Department News

UCA students participate in the 58th Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in St. Louis

Six UCA students and Dr. Mark Elrod in the Department of Political Science recently participated in the 58th annual Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in St. Louis, Missouri on February 21-24, 2018. More than 300 students from 33 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. represented more than 100 countries during the four-day conference held at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet. The UCA delegation representing Ethiopia included Pauline Audras, Abby Mattingly, Elsa Mattson, Quade Reed, Ellen McKinnie, and Carolyn Casey. Carolyn Casey, a junior double-majoring in International Studies and Political Science, won the Outstanding Delegate-Honorable Mention and Delegate Choice awards in the Security Council.

Posted in: UCA Model UN on February 27, 2018

UCA’s Alpha Delta Theta Chapter of the national political science honors society hosts “Pizza & Politics” series

The UCA Department of Political Science’s Alpha Delta Theta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA), the national political science honor society, hosted the “Pizza & Politics” series during Spring Semester 2018. PSA was founded in 1920 and includes more than 500 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The “Pizza & Politics” series featured UCA administrators and faculty, as well as local public officials, who spoke on a variety of topics related to political science, including state and local government & politics. The featured speakers included UCA President Houston Davis, whose undergraduate degree was in political science at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis); Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens of the UCA School of Communication; Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry; and UCA Associate Vice President Shelley Mehl.

The “Pizza & Politics” series was held in the Fire Place Room of McCastlain Hall during x-period on January 30th, February 13th, March 15th, and April 17th. All interested UCA faculty, staff, and students were invited to attend. Political Science student Denaej Brooks served as the President of UCA’s chapter of PSA in 2017-2018. Dr. Heather Yates in the Department of Political Science served as the faculty advisor.

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on January 30, 2018

Department hosts the 52nd Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at UCA

The Department of Political Science sponsored the 52nd Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at the University of Central Arkansas on November 17-18, 2017. More than 500 delegates from 25 high schools in Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee participated in the conference. Carolyn Casey served as Secretary-General, and Alex Battaglia served as Deputy Secretary-General of the conference. Dr. Mark Mullenbach served as AMUN Conference Coordinator, and Stephanie Gray served as Assistant AMUN Coordinator. Dr. Marl Elrod served as Coordinator of the Model International Court of Justice (MICJ), and Kayla Close served as Deputy Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Novice General Assembly Committees. During the opening session held in Ida Waldran Auditorium in Main Hall on Friday, November 17th, three students addressed the assembled delegates, including Mohammed Abuelem (France) of Pulaski Academy, Ana Estrada (Brazil) of Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville, and Anushka Yadava (Egypt) of Little Rock Central High School. The delegation representing France (Pulaski Academy) was presented the Outstanding Delegation award during the closing session on Saturday, November 19th. The delegations representing Brazil (Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville) and Sweden (Haas Hall Academy-Fayetteville) were presented the Outstanding Delegation Runner-Up awards during the closing session.

Posted in: AMUN on January 10, 2018

Department hosts the 7th Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) conference at UCA

The Department of Political Science and the UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization hosted the 7th annual Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) conference at UCA on Friday, November 3, 2017. Some 75 college and university students from Hendrix College, Harding University, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, Arkansas Tech University, and UCA participated in the conference, including simulations of the Security Council, Human Rights Council (HRC), Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC), and the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). U.S. Foreign Service Officer Kali Jones, Diplomat-in-Residence at Tulane University, spoke during the opening session of the conference in the UCA Student Center. The ACMUN conference was coordinated by Stephanie Gray, a UCA senior majoring in International Studies and minoring in French and Religious Studies. Dr. Mark Mullenbach served as the faculty advisor for the UCA delegations participating in the conference.

Outstanding Delegation:
Security Council – Russian Federation (Hendrix College)
Economic & Social Council – India (Hendrix College)
Human Rights Council – Nigeria (Hendrix College)
Executive Committee of the UNHCR – India (Hendrix College)

Outstanding Delegation-Honorable Mentions:
Security Council – Italy (Arkansas State University-Jonesboro), United States (UCA), and Japan (UCA).
Economic & Social Council – Nigeria (Hendrix College), Lebanon (UA-Little Rock), United Arab Emirates (UCA), and Iraq (UA-Little Rock).
Human Rights Council – United Arab Emirates (UCA), India (Hendrix College), Iraq (UA-Little Rock), and Qatar (UA-Litle Rock).
Executive Committee of the UNHCR – Nigeria (Hendrix College), Russian Federation (Hendrix College), Qatar (UA-Little Rock), and Germany (Harding University).

Best Overall Delegation:
India – Hendrix College

Best Overall Delegation-Honorable Mentions:
Russian Federation – Hendrix College
Nigeria – Hendrix College
Qatar – University of Arkansas-Little Rock
Germany – Harding University

Posted in: ACMUN on November 6, 2017

Department hosts 2017 Constitution Day events at UCA

The Department of Political Science hosted two “Constitution Day” events at UCA on September 19-20, 2017.

(1) The Constitution & the Courts” by The Honorable Troy Braswell, Twentieth Judicial Circuit Judge and UCA graduate
Tuesday, September 19th, 1:40pm to 2:30pm
Irby Hall, Room #215

(2) Public Recitation of the Constitution of the United States of America
Wednesday, September 20th, 5:30pm
State Residential Hall, Lobby

Posted in: Constitution Day on November 6, 2017

Department hosts 2017 International Affairs Summer Camp at UCA

The Department of Political Science hosted the first Arkansas and the World: International Affairs Summer Camp at the University of Central Arkansas on July 23-28, 2017. Thirty-five Arkansas high school students participated in a unique, interactive learning experience designed to enhance their understanding of international relations, diplomacy, and international organizations in the 21^st century. The students participated in educational workshops on the history of modern international organizations, the establishment of the United Nations (UN) organization during the Second World War, and fundamentals of Model United Nations. The students also represented assigned countries in interactive simulations of the UN General Assembly, including committee and plenary sessions held throughout the week. The students also competed in a Global Trivia Competition held each night of the summer camp.

The 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, served as Summer Camp Director. Eight current or former UCA students, including Alex Battaglia, Erin Whitfield, Danielle Casey, Caroline Casey, Ellen McKinnie, Nick Cartwright, Michelle Moore, and Quade Reed, served on the summer camp staff as resident assistants/counselors. Guest speakers during the week included Hannah Foreman, an Intern at the Clinton Foundation and undergraduate student at Michigan State University; Bill Foreman, Director of Public Relations, Heifer International; and Honorable Jose Aguilar Salazar, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Mexico in Little Rock.

Posted in: International Affairs Summer Camp on November 5, 2017

Department announces Outstanding Students for 2016-2017

The UCA Department of Political Science announced its “Outstanding Students” for 2016-2017: Danielle Casey (Political Science program), Bryce Moore (Public Administration program), and Jean Francois Adoupo & Mallory Walker (International Studies program). Dr. Clay Arnold, Chairperson of the UCA Department of Political Science, presented the awards to the students during the UCA College of Liberal Arts’ Academic Honors Convocation held in Doyne Health Science Center held on Sunday, April 30, 2017. Dr. Steven Runge, UCA Provost, and Dr. Peter Mehl, Associate Dean of the UCA College of Liberal Arts, spoke at the honors convocation, which included undergraduate and graduate student recipients of outstanding student awards and scholarships from the Departments of English, History, Philosophy & Religion, Political Science, Sociology, and Languages, Linguistics, Literatures & Cultures.

2017 CLA Honors Convocation (4) 2017 CLA Honors Convocation (3) 2017 CLA Honors Convocation (1) 2017 CLA Honors Convocation (2)

Posted in: Department of Political Science on May 12, 2017

UCA student presents paper at Alpha Chi National Honors Society conference in Louisville

Danielle Casey, a senior double-majoring in Political Science and International Studies, presented a research paper at the Alpha Chi National Honor Society conference held in Louisville, Kentucky on April 6-8, 2017. The research paper was titled, “Race, Republicanism, and Realignment: Analyzing Arkansas’ Shift in Party Loyalty.” The faculty advisers for the UCA Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society are Amber Wilson, Torreyson Library, and Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan, Department of Political Science.

Danielle Casey (1)

Danielle Casey (2)

Posted in: Student News on May 12, 2017

Department holds 2017 Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony

The 2017 Induction Ceremony for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honors Society, was held in the Fireplace Room in McCastlain Hall on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Dr. Joseph Howard, Associate Professor in the UCA Department of Political Science, served as Faculty Adviser for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, and Danielle Casey served as President of the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha in 2016-2017. Dr. Maurice A. Lee, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UCA, welcomed the students and guests to the induction ceremony. Dr. Clay Arnold, Chairperson of the UCA Department of Political Science, presided over the induction ceremony.

Eight students UCA students were formally inducted during the ceremony, including Abby Anderson, Alexander Battaglia, Denaej Brooks, France Galloh, Jordan Johnson, Ellen McKinnie, Michelle Moore, and Katelyn Wood. The Chairman of the UCA Department of Political Science, Dr. Clay Arnold, also presented the Honorable Brian Miller with the UCA Department of Political Science’s 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Judge Brian Miller, who graduated with a bachelors degree in political science from UCA in 1992, has served as Chief U.S. District Court Judge of the Eastern District of Arkansas since 2012. He was nominated to serve as a Judge on the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Arkansas by President George W. Bush in 2007, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination in 2008.

2017 PSA induction (1)

2017 PSA induction (2)

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on May 2, 2017

International Studies Club hosts 6th Annual Spring Cultural Event at UCA

The International Studies Club at UCA hosted the 6th annual Spring Cultural Event in the Student Center on Thursday, March 9, 2017. The country theme of this year’s cultural event was Ethiopia. Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCA and the I.S. Club faculty adviser, welcomed the more than 50 faculty members and students who participated in the event, including videos of Ethiopian dances and Ethiopian food tasting. Ashley Park, the club’s president in 2016-2017, discussed the history of Ethiopia during the event.

I.S. Cultural Event - 2017 (1)
Ashley Park, President of the UCA International Studies Club, speaking during the 2017 Spring Cultural Event.

Posted in: International Studies Club on March 16, 2017