James D. Nowlan

Jim is a jack-of-all-trades in Illinois public affairs.

He has been an Illinois legislator, statewide candidate, state agency director, senior aide to three unindicted governors, campaign manager for U.S. Senate and presidential candidates, professor, newspaper publisher, and columnist. Jim received his BA, MA and PhD degrees in political science, with minors in economics, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Whenever kicked out of government or politics, Jim has taken refuge as a senior fellow at the University's Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He has also taught in the American politics field at the University of Illinois, in both Urbana and Chicago, Knox College, and Northern Illinois University.

Jim has been a "foreign expert" (visiting professor) with the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai, where he has taught courses in American politics on three different occasions in recent years. When in China, Jim has also been invited to give lectures at major universities throughout China, including at Bejing, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Northwestern (Xian) universities.

Jim is the author or co-author of nine books - with his tenth book, the 2nd Edition of Illinois Politics (University of Illinois Press) to be released in 2024. For a complete list of his works, go to jimnowlan.net. His most recent book, "Politics: The Starter Kit - How to Succeed in Politics & Government" was published in 2023 by AuthorHouse.

Jim has written hundreds of editorials on Illinois policy & politics, cultural norms, education, judicial corruption, and the state of the Republican Party. His columns have been published in newspapers coast-to-coast and he loves hearing from his readers.