May 2024 Newsletter
Greetings!
What an active and exciting year we’ve had in the Department of Political Science!
Our faculty engaged in significant public service and outreach. They offered insights to news outlets across the globe. They were also a part of critical conversations with other units here on campus, at other academic institutions, and in our community.
Members of our department were formally recognized for their hard work and dedication.
- Two advanced graduate students, Leah Costik and Ezgi Özçelik, were awarded Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
- Professor Ron Krebs was named a Distinguished McKnight University Professor
- Professor Kathleen Collins received the Arthur “Red” Motley Exemplary Teaching Award
- Alexis Cuttance, the department’s administrator, was recognized with a College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Service Award
- Alum Ka Vang was named in the Twin Cities Business 100 list of people in Minnesota most "likely to make news and drive change in the year ahead" for 2024
The students in our department continue to impress us with their hard work and dedication. We are proud of their commitment to persevere, gain new skills, and learn more about politics and the world during challenging times.
Finally, we want to share that Professors Scott Abernathy and John Freeman are retiring. We are grateful for their collective years of service at the University of Minnesota and will miss them dearly.
As the academic year comes to a close, please consider making a gift to our department. Your contributions support faculty research, undergraduate scholarships, and graduate student fellowships. Your generous gifts to the Department of Political Science help us maintain the distinguished reputation of our department, and better serve our students.
Sincerely,
Andrew Karch
Department Chair
Larry Golden made his mark on social justice as the founding director of the Illinois Innocence Project. Now, he’s a recipient of the Alumni of Notable Achievement award.
Arij Mikati, a winner of CLA’s Emerging Alumni Award, uplifts the stories and hopes of Muslim artists in her community.
This story celebrates the late Professor Emeritus William H. Flanigan and his dedication to the department and field of political science.
Kevin Luo has appreciated the value of thinking about the world through a comparative lens from a young age. Through this lens, he is most curious about East Asian politics.
Read “Welcome Kevin Luo, New Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics”
Nina Kaushikkar is a second-year PhD student studying decolonial feminist approaches to sovereignty, violence, and community formation in the Global South.
Read “Challenging World Orders Through Collaboration and Critical Pedagogy”
Kaia Brands joined the student media team while studying abroad, helping her connect with friends & family at home, gain community, and engage in her program in new ways.
Join the University of Minnesota for a reception featuring world-class faculty and an opportunity to connect with alumni and friends in the Washington, DC area.
Moira McDonald, PhD ‘10, will lead a conversation with professors Don Wyse, George Annor, and Bonnie Keeler to discuss the importance of investment in agricultural research, the promise of next-gen agriculture and sustainability, and comprehensive approaches that can make a difference for farmers, the environment, industry, and society.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
6:00 – 8:00 PM
The Mayflower Hotel
127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Questions? Please contact UMF Events at umfevent@umn.edu.
