr. McQuide is also actively involved with the UI-Moscow High School Dual Enrollment program.