West Virginia University has political science professors available to discuss the Iowa caucus (Jan. 3) and the upcoming New Hampshire primary Tuesday (Jan. 8).

The Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary are the first major electoral events of the nominating process for president of the United States. They have served as early indicators of which candidates might win the nomination of each political party at the national conventions.

WVU experts include faculty members in the Department of Political Science in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences:

• Associate professor Neil Berch teaches courses in state and local politics, economic policy and economic models of politics. His publications include articles on women candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, tax progressivity in the states and the effects of challenger spending in U.S. House elections. His articles have appeared in American Politics Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly and Southeastern Political Review. Since 1997, he has served as coach of the Universitys nationally ranked Debate Team. He can be reached at 412-445-3957 or Neil.Berch@mail.wvu.edu .

• Assistant professor R. Scott Crichlow teaches and conducts research on international relations, U.S. foreign policy, political psychology and Middle Eastern politics. His current research focuses on how group decisionmaking dynamics and the beliefs and personality traits of political leaders affect foreign policy. He has published articles in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Quarterly and Political Psychology. In 1997, he won the Alexander George Award for the best graduate student paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, and in 1998, he was a nominee for the best paper award in the Domestic Sources of Political Science section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. He can be reached at 304-685-5943 or Scott.Crichlow@mail.wvu.edu .