Associate Director of the Les Aspin Center and Teaching Instructor
Political Science
Sam Harshner is Associate Director of the Les Aspin Center and an instructor of History and Political Science at ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù. His research interests include colonial American history, the history of capitalism, political theory, and labor politics. He has served in several administrative capacities at ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù including Associate Director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching and Outreach and Director of Graduate Studies for the Public Service Masters’ Degree program.
Sam’s ongoing dissertation project focuses on the impact of the Boston Crowd on the American Revolution, and he continues to write regularly on local politics, labor organizing, and public policy.
Prior to his career in academia, Sam spent fifteen years in public service working for the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Wisconsin State Budget Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. His work centered on budget analysis, health care policy, and government performance.
He has an MA in History from ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and an MPA in Policy Analysis from the Lafollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received his BA in History and Political Science from Beloit College.
Courses Taught
POSC 2201 | American Politics
POSC 4931 | The Politics of American Capitalism
POSC 3101 | Writing and Argumentation in Political Science: Democracy and its Challenges