Crash Course: Election 2020

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably aware that it’s an election year. And you’re probably aware that voting for the Presidency is part of that election. But what about the other elections on the ballot? And what does all of this tell us about the health of our democracy? In this Crash Course, Chris Cooper will take us on a tour of what we know (and what we don’t) about American democracy as we approach the 2020 elections. While we’ll certainly talk about the Presidential election (how could we avoid it?), the focus will be on elections in North Carolina—the swingiest of the swing states.

Dr. Chris Cooper is a professor at Western Carolina University serving as the department head of the political science department. Cooper received his postgraduate education from the University of Tennessee and is an expert in matters involving politics in the state of North Carolina and beyond. 

Dr. Cooper directs the Public Policy Institute at WCU while focusing his research on state politics & policy, political communication, political psychology, and southern politics. Outside the office, Cooper enjoys the outdoors, occupying himself through cycling and kayaking. 

As an acclaimed professor in the state, Dr. Cooper has been titled a Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and was awarded the 2013 Professor of the Year” in North Carolina by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. That year, he also was honored as one of the top professors in the University of North Carolina system by its Board of Governors. He maintains an informational site about his research, teaching and interests at http://paws.wcu.edu/ccooper/ccooper/Welcome.html

Cultural Crash Courses are sponsored by VisitNCSmokies.com, The Mountaineer, Vicinitus Haywood, and Town of Waynesville.