Dr. John P. Pat) Willerton is a professor of political science in the School of Government and Public Policy. He earned a B.A. in Russian and an M.A. in Political Science at Michigan State University, and an M.A. in Russian and Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He worked at Michigan State University, August 1985-July 1988, before coming to the University of Arizona in August 1988. Dr. Willerton’s research interests are focused on Russian politics both Soviet and post-Soviet) comparative political elites, and Russian foreign policy both Soviet and post-Soviet) He has authored a book and roughly 50 articles and chapters. Current projects are focused on the Russian executive and on Russian relations with other FSU former Soviet Union) countries and involvement in the CIS Commonwealth of Independent States) Summary descriptions of his research areas are presented on a separate Research page see link to the left) Dr. Willerton’s undergraduate course offerings include The Politics of Happiness POL 150c3) Politics, Policy, and Governance: The U.S and the World SGPP 300b) Soviet and Post Soviet Politics POL 443) Comparative Political Elites POL 446) and Soviet and Post-Soviet Foreign Policy POL 451) His graduate course offerings include the Proseminar in Comparative Politics POL 595d) and Seminar in Comparative Politics POL 596d) Summary descriptions of his courses are presented on a separate Courses page see link to the left) A YouTube video link for The Politics of Happiness course is available on that course page. Here is his TEDx Talk, The Russian Soul, delivered at the University of Arizona, Tucson, May 3, 2013.