Steffen Schmidt’s distinguished career as a professor of political science began with a phone call from Iowa State almost two years after he completed his Ph.D.

Graduating from Columbia University in New York with a doctorate in public law and government, Schmidt arrived at Iowa State in 1970.

Although he started at the bottom of the ranks, in 1994 Schmidt was awarded the distinguished title of “university professor.” Of the hundreds of professors at ISU, only a few are given this award every year.

It is awarded to those professors who have shown excellence in teaching, service and research, Schmidt said.

To achieve this award “somebody thinks you really care about Iowa State,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt has been given numerous other awards in recent years as well. He won the Amoco Lifetime Teaching Award and the Internet Inc., First Prize for World Trade Essay (co-authored by Dr. John Wong), in 1992. In 1993, Schmidt was awarded the American Political Science Association Teaching Recognition Award. He also received the Liberal Arts and Science Distinguished Service Award in 1997.

During his time at ISU, Schmidt has participated in varying areas of research. He is one of the first to research the study of the use of technology for teaching and delivering courses through the World Wide Web.

Schmidt also has researched the impact of technology on politics, but he said he and his colleagues are not sure if the effects are positive.

“We’re not sure yet — it could be a disaster,” he said.

Schmidt also expressed his opinions about the recent President Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinksy scandal.

“It may or may not be helpful that everyone has access to such wide coverage of government documents,” he said. “It’s too bad that we’ve become so preoccupied with things that are not the most important things for our country. American politics have become so rude and crude that it’s more like a soap opera.”

Schmidt was born and grew up in Columbia, South America. During his education he studied in Columbia, Switzerland and France. Schmidt is fluent in four languages.

Schmidt has been used as a source by major news media such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, San Francisco Cronicle, USA Today, The Des Moines Register and many foreign publications, on topics related to American politics and international affairs.

Schmidt also has appeared on CNN, CBS, Fox cable, the BBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Company and many other international television and radio media.

He also hosts a radio program that airs every Monday on WOI Public Radio. He is known as “Dr. Politics,” and he responds to comments and criticisms of callers.

Schmidt feels the show is a learning experience for him as well.

“We academics sometimes get very arrogant and elitist, and my show reminds me I may not be as smart as I think I am,” he said.

Schmidt said he is not sure if he will spend the rest of his career at Ames, although he said he has enjoyed teaching at ISU.

“I have been very happy here, but you never know when an opportunity will present itself that’s just too good to pass up,” he said.