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 Saturday, May 3, Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, hosted its annual induction dinner at Saltgrass. It was a night of celebration to commemorate the academic achievement and perseverance of its members for their fantastic work this year.
President Sofia Hernandez and Vice President Lauren Garcia introduced the new officers, Secretary Sarah Trayhan and Treasurer Ethan Gravis.
Ten members were inducted:
Ethan Gravis
Joel Scott
Amru Fadl
Sarah Trayhan
Sahaja Montoya-Delgado
Afriyie Amankwa
Jonathan Hebler
Savannah Gomez
Litara Lam
Adrian Cornejo
Mia Coleman
Professor Ezekiel Loseke, faculty sponsor, said, “it was a pleasure to celebrate the accomplishments of such fine scholars at the Pi Sigma Alpha Induction Ceremony. I look forward to another year of advising a flourishing Pi Sigma Alpha Chapter.”
Pi Sigma Alpha is the National Political Honor Society. Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) and is designated as a “Specialized, Upper-Division” society by ACHS. Texas State’s Rho Eta Chapter welcomes both undergraduate and graduate members with 3.0 of higher GPAs in political science courses. For more information about Pi Sigma Alpha, view the website here or contact President Sofia Hernandez at yda28@txstate.edu or Professor Ezekiel Loseke at etl19@txstate.edu.
On Monday, April 28, the Department of Political Science hosted a surprise retirement party for Administrative Assistant Denise Bjerke who had been with the department for 9 years. Around 40 faculty, staff, and students gathered in Flowers Hall to share memories, express their gratitude, and celebrate Denise’s many contributions to the university community. Speakers included Department Chair Ken Grasso, MPA Director Sherri Mora, and Mary Brennan, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
“Legendary for her unwavering dedication, cheerfulness, and deep institutional knowledge” observed Grasso. “Denise has been a cornerstone of daily operations and a trusted support for faculty and students alike. Her impact on the department will be felt for many years to come. We are truly fortunate to have had someone of her caliber on our staff. She will be missed.”
Student Development Specialist Melissa Rendon, who coordinated the event, said “it was great to see so many people attend Denise’s retirement celebration. It was well deserved. We are all going to miss her and all that she does for our department and team. I hope she enjoys her retirement and comes back to see us from time to time.”
On Thursday, April 17, the Department of Political Science held its annual Awards Ceremony for the 2024-2025 school year. Departmental awards and scholarships were presented by Dr. Ken Grasso, Department Chair; Dr. Lauren Rowlands, the department’s Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs; and the department’s Associate Chair Dr. Lynn Crossett. Dr. Mary Brennan, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, distributed College of Liberal Arts Academic Excellence Certificates to juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
The Richard B. Henderson Political Science Award: Braiden Touchette, Isabella Rohlik
The James H. McCrocklin Memorial Political Science Endowed Scholarship: Joel Scott
The Bettylee & Daniel Farlow Endowed Scholarship in Political Science: Dylann Engle, Maxwell Zaborowski, Gabriel Marquez, Joel Scott
The Barney & Linda Knight Endowed Scholarship Fund: Dariella Davila, Monique Perez, Tiana Ramos, Jacob Salsgiver, Maxwell Zaborowski, Dylann Engle
The Howard M. ‘Prof’ Greene Award: Joa Brown, Brooklyn Mirakhori, Mia Escobedo
The Walter Richter Endowed Scholarship Fund: Joel Scott, Gabriel Marquez
Legal Studies Scholarships
The Dale Hardin Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Destiny Morton
The Janice E. Collins Memorial Endowed Graduate Student Scholarship in Legal Studies: Albert J. Barnes
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program will distribute its scholarships at the annual Central Texas Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration luncheon on June 7th. For more information or to register for the luncheon, visit the CenTex ASPA event page here.
On Thursday, April 10, the Department of Political Science hosted a dynamic Pre-Law event designed to connect highly motivated pre-law students with alumni mentors. 20 students attended the event, which featured a unique speed-networking format. Ten alumni lawyers, representing a diverse range of legal backgrounds, volunteered their time to offer insights and guidance. Students had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations with each lawyer, spending about eight minutes per session before rotating to the next alumnus. The event was designed by University Pre-Law Advisor, Dr. Ken Ward, to provide students with personalized mentorship, career advice, and a valuable glimpse into the day-to-day realities of practicing law.
The ten lawyers featured were Jessica Magee, George Hyde, Mo Morales, David Mendoza, Christian Vasquez, Bre Boss, Colleen Tennent, Andrew Florence, Aaron Barker, and Mari Garza.
For pre-law advising and questions about law school, please contact Dr. Ken Ward at kw12@txstate.edu.
On Thursday, April 10, 11 faculty, staff, and graduate students attended the final Inklings gathering of the semester. Dr. Susanne Sternthal, a visiting professor in the Department of Political Science, gave a presentation exploring “How Putin Became Putin.”
In her presentation, Dr. Sternthal discussed Putin’s rise to power, beginning with stories about his grandfather and father. She shared how his early upbringing in a poor family living in communal apartments shaped his outlook on life. His interest in martial arts and spy media led him to the KGB, where he spent 15 years. His time there was impacted by the fall of the Berlin Wall and Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika. Dr. Sternthal also discussed some of the highlights of Putin’s 25 years in power. Attendees asked questions about Putin’s personality, Ukraine, NATO, and his mistakes.
Dr. Sternthal received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and was a Ford Foundation Fellow in “Security and Soviet Studies.” Her book Gorbachev’s Reforms: De-Stalinization through Demilitarization was published by Praeger.
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. Meeting monthly, TXST Inklings participants discuss research, exchange ideas, and address a wide variety of issues reflecting diverse interests.
For more information on the series, please contact Dr. Arnold Leder at al04@txstate.edu.
From April 7-11, Texas State University celebrated Graduate Student Appreciation Week. This week is dedicated to recognizing the hard work, dedication, and contributions of graduate students across the university.
The Department of Political Science joined in this celebration by providing a variety of refreshments to show support for students within the department. Sandwiches, donuts, fruit, drinks, and chips were available for students, providing a much-needed break and a chance to relax between classes and assignments. Additionally, the department distributed “goodie” bags for graduate students, complete with department swag and snacks.
Dr. Ionuț Popescu, Director of the M.A. in Political Science Program, and Dr. Tom Doyle, professor in the department, hosted a Happy Hour celebration for some of their graduate students at Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard on Tuesday, April 8. Students were able to build camaraderie and discuss coursework and future plans. Dr. Popescu said, “it was also a great way to communicate informally about the program, life, politics, and other topics.”
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.
