THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:
1. ANNUAL POLITICAL SCIENCE DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN ON APRIL 24.
2. GRADUATING SENIORS
3. HARBORCREEK CANDIDATE FORUM
4. POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS WIN AWARDS
5. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
6. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
7. AMERICORPS OPPORTUNITY
8. FACEBOOK PAGE
9. FINAL NEWSLETTER OF YEAR
1. ANNUAL POLITICAL SCIENCE DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN ON APRIL 24
The annual political science dinner will be held at The Olive Garden on Peach Street on Wednesday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. Graduating political science majors are the guests of honor, but all are invited to attend, and most political science faculty members will be there as well. Friends and significant others are also welcome. We use the regular menu, and people pay for their own meals. Dressing up is not necessary. To attend, RSVP to Dr. Speel no later than Monday, April 22.
If they complete all degree requirements, seven Penn State Behrend political science majors are scheduled to graduate next month:
- Aubrey Baranowski - will be seeking a MPA degree at Binghamton University
- Peter Barth - will be commissioning on May 3 as a 2nd Lieutenant officer and will hold the position of tactical intelligence officer for the PA National Guard. Possible plans for the future involve state police or a desire to work intelligence in the government sector.
- Nicolcarmen Ciotti - will be moving to Washington to work at a law firm with plans to attend law school
- Zane Dilts - plans to teach English overseas and then attend graduate school in a policy-related field
- Colin Lyons
- Eden Safar - will be seeking a master's degree in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh
- Huashi Zhao
In addition, three Behrend students are scheduled to graduate next month, if they complete all degree requirements, with minors in sociology (Leanne Confer and Huashi Zhao) or political science (Petar Dotchev).
Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors, and best wishes with your plans for the future!
3. HARBORCREEK CANDIDATE FORUM
On Wednesday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m., this year's candidates for Harborcreek Township Supervisor will participate in a forum sponsored by the Public Policy Fund at McGarvey Commons in the Reed Building.
4. POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS WIN AWARDS
At Penn State Behrend's Honors and Awards Convocation this year, the following political science majors are among those who won awards:
- Aubrey Baranowski, Outstanding Political Science Major and Junior/Senior Writing Award for School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Jack Walker, Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award
College Republicans held elections for new officers and has chosen Andrew Griglio as new president, along with Vice President Christian Brooks, Secretary Stephanie Logue, and Treasurer Josh Eger. To get involved with College Republicans next year, contact President Andrew Griglio at [email protected].
The Behrend Political Society also held elections for new officers and re-elected Rachel Mills as president, along with Vice President Avery Skiviat, Secretary Shyler Abbey, Treasurer Sydni Holt, and Public Relations Coordinator Tiffany Zinn. To get involved, contact President Rachel Mills at [email protected].
College Democrats will be holding elections for next year's officers at a meeting this Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m., in 059 Kochel. To get involved, contact President Tiffany Zinn at [email protected].
Model United Nations hosted its second annual Model UN high school conference on campus earlier this month. McDowell High School won the first place overall award, and Fairview High School finished in second place. The Behrend Model UN Chapter has also elected President Carlos Mora and Vice President Raul Garcia for next year. To get involved, contact Faculty Adviser Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned at [email protected].
Dr. John Gamble, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Law, and Dr. Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, participated in a roundtable panel discussion titled "Re-Calibrating Our Audiences for the 21st Century," about teaching international studies, at the International Studies Association Annual Convention in Toronto on March 28.
Dr. Kilic Kanat, Associate Professor of Political Science, helped to organize and provided opening remarks for a Conference on Turkey-Canada Relations in late March, at the University of Toronto, co-sponsored by the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Department at University of Toronto, the Canadian Society for the Advancement of Turkish Studies, and the SETA Foundation.
Dr. Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, published "You'll Hear These 4 Arguments in Defense of the Electoral College — Here's Why They're Wrong," on the websites for Business Insider, Raw Story, and many different newspapers, including the Arizona Daily Sun (Tucson), the Bismarck Tribune (ND), and the St Louis Post-Dispatch. He was also interviewed for an article in the Sunbury Daily Item about the Mueller Report.
Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science, published an article titled "A Comedian Who Played a President on TV Might Actually Become Ukraine's President," on The Conversation website. On Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m., she and Rev. Charles Brock will be presenting a lecture titled "The Fall and Rise of the Soviet Union" at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie.
Penn State Behrend Political Science Alumna Gretchen Berry Haislip currently works for Americorps-affiliated College Possible Omaha to assist talented capable students from low-income backgrounds to attend college and complete degree programs. College Possible is currently hiring across the country.
All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend political science Facebook page to get updated news and find out about upcoming events.
This will be the final newsletter of the 2018-2019 academic year. Good luck with final papers and final exams, and enjoy your summer. We look forward to seeing everyone who will return to campus in the fall.