[1] Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and educated at Marquette University High School, Beck received an Honors B.A.
He received MA (1985) and PhD (1989, with distinction) degrees in International Politics from Georgetown University's Department of Government.
[2] An Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee,[3] Beck has also taught in the Global Studies degree program.
[5] Beginning in 2003, he was also a guest on the television series, "International Focus", produced by the Institute of World Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
[6] In addition, Dr. Beck has been featured in podcasts such as Georgetown University's “SFS ONLINE & ON TOPIC: Russia, Ukraine, and International Law,” with Dr. Anthony Clark Arend on March 18, 2022.