He earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2007. Dr. Calfano is the director of The Missouri State University Poll Research Center and a coordinator of the university's new certificate program in Press-Politics (a joint curricular program featuring training for students and career professionals in statistical analysis and applied behavioral research, journalism, news writing, and media production). In addition, he is the coordinator of the graduate mentoring program for the Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association, and the faculty advisor to The Growl at Missouri State University.