Robert Harbaugh has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for May 2019. Harbaugh is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the College and President-Elect of the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Concentration in Public Service from the Gerald R. Ford Institute at Albion College in Michigan and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Western Michigan University. His graduate training focused on American Politics, with a special emphasis on Congress and interest groups.
Prior to embarking on his teaching career, Harbaugh spent nearly eight years working professionally in politics in Washington, D.C. He had the opportunity to spend a number of years as a legislative assistant to a member of the United States House of Representatives where he was the primary advisor on a number of legislative issues including; agriculture, judiciary issues, and government oversight. Prior to working in the House, he also worked for one of the largest policy think tanks in the country and worked on a number of political campaigns.
In his free time, Harbaugh enjoys cooking, theater, and beekeeping. He is also an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and can often be found at an Idaho Steelheads home game.
