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 Thursday, April 9, the Graduate College and its partners hosted the annual Graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC) in the LBJ Ballroom. The Department of Political Science served as a partner, and two Masters of Public Administration (MPA) students represented the department at the event.
Hannah Amaya presented her Applied Research Project (ARP) entitled “Gauging Interagency Collaboration in the ‘One County, One Protocol’ Model for School Emergency Management in Hays County, Texas.” Building on her experience as an intern with Hays County Office of Emergency Services, Hannah’s research seeks to examine the practical ideal type for interagency collaboration. To do this, she conducted and analyzed ten semi-structured interviews with law enforcement, school administration, and emergency management representatives.
Reagan Haik presented her paper entitled “Incarceration, Race, Healthcare, and Poverty in Louisiana.” This paper aligns the dimensions of health, race, poverty, and justice within a local policy framework by examining the strategic documents of selected parishes in Louisiana. She found significant gaps in parishes’ abilities to comprehensively address public health issues related to incarceration, and she provided practical recommendations for professionals to address these discovered gaps.
Both students spoke about how exciting the GSRC was, emphasizing the benefits of practicing public speaking, presentation skills, and research skills. They expressed how rewarding it was to share their hard work with attendees from a variety of backgrounds. Both students have served as Graduate Instructional Assistants for the last two years, and they are expected to graduate this May.
The Graduate College thanks the 2026 GSRC sponsors: The IDEA Center, The Division of Research, the College of Applied Arts, McCoy College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Engineering, and the College of Fine Arts & Communication.
On Thursday, April 2, the Department of Political Science’s Pre-Law Program hosted an informational session. The purpose of the event was for TXST students who are interested in law school to hear from a representative from Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Dedman School of Law. Dean Erika Fadel presented to almost 30 students about law school challenges and opportunities, both at SMU and across the nation. She discussed the admissions process, the academic environment, and student life at SMU.
Her presentation was followed by a question and answer session.
One student said, “I love how TXST creates opportunities to think about future plans for our students! It gives me the chance to see if something is a good fit for me.”
For more information about the Pre-Law Program at TXST, visit the website here or email Pre-Law Faculty Advisor Dr. Kenneth Ward at kw12@txstate.edu.
On Tuesday, April 7, Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) hosted a meeting for 12 of its members.
Officers discussed Dr. Tom Dyle’s recent talk on the impending expiration of the New START Treaty, where he argued that arms control fosters trust and restraint, while its expiration could lead to renewed nuclear competition, modernization, and increased global risk. They also highlighted Dr. Franziska Newell’s discussion at a Spring 2026 Inklings gathering, which examined how European states are responding to demands for the return of colonial-era artifacts. Officers also informed members about the Careers in Politics Conference taking place on April 11, 2026, at UT Austin, and they gave a preview about the executive board applications that will be available soon.
Members spent the remainder of the meeting conducting a courtroom-style debate. Members were assigned positions to either defend or oppose a variety of topics within a limited time, followed by a final decision from a designated judge.
In related news, SWIPS was recently featured in an article published by the University Star. The organization was recognized for its continued efforts to empower and support women in the field of political science. In the recent opinion piece, SWIPS highlighted the importance of creating inclusive spaces that encourage women to explore academic and professional opportunities in a traditionally male-dominated discipline. The feature highlights SWIPS’ broader mission to promote representation, confidence and access for women in political science and beyond.
Access the article through the University Star here.
SWIPS is a nonpartisan women’s organization at Texas State University. This professional education and development organization is dedicated to helping political science majors and other students explore the various aspects of political science, enabling them to pursue their professional and academic interests. SWIPS meets every other Tuesday at 6:00PM in THH 406.
If you’d like to learn more information about this organization, please contact SWIPS President Ashlee Chrisman at edh84@txstate.edu.
On March 24 and March 31, 2026, the Texas State Mock Trial Competition Team conducted its first ever scrimmage rounds at the Trauth-Huffman Hall (THH) Moot Court Room.
The scrimmage rounds simulated a full-scale civil trial of the case of NITA Fire and Casualty Co. v. Rubino. This is a hypothetical case involving the allegation of fraud after the NITA insurance company received reports of alleged arson by Mr. Rubino, upon being issued the $294,000 fire insurance claim for his dry-cleaning business.
Texas State Professor Dr. David Levy of the Department of Legal Studies acted as judge for both scrimmage rounds. After an intensive two hours of continuous trial, the judge issued a ruling finding for the Defendant on Day 1, and for the Plaintiff on Day 2.
While these rounds were only considered as “friendly scrimmages” within the organization, the trial demos allowed its members to experience a run-through of a full civil trial. Throughout the rounds, every cross examination and every objection made, sharpened the members’ public speaking, legal reasoning, and collaborative teamwork skills. As the Mock Trial Team looks forward to catapult itself into the competitive arena of inter-school mock trial tournaments in the very near future, these scrimmages really presented a good opportunity for its members to get a real “feel for the game.”
The team expressed its thanks to Dr. Kenneth Grasso and his entire Department of Political Science staff who made this event possible. The organization would also like to thank its faculty advisors Dr. David Levy and Dr. Christopher Brown for their unending support. They also recognize the efforts of the students who took their time to serve as evaluators for these rounds.
The officers had a message for the rest of the student body: “We invite you to be a part of our organization!”
The Mock Trial Team at Texas State University is a competitive academic organization that prepares students for intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Founded in 2025, the team provides members with hands-on legal experience through trial simulations, workshops, and guest speaker events. Open to students of all majors, the organization emphasizes skill development, collaboration, and preparation for future legal careers.
For additional information, email Dr. David Levy at kia38@txstate.edu or visit the official Instagram page here (@txstatemocktrial).
Students from Texas State University’s Model Arab League recently competed in two conferences: a regional conference held February 21–23 in Houston, TX, and a national conference held March 26 – 29 in Washington, D.C.
These two conferences brought together university delegations from across the nation to represent member states of the Arab League in committee-based negotiations. Drawing on months of preparation in parliamentary procedure, policy research, and public speaking, Texas State students drafted resolutions, negotiated compromises, and built coalitions with peers from other institutions.
At the regional conference, TXST earned top recognition after competing in a diplomatic simulation focused on contemporary issues facing the Arab world. Texas State competed against the University of Houston’s Honors College, Centenary College of Louisiana, and Houston Community College, among others. The 19th Annual Bilateral Model Arab League was hosted by the Bilateral Chamber.
Their efforts culminated at the closing ceremony, where two members of the Texas State delegation received the Distinguished Delegate Award for their representation of Lebanon in the Joint Defense Council. The recipients were Raihaan Girish and Alexandra Galdamez. The award recognized the team’s subject-matter expertise, diplomatic leadership, and effectiveness during committee sessions.
Raihaan Girish, the president of the organization, said, “It was really interesting to plan everything and compete with different schools. It was definitely a big transition for us since we were all encountering this type of competition for the first time. We’re from different backgrounds, but we pulled off a great showing!”
TXST also experienced success at the national conference. Texas State competed against Indiana University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Houston, among others. Alexandra Galdamez and Briana Ruiz won the Superior Delegation Award for their representation of the United Arab Emirates in the Council on Environmental Affairs.
Dr. Hassan Tajalli, faculty coordinator of the student organization, said, “Enthusiasm is hard work with a grin – and it always pays dividends. After weeks of research and debate, our students didn’t just study Middle East policy – they wrote it.”
Model Arab League provides students with hands-on experience in international diplomacy, allowing participants to develop negotiation, research, and leadership skills while engaging with complex global policy challenges. For more information, contact Dr. Hassan Tajalli at tajalli@txstate.edu.
On Wednesday, March 25, over 200 students attended a Midterm Check-In event hosted by the Department of Political Science. Thirteen university support departments attended to provide students with resources before registration for Summer/Fall 2026. These departments were First Gen, Library Services, SLAC, Student Involvement and Engagement, Counseling Center, Writing Center, Pre-Law, Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Disability Services, Career Services, HealthyCats, and Pi Sigma Alpha.
Refreshments and departmental swag were readily available, including t-shirts, stickers, and lanyards. Students had the opportunity to speak to the various representatives about their interests and concerns. For instance, HealthyCats was able to provide information about the Student Health Center’s resources while Academic Advising was able to assist students with their questions about registration for upcoming semesters.
Student Development Specialist Melissa Rendon coordinated the wildly successful event. “The mid‑term check‑in event was a success,” Ms. Rendon said. “This event is one of my favorites each year because it also allows me to check in with students during a particularly stressful period. Students shared that they felt supported by our department, and the campus partners who tabled expressed how grateful they were for the chance to connect with students. One department even shared that after last year’s mid‑term check‑in, they met a student whom they eventually hired to join their team. That’s exactly what this event is all about – connecting students with the resources and opportunities they need. We are truly grateful for the university‑wide support that made this possible.”
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.
