Biography
As a Pennsylvania native and first generation college student, Dr. Lem attended East Stroudsburg University due to its affordability, size, and proximity to home. After being inspired and encouraged by his faculty mentors, he enrolled in the PhD in political science program at Binghamton University (SUNY).
Dr. Lem finished his PhD in 2008 and joined the faculty at Kutztown University that year. Prior to arriving at KU, Dr. Lem held visiting faculty positions at Hobart & William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY) and Kent State University (Kent, OH). He also held a visiting scholar and lecturer position at Leiden University College The Hague in spring 2020 during a sabbatical semester from KU.
Dr. Lem initially taught courses in political science and public administration, but, over time, transitioned to administrative roles. He served as chair of the Department of Political Science (later, Philosophy and Government) from 2014 through 2023, University Senate President from 2019-2023, and Acting Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences from 2023-2024. He currently chairs the Department of Academic Enrichment, which advises Exploratory Studies and General Studies students and administers student success programs.
Dr. Lem's primary research interests are in third party politics in the United States and electoral systems in Western Europe. He enjoys collaborating with undergraduate students on research projects and has co-authored publications and conference papers with them. They have presented at national conferences and published in national and international journals.
Publications
Young, Brendan P., and Steve B. Lem. 2023. “A Content Analysis of Political and Policy-Based Learning Objectives in Social Work Theory Textbooks.” Sage Research Methods Cases. London: Sage Publications.
Best, Robin E., Steve B. Lem, Michael D. McDonald, and Daniel Blyth Magelby. 2022. "Do Redistricting Commissions Reduce Partisan Gerrymanders?" American Politics Research, 50(3): 379-395.
Portada, Robert A, III, Steve B. Lem, and Uttam Paudel. 2020. "The Final Frontier: China, Taiwan, and the United States in Strategic Competition for Central America." Journal of Chinese Political Science, 25: 551-573.
Lem, Steve B. 2020. "The Green Party of the United States," in Richard Davis (eds) Beyond Elephants and Donkeys: Minor Political Parties in Contemporary American Politics. University Press of Kansas.
Lem, Steve B. 2019. "A Multinomial Logit Analysis of Post-Conflict Justice Mechanisms: Publishing with Undergraduate Co-Authors".Sage Research Methods Cases.
DeTomasso, Meghan, Mario Schulz, and Steve B. Lem. 2017. "Choices of Justice: Examining the Effects of Civil War Termination on Post-Conflict Justice Mechanisms."International Journal of Transitional Justice, 11(2): 218-38.
Lem, Steve B. 2016. "Are you Divergent? Political Factions and Personal Identity." In Justin Vaughn and Michael Allen (eds) Pol Sci Fi: An Introduction to Political Science. New York: Routledge.
Best, Robin E., and Steve B. Lem. 2011. “Electoral Volatility, Competition, and Third Party Candidacies in US Gubernatorial Elections.” Party Politics, 17(3): 611-628.
Dowling, Conor M., and Steve B. Lem. 2009. “Explaining Major and Third Party Candidate Emergence in Gubernatorial Elections, 1980-2005.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly, 9(1): 1-23.
Lem, Steve B. and Conor M. Dowling. 2006. “Picking Their Spots: Minor Party Candidates in Gubernatorial Elections. Political Research Quarterly, 59(3): 471-480.
