John Willis, senior research associate at the center, is a graduate of Bucknell University and Harvard Law School. He has conducted extensive research on Maryland political history, elections and demographics and has authored several publications and significant reports. He is the author of Presidential Elections in Maryland, a contributing author to Western Maryland: A Profile and the co-author of an upcoming book, Maryland Government and Politics. From 1995 to 2003, he served as the secretary of state for Maryland and was deeply involved at the state and national levels in election reform issues as a member of numerous commissions and committees, as a presenter before federal and state legislative and executive bodies, and as a contributor to broadcast and print media. Since 1999, he has taught courses at the University of Baltimore, including American Public Policy, State and Local Government and Maryland Government and Politics.