5 GEORGE C. HOFFMANN AWARD FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE Richard A. Clucas, Ph.D. RICHARD A. CLUCAS, PH.D., is a professor of Political Science at Portland State University. His primary areas of expertise are in legislative politics, state government, democratic institutions, and Oregon politics. His research has focused particularly on the power of legislative leaders and political reform. He has written and edited six books, including serving as co-editor of the two most recent textbooks on Oregon politics. In addition to these six, he was the set editor of a three-volume encyclopedia on state government. Clucas earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of California, Irvine, and his Master of Art and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He came to Portland State after teaching at the University of WisconsinEau Claire. He currently serves as the executive director of the Western Political Science Association (WPSA), the nation’s second-largest regional political science association, with more than 1,200 members. The association promotes the study and teaching of government and politics, and fosters research on public affairs. The WPSA conducts an annual conference with more than 250 panels and special sessions on politics. It also publishes two scholarly journals. Among his activities at PSU, Clucas runs the Political Science Department’s internship program. He has overseen hundreds of student interns in positions ranging from local non-profit organizations to government offices in other countries and has placed more than 300 students in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. He also runs the department’s honors program, created its Facebook page, and developed an email list providing information to students and alumni on job openings related to political science and public service. He has served as chair of the Political Science Division and presiding officer of the Faculty Senate. The Hoffmann Award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of distinguished contributions to the University in the areas of instruction, university service, and scholarship, which are done in the spirit of humanism, civility, and collegiality, with particular dedication to students and loyalty to the University. These values were especially cherished by the late George C. Hoffmann, a distinguished dean and professor of history at Portland State University.
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