EIU Department of Political Science

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Melinda A Mueller, Department Chair and Professor, Political Science

Office: 2341 - Coleman Hall
Phone: 217-581-2523
Email: mamueller@eiu.edu

Dr. Mueller (B.A. Susquehanna University, M.A., Ph.D. Rochester) serves as the department chair. She received the 2008 Faculty Laureate for undergraduate general education teaching, the 2009 Teaching Excellence Award in the College of Sciences, and multiple Achievement and Contribution Awards.

Professor Mueller teaches courses in American Politics and Public Policy. She regularly directs undergraduate and graduate independent studies, capstones, and theses in the area of gender politics and public policy. Her publications include a book chapter on "soccer moms" and voting, in Engaging the Public: How the Government and Media Can Reinvigorate American Democracy, a chapter on gender, campaigning, and Twitter in Social Media and Politics, a literature review on women and U.S. politics in Choice, and a chapter on Teddy Roosevelt's rhetoric and conservationism in From the Bully Pulpit: Presidential Rhetoric, Speeches, and the Shaping of Public Policy. She has also published in PS: Political Science & Politics, The Thomas Jefferson Law Review, The U.S. Government and the Environment, and Managing Environmental Policies: A Casebook. 

Fall 2022 Office Hours

• Monday 1-2:30 pm, Tuesday/Thursday 10:45-noon, and by appointment
• Academic advisees may use the calendar link above to sign up for an advising appointment.
• If I'm in my office and not busy, feel free to drop in to chat.

Fall 2022 Schedule

• PLS 3903/Women & Politics, TR 9:30-10:45 am
• Administrative and chair meetings Wednesday and Friday mornings

Frequently Taught Courses

• PLS 3903 -- Women & Politics
• PLS 3723 -- Political Behavior
• PLS 4600 -- Political Science Capstone
• PLS 4763 -- Environmental Politics & Policy