Department News

Department students and faculty participate in 52nd annual meeting of the ArkPSA

Several students and faculty members of the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies attended and participated in the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas on March 7-8, 2025. Three faculty members served on the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2024-2025, including Dr. Heather Yates (President), Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan (Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review), and Dr. Mark Elrod (At-Large Member).

On Friday, March 7th, Abbie Asher (political science and public administration) and Emily Temple (political science and public administration) presented research papers focusing on election administration and voter turnout in Arkansas on the American Election Studies and Analysis undergraduate panel. Julien Mrad (linguistics and international studies), and Daegon Schaal (political science and international studies) co-presented a research paper with Dr. Mark Mullenbach titled “Voting Behavior on UN General Assembly Resolutions concerning the Russian-Ukrainian War, 2022-2023: An Analysis of the Effects of U.S. Military Alliances and Security Partnerships” on the International Relations/Comparative Politics panel. On the same panel, Dr. Hyo-Won Shin presented a research paper titled “Imagining Intergroup Contact Method of Improving Outgroup Relations in Ethnically Diverse Contexts.” Dr. Heather Yates chaired a roundtable discussion on the Status of Women and Gender in Politics and the 2024 Presidential Election, which included the participation of Dr. Bailey Fairbanks. Dr. Yates co-presented a research paper titled “The 2024 Presidential Election in Arkansas: All Politics in National”, on the State & Local Politics/American Politics panel. Dr. Kisha Hardwick served as chair and discussant for the Public Policy/Public Administration panel. Dr. Clay Arnold participated in a roundtable discussion of Demarcating the (Un)livable. During the Friday evening dinner, Dr. Mullenbach presented Dr. Arnold with the ArkPSA’s Distinguished Scholar award for his 20 years of accomplishments in political science teaching, research service, and administration at UCA. In addition, Dr. George C. Edwards III, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies Emeritus at Texas A&M University, gave the keynote address on the topic, “Faulty Premises: The Flawed Foundations of the Electoral College.”

On Saturday, March 8th, Dr. Fairbanks participated in a roundtable discussion of Servicing Learning Activities in Arkansas. Dr. Yates participated in a roundtable discussion of the 2024 Elections in Arkansas and Beyond. Dr. Arnold was the discussant on a panel focusing on the book, The Dissident Politics in Vaclav Havel’s Plays, written by Dr. Carol Strong of the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Dr. Yates was a participant on a panel focusing on the book, The Rise of the GOP in Arkansas, written by Dr. John Davis of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh chaired a roundtable discussion of Geopolitics and International Security, which included Dr. Mark Elrod and other scholars. During the Saturday afternoon luncheon, State Senator Breanne Davis of Russellville was the keynote speaker.

Posted in: ArkPSA on March 27, 2025

Jean-Francois Adoupo’ book on presidential leadership in Africa is published

Jean-Francois Régis Adoupo’s book, The New President (“Le Président Nouveau”), was recently published. The book explores the economic and political quagmires in which many African states find themselves, provides a diagnosis of the state of governance since the post-independence period, and provides a comparative case studies of transformational political leadership. The analysis focuses on traditional Africa between traditional and modern leadership, as well as countries in other regions whose systems were once beleaguered but have overcome the odds to emerge as financial hubs.

Jean-Francois graduated from UCA with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies in 2017. He earned a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Montreal in 2021. Since graduating from UCA, Jean-Francois has worked as a reintegration project assistant for the International Office for Migration (IOM) in Cote d’Ivoire in 2018-2019; a consultant for the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and the Carter Center (regional office in Cote d’Ivoire) in 2021-2022; and as a political and economic assistant at the South Korean Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire since September 2022.

Posted in: Alumni News on March 9, 2025

UCA student chosen as APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) Fellow

The American Political Science Association (APSA) announced that UCA student Blake Reano was chosen as one of the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) Fellows in 2025-2026. Blake is a senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Studies and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. Blake studies the concept of nationalism and its impact on electoral politics and political thought. Blake has also studies the Japanese language both at UCA and abroad. Blake plans to pursue a Ph.D. in political science and a teaching career. The DFP, formerly the Minority Fellowship Program, was established in 1969 as a fellowship competition to diversify the political science profession. Since 1969, the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program has designated more than 600 Fellows, both funded and unfunded, and contributed to the completion of doctoral political science programs for over 100 individuals. APSA Diversity Fellows are very active in the discipline as faculty members, researchers, and mentors.

Posted in: Student News on January 31, 2025

UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization recognized with the Bear CLAWS award

During the Friday, December 6, 2024 meeting of the UCA Board of Trustees, the UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization was recognized with the Bear CLAWS award. CLAWS, which is an acronym for Celebrating the Lofty Achievements of Our Wonderful Students, is awarded to one or more exceptional students or recognized student organizations during regularly scheduled board meetings. Accepting the CLAWS award presented by President Houston Davis were President Jaylan Harris, Vice President Emily Temple, AMUN Secretary-General Julien Mrad, and Secretary Kyle Urban. The faculty advisers for the UCA MUN are Dr. Mark Elrod and Dr. Mark Mullenbach.

Posted in: UCA Model UN on December 10, 2024

Department hosts 59th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) Conference at UCA

The Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies hosted the 59th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at the University of Central Arkansas on November 22-23, 2024. More than 500 delegates from 29 high schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri participated in the conference. Julien Mrad served as Secretary-General, and Jaylan Harris served as Deputy Secretary-General of the conference. Several UCA students, as well as students from Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, served as committee chairs, co-chairs, and legal counsels. Dr. Mark Elrod served as AMUN Conference Coordinator, and Dr. Mark Mullenbach served as AMUN Faculty Advisor Liaison.

During the opening session held in Ida Waldran Auditorium in Main Hall on Friday, November 22nd, UCA President Houston Davis gave the welcoming address to the participating delegates. In addition, six students nominated by their faculty advisors gave delegate speeches during the opening session, including Jana Abuelem (Pulaski Academy), Landen Coursey (Alma High School), Jacey Hale (Bryant High School), Seaghan Schrock (Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville), Zaid Tell (Conway High School), and Ridhi Unni (Haas Hall Academy-Bentonville).

During the closing session, the nine students who were elected Rapporteurs in their respective committees were recognized for speeches, including Kaitlyn Billera (People’s Republic of China), Michael Redlich (Ecuador), Solomon Naraine (Mauritania), Ridhi Unni (Turkey), Nyera Ali (People’s Republic of China), Patrick Sanders (Mauritania), Landen Coursey (United Kingdom), Issac Huckaba (United States of America), and Mustfa Zia (United States of America). In addition, the Outstanding Delegates for each of the committees were recognized during the closing session — Ryder Smith (United Arab Emirates) and Kaitlyn Billera (People’s Republic of China) – DISEC; Brody Mercer (United States of America) and Andrew Hayes (Mauritania) – ECOFIN; Daniel Chen (People’s Republic of China) and Solomon Naraine (Mauritania) – SOCHUM; Ahaan Bhardwaj (Bahrain) and Vesper Schumaker (Canada) – Novice GA Committee; Jack Lowenthal (People’s Republic of China) and Dylan Mercer (United States of America) – ECOSOC; Bhavana Gudipati (Indonesia) and Nyera Ali (People’s Republic of China) – HRC; Aarush Goyal (Saudi Arabia) and Balasankar Seenivasan (Germany) – Executive Board of the WFP; Salma Eid (Sierra Leone) and Landen Coursey (United Kingdom) – Security Council; Jana Abuelem (People’s Republic of China) and Paul Jonsek (Romania) – Historical Security Council; and Shruthi Nannapaneni (Lebanon) and Mustfa Zia (United States of America) – MICJ.

Following the conference, the delegation representing the People’s Republic of China (Pulaski Academy) was presented the Outstanding Delegation award. The delegations representing the United States of America (Conway High School) and Mauritania (Rockhurst High School) were presented the Outstanding Delegation Runner-Up awards. Fourteen additional delegations were presented the Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention awards, including Afghanistan (Little Rock Central High School), Bangladesh (Pulaski Academy), Belgium (Maumelle Charter High School), Brazil (Bryant High School), Democratic Republic of Congo (Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville), Ecuador (Rockhurst High School), El Salvador (Liberty High School), Germany (Little Rock Central High School), Kuwait (Pulaski Academy), Republic of Korea (Conway High School), Saudi Arabia (ASMSA), Spain (Little Rock Central High School), Sweden (Bryant High School), and Syria (Conway High School).

Posted in: AMUN on November 30, 2024

UCA students participate in 14th Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) Conference at NSU

Twelve UCA students representing the UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization participated in the 14th Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) Conference held at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The ACMUN conference was held jointly with the Oklahoma Model United Nations (OKMUN) Conference. The UCA group, which included Abdulaziz Karamah Anike, Abbie Asher, Dice Ferguson, Jaylan Harris, Nadira Souley Issaka, Moustapha Kone, Julien Mrad, Grace Mureithi, Julia Ray, Laura Carrillo Rodriguez, Kyle Urban, and Ava Walker, represented the countries of Algeria, Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Qatar, Sierra Leone, and Ukraine. The conference included simulations of the UN General Assembly (1st Committee), UN Human Rights Council (HRC), UN Security Council, and the Council of the Arab League. Dr. Mark Elrod and Dr. Mark Mullenbach, faculty members in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies, served as the faculty advisors for the UCA students. The following UCA students were recognized for their performances at the 14th ACMUN Conference: Julien Mrad – Outstanding Delegate (Security Council, Algeria); Grace Mureithi – Outstanding Delegate (UN General Assembly 1st Committee, Ukraine); and Kyle Urban – Outstanding Delegate-Honorable Mention (UN General Assembly 1st Committee, Qatar).

Posted in: ACMUN on November 3, 2024

UCA Students Commemorate 2024 Constitution Day

As part of UCA’s commemoration of Constitution Day, more than 25 students in U.S. Government & Politics courses taught by Dr. Mark Elrod recited the U.S. Constitution in Griffin Planetarium on Tuesday evening, September 17, 2024. Dr. Elrod is a lecturer in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies. The U.S. Constitution was signed by 38 delegates representing the 13 original U.S. states in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The U.S. Constitution officially entered into force on June 21, 1788.

Posted in: Constitution Day on September 21, 2024

Department presents 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Dr. Clay Arnold, Chair of the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies presented distinguished alumni awards to Dakisha Wesley and Dexter Pearson during a reception hosted by the department in Buffalo Alumni Hall on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Several alumni, faculty, students, and other guests attending the reception were welcomed by Dr. Michael Hargis, UCA Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in May 2000 with a BS degree in Public Administration, Dakisha Wesley is currently the Assistant County Manager in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Dexter Pearson graduated from UCA in May 2001 with a BS degree in Public Administration, and he is currently a Business Relationship Strategist and Real Estate Developer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington DC. During the reception, faculty members spoke about the department’s three academic programs, including political science (BA/BS), public administration (BPA), and international studies (BA). Faculty members also gave updates on the department’s undergraduate scholarly journal, The UCA Journal of Government, Public Service, and International Relations (which recently published its first volume of undergraduate student research) and the department’s Student Experiential Learning Fund (SELF).

Posted in: Distinguished Alumnus Award on September 14, 2024

Department hosts the 2024 International Affairs Summer Camp at UCA

The Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies hosted the Arkansas and the World: International Affairs Summer Camp at the University of Central Arkansas on July 14-19, 2024. Previous summer camps were hosted by the department in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. Forty-eight Arkansas high school students participated in a unique, interactive learning experience designed to enhance their understanding of international relations, international organizations, and diplomacy. Early in the week, students participated in educational workshops on international relations, the United Nations, and fundamentals of Model United Nations. The students represented assigned countries in interactive simulations of the UN General Assembly, including committee and plenary sessions of the UN General Assembly throughout the week. During the week-long summer camp, students participated in several group competitions, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Poster Competition and the Global Trivia Competition. The students also participated in the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) Letters of Hope project on Wednesday evening.

The International Affairs Summer Camp was funded by an Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer (AEGIS) grant awarded to the department by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies, served as Summer Camp Director. Dr. Bailey Fairbanks, Assistant Professor of Political Science, served as the Assistant Summer Camp Director. Current and former students at UCA and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville – including Lia Wilson, Julien Mrad, Aminatou Adeniji, Jaylan Harris, Allison Dorer, Jayden Patel, and Zachary Claesen – served on the summer camp staff as resident assistants/counselors. Guest speakers during the summer camp included Sarah Fulmer, a UCA graduate who talked about the United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program at Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy & International Relations; Joshua Nunley, a UCA student who discussed his study abroad program in Costa Rica; Dr. Adnan Rasool, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee-Martin; Shane Hough, the Diplomat-in-Residence at Tulane University; and Jerry Adams, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) in Washington DC and Little Rock.

Posted in: International Affairs Summer Camp on August 10, 2024

Political Science alumnus earns master’s degree at Texas A&M

Benjamin Kaminar, who graduated from UCA with a BA degree in Political Science in May 2004, earned a Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) degree from the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University in May 2024. After graduating from UCA, Ben earned a MA degree in International Relations and a JD degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas in 2007. Ben served as a Field Artillery Officer in the Texas Army National Guard from 2007 to 2018, including overseas military service in Iraq in 2009-2010. Ben served as Assistant Criminal District Attorney in Fannin County, Texas from 2011 to 2017. Since 2017, Ben has served in the Lamar County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office as Assistant County & District Attorney (2017-2021) and First Assistant County & District Attorney (2021-present). Ben is married to Sarah (Freeman) Kaminar, who earned a BA degree in Political Science from UCA in 2005 and a JD degree from Baylor University in 2009. Sarah is currently an Associate Attorney with The Moore Law Firm in Paris, Texas. The couple, along with their daughter Zoe, reside in Paris, Texas.

Posted in: Alumni News on May 19, 2024