Dr. Shaffer joined the Marist faculty as an Assistant Professor of Political Science in 1994, and he served as Chair of the Political Science Department from 2001 to 2007, overseeing a period of significant growth in that major. He was appointed Interim Dean of the School of Liberal Arts on August 1, 2007, and he began his duties as Dean on September 1, 2008. A native of New York State, Dr. Shaffer earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from LeMoyne College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at SUNY Albany.

Dr. Shaffer teaches a variety of courses in American politics, including History of the American Presidency, Congress Today, and Scope and Methods of Political Analysis. He has team taught the American State and Urban Politics course with State Senator Stephen Saland on several occasions. Dr. Shaffer's research interests include presidential leadership, the environmental movement, and New York State politics. He has published several articles in scholarly journals, including Policy Studies Review and Presidential Studies Quarterly. Dr. Shaffer is a frequent Op-Ed writer for national and regional publications, and his articles focus on presidential and congressional elections. Dr. Shaffer is a strong proponent of experiential learning, and he was instrumental in starting the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership and the Albany Internship Experience program.