Faculty Spotlight – September
College of Arts & Sciences: Faculty Spotlight Series
Dr. John Koehler
Associate Professor of Political Science & Public Administration
Presentation: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Talk by Dr. John Koehler.
Location: Founders Hall, Bernie Beck Lecture Hall (Doors open at 4:15 p.m.)
All are welcome to attend. Appetizers and light refreshments will be served!
Title: “Reflections on the Study of Political Power”
Abstract:
Dr. Koehler’s talk will explore the dynamic nature of political power within American politics. Dr. Koehler’s research has focused on the relationship between the president and the bureaucracy, legal interpretations of presidential authority, and the influence of interest groups. Drawing from this research, Dr. Koehler will identify challenges in the study of political power and examine how political power is not a static or legally defined concept but rather a fluid and elusive construct shaped by the interplay of personal leadership qualities, institutional contexts, and the broader political landscape.
Dr. John C. Koehler is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University (B.A.), Florida State University (M.A.), and Auburn University (Ph.D.). His dissertation, “In the Shadow of the Presidency,” explored the role of cabinet secretaries in presidential policy-making. His primary research area focuses on presidential power and the public policy process. Dr. Koehler’s recent project, “The Court and the Two Presidencies,” explores the limitations of presidential power in regard to immigration policy. Another recent article, “Black Leadership Matters,” examines the effectiveness of social movements in accomplishing policy change by comparing the organizational structure of Black Lives Matter with the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
