Perspectives on Politics Celebrates 10th Anniversary
This year APSA celebrates the first decade of publication of Perspectives on Politics. Added to the APSA journal portfolio in 2003, Perspectives has developed into an important publication for the discipline under the stewardship of its first three editors Jennifer Hochschild, Jim Johnson, and current editor Jeffrey C. Isaac and their respective editorial boards. As stated in its mission statement, Perspectives on Politics endeavors to “provide a space for broad and synthetic discussion within the political science profession and between the profession and the broader scholarly and reading publics.”Footnote 1 In the September 2012 issue of Perspectives, Isaac provides his perspective on the founding principles of the journal and his vision for the journal as an “important public sphere for political science in general and for the American Political Science Association.”Footnote 2 To mark the anniversary, Isaac organized the September issue to include political science research and discussion of the politics of reconstruction and post-Katrina New Orleans, themes relevant to the association as the site of its 2012 annual conference and as an important public discussion of the legacy of Katrina. Working closely with Cambridge University Press and APSA, Isaac and his team planned to release the issue at the APSA Annual Meeting in New Orleans at the end of August, although the conference was ultimately canceled due to Hurricane Isaac. Cambridge and APSA also issued a national press release in mid-August and opened the issue to the public and the media to encourage coverage of the research on post-Katrina New Orleans. Several media outlets, including the MSNBC Melissa Harris-Perry program, featured the research.Footnote 3 Editor Isaac also planned a panel discussion during the APSA Annual Meeting of post-Katrina and reconstruction research as well as a reflection on the anniversary of Perspectives. In light of the conference cancellation, the discussion will be reformulated in an online format hosted on the journal's website, www.apsanet.org/perspectives.
2013 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference Marks a Milestone
APSA is looking forward to the 2013 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference February 8–10, 2013, in Long Beach, California. This year's theme is “Teaching Political Science: Preparing Students for Success.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of the conference and is both a milestone and a testament to the APSA's mission to promote the scholarship of teaching and learning and excellence in teaching.
The 2013 Teaching and Learning Conference program committee has planned an interesting program that includes a new workshop track on distance learning. Two new tracks from the 2012 meeting will be offered again: Conflict and Conflict Resolution and Teaching and Learning at Community Colleges. Michael Brintnall, APSA Executive Director, is the Phi Sigma Alpha keynote speaker. A 10th anniversary roundtable, moderated by John Ishiyama, University of North Texas, will address the impact and future of the teaching and learning conference.
General registration opened December 13, 2012–February 1, 2013, with special rates for early registration. Registration is available online or onsite.
The following themes/tracks return in the 2013 program: Assessment; Civic Education; Teaching Research Methods; Internationalizing the Curriculum; Simulations and Role Play; Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Equality; Professional Development; Graduate Education and Core Curriculum/General Education. Other meeting components include plenary sessions and a preconference short course on simulations led by Victor Asal, University at Albany, SUNY.
The work that takes place at this meeting is a resource to students, faculty, and the discipline more broadly. For example, each year research that is presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference is summarized and shared with the discipline in the July edition of PS and online, thus providing a pedagogical resource. Scholars who participate in the conference share their experiences with the departmental colleagues and students, and in many cases go on to publish their work on teaching political science. The program committee includes: Candace Young (Chair), Truman State University; Victor Asal, University at Albany, SUNY; Michelle Deardorff, Jackson State University; Agnieszka Paczynska, George Mason University; Boris Ricks, California State University, Northridge; and Tressa Tabares, American River College. For more information on the upcoming 2013 conference, visit //www.apsanet.org/teachingconference.
New Organized Section Formed
APSA announced a new organized section, Migration and Citizenship, has been approved. The purpose of this section is to bring together political scientists working on issues of migration and citizenship, promote teaching and research in the field, and encourage communication among political scientists and scholars of migration and citizenship in related disciplines, including policy and other professionals, domestically and internationally. The following individuals currently serve as officers of the section: Co-Presidents: Els de Graauw, Baruch College, and Willem Maas, York University; Secretary: Leila Kawar, Bowling Green State University; Treasurer: Tom K. Wong, University of California, San Diego; Newsletter Editor: Antje Ellermann, University of British Columbia; and Council: Janna Bray, University of Michigan; Erin Aeran Chung, Johns Hopkins University; Alexandra Filindra, University of Illinois Chicago; Gallya Lahav, State University of New York at Stonybrook; Hillary Mellinger, George Mason University; and John Mollenkopf, The Graduate Center, City University of New York.
Organized sections provide an opportunity for groups of APSA members who share a common interest in a particular subfield to organize meetings and coordinate communications under APSA auspices. Sections provide members with outlets for research and opportunities for scholarship. Sections help encourage the study of political science. They have become a vital part of the APSA by sponsoring panels at the Annual Meeting, producing informative newsletters, and recognizing scholarly achievements of their members.
On October 16, APSA hosted a special panel discussion highlighting presidential forecasting research published in the previous issue of PS at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Panelists who discussed their models included (from left to right) Michael S. Lewis-Beck, University of Iowa; James Campbell, University at Buffalo; Thomas Holbrook, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; and Christopher Wlezien, Temple University. Various regional and national media outlets were present, including the Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Videos and news coverage of the reports are located at www.PoliticalScienceNow.com/Forecasting.
Pi Sigma Alpha Elects New Officers
Alice Jackson, professor of political science at Morgan State University, was elected president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society for a two-year term beginning September 2012. Jackson is the first African American president of the organization, which was founded in 1920 at the University of Texas at Austin.
During her tenure at Morgan State she has been repeatedly recognized for her outstanding commitment to teaching and undergraduate education, including being named part of the University-wide Faculty of the Year in 2011. President Jackson is joined by a new president-elect and six new members of the executive council who will serve four-year terms (2012–16).
Stephen J. Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington was elected president-elect for 2012–14. Farnsworth served as chapter advisor at the University of Mary Washington from 1996–2008 during which time the chapter was named one of the nation's best in 2003–04 and he won a best advisor award in 1999.
The new Executive Council members are:
Robert Alexander, associate professor, department of political science, Ohio Northern University. He has served as advisor of the Pi Iota chapter since arriving at Ohio Northern in 2002.
Charles Finocchiaro, assistant professor, department of government and international studies, University of South Carolina. He assumed the role of chapter advisor for the Gamma Chi chapter in 2010.
Jan Hardt, professor, department of political science, University of Central Oklahoma. She has served as the chapter advisor at the Sigma Mu chapter since 1996.
Christine Pappas, associate professor, department of political and legal studies, East Central University. She has advised the Rho Beta chapter since 2001.
Joseph Reisert, associate professor, department of government, Colby College. He currently serves as advisor to the Zeta Kappa chapter.
Terri Towner, assistant professor, department of political science, Oakland University. She has led the Nu Omega chapter since 2010.
The continuing members of the executive council through 2014 are:
Past-President: Robin Kolodny, Temple University
Past-President: James E. Campbell, University at Buffalo
Past-President: Jon Bond, Texas A&M University
Rosalee Clawson, Purdue University
Laurel Elder, Hartwick College
Ron Rapoport, College of William & Mary
James Simeone, Illinois Wesleyan
Mark Petracca, University of California-Irvine
Rogers S. Smith, University of Pennsylvania
Ex officio Executive Director: James I. Lengle
Ex officio Newsletter Editor: Jessica Lavariega Monforti, University of Texas-Pan American
