THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:
- GRADUATING SENIORS
- POLSC MAJOR JUSTIN LOPEZ-BELTRAN PROFILED ON BEHREND BLOG
- POLSC STUDENT AWARD WINNERS APRIL 2025
- PI SIGMA ALPHA POLITICAL SCIENCE HONOR SOCIETY INITIATION
- FALL 2025 COURSES NEEDED TO COMPLETE POLSC MAJOR OPTIONS AND MINORS
- DR. ROBERT SPEEL TO DISCUSS AND SIGN NEW BOOK AT JEFFERSON SOCIETY ON MAY 1
- POLSC ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
- INTERNSHIPS AT SENATOR MCCORMICK’S OFFICE
- PRE-LAW NEWS
- FACULTY IN THE NEWS
- STUDENT GROUP NEWS
- POLSC SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
- FINAL NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR
1. GRADUATING SENIORS
If they complete all requirements, six Behrend Political Science majors will be graduating next month:
- Alec Dennis plans to go to law school.
- Carlina Edinger plans to go to law school.
- Kaylee Harrison plans to pursue a graduate degree in international relations in the future.
- Justin Lopez-Beltran will be moving to Washington, D.C., and is seeking a staff position in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Jacob Mannion, a double major in History, plans in the future to go to graduate school to further his education in the field of History.
- Nicklas Richar plans to go to law school in Ohio.
- In addition, Gabriela Neff is scheduled to graduate next month with a Politics and Government minor.
Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors, and we wish them the best with future plans!
2. POLSC MAJOR JUSTIN LOPEZ-BELTRAN PROFILED ON BEHREND BLOG
Standout Seniors is a blog series that showcases some of Behrend’s top-performing seniors. Political Science Major Justin Lopez-Beltran was one of these amazing students.
3. POLSC STUDENT AWARD WINNERS APRIL 2025
The Political Science program held its annual dinner at the Olive Garden restaurant last Thursday. At the dinner, Alec Dennis received an award as Outstanding Political Science Major, Carlina Edinger was given the Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award, and Rachel Pineo won the first Celise Schneider Award in Political Theory. Also in the photos are Dr. Irwin congratulating Carlina, Dr. Robert Roecklein congratulating Rachel, graduating seniors Alec, Carlina, and Nick Richar, and Dr. Maggie Shum joining a group photo.
Political Science Group Photo
Carlina Edinger accepted the Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award in 2025 from Dr. Irwin.
The first winner was Rachel Pineo, seen here being congratulated by Dr. Bob Roecklein, who teaches political theory.
Alec Dennis received an award as Outstanding Political Science Major,
Group Photo of Carlina Edinger, Alex Dennis, and Rachel Pineo
4. PI SIGMA ALPHA POLITICAL SCIENCE HONOR SOCIETY INITIATION
Eight Political Science Majors were inducted this month into the Behrend Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society in an event at the Metzgar Center. In the photo from left to right are Ethan Turner, Gabriella Lambrecht, Jacob Mannion, current PSA leader Kaylee Harrison, Rachel Pineo, Kendall DeMarco, Bella Eibl, current PSA leader Carlina Edinger, and Jack Mong. Chloe Sotus was also inducted as a new member.
In the photo from Left to Right are Ethan Turner, Gabriella Lambrecht, Jacob Mannion, current PSA leader Kaylee Harrison, Rachel Pineo, Kendall DeMarco, Bella Eibl, current PSA leader Carlina Edinger, and Jack Mong. Chloe Sotus was also inducted as a new member.
5. FALL 2025 COURSES NEEDED TO COMPLETE POLSC MAJOR OPTIONS AND MINORS
Behrend students who are returning in fall 2025 should make sure that they are taking the right courses to complete a POLSC major option or a related minor, when relevant.
- Requirements for the Behrend Political Science major options can be found online.
- POLSC majors in the Crime and Law option should be taking PLSC 471 next semester, if they haven’t already.
- POLSC majors in the International Relations option should be taking PLSC 90 and/or PLSC 200N next semester, if they haven’t already.
- POLSC majors in the Public Policy option should be taking PLSC 223N and PLSC 489, if they haven’t already.
- Students who want to complete the Crime, Law, and Psychology minor should take SOC 12, if they haven’t already.
- Students who want to complete the Penn State Legal Studies minor should strongly consider taking PLSC 210N and/or PLSC 471, if they haven’t already.
- Students who want to complete the Penn State Politics and Public Policy minor should strongly consider taking PLSC 489, if they haven’t already.
- Students who want to complete the Penn State Latin American Studies minor should take HIST 178, if they haven’t already.
Most of those courses are normally offered only once every two years, except for PLSC 200N, PLSC 210N, and SOC 12, usually offered once per year.
6. DR. ROBERT SPEEL TO DISCUSS AND SIGN NEW BOOK AT JEFFERSON SOCIETY ON MAY 1
Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of Political Science, will discuss "US-Canada Comparisons and Relations in 2025: What's Happening, What's Next?” at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie on Thursday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m.
His presentation is based on his new University of Toronto Press book about Canada and the United States, which is described below under Faculty in the News. Students who wish to attend the event for free can use the code eriecountystudent25 when registering online to attend any JES event for free this year.
The JES plans to have books available at the event for purchase that Dr. Speel can sign after speaking.
7. POLSC ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
Connor Sattely, who graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2011 with majors in political science and communication, was a recipient last month of Penn State’s Alumni Achievement Award. Connor lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and works there for a venture capital firm.
Samiha Choudhury, who graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2024 with a Political Science degree, was a recipient last month of the Mary Behrend Impact Award at a luncheon in Lilley Library. Samiha currently works as a paralegal for an immigration attorney in Detroit.
8. INTERNSHIPS AT SENATOR MCCORMICK’S OFFICE
Senator Dave McCormick’s Erie office is looking for interns this summer. It is a paid position at $1,000 per month. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn how a Senate office works while serving your community.
If any students are interested, please email their résumé to [email protected]. They do not have to be Political Science or Government students to apply.
Interns can start as early as mid-May.
9. PRE-LAW NEWS
Students needing to contact Pre-Law Adviser Melissa Shirey over the summer regarding law school applications, LSATs, or other matters are welcome to email her at [email protected].
10. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
Dr. Maggie Shum, assistant professor of Political Science, presented her work "Voice After Exit: Diaspora, Transnational Linked Fate, and Political Preferences Abroad" at the Western Political Science Association Conference (WPSA) in Seattle this month.
Dr. Robert Speel has published a book titled The Same, Only Different: Understanding Canada and the United States from University of Toronto Press with co-author Gregory Inwood of Toronto Metropolitan University. The book is based on a Penn State study abroad course taught by Professors Speel and Inwood at the TMU campus in Toronto for many years. Dr. Speel was interviewed about his new book for the April 28 edition of La Presse, a French Montreal newspaper. He was also interviewed for The Musical Innertube podcast about why many Americans don’t focus on their own economic interests when voting and how American voting patterns have changed in the past hundred years.
11. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
The Political Science Society, formerly known as the Behrend Political Society, has chosen some new officers for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- President: Kendall DeMarco
- Vice-President: Karissa Will
- Treasurer: Rachel Pineo
- Marketing Chair: Rylee Ogden
They have also set up an Instagram for the club, and the username is: PSB_PoliSciSociety.
Interested students are invited to follow the Instagram page. The group is also seeking a Secretary. To express interest, contact President Kendall DeMarco at [email protected].
The Mock Trial Club met again earlier this month to make plans for the fall semester, including participation in the American Mock Trial Association tournaments. The group will choose officers in August. Interested students should contact Noah Langley at [email protected].
College Democrats has chosen new officers for next academic year:
- President: Rylee Ogden
- Vice President: Ethan Sonney
- Secretary: Kylee Martin
- Treasurer: Paige Staincliff
- Social Media Manager: Mars McAninch
Interested students should contact President Rylee Ogden at [email protected].
12. POLSC SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend Political Science Facebook page to stay updated on news and discover upcoming events.
Photos and posters for upcoming events get posted on the Penn State Behrend political science Instagram page.
13. FINAL NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR
This will be the final newsletter of the 2024-2025 academic year. Good luck with final papers and final exams.