In 1994, the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric, and Science was named in honor of an individual who has continuously supported the university over many years. This chair helps to bridge the gap in academia between the sciences, the arts, and the humanities disciplines.Chairholders serve for one semester, or the equivalent, allowing a number of individuals from a variety of fields to participate over time. The primary duties of the chairholder are to teach two courses, typically one undergraduate and one graduate, and to present four public lectures/performances.

Anthony J. Nownes, Basler Chair of Excellence, Spring 2025

Upcoming Events!

Date & Time	Event	Place
Monday, February 17 at 7 PM	"Reflections from the 2024 Election"	Brown Hall 261
Friday, March 7 at 3 PM	"Where Does All the money Come From? Campaign Finance in the USA and Why It Matters"	D.P. Culp Student Center Forum
Monday, March 31 at 7 PM	"Are Interest Groups Good or Bad?"	Rogers-Stout Hall 102
Tuesday, April 22 at 4 P M	"Do Celebrities Matter in American Politics? The Impact of Celebrity Endorsements in Elections"	Ball Hall 127

Biography

Nownes, a professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. His groundbreaking research focuses on the role of interest groups in American politics, and his 2006 book, “Total Lobbying: What Lobbyists Want (and How They Try to Get It)” remains an authoritative text in the field.