Faculty

Associate Professor of Political Science
B.A., Texas Tech University
M.A., Northeastern Illinois University
Ph.D., Texas Tech University
dbbailey@presby.edu
Dr. Bailey CV
Joined PC in 2018

Dr. Daniel “Ben” Bailey received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas Tech University in 2017. His teaching and research interests lie primarily in the areas of public policy and administration, state and local politics, and public health. His work has been published in the Review of Policy Research, the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Political Behavior, The Social Science Journal, and the Midsouth Political Science Review, among others. Dr. Bailey teaches courses on public policy and administration, environmental policy, public health, and state and local politics.

Professor of Political Science
B.A., Bethany College
M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State University
jelance@presby.edu

Dr. Justin Lance joined the Political Science department at Presbyterian College in 2011. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the Ohio State University in 2010, his Masters degree in Political Science from the Ohio State University in 2007, and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Bethany College (W.V.) in 2002. He has previously taught at the Ohio State University, Penn State University- Harrisburg, and the College of Charleston.

His research and teaching interests include the politics of Latin America (with an expertise on Brazil) and Africa, political economy, and U.S. foreign policy. His published work has appeared in Politics and Religion, Latin American Politics & Society, among others. He is passionate about taking students abroad on travel courses and he has so far led trips with students to Guatemala, Ethiopia, Cuba, Greece, Morocco, The U.S.- Mexico border, and the Gambia and Senegal. Dr. Lance also serves as coordinator of the Samuel Calvin Waters Lecture in Political Science Program.

Dr. Lance can be reached at jelance@presby.edu or (864) 833-8451

Professor of Political Science, Department Chair
B.A., Foreign Affairs College at Beijing
M.A., Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo
zliu@presby.edu
Joined PC in the fall of 2008.

Specializes in Comparative Politics and International Relations.

Courses taught

Comparative Political Development, Politics of China and Modern Asia, International Political Economy, International Organizations, etc.

If you would like to reach Dr. Liu, he can be contacted at 864.833.8633 or zliu@presby.edu.

Professor of Political Science
B.A., Allegheny College
M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State University
esmcadams@presby.edu
Dr. McAdams CV

A graduate of Allegheny College (P.A.), Dr. McAdams earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from The Ohio State University in 2009. Before joining the faculty at PC in 2012, she taught at Ohio State, Dickinson College (P.A.) and the College of Charleston (S.C.). At PC, she teaches courses in U.S. government and politics, including campaigns & elections, voting behavior, public opinion & polling, religion & politics, women & gender in politics, legal studies, U.S. Constitutional law, criminal justice, & quantitative research methods & data analysis. In 2017, she was named Presbyterian College’s “Professor of the Year” and earned an “Excellence in Teaching” Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU) association.

Published in Electoral Studies (2009, with Dr. Herb Weisberg), Politics and Religion (2013, with Dr. Justin Earl Lance) and the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (2015, with Dr. Brian Fisher), her research focuses on the group-based dynamics of partisan identity and the sources of Americans’ political attitudes and voting behaviors. Her forthcoming book examines recent changes in the Republican Party and offers recommendations for the party’s short- and long-term success.

Dr. McAdams also serves as the Director of Pre-law Studies at PC and as the faculty advisor to the College Republicans, College Democrats & the Political Science Club. She is also deeply committed to service to the PC and broader Laurens County community.

Please contact Dr. McAdams by phone at (864) 833-8347 or via email at esmcadams@presby.edu. You can also stop by her office in H-P Room 305.

Professor of Political Science
B.A., Furman University
M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
draber@presby.edu
Joined PC in 2002.

Dr. Raber teaches both the introductory U.S. government class and upper-level classes on political parties, Southern politics, Congress, and the presidency. He also teaches research methods, senior capstone, and the department’s political thought offerings (classical, modern, and American political thought). He is a past editor (2010-2012) of the Journal of Political Science for the South Carolina Political Science Association and a former president of the association (2007-2008) as well. Dr. Raber served as chair of the political science department from 2008-2012, dean of academic programs in 2012, provost from 2013-2021, and acting president of Presbyterian College in January 2021.

Dr. Raber has been married since 1995 to his college sweetheart, Kim, and they have one daughter, Sydney, an anticipated 2024 graduate of Brevard College.

If you need to reach Dr. Raber, please email him at draber@presby.edu.