He has a J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. In the past fifteen years he has regularly taught U.S. Government, Law and the Judicial Process, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Law, and Civil Liberties, along with other courses involving law and politics. Due to his subject matter expertise, he has authored book chapters, articles in political science journals and law reviews, encyclopedia entries, and book reviews, all involving the topics of government, politics, law and public policy.