Michael W. Bowers received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Cameron University (Lawton, OK) and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Arizona (Tucson). He has been a member of the faculty at UNLV since August 1984. During that time he has been awarded the College of Liberal Arts William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Donald Schmiedel Lifetime Service Award. In addition, he has received the UNLV Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award, the UCCSN (now NSHE) Board of Regents Outstanding Advisor Award, and the Liberty Bell Award from the Clark County Bar Association. Dr. Bowers is the author of The Sagebrush State, one of the definitive texts on the history of Nevada government and politics, (now in its fourth edition), and The Nevada Constitution: A Reference Guide, and is also credited with writing more than two dozen articles in his specialization of public law. In addition to his scholarly work, Michael Bowers has served as department chair, associate dean, vice provost for academic affairs, senior vice provost, and executive vice president and provost during his tenure at UNLV. He currently serves as treasurer of the Western Political Science Association and a member of the board of directors of the Nevada Judicial Historical Society.