Marty Wiseman grew up watching his father campaign for office by handing potential voters matchbooks with his name on them. He also grew up making his own political observations.
As the son of a state legislator, politics is a natural part of Wiseman's life. From spotting trends in grassroots rural politics in Mississippi's 1st Congressional District to observing nuances in this year's historic presidential election-Wiseman knows politics.
As director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and a professor of political science at Mississippi State, Wiseman oversees government studies for the Mississippi legislature, conducts seminars for county and city officials, and teaches students about the many facets of government. With his fascination with politics from the national level all the way down to the county and city level, Wiseman enjoys discussing how elected leaders want to shape government that affects everyone.
"It's just as much a spectator sport as football, basketball or baseball," Wiseman said.
He tries to instill an interest in government in students, helping them see how government affects them in their daily lives.