Craig Wilson Symposium
At MSUB
Held every even spring, the Craig Wilson Symposium addresses a different political theme each time and utilizes the perspective from academics, practitioners, elected officials, and university students to ignite broad political discussions regarding important topics of the day and is open to the public. The Symposium, named for Dr. Craig Wilson, political science faculty with MSU Billings from 1980 to 2014. The Symposium launched in October 2019 with the theme of democracy and political participation, a focal point of Dr. Wilson’s career.
Craig Wilson
Dr. Craig Wilson received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Washington State University
in 1980 and immediately joined the faculty of Eastern Montana College, which was renamed
Montana State University Billings in 1994. In 1989, Dr. Wilson launched his annual
political poll covering both Montana and national politics. From the poll, he brought
notoriety to the university and found a great deal of enjoyment helping his students
become more civically engaged. Since 1989, the poll has been conducted nearly every
year since, with few exceptions. In 2019, the poll was renamed the Mountain States
Poll when the number of states being polled increased. Dr. Wilson was a beloved scholar
and colleague in his department. Dr. Wilson retired in 2014 as a distinguished Professor
of Political Science, emeritus. Craig Wilson passed away on October 18, 2017. Through
the Mountain States Poll and the Craig Wilson Symposium, his legacy continues to live
on at MSUB.