Brent F. Nelsen is Professor of American Political Science at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He serves as chair of the South Carolina Educational Television Commission, having been appointed to the position by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in 2011. In 2010 he was a Republican candidate for the position of South Carolina State Superintendent of Education. On Thursday, April 25, 2013, US President Barack Obama nominated him for confirmation by the US Senate to be a member of the Board of Directors of the US Corporation for Public Broadcasting, for a term expiring Sunday, January 31, 2016. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013.

James L. Guth is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Political Science at Furman University, Greenville South Carolina, USA. Guth has taught at Furman since 1973. He has served as chair of the University Faculty (1987– 89) and of the Political Science Department (1988–91), as well as on many faculty committees and task forces. A specialist in American politics, his recent work has assessed the impact of religion on the electoral process and on public policy in the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations.