OBU husband-and-wife team co-edit “Government in Arkansas”
December 21, 2009 - Meg Gosser
Two Ouachita Baptist University faculty members, Doug and Margaret Reed, recently
co-edited the 8th edition of “Government in Arkansas” in affiliation with the League
of Women Voters of Arkansas.
Dr. Doug Reed, associate vice president for academic affairs, chair of OBU’s department
of political science and director of OBU’s Maddox Public Affairs Center, and his wife,
Margaret Reed, assistant professor and director of instructional media services, began
planning the 8th edition in the fall of 2008.
“The research, writing and proofreading phases took place in the spring of 2009,”
Margaret Reed said. “It took about eight months to complete the 8th edition.”
They became interested in writing this book when Dr. Hal Bass, dean of OBU’s Sutton
School of Social Sciences, made them aware of the opportunity. “We served as co-editors
of the 7th edition, which was released in 2004,” Doug Reed explained. The Reeds also
authored lectures and testing resources for the instructors who use “Government in
Arkansas” as a textbook.
“Among its 10 chapters are overviews of Arkansas’ constitution, branches of government,
institutions of political influence and noteworthy issues,” Doug Reed said. “A comparative
analysis of Arkansas and other states concludes each chapter.”
“Government in Arkansas” has been used since 1976 by elected officials, candidates
seeking election, educators and the general public as a guide to the structure and
functions of the Arkansas government.
Margaret Reed said, “We hope elected officials, teachers, students and ordinary citizens
will find it to be a useful resource on Arkansas government.”
By Meg Gosser
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