Department News

UCA students participate in the 5th Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) conference at ATU

Five UCA students and members of the UCA Model United Nations (MUN) student organization – Nick Cartwright, Jesus Torres, Shaye Davis, Erin Whitfield, and Ellen McKinnie – represented Russia and Venezuela at the 5th annual Arkansas Collegiate Model United Nations (ACMUN) conference at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on Friday, November 6, 2015. Delegations from several other Arkansas colleges and universities, including Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, Arkansas State University-Beebe, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and University of Arkansas-Monticello, also participated in the conference. At the end of the conference, Venezuela’s delegates (Jesus Torres, Erin Whitfield, Nick Cartwright, and Shaye Davis) were honored as Outstanding Delegates.

Left to right: Nick Cartwright, Erin Whitfield, Shaye Davis, Jesus Torres, and Ellen McKinnie.

Posted in: ACMUN on February 3, 2016

Department hosts 2015 United Nations Day commemoration at UCA

The Department of Political Science hosted a United Nations 70th anniversary commemoration event at the University of Central Arkansas on Friday, October 30, 2015. The event was the first UN Day event organized by the department in eight years. The department hosted UN Day events in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Hundreds of Arkansas high school teachers and students, as well as several UCA students, participated in annual UN Day events at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock or Pulaski Academy in Little Rock between 2008 and 2014.

Participating in the UN Day event at UCA were more than 50 teachers and students from several Arkansas high schools, including Little Rock Central High School, Rogers High School, Marked Tree High School, Mills University Studies High School, Maumelle Charter High School, and Pottsville High School. The UN Day event included a workshop for high school teachers and students in the UCA Student Center from 9:00am to noon. The topics covered included “The Historical Roots of the United Nations” by Dr. Mark Mullenbach and “Learning about International Politics through Model United Nations” by Dr. Mark Elrod. Dr. Karen Mingst, Lockwood Chair Professor in the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, was the guest speaker during a luncheon in the Student Center from noon to 1:30pm.

Posted in: United Nations Day on February 3, 2016

Department announces Outstanding Students for 2014-2015

The UCA Department of Political Science announced its “Outstanding Students” for 2014-2015: Bryan Altman (Political Science program), Matthew Goss (Public Administration program), and Autumn Reddell & Brianne Smith (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 26, 2015. Dr. Steven Runge, UCA Provost, and Dr. Maurice A. Lee, 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 World Languages, Literatures & Cultures.

Posted in: Outstanding Student Awards on April 29, 2015

Department holds the 2015 Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony

The 2015 Induction Ceremony for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honors Society, was held in the Mirror Room in McAlister Hall on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. 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 Melissa Cornwell served as President of the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha in 2014-2015.

Twelve UCA students were formally inducted during the ceremony, including Austin Ardwin, Kayla Close, Stephanie Daigle, Richard Frizzel, Matthew Goss, Laura Holzhauer, Hayden Knox, Brady Shiers, Kenneth Stice, Jesus Torres, Mallory Walker, and Katelyn Wilkins. The Chairman of the UCA Department of Political Science, Dr. Clay Arnold, also presented Preston Scroggin with the UCA Department of Political Science’s 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Preston Scroggin, who graduated with a bachelors degree in political science from UCA in 1989, served as Director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission (2013-2015) and Faulkner County Judge (2007-2013).

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on April 29, 2015

Department faculty attend the 42nd Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) annual meeting at Hendrix College

The 42nd Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) was held on the campus of Hendrix College in Conway on February 27-28, 2015. Dr. Kevin Brennan of Ouachita Baptist University served as President (2014-2015). Dr. Steven Breezeel of Harding University served as Vice-President (2014-2015). Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the UCA Department of Political Science served as Secretary-Treasurer (2014-2015). Dr. Kim Maslin of Hendrix College served as Program Chair for the 2015 annual meeting. Dr. Randy LeBlanc of the University of Texas at Tyler gave the keynote address, “Speaking Peace to Enmity: Edward Said, Judith Butler, and the End of Criticism in the Discourse on Palestine/Israel,” during the Friday evening dinner, and Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College addressed the conference participants on the topic, “The Challenges and Opportunities of an Academic in Public Life,” during the Saturday luncheon.

Several UCA Department of Political Science faculty members and students presented research or participated on panels during the annual meeting, including Autumn Reddell, “Education and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, moderator of panel on “NATO-Russian Relations”, Dr. Mark Mullenbach, “What Works in Africa? An Analysis of the Management of Intrastate Disputes, 1960-2012”, Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Willis Arnold, and Kayla Close, “Ballots and Observers: Elections, Election Monitoring, and Political Stability in Post-Colonial Africa, 1961-2010”, Dr. John Passe-Smith and Mary Sue Passe-Smith, “American Attitudes Toward Immigrants: The Dangers and Possibilities of Analyzing Social Media”, Dr. Clay Arnold, moderator of panel on “Erica Benner’s Machiavelli’s Prince”, and Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan, member of panel on “Erica Benner’s Machiavelli’s Prince”.

Posted in: ArkPSA on April 29, 2015

UCA students participate in the 55th Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in St. Louis

Sixteen members of the UCA Model UN student organization, representing the countries of Afghanistan, Japan, and El Savador, participated in the 55th Annual Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on February 18-21, 2015. Dr. Mark Elrod , Visiting Assistant Professor, and Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Associate Professor of Political Science, served as co-faculty advisers for the UCA delegations to the conference. The UCA delegates included Kayla Close & Katelyn Wilkins (Afghanistan, 1st Committee), Danielle Casey (Afghanistan, 2nd Committee), Ashley Park (Afghanistan, 3rd Committee), Ellen McKinnie (Afghanistan, 6th Committee), Jordan Kemp & Jesus Torres (Japan, 1st Committee), Helena Burrow (Japan, 3rd Committee), Dustin Ervin (Japan, 6th Committee), Breanna Wilbanks (Japan, Economic & Social Council), Nick Cartwright (Japan, International Fund for Agricultural Development), Mallory Walker (Japan, Peacebuilding Commission), Juan Mayen & Gyuhwan Park (El Salvador, 1st Committee), Alex Battaglia (El Salvador, 2nd Committee), and Leila Julian (El Salvador, 6th Committee). UCA’s head delegates were Kayla Close (Afghanistan), Breanna Wilbanks (Japan), and Juan Mayen (El Salvador).

Members of the UCA delegations to the 2015 MMUN Conference

Back Row (left to right): Breanna Wilbanks, Nick Cartwright, and Dustin Ervin.

Third Row (left to right): Juan Mayen, Jordan Kemp, and Ellen McKinnie.

Second Row (left to right): Dr. Mark Elrod (faculty adviser, Gyuhwan Park, Alex Battaglia, Jesus Torres, and Mallory Walker.

Front Row (left to right): Helena Burrow, Leila Julian, Kayla Close, and Katelyn Wilkins.

Not Pictured: Danielle Casey.

Posted in: UCA Model UN on April 29, 2015

Department hosts the 49th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at UCA

The Department of Political Science sponsored the 49th Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) conference at the University of Central Arkansas on November 21-22, 2014. Some 425 delegates representing 90 countries from 24 high schools in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Oklahoma participated in the conference. Stephanie Gray, a student majoring in International Studies, served as AMUN Secretary-General and Dr. Mark Mullenbach served as Coordinator of the AMUN conference. UCA President Tom Courtway gave the welcoming address to the delegates during the Opening Session in Ida Waldran Auditorium on Friday, November 21st.

Jose Guzzardi (pictured below in the middle) gave the keynote address during the Opening Session. Jose Guzzardi, who served as AMUN Secretary-General for the 41st AMUN conference held in 2006, graduated with a B.A. degree in International Studies from UCA in 2007. He is currently employed as a Sourcing Manager for Wal-Mart (E-Commerce) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Jose Guzzardi earned a Master’s degree from the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock in 2009, and he was previously employed as the Manager of Institutional Relations for Wal-Mart in Brazil from January 2011 to August 2014.

Committee chairs included Juan Mayen (Special Political Committee), Kayla Close (Social & Humanitarian Committee), Jordan Kemp (Economic & Finance Committee), Kate Loyd (Security Council), Breanna Wilbanks (Economic & Social Council), Nora Bouzihay (Model Arab League), and Helena Burrow (Human Rights Council). Dr. Mark Elrod, Visiting Assistant Professor in the UCA Department of Political Science, served as Coordinator of the Model International Court of Justice (MICJ). During the Closing Session on November 22nd, the “Outstanding Delegation” award was presented to the German delegation (Pope John Paul II High School, Hendersonville, TN), and the “Outstanding Delegation Runner-Up” award was presented to the Syrian delegation (Conway High School).

Posted in: AMUN on April 29, 2015

International Studies Club sponsors 2014 Fall Scholarly Series at UCA

As a part of the “2014 Fall Scholarly Series” sponsored by the International Studies Club at UCA, Dr. Dorian Jano, Visiting Scholar at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, spoke on the topic, “European Union Enlargement and Europeanization of the Western Balkans,” on September 9, 2014. The club’s officers in 2014-2015 were Kayla Close (President), Ina Tregubova (Vice President), Ashley Park (Secretary), Autumn Redell (Treasurer), and Stevie Massey (Membership Chairperson). Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh, Associate Professor in the UCA Department of Political Science, served as Faculty Adviser for the International Studies Club.

Posted in: International Studies Club on April 29, 2015

Department holds the 2014 Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony

The 2014 induction ceremony for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honors Society, was held in the Mirror Room in McAlister Hall on April 17, 2014. Dr. Joseph Howard, Associate Professor of Political Science, served as Faculty Adviser for the UCA Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha. Eleven UCA students were formally inducted during the ceremony, including Bryan Altman, Bethany Bell, Tess Bradford, Seth Bradley, Jill Carlson, Melissa Cornwell, Katie Farely, Felipe Fernandez, Julius Gerard, Stephanie Gray, and Juan Mayen. During the ceremony, Tab Townsell, Mayor of the City of Conway, was presented the UCA Department of Political Science’s Distinguished Alumnus award. Tab Townsell graduated with a bachelors degree in political science from UCA in 1983. Blake Brizzolara (Political Science) and Bethany Bell (International Studies) were honored as the Department of Political Science “Outstanding Student” award winners for 2013-2014.

Posted in: Pi Sigma Alpha on April 29, 2015

Department faculty attend the 41st Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) annual meeting at Harding University

The 41st Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) was held at the American Heritage Center at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas on February 28-March 1, 2014. Dr. Kim Hoffman of the UCA Department of Political Science served as President (2013-2014). Dr. Kevin Brennan of Ouachita Baptist University served as Vice-President (2013-2014). Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the UCA Department of Political Science served as Secretary-Treasurer (2013-2014). Dr. Steven Breezeel of Harding University served as Program Chair for the 2014 annual meeting.

Dr. Shawn Fisher, Professor of History at Harding University, gave the keynote address, “The Battle of Little Rock” (1957 Little Rock Desegregation Crisis), during the Friday evening dinner, and State Representative Ann Clemmer addressed the conference participants during the Saturday luncheon. Erika Bowsher’s (UA-Little Rock) research paper, “Twenty Years of International Justice: An Evaluation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,” was chosen as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented at the 2014 annual meeting. John C. Davis’ (University of Missouri) research paper, “The Natural State in a Time of Change: A Survey-Based Analysis of State Party Organizations in Arkansas, 1999-2013,” was chosen as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented at the 2014 annual meeting. Mike Yawn’s (Sam Houston State University) research paper, “Teaching Local: Civic Engagement & Local Government,” was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper presented at the 2014 annual meeting.

Posted in: ArkPSA on April 29, 2015