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.
The Department of Political Science’s Dr. Miha Vindis was recently appointed Chair of the National Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Consortium. Dr. Vindis serves as a Professor of Practice in the department and directs the Texas Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program.
The National CPM Consortium acts as the national governing body that supports CPM programs across the United States. The organization sets standards, coordinates accreditation, and fosters collaboration among state and university partners to strengthen the program’s national impact. In this new role, Dr. Vindis will focus on four strategic priorities: expanding the number of CPM programs nationwide, supporting upcoming reaccreditations, advancing international program growth, and strengthening university-based pathways that allow students to earn academic credit through CPM coursework.
“We are working with multiple states to build new CPM programs, and I am excited to help support that growth,” Dr. Vindis noted. Dr. Vindis also emphasized the Consortium’s commitment to international collaboration, including ongoing work with colleagues in Jamaica as they move toward launching a CPM program.
He added that it was important that the leadership remain grounded in the realities of public service work and the importance of professional networks. “Public service is demanding, and public servants carry a tremendous responsibility to their communities every day,” Dr. Vindis said. “The CPM Consortium helps programs deliver practical training, but it also supports something equally important: the relationships, peer learning, and alumni networks that help public servants lead more effectively. When public servants are supported, communities benefit, and that strengthens our states and our country.”
For more information on the National CPM Consortium, visit their webpages here (Texas) and here (National).
On Sunday, December 7, the Department of Political Science held its annual holiday party at Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar, and Courtyard in San Marcos. Over 100 faculty, staff, graduate assistants, student workers, and their families were brought together for the event. The festive gathering offered a chance for colleagues to unwind at the end of the semester, share conversations across roles, and enjoy a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Guests were treated to a spread of Palmer’s signature dishes, and the courtyard buzzed with the laughter of the children in attendance. The children – and their parents – also enjoyed a colorful cookie-decorating station stocked with icing, sprinkles, and holiday-themed treats. The activity quickly became a cheerful centerpiece of the event. Drs. David Levy and John Burke, along with Dr. Burle’s wife, Mary Jane DeLarosa Burke, supplied the musical entertainment.
The evening closed with smiles, full bellies, and a renewed sense of community. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season and celebrate another productive year for the department. Isabel Duarte, a graduate assistant that was present, said, “It was really nice to socialize with professors outside a strictly professional setting. Dressing up and going out was a super fun way to ring in the holidays and finish out the year. I’ll definitely be back next year!”
The Department of Political Science thanks all those who worked very hard to make the party a success, and it especially thanks Dr. Balanoff and the Hobby Center for their continued support of this annual event.
On Tuesday, December 2, Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) held a game night to help students relax and relieve stress before finals week. The thirteen attendees spent the evening playing a variety of games, and at the end, officers reminded members about the two new officer positions becoming available, with applications being sent out soon.
As always, refreshments were provided by the Political Science Department, making the event even more fun, relaxing, and social. The officers were “very pleased to be closing out the semester on such a positive note.”
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 Lauren Garcia at xjr11@txstate.edu.
On Tuesday, December 2, the Department of Political Science’s staff attended the annual President’s Faculty and Staff Holiday Party. President Kelly Damphousse and his wife Beth welcomed people from all across campus to celebrate the holiday season and the approaching end of the semester.
The theme of the party was Ugly Sweaters, and the Department of Political Science brought their all to the contest. Administrative Assistant III Alexis Finley and Microcomputer Lab Coordinator Dmitri Meza wore their ugliest holiday sweaters and secured a second-place award for their efforts.
Alexis said, “It was a blast. Next year we’ll be aiming for that first-place prize.” She joked that they were getting paid “one salary” for entering the contest.
Dmitri echoed these sentiments, saying, ”I had a really fun time. It was very festive and definitely helped me get in the holiday mood! I would like to start this as a tradition – maybe next year we can get 1st place!”
On Thursday, November 20, Myric Polhemus, VP of Talent and HR Technology at HEB and TXST alumnus, gave a presentation on “The Power of a Liberal Arts Degree” in Flowers Hall 230. The College of Liberal Arts sponsored the event.
Mr. Polhemus discussed the usefulness of his liberal arts degree using examples from his everyday work with HEB. Learning how to learn has been at the center of his growth as a person and a professional. He shared the important distinctions between domain-specific skills and transferable skills. He compared the skills that students in liberal arts develop through their classes with skills that workplaces need. Skills like close reading, persuasive writing, critical thinking, and clear communication acquired in your liberal arts major will set you up for success in the workplace.
One attendee said, “Myric was a brilliant and valuable speaker to listen to. Not only did he give us great information, but he also gave me hope and encouragement that I am pursing the right path with my COLA degree.”
Melissa Rendon, Student Development Specialist with the Political Science Department, said, “I found the lecture delivered by Myric Polhemus, Vice President for Talent Acquisition at H-E-B, to be highly insightful and practical. His presentation offered students and served as a reminder for faculty and staff, strategies for developing the skill of ‘learning how to learn.’ What stood out the most was his perspective on the transferability of Liberal Arts skills and how these competencies can be intentionally developed and applied in professional settings. His practical strategies for building these skills for future success were spot-on and highly relevant for both students and educators.”
On Friday, November 14, the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) hosted a symposium at Texas State University’s Round Rock campus. The event was sponsored by TXST’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service and targeted professionals and students within ASPA, the Masters of Public Administration program, and the Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program. The symposium opened with remarks from various professionals including Dr. Howard Balanoff, Professor & Director, Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, and Editor-in-Chief, Good Governance Worldwide; Dustin Haisler, Chief Innovation Officer, e.Republic; and Fred Bell, President, CENTEX Chapter of ASPA.
Dustin Haisler, Chief AI Officer & US GM for Darwin AI Former President of e.Republic and publisher of Government Technology, gave a presentation entitled “Artificial Intelligence (AI): Assessing its Impact on the Public Sector.” He discussed AI updates, methods of using AI to improve workforce output, and important safety information.
Harvey Kronberg, noted political analyst & editor of the Quorum Report gave spoke about “Texas Politics, Policy, and Government.” In it, he shared recent updates on the activities of the Texas government and legislature.
“Ten Texas Traits of Good Government & City Hall Essentials: A Resource for Local Government Managers” was presented by Alan Bojorquez, Attorney & Chief Executive Office of the Bojorquez Law Firm, and his wife Sheila Bojorquez, President & CEO of City Hall Essentials. The ten traits he discussed were respectfulness, responsiveness, effectiveness, transparency, competency, ethics, lawfulness, innovation, economics, and accountability.
Austin Ellington, Digital Communications Coordinator for the City of Round Rock, presented “How Public Sector Employees Can Successfully Utilize Social Media in their Organizations.” He discussed the importance of communication, technology, and service to the community.
During the symposium, the William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award was presented to John R. Milford, retired faculty at UT Rio-Grande Valley and Director of the Texas CPM Program in the Lower Rio-Grande Valley. A career public servant, Milford has devoted decades to cities across the country. His saying, “don’t tell me no, tell me when,” served as an encouragement to everyone present.
For more information about this symposium, visit the webpage here or 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.
