Alan Bigel

Alan Bigel is a Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he has served for 39 years as of 2023. His expertise spans all areas of Constitutional Law, with a focus on civil liberties, criminal procedure, and administrative law.

Education:

• B.A., Brooklyn College (1976)
• M.A., The New School for Social Research (1978)
• Ph.D., The New School for Social Research (1984)

Research Interests: Dr. Bigel’s work centers on constitutional frameworks, including the First Amendment, 14th Amendment protections against discrimination, police-citizen encounters under the 4th Amendment, and debates around the death penalty, abortion, and physician-assisted suicide. He emphasizes originalist interpretations of the 1787 Constitution.

Awards: He was the first UW-L recipient of the Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award (1995), recognizing his dedication to pedagogy.

Teaching & Courses: He teaches 8 specialized constitutional law courses, including Constitutional Law I-VIII, offered in rotating semesters. Notable courses include POL 370 (Government Powers), POL 371 (First Amendment), and POL 378 (Original Intent).

Labs/Teams: No formal research labs or teams are mentioned, but his extensive course offerings reflect active engagement in legal scholarship.