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.
Dr. Will Moravits represented Texas State University at Rodriguez Elementary School’s second annual Career Day. His talk to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students focused on what a college professor does. Dr. Moravits’s presentation explored how you go about becoming a college professor, what the qualifications were, the means by which prospective students might become a college professor, and the subject matters that college professors can teach.
Rodriguez Elementary School’s Career Day invites a variety of professionals from a wide array of occupations, including that of public safety, in order to introduce students to the intricacies of today’s labor force in an accessible way.
Dr. Moravits is a lecturer of political science at Texas State University and has previously taught for Texas A&M University at San Antonio, St. Philip’s College, and Northeast Lakeview College. A former high school teacher, he was also a police officer for the City of San Marcos, Texas, having graduated as the Top Cadet from the 77th Basic Training Academy of the University of Texas at Austin. His publications include The Blue Divide: Policing and Race in America (Houndstooth Publishers, 2022).
On Monday, May 4, the Department of Political Science hosted a farewell gathering for four faculty members. Drs. Cecilia Castillo, John Burke, Ezekiel Loseke, and Prof. Jordan Villarreal were celebrated for their contributions to the department during their time at Texas State. Faculty, staff, and students attended the sendoff wishing them the best in their future endeavors.
Dr. Cecilia Castillo has been with TXST since 1991. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Classics from the University of Dallas. She received her Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas, which she had also attended as an undergraduate. During her time at Texas State, she served as the director of the Master of Arts in Political Science program for two decades, as a member of the Texas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for 17 years, and as the managing editor of the Catholic Social Science Review for 11 years.
Dr. John Francis Burke received his received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame. He had previously taught at TXST in the 1980s. His books include Mestizo Democracy: The Politics of Crossing Borders (Texas A&M Press, 2002), and he has published articles in a wide variety of journals including the Review of Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Peace and Justice Studies.
Dr. Ezekiel Loseke received his M.A. in Political Science from Texas State University, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Hillsdale College. During his time at Texas State, he served as the faculty advisor for the Rho Eta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society; the coordinator for Graduate Instructional Assistants; and book review editor for the Catholic Social Science Review.
Prof. Jordan Villarreal received his M.A. in Political Science at Texas State University. During his time here, over and above teaching incoming freshman during a time of historically high enrollment levels at the university, he also helped direct the department’s Discourse in Democracy programming and the Poli Sci Inklings talks.
“We want to thank these faculty members for all they have contributed over the years to the department and university,” stated Department Chair Ken Grasso. “They will be missed.”
On Saturday, May 2, the Texas State chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, hosted its annual induction dinner at Palmer’s Restaurant Bar & Courtyard. It was a night of celebration to commemorate the academic achievement and perseverance of its members. President Sarah Trayhan and faculty sponsor Dr. Ezekiel Loseke inducted the new members.
Ten new members were inducted: Amru Fadl, Amelie Juarez, Elisabeth Faidi, Elena Cavo, Hannah Kriese, Hillary Ruedas, Jayla Palmer, Kyle Sanger, Victoria Vicuna, and Abena Amankwa.
President Sarah Trayhan said, “I am so happy to honor all the new members of Pi Sigma Alpha!” Dr. Loseke added that “it was wonderful to see so many young scholars interested in political science.”
Chapter Rho Eta of Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society chapter at Texas State University. Open to eligible political science, public administration, and legal studies majors and minors, Pi Sigma Alpha’s goal is to connect those interested in politics and policy with a wide variety of professionals from across the state and help its members get jobs, internships, and experience before and after college.
Those interested in learning more about the Rho Eta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha should check out the chapter’s page on the department website here or contact President Sarah Trayhan at hvc13@txstate.edu.
The Chancellor’s U.S. Capitol Internship Program is a new System-wide initiative that provides financial support for TXST students seeking the unique opportunity to serve as Congressional and public policy interns in Washington, D.C. Interns engage with and develop a greater understanding of the policymaking and legislative processes while gaining invaluable professional skills, practical government work experience, and a more robust professional network.
This is the second class of Chancellor’s scholars to represent Texas State in Washington, D.C. The following students served during the Spring 2026 semester.
Alexandra J. Johannigman – Representative Greg Casar (TX)
Morgan C. Blakley – Representative Monica De La Cruz (TX)
Eduardo Almanza – Representative Henry Cuellar (TX)
Miguel Perez – Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX)
Trinity Sutherland – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA)
Alexandra Johannigman, an MPA student, shared her experience. “I just completed an internship with Congressman Greg Casar’s DC office. The city’s culture and accessibility are incredible, and I am glad I made time to explore its different neighborhoods. The most valuable skill I learned during this internship was how to write concise, consistent legislative correspondence. The most memorable experience was the breakfast I shared with the Congressman and his family. It felt wonderful to converse with someone I have admired for years and to create a meaningful connection. Additionally, I felt honored to have the privilege of being invited to have a delicious breakfast at the Democratic National Club.” She concluded with advice for future interns, stating, “This experience is what you make it. If you put yourself out there, maintain a great attitude, and make time for things you enjoy, you will have a wonderful time.”
Please find more information about the U.S. Chancellor’s Capitol Internship here or contact Dr. Vance McMahan at tvm20@txstate.edu.
Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) recently hosted its final meetings of the Spring 2026 semester.
On April 21, members were able to enjoy a “Study With SWIPS” session, where attendees worked on their upcoming assignments and prepared for their final exams. Additionally, officers shared several announcements, highlighting the student worker openings the Department of Political Science is currently hiring via applications on Handshake and that SWIPS is seeking applicants for two open positions (Treasurer and Outreach Coordinator) for the 2026–2027 academic year.
On May 5, SWIPS hosted its final meeting of the Spring 2026 semester. Officers shared that Texas State has officially approved a minor in pre-law for students who are considering law school or who simply have an interest in law. The minor consists of 18 credit hours total, including 12 hours of required courses and 6 hours of electives. Interested students should visit the informational webpage on minors here or contact Dr. Ken Ward at kw12@txstate.edu with any questions or concerns regarding the program. For the remainder of the meeting, members played various games to bond with one another and provide a stress reliever during finals season.
The officers for the 2026 Fall semester are as follows:
Ihechi Diribe — President
Benedict Kazadi — Vice President
Favour Madojutimi — Secretary
Ashlee Chrisman — Senior Advisor
Additional officer roles for the fall are still open. Contact President Ihechi Diribe at tbd50@txstate.edu for more information on how to apply.
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 Ihechi Diribe at tbd50@txstate.edu.
On Saturday, April 25, Professors Roger Abshire, Mari Garza, and Emily Cedillo represented the Department of Political Science at the university’s second Bobcat Day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The event welcomed thousands of prospective students and their families to campus for a closer look at what Texas State University has to offer. During the program, faculty members met with attendees to discuss academic opportunities and provide insight into both the field of political science and the department itself. They connected with more than 100 students and parents, answering questions about political science, public administration, and pre-law while sharing informational materials on degree options, course requirements, internships, career pathways, and available classes.
Dr. Roger Abshire emphasized the value of the event, stating, “Bobcat Day is a great opportunity for the Department to make an outstanding first impression on prospective Political Science students.”
There are two Bobcat days per semester. You can visit the event’s website here.
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.
