Associate Professor and Department Head
Office: Ferguson Social Science 160
Phone: 903-886-5317
Email: Jeffrey.Herndon@tamuc.edu
Dr. Herndon serves as the head of The Department of Political Science and academic advisor to both undergraduate and graduate students.
The son of a veteran of the military, he lived in many places prior to settling in Texas upon his father’s retirement. He attended university at Texas State University (when it was called Southwest Texas State University) and obtained his B.A. and M.A. while working at Sundance Records—perhaps the greatest independent record store in Texas history. While pursuing his MA, Dr. Herndon met Dr. Ellis Sandoz, the Herman G. Moyse Professor of Political Science and Director of the Eric Voegelin Institute at Louisiana State University. Upon completion master’s program, Dr. Herndon attended LSU to study with Dr. Sandoz. The week he received his Ph.D. Dr. Herndon was hired as an instructor in the LSU Honors College—a position he held for three years. When a faculty line became available at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Dr. Herndon applied. Ironically, Dr. Sandoz had been the political theorist at East Texas State, so it seemed only fitting that Dr. Herndon take his position upon completing his degree.
Dr. Herndon has been recognized as an Outstanding Faculty Advisor by the Student Organization Awards committee and by the local chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha with the Outstanding Service Award. Twice Honors Professor of the Year, Dr. Herndon is also the recipient of three A&M System Teaching Excellence Awards and the Paul W. Barrus Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching in addition to being named a Professor of the Year by the Hunt/Hopkins County African American Leadership Conference at A&M-Commerce and the Robert L. “Doc” Amborski Distinguished Honors Professor Award at LSU.
Teaching and Research Interests
Dr. Herndon teaches in the university core (American and Texas government) and serves as the department’s content expert in Political Philosophy and Theory. Straddling the line between the social sciences and humanities, Dr. Herndon teaches courses in Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Ideology, Early Christian Political Thought, American Political Thought, the Holocaust, and Popular Culture and Philosophy.
The author of Eric Voegelin and the Problem of Christian Political Order, Dr. Herndon’s research focuses upon early Christian Political Thought, the crisis of “conservatism,” and popular culture and philosophy.
