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
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 21st 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ashley Park, President of the UCA International Studies Club, speaking during the 2017 Spring Cultural Event.
The 44th annual meeting of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) was held on the campus of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) and Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville, Arkansas on March 3-4, 2017. Dr. Kim Maslin of Hendrix College served as President (2016-2017). Dr. Carol Strong of the University of Arkansas-Monticello (UAM) served as Vice-President (2016-2017). Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Secretary-Treasurer (2016-2017). Dr. Chris Housenick of ATU served as Program Chair for the 2017 annual meeting. Dr. Michael Malbin, Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, State University of New York, gave the keynote address during the Friday evening dinner on March 3rd. Congressman Steve Womack, 3rd Congressional District of Arkansas, spoke during the Saturday noon luncheon on March 4th.
Several UCA Department of Political Science faculty members and students presented research or participated on panels during the annual meeting, including Dr. Heather Yates, who served as Chair of the American Government & Politics section; Dr. Tom McInnis, who presented the paper, “What Inherent Rights?”; Dr. Heather Yates and Dr. Gary Wekkin, who presented the paper, “They Wanted a Tea Party and got a Dogfight: The Lack of GOP Discipline and the Nomination of Donald Trump”; Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, who served as chair/discussant for the International Relations/Comparative Politics panel; Dr. Mark Elrod and Dr. Mark Mullenbach, who co-presented the paper, “Generation 9/11: An Analysis of College Student Attitudes Regarding U.S. Foreign Policy”; Dr. Clay Arnold and Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan, who participated in the Political Theory Roundtable on “The Possibility of Democracy in Communicative Capitalism”; and Danielle Casey, who presented the paper, “Race, Republicanism, and Realignment in Arkansas.”
Eleven members of the UCA Model UN student organization, representing the countries of Egypt, Ireland, and Japan, participated in the 57th annual Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) Conference at the Sheraton Westport Chalet in St. Louis, Missouri on February 22-25, 2017. Dr. Mark Elrod, Visiting Assistant Professor, and Mr. Tyler Bittle, Admissions Counselor in the UCA Admissions Office, served as co-advisers for the delegations.
The UCA delegates included Ramatou Souleyboubacar (Egypt, 1st Committee), Spencer Burton (Egypt, 2nd Committee), Michelle Moore (Egypt, 3rd Committee), Danielle Casey (Egypt, 4th Committee), Carolyn Casey (Egypt, UN High Commissioner for Refugees-UNHCR), Jean Francois Adoupo (Egypt, Security Council-North), Alex Battaglia (Japan, Security Council-North), Quade Reed (Ireland, 3rd Committee), Ikina Kanu (Ireland, 4th Committee), Erin Whitfield (Ireland, Economic & Social Council-ECOSOC), and France Galloh (Ireland, World Food Programme-WFP).
During the Closing Session on February 25th, Alex Battaglia was presented the “Outstanding Delegate” and “Delegates Choice” awards for Security Council-North. The delegation of Ireland, represented by Erin Whitfield and France Galloh, was presented one of two “Outstanding Delegation” awards for Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) Plenary Session. Carolyn Casey, representing Egypt in the UNHCR, was presented the “Best Position Paper-Honorable Mention” award for that committee.
(l to r): Mr. Tyler Bittle (co-adviser), Ramatou Souleyboubacar, Spencer Burton, Michelle Moore, Alex Battaglia, Erin Whitfield, Jean Francois Adoupo, Quade Reed, Danielle Casey, France Galloh, Carolyn Casey, Ikina Kanu, and Dr. Mark Elrod (co-adviser).
The Department of Political Science sponsored the 51st Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at the University of Central Arkansas on November 18-19, 2016. Nearly 600 delegates from 27 high schools in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee participated in the conference. Alex Battaglia, a senior majoring in International Studies at UCA, served as Secretary-General. Dr. Mark Mullenbach served as Coordinator of the AMUN Conference. Robert Andrew, U.S. Department of State Diplomat-in-Residence at the University of Oklahoma, gave the keynote address during the opening session on Friday, November 18th. The delegation representing the United Kingdom (Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, TN) was presented the Outstanding Delegation award during the closing session on Saturday, November 19th.
Alex Battaglia, Secretary-General of the 51st AMUN, presided
over the closing session on Saturday, November 19th
Several members of the UCA Department of Political Science participated in a Presidential Election “Teach-In” on the lawn in front of McAlister Hall on Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The “Teach-In” was sponsored by the Campus Election Engagement Project and UCA’s Learning Communities. A total of 15 UCA professors participated in the “Teach-In”, including Dr. Mark Elrod, Dr. Heather Yates, Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, and Dr. Mark Mullenbach. Retired political science professor, Dr. Gary Wekkin, also participated in the event.
