Political science major Katheryn Ballard presents research on the partisan affiliation of UNC professors at National Conference for Undergraduate Research.

Political science minor Dave Young wins state award for political science paper.

WCU student march to the polls.

WCU Public Policy Institute hosts another successful American Youth Congress.

Three political science majors, Diandra Frommer, David Young, and Josh Miller present papers at the North Carolina Political Science Association Meeting, March 14-15, 2008.  Dr. Livingston, Dr. Bryant, and recent MPA graduate Sarah Kehrberg present a paper "Presidential Body Language" at the North Carolina Political Science Association Meeting, March 14-5, 2008.  Click here for a preliminary program.

Max Long, a political science major, spent the fall semester of 2007 studying abroad in the People's Republic of China.   Through the International Student Exchange Program, Max spent a semester studying at Peking University in Beijing.   As a student, Max's courses included Introductory Mandarin and Chinese culture.   While in China, Max had many great opportunities to explore culturally significant sites and to visit a number of major cities across China.

Local Government Training Director Vickey Wade helps bring Mountain Landscapes Initiative to WCU.

College Democrats host Chili Cook Off, Friday, February 22, 6-8 p.m., Jackson County Senior Citizen Center.  Contact William Styles (styles_38409@hotmail.com).

College Democrats meet every Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the UC Cardinal Room. Contact William Styles (styles_38409@hotmail.com).

Students and faculty gathered to watch Super Tuesday election returns at the Cat's Den.

Should the voting age be lowered to 16?  WCU political science major Giannina Volio turns paper written for Dr. Michelsen's class into Asheville Citizen-Times opinion-editorial piece.

Political Science faculty Todd Collins, Chris Cooper, Sean Hildebrand, and David Liu all presented papers at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association in New Orleans, Louisiana this January. Professor Hildebrand also served as a discussant for a panel and Dr. Cooper was a panel chair as well as the section head for the state and local politics section of this conference.

Department collaborates with UNC-Chapel Hill to bring Humphrey Fellows to campus. 

Niall Michelsen has accepted the position as associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Gibbs Knotts has returned to the department and will serve as department head.

PPI report focuses on crisis communication.

Chris Cooper recognized for engaged teaching.

U.S. Constitution Essay Winners political science majors.

PPI to host emergency preparedness summitt.

We are pleased to announce that Todd Collins (PhD UGA) and Sean Hildebrand (ABD, NC State) have joined our faculty. Todd is here as an assistant professor and Sean is joining us as a visiting assistant professor. 

The department is pleased that Wendy Ford is joining Western as our new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The MPA recently held an open house for employees of Franklin, NC. This follows a recent similar open house for Buncombe County employees.

The PSC/PA department co-sponsored (with the History Dept) a visit by two visiting scholars--Kevin Kruse of Princeton and Matt Lassiter of the University of Michigan.  They spoke about race, the suburbs, and the south. 

May 2007 graduate Maria Segovia was admitted to and will be attending UNC Law School this Fall.

Clyde Ray will be attending the MA Program in Political Science at Villanova this fall.

Recent MPA graduate Lisa Lowry has been admitted to the PhD program in Public Policy at George Washington University with a full-tuition waiver and graduate assistantship. She will begin in the fall.

Congratulations to Political Science majors Ben Hicks and Patrick Kelly. Ben will attend UNC Law School in the fall and Patrick has been accepted to and will be attending Campbell Law School.

The Public Policy Institute hosted the Annual American Youth Congress in the Asheville Civic Center on March 24.  Hundreds of high school students from across the state participated and authored legislation at the local, state, and national levels.

WCU ranks 8th in the nation in the number of students sent to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Political Science sent two students to this prestigious conference (Max Long and Courtney Swartwout). Courtney Swarthout is quoted in the article

3 MPA Students, Matt Autry, Keith Bamberger and Sarah Kehrberg recently presented papers at the WCU Graduate Research Symposium. Download a copy of the program.

Megan Forrest has been accepted to the PhD program at Penn State University with a full-tuition waiver and fellowship. She’ll begin this fall.

Recent graduate Courtney Swartwout has been accepted to the MA program in International Relations at Syracuse University.  She’ll begin in the fall.

May 2007 graduate, BJ Pendry has accepted a position as Director of Fraternity Advancement with the North American Interfraternity Conference. He begins on June 1.

Read a story from WCU’s alumni magazine focusing on WCU students working as town and county managers. Most of the students listed were WCU MPA graduates (scroll to pg. 14)

MPA Graduate, Kendra Turner awarded scholarship from NC City/County Manager’s Association.

WCU sends 4 students, including Maria Segovia and Courtney Swartwout (both political science majors) to intern Washington in the UNC in Washington Program. Political Science Head, Niall Michelsen directs this program.

Chris Cooper, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the MPA program assists the town of Sylva with a Citizen Satisfaction Survey.