Faculty and Staff

Kenneth T. Palmer is Professor Emeritus of Political Science.  He taught at the University of Maine from 1969 to 2004.  He received a B.A. from Amherst College (1959) and a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University (1964).

Professor Palmer’s teaching and research have focused on American state politics, especially Maine politics, and U. S. federalism.  He is the author or co-author of Changing Members: The Maine Legislature in the Era of Term Limits (2005), Maine Politics and Government (1992), The Changing Politics of Federal Grants (1984), State Politics in the United States (1977). Downeast Politics (1975) and The Legislative Process in Maine (1973).  His articles have appeared in Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Public Administration Quarterly, National Civic Review, Maine Bar Journal, Maine Historical Society Quarterly and Maine Policy Review.  He has also contributed numerous chapters to general works on state politics and federalism including, most recently, The Constitutionalism of the American States (2008).

During his career, Professor Palmer served on the research staffs of the Brookings Institution and of the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University.  In 1987, he received the John Donovan Award for the best paper presented at the annual meeting of the New England Political Science Association.  He was twice elected to the executive committee of Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations of the American Political Science Association.  From 1987 to 1997, he served as book review editor for Publius: The Journal of Federalism.  On retiring from regular teaching, he was cited by the Maine legislature and governor for his contributions to the state. 

Professor Palmer teaches an on-line course, American State and Local Government (POS 203), at the University of Maine in the Spring semester.   

Kenneth Palmer | kpalmer@maine.edu

© Copyright 2008, Political Science Department, University of Maine