Biographical / Historical

Wesley R. Fishel (1919-1977) joined the faculty of Michigan State University in 1951, teaching political science in the College of Social Science and James Madison College until his death in 1977. Regarded as an expert on Southeast Asia affairs, he served as a close friend and consultant to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam in the 1950's. Fishel was best known for his role in the Michigan State University Vietnam Advisory Group (MSUG) technical assistance program (1955-1961), serving as its Chief Advisor from 1956 to 1958.

Fishel's teaching career began in 1948 at the University of California (Los Angeles) as a political science instructor. In 1951, he came to Michigan State University as an associate professor in the political science department. In 1952, he was named assistant director of the Government Research Bureau which conducted research in problems of political behavior and public administration. (Today the Bureau is called the Social Science Research Bureau, encompass