Dr. Philip Barker is Dean of the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences and a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Midwestern State University. He received his B.A. in History and Political Science from Texas A&M University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Colorado.

Dr. Barker's scholarly work focuses on the intersection of religion, nationalism, and political identity, with particular attention to Europe. He is the author of Religious Nationalism in Modern Europe (Routledge) and has published articles on political identity, religious conflict, and global affairs. A former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Malta, he has led nine international study tours connecting students to sites of historical and political significance around the world.

Prior to joining MSU, Dr. Barker served as Director of the Morris-August Honors Program and Professor of Political Science at Keene State College in New Hampshire. He previously held faculty positions at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and Centenary College of Louisiana. He is the co-host of The Politics Lab, a podcast exploring politics, policy, and international affairs, and makes regular media appearances commenting on domestic and international political affairs.