Regent University’s board of trustees has named U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as the new dean of the Robertson School of Government, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
“Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is a distinguished leader of national and global reputation,” said Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder, chancellor and CEO of Regent University. “She has displayed exemplary vision, character, integrity and skill throughout her career in government.”
Michele Bachmann was born in Waterloo, Iowa. She received a B.A. in political science and English from Winona State University in 1978. She married Marcus Bachmann, a clinical therapist who holds a master’s degree from Regent University.
In 1986, Bachmann received a Juris Doctor degree from Oral Roberts University. She was a member of the ORU law school’s final graduating class and was part of a group of faculty, staff and students who moved the ORU law school library to Regent University.
Two years later, she completed a Master of Law in taxation at the College of William & Mary. She worked for four years as a lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Bachmann and her husband have five children. They also worked with a private foster care agency to house 23 children in their home during the 1990s. Bachmann’s children were homeschooled and also attended private Christian schools, and her political career stemmed from her interest in education reform.
In 2000, Bachmann defeated a longtime moderate incumbent for a state Senate seat in Minnesota. In 2006, she entered the race to represent her suburban Minneapolis congressional district. She won 52% of the vote, becoming the first Republican woman from Minnesota elected to the House of Representatives. She easily won reelection in 2008 and 2010.
Bachmann’s extensive career highlights include:
—She was the first Republican woman from Minnesota elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
—She served as a United States congresswoman, representing Minnesota’s 6th District from 2007 to 2015.
—She quickly became a national figure in the Republican Party and a founding member of the congressional Tea Party Caucus.
—In 2011, Bachmann announced her bid for the Republican presidential nomination and ran for president in 2012.
—Bachmann is a highly respected leader who is deeply committed to conservative values in government.
“It has been the highest honor to serve the American people and to uphold conservative principles on a national scale,” Bachmann says. “I am thrilled to now direct my focus to preparing the next generation of government leaders at Regent University.”
The Robertson School of Government is an institutional member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and the American Political Science Association (APSA). Students learn from prominent faculty members and practitioners and participate in meaningful internships in Washington, D.C. and across the country. Over 1,100 alumni occupy strategic positions in state/national legislatures, the White House, local/state government and the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. The school offers practice-oriented, research-based degrees including the M.A. in Campaigns and Political Leadership, M.A. in Government, M.A. in National Security Studies and Master of Public Administration, online and on campus.
“Now, more than ever before, our nation needs principled leaders in government, and Regent University is committed to providing a superb education to the future leaders of our great nation. I can think of no one better suited to lead the Robertson School of Government than Michele Bachmann,” said Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Regent University. “Bachmann’s distinguished career in state and national governments will be invaluable to our students, alumni and the Regent community.” {eoa}
