Department of Political Science

Dr. Sheriff Folarin, a prominent Nigerian academic and visiting lecturer in the Texas State University Political Science department, returned to Africa in May and June 2024 to participate in two major conferences. He headlined the 2024 annual edition of the Rwandan National Police’s conference which focused on “Peace, Security and Justice.” His talk addressed “Contemporary Security Challenges of Africa” and explored the current dynamics in global peace, conflict, and security.

He also spoke at a Rwandan Defense Force National Security Symposium which explored themes such as sustainable national development, national security, human security, regional integration and peace, Africa’s readiness for future pandemics, internal self-reliance and mutual interdependence among Africans to avoid reliance on foreign help, and good governance. Folarin’s talk focused on “Contemporary Security Challenges of Africa” focused on the current dynamics in global peace, conflict, and security.

Both events were attended by security chiefs across Africa, as well as diplomats, high-profile government officials in Rwanda and other African countries, representative of the United Nations, the African Union and officials of sub-regional organizations, academics, students of the Police College, and members of the general public.

On May 17th, Austin’s KVUE TV News interviewed department chair Dr. Kenneth Grasso about the potential cancellation of the September 16th presidential debate at Texas State University sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Despite the fact that the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has been organizing these discussions for decades, the campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump disregarded the commission’s plans – instead announcing two new debates hosted by CNN and ABC News. They are slated to take place on June 27th and September 10th.

Grasso expressed disappointment at the likely cancellation of the Debate at Texas State, noting that it would have been the first time Texas hosted a presidential debate and that the debate would have been “a huge event, huge for the university, huge for the whole area.” The entire Texas State and San Marcos community, he continued, had been tremendously excited about hosting the event. Noting that the CPD “continues to be publicly confident that the debate on our campus will happen as scheduled,” he said that there was still a slim chance that the debate proceeds as scheduled. We’ll just have to wait “to see how this shakes out.”

On Saturday May 18, 2024, CENTEX ASPA conducted its annual Awards Luncheon in honor of Public Service Recognition Week. The luncheon was held at Palmer’s Restaurant in San Marcos.

The featured speaker at the Awards Luncheon was Dr. Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs & Professor of Public Affairs and History. The title of his presentation was “What Does Public Service Mean in 2024?”

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. Amy Ledbetter Parham, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Habitat for Humanity, received the 2024 William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award which was created and named to honor former Texas Lt. Governor, who had dedicated his career to public service.

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. Crossville Wiliams won an award for his master’s thesis entitled An Evaluative Study of a Dropout Prevention Program on African American Male Students in Central Texas High Schools. Naisargi Jaiswal was recognized for her Applied research project on Administrative Capacity in Public Administration: Insights from a Systematic Review of Scholarship. Scholarships were also resented to a number of Texas State MPA students:

Mst Thahsina Aktar Asha (Francis Rich & William P. Hobby Scholarships)

Kamryn Hannigan (Howard Balanoff Scholarship)

Mostafa Jalal (Francis Rich & William P Hobby Scholarships)

Brianna Kearns (Francis Rich & Barney Knight Scholarships)

Kaden Tucker (Barney Knight Scholarship)

Daphne Williams (Barney Knight Scholarship)

Faculty that attended included Dean Mary Brennan, Dr. Kenneth Grasso, Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Dr. Miha Vindis, Dr. Sherri Mora and Dr. Howard Balanoff. Ms. Denise Bjerke, the Department of Political Science’s office manager received a special award in recognition of her outstanding work and its contribution to the MPA Program’s success.

Dr. Balanoff mentioned that “it was a wonderful way to honor outstanding public servants, and faculty, staff and students from Texas State University’s Political Science Department, UT’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service.” 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 the approximately 70 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 contact Dr. Howard Balanoff at hb02@txstate.edu.

On April 16th, Dr. Sheriff Folarin, a visiting lecturer in the department, delivered a presentation on political clientelism and its impact on Nigerian politics at the department’s monthly Inkling’s meeting.  Attended by more than a dozen faculty members and graduate students, his presentation began by exploring the political significance of the Nigerian phrase “Emi lo kan” which translates to “It’s my turn.”  First invoked by Nigerian politician Bola Tinubu to justify his claim to the presidency, the phrase has since become a symbol of clientelism in Nigeria as it represents the complex relationship between wealthy political investors and their indebted clients.  Dr. Folarin explained how these investors use their wealth and social capital to politically elevate their clients in exchange for various acts or services such as securing political appointments, receiving preferential state contracts, or even inheriting political power all together.

Dr. Folarin also provided a historical analysis to explain how clientelism developed in the nation and offered several solutions as a panacea to alleviate the country’s clientele woes.  Some of these solutions involve reducing the attractiveness of political office and controlling the monetization of the democratic process.

The original Inklings consisted of a small group of intellectuals (whose ranks included J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) who met weekly at Oxford University to read aloud and discuss their works in a spirit of fellowship and civil conversation. In the spirit of these Inklings, the Department of Political Science at Texas State University has held similar gatherings for more than two decades.

For more information on the series, please contact Dr. Arnold Leder at al04@txstate.edu.

On Saturday evening, April 27th, Pi Sigma Alpha held its annual induction ceremony for new members. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Vance McMahan, a professor of practice in the department. Before joining the department’s faulty, at various points in his career, McMahan had worked in the governor’s office, the While House, the Department of Education, and the United Nations (where he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council).

Brandon Bain, a graduate student who attended the event, said that “Professor McMahan’s provided valuable insights into politics and governance, and emphasized e importance of public service.”

Following the speech, members were able to connect with one another and discuss their shared passion for political science over dinner. In addition to inducting new members, Pi Sigma Alpha leadership also acknowledged and commended existing members who secured internships in the Texas capital and jobs working in public policy.

Founded in 1920, Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honors society for political science. The Texas State Chapter, Rho Eta, was established in 1988 and over the last thirty years has hosted a variety of lectures and community-service projects.

Below is a list of 2023-2024 inductees:

Brandon Bain

Lauren Garcia

Olivia Carranza

Matthew Koi

Eliana Mascorro

VaNea Jones

Kenton Tudyk

Braiden Touchette

Lillian Martinez

Sofia Hernandez

Jeffrey Trott

Olivia Alexander

The new Pi Sigma Alpha president is Sofia Hernandez, and the vice president is Kenley Young.

Founded in 1920, Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honors society for political science. Today, Pi Sigma Alpha hosts chapters on nearly 850 campuses and has inducted more than 300,000 members. Its rolls feature national, state, and local political leaders including one president, three Supreme Court justices, and dozens of members of Congress. 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. If you are interested in learning more about the Rho Eta chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, check out the chapter’s page on the department website.

SWIPS (Supporting Women in Political Science) successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Women’s Leadership Summit on Friday, April 26th. The event featured a series of thought-provoking panels featuring distinguished female leaders.

The summit commenced with a keynote address by Teresa Carbajal Ravet, former president of the League of Women Voters of Hays County. Ms. Ravet addressed emerging trends for women in nonprofit leadership and the importance of fostering civic engagement from a young age. She provided valuable insights into the skills required for success in the non-profit sector and offered guidance on translating individual strengths into impactful contributions.

The following panel featured government officials Andrea Villalobos and Alicia Key, who shared their experiences in public administration. The discussion explored how community engagement and local policy decisions affect everyday lives. Ms. Villalobos detailed how her passion for design and problem-solving led to a fulfilling career in city planning, while Ms. Key offered a unique perspective as former Deputy Attorney General, highlighting the intricacies of the role and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The concluding panel brought together Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Mayor Jane Hughson, and City Councilwoman Alyssa Garza. The session delved into the changing landscape of women in politics, exploring challenges and opportunities for greater representation. The panelists addressed the realities of pursuing a career in government, from local levels to the state senate, while highlighting available resources and support systems.

Overall, the leadership of SWIPS believed the Women’s Political Science Leadership Summit provided a valuable platform for attendees to gain insights from accomplished female leaders across various sectors. With diverse perspectives and practical advice, the event empowered participants to pursue their leadership aspirations.

SWIPS is a nonpartisan women’s organization at Texas State University. They are a professional education and development organization centered around aiding political science majors and other students with exploring all facets of political science so they may discover their professional and academic interests. SWIPS meets every other Tuesday at 6:30pm. If you’d like to learn more information about this organization, you can contact SWIPS President Myleen Gamez at mlg@txstate.edu.