All teachers develop their own ideas about teaching and learning, but most of us have too few opportunities to focus directly on those ideas. Over the past few years, teaching a course on college teaching for graduate students has given me such an opportunity. Two years ago, my participation in a panel at the Midwest Political Science Association meetings provided a chance to pull together some of my thoughts about the role of the teacher. This essay presents some of those thoughts.

While I have won eight teaching awards—two of them national—the thought that I am capable of conveying pearls of wisdom about teaching seems as ridiculous today as it did when I started teaching 12 years ago. I do, however, feel comfortable sharing one “secret” of my success. My advice to new teachers is always as follows. Turn it inside out: Focus on the students as great learners, not on yourself as a great teacher.

Academics often treat political crises as “teachable moments.” They step back from their syllabi and use breaking events in the “real world” to spark classroom discussions that engage their students and also help them see aspects of the planned course material more clearly.

This article provides additional information on community college tenure-track opportunities for job candidates in political science who might be considering expanding their searches to include posts at two-year colleges. I write from the perspective of the successful community college job-search candidate, and provide reflections and advice relating to three areas of the community college job search and teaching environment. In the first section I discuss my decision to seek a position at a two-year college and I address the dilemmas of professional self-image that may face new Ph.D.s considering community college employment. The second section recounts key strategies and practices that I found successful as a candidate on the community college market. In the final section I describe what I have learned during my first year as a community college instructor, focusing on the specific adaptations I have made in creating a classroom environment that is academically challenging for advanced students yet not rigidly inaccessible to students with limited basic skills.

Activities, Administrative Appointments, New Appointments, Promotions, Retirement, Awards

William J. Blough, by Stephen Samuel Smith, Winthrop University

A. Michael Corbett, by Joseph Losco, Ball State University

Phillip O. Foss, by John Straayer, Colorado State University

Arnold J. Heidenheimer, by John H. Kautsky, Victor T. LeVine, and Robert H. Salisbury, Washington University

Rita Mae Kelly, by Jane Bayes, California State University, Northridge

APSA will return to the historic and picturesque city of Boston in 2002 for its 98th Annual Meeting. Beginning on August 29, 2002 and running through mid-day on September 1, 2002, the meeting will feature hundreds of panels, numerous professional workshops, and many special addresses. Even with all the excitement APSA has to offer, be sure to take some time out to enjoy the many sites Boston has to offer. Headquartered in the heart of the city, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, Sheraton Boston Hotel, and the Hynes Convention Center, you will have easy access to all of the key sites.

On February 1 Michael Brintnall assumed the role of APSA executive director. Brintnall was selected to succeed Catherine Rudder after a search process led by a six-member committee and approval by the APSA Council.

With Council approval, APSA President-Elect Theda Skocpol of Harvard University has selected Henry E. Brady and Margaret Weir, both of the University of California, Berkeley, to serve as Program Co-Chairs for the 2003 Annual Meeting. The 2003 meeting will mark the Centennial of the Association and will be held in Philadelphia, August 28–31.

The Association's 2002 Nominating Committee convened at the national office on February 1 and 2 and agreed upon a slate of Officers and Council members.

APSA President Robert D. Putnam spoke about “American Society and American Political Science After 9/11/01” as part of the thirty-third meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association and the International Studies Association-Northeast, which was held in Philadelphia in November 2001.

A Disability Income Insurance Plan with monthly benefits up to $3,000 is available to members of the American Political Science Association. All members and/or spouses or domestic partners under age 60, who have been actively working full-time (at least 25 hours a week) for the last 90 days, and have not been hospitalized in the last six months are eligible to apply for the Disability Income Plan.

The Internet is an ever-growing resource for scholars and students. As the technology evolves APSA is working to provide more advanced online services for members. The latest program to be released is myAPSA.

On February 4, the Bush Administration submitted its $2.13 trillion budget for FY03. In light of the budget's proposals for dramatic spending increases for homeland security, terrorism prevention, and the Defense Department ($48 billion)—as well as a projected $106 billion deficit—America's cultural programs have fared better than many expected.

The aftermath of the tragedies of September 11 continues to have its impact on the APSA Congressional Fellowship Program as some 50 senators are not interviewing fellows until the staff can return to their quarters in the Hart Senate Office Building.