Department News

Department alumnus Ben Hovland speaks at UCA Honors College event

Ben Hovland, who graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science from UCA in 2000, was invited by the UCA Honors College to speak to students and faculty on the topic, “A National Perspective on the State of U.S. Election Administration for the 2022 Midterm Elections,” in Doyne Auditorium during x-period on Thursday, September 15, 2022. A graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law (JD degree) in 2007, Mr. Hovland has served as a Commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) since February 2019. The U.S. EAC, an independent, bipartisan commission, was established following the adoption of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Previously, he served as Deputy General Counsel in the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office from 2008 to 2011 and as Senior Counsel for the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee from 2013 to 2019.

Posted in: Alumni News on September 24, 2022

Department holds the 2022 Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony

The Department of Political Science held its annual induction ceremony for the Alpha Beta Theta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, on April 14, 2022. Dr. Heather Yates, Faculty Advisor for UCA’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter, announced the 2021-2022 inductees, including Madalyn Dowell, Sarah Fulmer, Madeline Kittler, Vivian Norris, and Jaycie Sturdivant. Peyton Reeves served as president of the chapter in 2021-2022, along with Aaron Conrad (Vice President), Taylor Farmer (Secretary), and Michael Langley (Treasurer). Speakers during the induction ceremony included Dr. Tom Williams, Dean of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Dr. Kim Hoffman, Director of the Public Administration Program, and Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, Director of the International Studies Program. The Department of Political Science recognized the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus and Keynote Speaker, Amy Whitehead, Chief of Staff in the Office of the UCA President. The department also honored the 2021-2022 Outstanding Students: International Studies – Kenny Vo and Vanessa Rogers-Wright; Public Administration – Montana Cramer, Aurora King, and Logan Smedley; and Political Science – Taylor Farmer and Sarah Fulmer.

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on May 10, 2022

UCA students participate in the 62nd Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in St. Louis

Six UCA students participated as delegates to the 62nd annual Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in St. Louis, Missouri on February 23-26, 2022. Students from more than 30 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. participated in the conference, including delegations from the University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, John Brown University, Lyon College, Northwest Arkansas Community College, and Ouachita Baptist University. Rachel Bowen Pittman, who serves as Executive Director of UNA-USA, gave the keynote speech during the opening session of the conference on Wednesday, Thursday, February 23rd. The UCA delegation, which represented Vietnam, consisted of Lauren Clark, Cooper Horton, Isabella Kopittke, Julien Mrad, Becca Owen, and Joshua Waack. Dr. Mark Elrod, a lecturer in the UCA Department of Political Science, was the faculty advisor for the UCA delegation to the MMUN conference. Dr. Elrod also serves as a faculty representative on the Board of Directors of the MMUN. The UCA delegation representing Vietnam was recognized as Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention for its overall performance during the conference.

(l to r): Dr. Mark Elrod, Julien Mrad, Cooper Horton, Joshua Waack, Isabella Kopittke, Becca Owen, and Lauren Clark

Posted in: UCA Model UN on March 4, 2022

Department hosts the 56th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at UCA

The Department of Political Science hosted the 56th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference on November 19-20, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the conference was held virtually for the second year. Delegates from more than 20 high schools in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas, as well as one high school in Bolivia, participated in the virtual conference. Sarah Fulmer served as Secretary-General of the conference. Dr. Mark Elrod, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, served as AMUN Conference Coordinator. Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Associate Professor of Political Science, served as AMUN Faculty Advisor Liaison. Dr. Houston Davis, UCA President, gave the welcoming address to the participating delegates during the Opening Session. The Opening Session also featured a speech by Sarah Fulmer, AMUN secretary-general.

The delegation representing Ukraine (Rockhurst High School) won the Outstanding Delegation award. The delegations representing Japan (Bentonville High School) and Kenya (Haas Hall Academy) won the Outstanding Delegation-Runner Up awards. Nine additional delegations won Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention awards, including Australia (Little Rock Catholic High School), Bangladesh (ASMSA), Jamaica (Rogers Heritage High School), Lebanon (ASMSA), Mexico (Conway High School), New Zealand (Brookland High School), Panama (ASMSA), People’s Republic of China (HarBer High School), and United Kingdom (Rogers Heritage High School).

Outstanding Delegate awards were presented to the top delegates in each of the committees, including Daniel Hiles (Ukraine) – First Committee; Nicholas Esarte (DPRK) – Second Committee; Pete Mandacina (Ukraine) – Third Committee; Veera Unnam (Guinea) – Novice General Assembly Committee; Arindam Deb (Vietnam) – Joint Security Council (SC) – Peace & Security Council (PSC) Emergency Session; Breck Tyler (Australia) – Historical Security Council; Miceala Morana (Switzerland) – Economic and Social Council; Gabriel Guerra-York (Ukraine) – Human Rights Council; and Addu Minton (Japan) – Model International Court of Justice.

Posted in: AMUN on February 10, 2022

UCA student selected for Critical Language Scholarship and the Freeman Award for Study in Asia

Vanessa Rogers-Wright, an undergraduate student majoring in International Studies and Political Science, was chosen for the Critical Language Scholarship and the Freeman Award for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA). Vanessa, who will be studying at Myongji University in Seoul, South Korea during Fall Semester 2021, is minoring in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Asian studies. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program is a U.S. Department of State-sponsored program designed to give American college students cultural immersion experiences abroad and grow the number of U.S. students who study a foreign language. The program aims to increase fluency in languages that are significant in the global workforce. Freeman-ASIA is sponsored by the Freeman Foundation, a private foundation with offices in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Freeman Foundation’s major objectives include strengthening the bonds of friendship between the United States and countries of East Asia. Through education and educational institutes, the Foundation hopes to develop a greater appreciation of Asian cultures, histories, and economies in the United States and a better understanding of the American people and of American institutions and purposes by the peoples of East Asia.

Posted in: Student News on July 27, 2021

Department holds the 2021 Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony

The Department of Political Science held a virtual induction ceremony for the Alpha Beta Theta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, on April 8, 2021. Dr. Clay Arnold, Chair of the UCA Department of Political Science, announced the 2019-2020 inductees, including Andrey Archer, Caitlin Campbell, Gwendolyn Daniels, Dylan Garrison, Margaret (Greta) Hacker, Emily Kaucher, Colton King, Matthew Law, Abby Mattingly, Lauren McHenry, Bailey Morgan, Mylon Boston, Kennedy Neely, Jackson Rouse, Zoe Tollette, Louisa Utley, Amy Vedder, and Booker (Trey) White. Dr. Arnold also announced the 2020-2021 inductees, including Aaron Conrad, Emma Davis, Taylor Farmer, Michael Frost, Javier Hernandez, Michael Langley, Ron Latina, Cara Looney, Tanner Standridge, Vanessa Rogers-Wright, and Logan Smedley. Dr. Heather Yates served as faculty advisor for the chapter, and Lauren McHenry served as president of the chapter in 2020-2021. Speakers included Mr. Sean Twonbly, Executive Director of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Chapter; UCA President Houston Davis; and Dr. Tom Williams, Dean of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

The Department of Political Science recognized the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus and Keynote Speaker, Mr. Curtis Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Mr. Barnett graduated from UCA with a degree in political science in 1986. The department also honored the 2020-2021 Outstanding Students: International Studies – Abby Mattingly, Oluwatunmise Sodiya, and Vito Whitmore; Public Administration – Margaret (Greta) Hacker, Amy Vedder, and Booker (Trey) White; and Political Science – Lauren McHenry.

Curtis Barnett

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on April 10, 2021

UCA students participate in the 61st Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference

Four UCA students participated as delegates to the 61st annual Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference on February 18-20, 2021. Students from 28 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. participated in the three-day virtual conference, including delegations from the University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, John Brown University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, and Ouachita Baptist University. Akin Aytekin, a journalist in Istanbul, and Irfan Saeed, Deputy Coordinator (Acting) of Prevention & Detention Office in the Bureau of Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State, gave the keynote speeches during the opening session of the conference on Thursday, February 18th. The UCA delegation, which represented the People’s Republic of China, consisted of Abby Mattingly, Sarah Fulmer, Michael Langley, and Vito Whitmore. Dr. Mark Elrod, faculty member in the Department of Political Science, served as the faculty advisor for the UCA delegation to the MMUN conference. Dr. Elrod was re-elected to a three-year term as a faculty representative on the Board of Directors of the MMUN. The UCA delegation representing the People’s Republic of China was recognized for several awards during the closing ceremony, including Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention (General Assembly First Committee-Sarah Fulmer), Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention (Security Council-North, Abby Mattingly), and Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention (Security Council-North, Crisis Simulation, Abby Mattingly). The UCA delegation representing the People’s Republic of China was also recognized as Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention for its overall performance.

Posted in: UCA Model UN on February 23, 2021

Department hosts the 55th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference

The Department of Political Science hosted the 55th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference on November 20-21, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the conference was held virtually. Delegates from 18 high schools in Arkansas participated in the conference. Nelson Graves served as Secretary-General of the conference. Dr. Mark Elrod, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, served as AMUN Conference Coordinator. Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Associate Professor of Political Science, served as AMUN Faculty Advisor Liaison. Dr. Houston Davis, UCA President, gave the welcoming address to the participating delegates during the Opening Session. The Opening Session also featured speeches by Nelson Graves (AMUN secretary-general) and Alex Battaglia (former AMUN secretary-general and Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic), who gave the keynote address.

The delegation representing the Czech Republic (Conway High School) won the Outstanding Delegation award. The delegations representing Canada (Bentonville High School) and Zimbabwe (ASMSA) won the Outstanding Delegation-Runner Up awards. Ten additional delegations won Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention awards, including Argentina (Conway High School), Brazil (Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville), Democratic Republic of Congo (Bentonville High School), Egypt (Conway High School), Indonesia (Conway High School), Russian Federation (Bryant High School), South Africa (Pulaski Academy), United Arab Emirates (Thaden School), United Kingdom (Thaden School), and United States of America (Bryant High School).

Outstanding Delegate awards were presented to the top delegates in each of the ten committees, including Aardra Menon (Japan) – First Committee; James Quirk (Canada) – Second Committee; Lydia Quinn (Indonesia) – Third Committee; Janet Fu (Slovak Republic) – Novice General Assembly Committee; Knox Graham (PRC) – Security Council; Mariam Parray (Iran) – Historical Security Council; Jackson Guthrie (Mexico) – Economic and Social Council; Zoe Russell (Czech Republic) – Human Rights Council; Masheyat Rahman (Brazil) – Model International Court of Justice; and Courtney McGarrah (Mexico) – Permanent Council of the Organizations of American States (OAS).

Posted in: AMUN on December 17, 2020

Department hosted the 10th Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) conference

The Department of Political Science and the UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization hosted the 10th annual Arkansas College Model United Nations (ACMUN) Conference on Friday, November 6, 2020. Delegates from seven colleges and universities in Arkansas, as well as Oklahoma State University and Universidad de La Salle in Bogotá, Colombia, participated in the first virtual Model United Nations conference hosted by UCA. The delegates represented 40 countries in simulations of four committees, including the Economic & Social Council, Human Rights Council, Council of the Arab League, and Security Council. Twenty-seven of the participating delegates received Outstanding Delegation and Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mention awards. Abby Mattingly, a senior majoring in International Studies and French, served as the President of the UCA Model UN student organization in 2020-2021. Dr. Mark Elrod and Dr. Mark Mullenbach serve as faculty advisors for the UCA MUN student organization.

Posted in: ACMUN on November 11, 2020

UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha recognized by national organization

The Alpha Delta Theta chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha was honored with one of the national organization’s Best Chapter Awards for 2019-2020. The national organization noted that “these awards are intended to recognize local chapters that are particularly active in their departments and universities and exhibit high levels of energy and creativity in furthering the goals of the honor society.” The Alpha Delta Theta chapter and its members have been dedicated to sustaining robust chapter programming such as its perennial spring lecture series titled “Pizza & Politics,” as well as co-partnering with campus organizations like Vote Everywhere to support voter registration drives and voter awareness campaigns. The Best Chapter Award is accompanied by a cash prize so that our chapter can continue its work and commitment to bringing informative programs to the UCA community and promoting civic engagement. The faculty advisor for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, is Dr. Heather Yates of the Department of Political Science.

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on September 28, 2020