Brian L. Fife

Brian L. Fife serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Lehigh University, a position he assumed in 2018 after chairing the Department of Public Policy at Purdue University Fort Wayne (formerly Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne).

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Political Science from State University of New York at Binghamton (1990)
• M.A. in Political Science from State University of New York at Binghamton (1986)
• B.A. in Political Science from University of Maine (1985)

Professor Fife's research centers on reforming U.S. political and public policy processes through interdisciplinary analysis of theory, historical context, and civic engagement. His primary domains include American politics, public policy, education policy, electoral reform, and poverty challenges, with current work focused on structural transformation of major political parties to enhance democratic responsiveness. This scholarship integrates political science, historical analysis, and educational frameworks to address contemporary governance issues.

His recent publications (2018-2023) reveal consistent thematic threads across political history, civic education, and poverty studies, demonstrating methodological breadth through book-length treatments and journal articles. Key trajectories include historical examinations of political figures, institutional foundations of universities, and evidence-based policy analysis drawing lessons from historical anti-poverty efforts.

The provided information does not detail grants, awards, or student advising relationships. His teaching portfolio includes courses on the American Political System (POLS 001), Public Policy (POLS 109), Political Parties (POLS 274), and Policy Process (POLS 306/406).