A member of the Bates faculty since 1983, Kessler was promoted to full professor in July 1997. He wrote “Legal Services for the Poor” (Greenwood, 1987), and received dual honors from the Northeast American Political Science Association for his paper, “Legal Mobilization for Social Reform: Power and the Politics of Agenda Setting.” It was judged the best paper presented at the organization’s 1991 meeting and best paper evaluated in the American government section panels.

Kessler, who specializes in American politics, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Pennsylvania State University. He graduated from McKeesport High School in McKeesport, Pa., in 1973 and now resides in Providence, R.I. He is the son of Rae Kessler of White Oak, Pa.

Located midway between the coast and the mountains in south- central Maine, Bates is a 142-year-old undergraduate college of the liberal arts and sciences and is rated among the top 25 national liberal-arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Bates offers majors in 23 academic departments and seven interdisciplinary programs, and encourages independent study, research with faculty members and participation in off-campus programs. Bates does not require standardized-test results for admission.