She teaches courses in the area of American Politics. Dr. Shouse received her B.S. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas and her doctorate in Political Science from Vanderbilt University. She has been involved with the assessment of student learning at Western since 1995 and has attended numerous seminars and workshops on assessment hosted by Alverno College, the North Central Association, and the Illinois Department of Higher Education, primarily in the area of General Education Assessment. She has chaired Western's Council on General Education and General Education Review Committee, an, from 2000-2002, served as the General Education Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences.