The University of Illinois homepage of
Professor Michael A. Krassa

 Professor Krassa came to the University of Illinois in 1984. He is chair of Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems program. He serves on the Faculty Senate, the Educational Policy Committee, and the University Civic Outreach Committee. He has served on the Student Discipline Committee, the Committee on Conduct Governance, the LAS Courses and Curriculum Committee, and was Director of Graduate Studies from 1992-2002. He is on the faculty of Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems and political science. Outside the university setting he is chair of the Council on Urban Habitat's Committee on Social and Political Impacts and is a member of the Royal Commission for Poundbury. He has served on the editorial boards of several university presses and journals, including the Journal of Politics, the American Political Science Review, and the American Journal of Political Science. He has been a lobbyist, campaign manager and advisor to gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional candidates, is an election analyst for network news organizations, was called to testify before Congress on campaign reform, and was an expert witness in two redistricting cases. Currently he is the Illinois coordinator of the Cambridge Summer Program in Malta.

Professor Krassa has published in journals such as the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, Social Networks, American Politics Review, Contexts, the American Sociological Review, Political Behavior, Contemporary Anthropology, and the Journal of Mathematical Sociology.  A new textbook American Democracy: from founding theory into modern practice which examines how the ideas of the founders are implemented in the American setting is available in Jan 2010.  A new text on the basics of political science, Structuring Governance: An Introduction to Political Science is under development with publication expected in December 2011. Two new general interest books, Building for Democracy: How the Neighborhood Can Revitalize Civic Life and The Prince's Vision for Poundbury: Myth and Reality in the Planned Village (coauthored with Erin Reinhart) are forthcoming. In addition, a book (coauthored with Prof. Donald Davison) on theological prescripts, religion, and voting is under development.

His current research examines the impact on people, politics, and social life of the changing physical environments of modern societies. It explores how the physical and social environment jointly influence our political attitudes, attachment to place, interest in national and local affairs, and civic participation.

More detailed information can be found in the Biography section of this web page.

Even if you win at the rat race, you're still a rat.
-----William Sloane Coffin, 1924-2006