Clark Neher
Distinguished Teaching Professor
Dept. of Political Science
cneher@niu.edu
Nearly 45 years ago when I became a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, my love affair with the Thai people began. Since 1963 many of my close friends and colleagues are Thais who I first met while teaching in Bangkok. I stayed two years and then returned to the U.S. at UCLA to study Southeast Asian politics. To complete the Ph.D., I returned to Thailand for two more years to do research and to prepare for a position at Northern Illinois University. Subsequently, I lived in Thailand for many years and traveled throughout the region often visiting and staying with former students at NIU where I spent over 30 years as a professor in the Department of Political Science.
Never has a profession and an avocation better mingled. It seemed too good to be true to be paid to teach and do research about Southeast Asian politics. My interests focused mainly on Thailand but I soon expanded this focus onto the Philippines and Vietnam while teaching and writing about the politics of contemporary Southeast Asia. At NIU all professors are asked to teach both undergraduate courses and graduate seminars. At the graduate level my favorite seminars emphasized notions of democracy and development.
After taking on several administrative positions, namely Chair of the Department of Political Science, and Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, I retired in 2000 but have retained a keen interest in Southeast Asia, traveling to that area numerous times. I have written 10 books on Southeast Asian politics and international relations and am now giving lectures both in the U.S. and abroad on Thai politics.
Since retiring I have not been teaching courses on campus, but have kept in close touch with graduate students, especially those interested in Thailand, and with colleagues in the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.