Political science is the study of constitutions, law, and government, at the local, national, and international levels, and of those things that influence the exercise of political power, such as individual interests and attitudes, norms, institutions, and culture.
On Wednesday, September 10, more than 40 students attended the Department of Political Science’s annual “Meet the Professors” event, hosted by Discourse in Democracy. The event gave political science and public administration majors the opportunity to meet and speak with any of the 20 faculty members present and to learn about the courses they teach, their backgrounds, and their areas of interest.
Students in attendance had a chance to learn about their majors and about various groups associated with the department including Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society; Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS); Model Organization of American States; and Model United Nations. Afterwards, students were able to mingle informally with faculty and representatives of the various groups and organizations over pizza, cookies, and sodas. Students in attendance also received assorted departmental swag such as t-shirts, phone chargers, lanyards, hats, and more.
Matthew Garza, an M.A. in Political Science student who attended the event, said, “Meet the Professors was a wonderful opportunity for Political Science students to engage with the various political science scholars present in our department. Students had a chance to bolster a greater sense of camaraderie with their peers and professors through open introductions & discussions with their professors over their scholarship, along with the chance to get to know the various resources available to them by the Department of Political Science at TXST!”
On August 25, 2025, the M.A. in Political Science Program held an Open House hosted by the new Director of the program, Dr. Ionuț Popescu. Faculty members in attendance included Drs. Ken Grasso, Paul DeHart, Alex Kroeger, and Franziska Newell.
The conversation centered around the opportunities available to the graduate students and on ways to improve their graduate school experience. Among the topics, the students discussed course selection, possible concentrations of study in various areas of political science, scholarships available from the department, and how to secure graduate instructional or teaching assistantships. The prospective students also asked about the 3+2 accelerated degree option to start the M.A. program in their senior year and finish both degrees in four or five years at Texas State.
In addition, Ashley Carrington, who is a Student Development Specialist with the Graduate College, gave a presentation. This presentation covered essential information for graduate students, such as available resources, upcoming events, and tips and tricks for success.
For more information regarding the M.A. in Political Science Program, visit the program webpage here, the 3+2 webpage here, or contact Dr. Popescu at icp11@txstate.edu.
On August 20, 2025, the Department of Political Science participated in multiple events designed to welcome students back to TXST as part of Bobcat Back Week. In the morning, the First Gen Welcome Orientation was held in the LBJ Ballroom. This event was followed by an Academic Services fair, also held in LBJ. Later in the afternoon, the College of Liberal Arts Welcome Back event was held in Flowers Hall.
At all three events, POSI hosted informative tables that featured details on academic programs, student groups, and upcoming events. Students had the opportunity to meet faculty members and spin a prize wheel for department swag, including tote bags, t-shirts, water bottles, and more. The department engaged with hundreds of students, fostering a sense of community and excitement for the upcoming year.
The event was spearheaded by Melissa Rendon, the department’s Student Development Specialist, and Dr. Roger Abshire. Other participating faculty included Professors Dr. Franzi Newell, Dr. Alex Kroeger, and Emily Cedillo.
Dr. Abshire said, “Meeting our incoming Political Science majors is always a gratifying experience. I still have fond memories of a student I met at the event several years ago who ended up in a few of my courses and eventually being able to congratulate her at her commencement ceremony.”
From June 23-27, 2025, Texas State University partnered with the University of Westminster in London for the JUST STREETS Summer School program. According to Westminster, “the week-long international [program] brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students to explore themes of urban justice, sustainability and inclusive street design.” Dr. Billy Fields, program faculty in the Political Science Department, and Dr. Rosie Ray from the Department of Geography joined the initiative alongside 14 TXST students.
The program was hosted by the School of Architecture + Cities and included visits to key locations across London where researchers were engaging with local partners. Students worked in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams, which included architects, planners, environmental scientists, and transport specialists. The purpose was to analyze London street redesign schemes and propose development ideas for different sites throughout the city.
The JUST STREETS project is an €11 million initiative that involves 32 international partners across the private and public sectors. It aims to create streets that are safer, greener, and more inclusive for all while supporting climate action and sustainable mobility goals. Students and faculty alike emphasized the project’s value in sparking creative and community-focused design ideas, helping them envision streets that support climate resilience and human connection. Aligning with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the project highlights the universities’ broader strategies of grounding their teaching and research in sustainability, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Fields said, “The program explored real world challenges to make streets safer in 3 areas of London and resulted in a set of recommendations by the student teams. After working in London, the students traveled to work with the University of Amsterdam to continue work on the Just Streets project. The students produced a series of videos compiling lessons learned from London and Amsterdam. After an intense two weeks, students returned home and compiled a report on best practices targeted to help the City of San Marcos’ green alley program.”
Students interested in participating next year are urged to contact Dr. Fields (wf16@txstate.edu) or Dr. Ray (wsj17@txstate.edu) for more information. Read more on Westminster’s webpage here.
On Monday, June 9, the Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program Graduation was held on Friday in the Capitol Auditorium at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Following the program, a reception for the graduates and their guests was held in the Legislative Conference Room of the Capitol Extension. 105 graduates were recognized for their hard work in the program.
Dr. Miha Vindis, Director of the Texas CPM Program welcomed the graduates and their guests and introduced Mr. Alan Borjorquez to deliver the graduation address. Borjorquez, Principal Attorney at the Bojorquez Law Firm, has dedicated decades to serving municipal governments across Texas. A recognized authority in the field, he is the author of the Texas Municipal Law & Procedure Manual and co-founder of City Hall Essentials, a consulting and training firm focused on local governance. For more than 21 years, Alan has been a highly active instructor in the Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program, teaching numerous courses statewide each year. His message to graduates included 5 suggestions for career success: Expertise, Awareness, Devotion, Passon, and Connection. You can view the graduate address here.
The Texas CPM Program is a consortium of Texas Universities that operates under the umbrella of Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service. It has been in continuous service since 1995 and across its 30-year history has graduated over 2,600 public and not-for-profit sector employees from the program.
The universities that participated in the June 9, 2025 CPM Graduation were Stephen F. Austin University (6), Texas A&M International University (14), Texas State University Arlington (26), Texas State University Round Rock/San Marcos (4), Texas State University Statewide Online Program (11), University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley (44).
The Round Rock/San Marcos Texas State University graduates included Allyson Iiams, Mackenzie Rothrock, Nathaniel Glaiser, and Vicky Steffanic.
Mackenzie Rothrock, who earned her Master of Public Administration degree in December 2024, said, “The Certified Public Manager program was a truly rewarding experience. The courses were insightful and thought-provoking, and I gained valuable knowledge and fresh perspectives that I’ll carry forward in my career. One of the highlights was connecting with a network of dedicated professionals—those relationships have been just as impactful as the lessons learned.”
For additional information about the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service or the Texas CPM Program, please contact Dr. Howard R. Balanoff, Director of the Hobby Center for Public Service at hb02@txstate.edu and/or Dr. Miha Vindis, Director of the Texas CPM Program at mvindis@txstate.edu. For the graduation program, click here.
On Saturday, June 7, 2025, CenTex ASPA conducted its annual awards luncheon in honor of Public Service Recognition Week. The luncheon was held at Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar and Courtyard in San Marcos. The featured speakers at the awards luncheon were Dr. Jeremy Suri, the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and Mr. Alan Bojorquez, attorney and CEO of The Bojorquez Law Firm.
At the Luncheon, recognition and awards were presented to faculty and students from Texas State University’s Master of Public Administration Program, Texas A&M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. Alan Bojorquez, attorney and CEO of The Bojorquez Law Firm, and his wife Sheila Bojorquez, president and CEO of City Hall Essentials, both received the 2025 William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award. This award was created and named to honor former Texas Lt. Governor, who had dedicated his career to public service. The LBJ School’s Dr. Jeremi Suri, who serves as the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs and as Professor of Public Affairs and History, received the CenTex ASPA Distinguished Faculty Award for his outstanding service and contributions.
In addition, students from Texas State’s MPA Program were recognized for their scholarly achievements and were inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Inductees included Laura Salazar-Brown, Nicholas Delaunay, Md Mostafa Jalal, Antonio Mireles, Rachel H. Hoban, Brian Padilla, Mackenzie Rothrock, and Brayden Worley.
The James McGrew Research Award was given to the following students: Ashley Giraud for her Applied Research Project entitled “Post-Adoption Contact Agreement Legislation: A Systematic Assessment of Individual State Legislation,” directed by Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan; Brayden Worley for his Applied Research Project entitled “The Impact of Budget Allocation on Student Performance: A Study of Rural K-12 Public School Districts in Texas,” also directed by Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan; and a group of students from the Bush School of Government & Public Service for their Capstone Project entitled “Data, Disclosure, and Discrepancies: An Analysis of FARA Reporting and Reform.”
Md Mostafa Jalal was recognized for the William P. Hobby Management Fellowship with the City of San Marcos. Scholarships were also presented to a number of Texas State students:
Mst Thahsina Aktar Asha (William P. Hobby)
Savanna Batson (William P. Hobby)
Remigio Casanova (William P. Hobby)
Dylann Engle (Barney Knight)
Reagan Haik (William P. Hobby)
Miguel Perez (William P. Hobby)
Mackenzie Rothrock (William P. Hobby)
Sonia Shahsavari (William P. Hobby)
Kaden Tucker (William P. Hobby)
Daphne Williams (William P. Hobby)
The faculty that attended included Dean Mary Brennan, Dr. Kenneth Grasso, Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Dr. Helen Lowman, and Dr. Howard Balanoff. Dr. Balanoff, professor and Director of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, serves as Editor in Chief of ASPA’s Good Governance Worldwide and Chair of ASPA’s Section for Public Management Practice.
Of the event, Dr. Balanoff said, “Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service is proud to be the sponsor the 2025 Public Service Recognition Awards Ceremony for the CENTEX Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). The 2025 Awards celebration recognized distinguished practicing administrators for their public service. The Awards Luncheon also recognized faculty and students from the participating schools for their outstanding research and scholarly achievements.”
The CenTex ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Awards Luncheon was sponsored by Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service. The Luncheon program began with a meet and greet reception, which was followed by a plated lunch for approximately 50 attendees. The awards program was followed by a brief meeting of CenTex ASPA’s Officers and Governing Board Members to discuss selection of program events and activities for the future.
For additional information about CENTEX ASPA’s activities and events, please contact Fred Bell, CenTex ASPA President at fred_bell@sbcglobal.net. For additional information about the activities and programs of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, please contact Dr. Howard Balanoff at hb02@txstate.edu.
The Department of Political Science houses two academic journals, an international mediation newsletter, and two program magazines - Political Science's Alumni NewsWire and Public Administration's Public Matters.
