Ross Lence Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston. He was born and educated in Whitefish, Montana, earned a B.A. degree from the University of Chicago, did graduate work at Georgetown University, received a Ph.D. from Indiana University, and received an Earhart fellowship for a year-long study in the British Museum.  Since joining the faculty at U of H., Dr. Lence has been the chairman of innumerable theses and dissertations and has received recognition for teaching on four separate occasions: the University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award in 1974 and in 1977; the College of Social Science in 1984; and the state-wide Minnie Stevens Piper Teaching Award in 1987.  Dr. Lence also served as a Presidential speech writer on the Bicentennial during President Gerald Ford's administration.

Write-up from the University of Houston:

Ross Lence, associate professor of political science, is known by his supporters as a "teacher of teachers." "While we have been fortunate to have some outstanding teachers at the University of Houston over the past 25 years, Dr. Lence has been, even among these, the most outstanding teacher at this university," wrote Ted L. Estess, dean of the Honors College.

In letters of support, Lence was cited for his unflagging participation – from university committees to speaking engagements across the country.

"In a time when faculty members often separate their work from the activities of teaching and university citizenship on campus, Dr. Ross Lence is the exception. His work is on this campus," Estess wrote.

Lence has won numerous teaching awards, most notably in 1987 when he was named the outstanding university teacher in Texas by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.