News and Events

Highlights...

Robert Grafstein, Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia, gave a talk on "Conflict between Altruitsic Generations: Social Security and the Politics of Aging Societies," as part of the Markets and States speaker series.

Michelle Benson is promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

Christina Boyd joins the Faculty as an Assistant Professor specializing in Public Law and Judicial Politics.

Bryan Dettrey is named as the Paul D. Senese Teaching Assistantship recipient for 2009-10.

Annika Hagley wins the Best Graduate Student Paper Award for 2009.

Professor Harvey Starr gives Pi Sigma Alpha lecture and receives first

Distinguished Alumnus Award.

See full stories below ---

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair hob knobs with

political science graduate student Annika Hagley and

Professor Josh Dyck at reception before Blair's

U.B. Distinguished Speaker talk.

Read about Recent Faculty Achievements on the Faculty/Staff webpage

Upcoming Department Presentations

The Research Workshop Series:

The Department has an active series of faculty and graduate student workshop presentations and occasional guest speakers. Professor Greg Johnson and Professor Jim Battista organize the biweekly series. Please visit the Department Workshop page for upcoming workshop presentations/discussions and an archive of past workshop papers.

Graduate Student Professionalization Seminars:

The next suminar will be led by Professor Claude Welch and Fait Muedini. The topic is teaching an undergraduate course. The seminar will be held on Friday October 9th at 3 PM in Park 502.

Invited Speakers

The 2009 Pi Sigma Alpha Lecture and Initiation Ceremony

Professors Harvey Starr and Michelle Benson Professors Claude Welch and Harvey Starr

On Friday March 27, 2009, Professor Harvey Starr gave the 2009 Pi Sigma Alpha talk in the Department. Professor Starr is the Dag Hammarskjöld Professor in International Affairs in the Department of Political Science at the University of South Carolina. He is the author or co-author of 14 books and monographs, and over eighty journal articles, book chapters, and notes. He is also an alumnus of UB and received the Department's first Distinguished Alumnus Award (see story below). The title of Professor Starr's talk was "Opportunity, Willingness and Geopolitics." Fourteen new members of the Rho Tau Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha were initiated and recognized at this event and a lunch followed. Professor James Campbell, currently serving as President of Pi Sigma Alpha nationally, presented the new initiates who attended the event with their certificates of membership.

Professor Michelle Benson, chapter advisor to the Rho Tau Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, and Ann McLellan organized the event. Professor Benson and Professor Starr are in the photograph on the left. Professor Claude Welch and Professor Starr are in the photograph on the right. Professor Starr had been a student in one of Professor Welch's classes shortly after Professor Welch joined the UB faculty in the 1960s.

Research Workshop Series in Markets and States

Professor Bob Grafstein

On November 13, 2009, Professor Robert Grafstein of the University of Georgia

presented a talk to the Department's faculty, graduate students and other attendees

on "Conflict between Altruitsic Generations: Social Security and the Politics of

Aging Societies."

Prof. Bob Grafstein

Professor Josh Dyck and Professor Jim Gimpel

On April 17, 2009, Professor Jim Gimpel of the University

of Maryland presented a talk to the Department's faculty

and graduate students on "Regional Migration Flows and

the Partisan Sorting of the American Electorate." Prof.

Gimpel, who serves as editor of American Politics

Research, also made a presentation in the Department's

professionalization series. He spoke about the process

of publication in scholarly journals in political science.

Professors Josh Dyck and Jim Gimpel

On February 26, 2009, Professor Jonathan Rodden of Stanford University gave a talk on "Why Democrats Need Boll Weevils and Blue Dogs: The Distribution of Political Preferences Across U.S. House Districts." Professor Rodden's talk was part of the Research Workshop Series in Markets and States organized by Professor Jason Sorens.

Also as part of this Research Workshop on Markets and States series this year, Professor William Reed of Rice University gave a talk in the Department on November 19, 2008. Professor Reed's talk was titled"Decomposing the Relationship Between Contiguity and Militarized Conflict."

Political Science Speakers

On February 19, 2009, Professor Peter J. Katzenstein, the Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studies at Cornell University and current President of the American Political Science Association gave a lecture on "Obamania and Anti-Americanism: The United States and the World in the 21st Century" for UB's undergraduate academies.

On February 20, 2009, Professor Frederick J. Boemke of the University of Iowa talked about his research on "Subverting Administrative Oversight: Campaign Contributions and Nursing Home Inspections" with faculty and graduate students in the Department.

On September 26, 2008, Lee Epstein, the Henry Wade Rogers Professor at the Northwestern University School of Law gave a talk about her research titled “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.” Professor Epstein's talk was co-sponsored by the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy.

Three other speakers were brought to the Department in the 2007-08 year through a grant that Jason Sorens received for a series of research workshops on “Markets and States.” The first speaker in this series was Professor Erik Gartzke of University of California at San Diego who presented his research on “The Relevance of Power in International Relations.” Professor David M. Konisky of the University of Missouri, Columbia followed with a presentation on “Exporting Air Pollution? Regulatory Enforcement and Environmental Free Riding in the United States.” The final speaker in the series this past Spring was Professor Nita Rudra of the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Rudra discussed her research project “Have Governments Gone Too Far?”

Karl Rove Visits Presidential Campaign Class

Prior to his debate with General Wesley Clark in UB's Distinguished Speaker Series on September 26, 2008, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to then President George W. Bush, talked for an hour with the students in Jim Campbell's PSC 344 course on Presidential Campaigns. Mr. Rove graciously offered to meet and chat with the undergraduate students, some graduate students, and faculty in the seminar room in the Department. It was an unusual and much appreciated chance for students and faculty to discuss national politics one-on-one with a leading national political figure, strategist, and commentator.

Faculty and Student Awards

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

Professor Campbell presents Distinguished Alumnus Award to Professor Harvey Starr

Professor James Campbell presents Professor Harvey Starr with his award.

The Department presented its first Distinguished Alumnus Award to Professor Harvey Starr of the University of South Carolina. Harvey is the Dag Hammarskjöld Professor in International Affairs in the Department of Political Science at the University of South Carolina. He is the author or co-author of 14 books and monographs, and over eighty journal articles, book chapters, and notes. He graduated from UB in 1967 as a political science major and went on from Buffalo to receive his Ph.D. from Yale in 1971.

FACULTY AWARDS

2009 Lisa Hertel Award Winner

Claude E. Welch Jr. received the 2009 Lisa Hertel Outstanding Professor Award at the Department’s 2008-09 graduation reception.

The Third Annual Salute to UB Authors

Paul Senese's book The Steps to War (co-authored with John Vasquez)

was recognized at the April 6th celebration of books published this past

year by UB authors. Several members of Paul's family were at the

ceremony to represent Paul. The Steps to War was published

in 2008 by Princeton University Press.

The Salute to UB Authors event also recognized the publication of the third edition of Munroe Eagles' Politics: An Introduction to Modern Democratic Government (Broadview Press, 2008).

Lamb Wins Barker Award

Professor Charles Lamb was awarded the Lucius Barker Award for the best paper presented at the 2008 Midwest Political Science Association conference on a topic investigating race or ethnicity and politics. Professor Lamb's paper was"The Origins of Federal Fair Housing Policy: Racial Segregation, Restrictive Covenants, and the Truman Administration."

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Graduate Paper Award in Political Science

This award is made annually from among papers nominated by members of the faculty. First awarded in 2005, the prize is intended to recognize original research that makes a significant contribution to understanding political phenomena. The 2009 recipient was Annika Hagley.

Paul D. Senese Graduate Assistantship

The Department of Political Science is delighted to announce the selection of Bryan Dettrey as the third graduate student designated to hold the Paul D. Senese Graduate Assistantship. He holds this designation for the 2009-2010 academic year.

In the fall of 2007, the Department’s faculty approved the naming of a graduate assistantship in honor of Paul D. Senese. Professor Senese was a highly accomplished and very promising scholar in International Politics who joined the Department in 1998 and passed away in the summer of 2006. This graduate assistantship is named in his memory and reflects Paul’s commitment to UB, political science, its graduate students, and the study of international politics.

The Department’s Graduate Committee awards the distinction of the Paul D. Senese Graduate Assistantship annually to a continuing graduate student. The designation of the recipient of this honor is based on the Committee’s collective judgment of the student’s superior performance in the program, with a preference given to students in the international politics field.

As well as the honor of this designation, there are two tangible forms of recognition. First, each annual award winner’s name will be inscribed on a plaque permanently displayed in the Department’s main office. Second, a copy of the The Steps to War: An Empirical Study by Paul D. Senese and John A. Vasquez (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008) is presented to the award recipient.

Fait Muedini and Jesse Wasson with Senese Award Plaque

The Paul D. Senese Graduate Assistantship for the 2007-2008 academic year, the first year in which it was awarded, was held by Jesse T. Wasson. The Senese Assistantship in 2008-09 was held by Fait Muedini.

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award

Fait Muedini, a graduate student in the Department and the Paul Senese Graduate Assistantship holder in 2008-09, was awarded a Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award. The University honored the award recipients in a presentation ceremony and reception in the Center for the Arts.

UNDERGRADUATE ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS

Reception for Graduating Political Science Students of 2009

With last Spring's graduation, the Department began what it hopes will be a new tradition: an end-of-year Reception in Honor of Graduating Political Science Students. The event was a great success and very well attended by both graduating majors, underclassmen political science majors, friends and faculty. It took place on Friday, April 24 from 4 to 5:30pm in Room 210 of the Student Union. There was a very brief program to recognize graduating students and particular student accomplishments. Hors d’oeuvres were served and a good time was had by all. A total of 84 political science majors graduated in May, 2009. Congratulations! We hope that you stay in touch with your professors and fellow students through the website's alumni page.

Outstanding Senior in 2008-09

Aaron Krolikowski was selected by the Department as its outstanding senior.

Phi Beta Kappa's Capen Award Winner

Political Science major Aaron Krolikowski adds the Samuel Paul Capen Award of UB's Omicron Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa to his list of accolades. From the letter from Professor Barbara Bono, President of the chapter, announcing his selection: "This year the Omicron Chapter has named you to receive one of two Samuel Paul Capen Awards for 'the undergraduate who best exemplifies the spirit of free inquiry and expression,' in special acknowledgement of your honors work in both of your majors, SSI-Environmental Studies and Political Science, and the overall excellence of your liberal arts record as a whole."

Morris K. Udall Scholar

Aaron Krolikowski, a junior pursuing a double major in political science and social sciences interdisciplinary – environmental studies was selected as a 2008 Morris K. Udall Scholar on the basis of his commitment to a career in the environment, his leadership potential, and academic achievement. This is a very competitive scholarship program and Aaron was one of 80 Scholars selected from 510 candidates. Read the UB Reporter story. Mr. Krolikowski also recently won the Prestigious Clarendon Scholarship to Oxford University. See the UB Reporter story.

Robert H. Stern Award

There were two winners of the Robert H. Stern Award for the Most Outstanding Undergraduate Paper. Shannon Griffin won for her paper "Terrorist Organizations and Political Parties: Why and How" and Jessica Page won for her paper "British Political Scandals." Both were students of Professor Gregg Johnson. The 2008 winners were Sarah Tanbakuchi and Phillip Morris.

Phi Beta Kappa

Eighteen political science graduates this year earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Those students are: Rebecca Bryan, Jessica Curry, Ryan Daniels, Tricia De Filipps, Joshua Esrick, Kathryn Figliotti, Ryan Flaherty, Michael Jozwiak, Dylan Katz, Stephen Klein, Aaron Krowlikowski, Peter Musso, Janelle Olmer, Megan Shay, Lauren Siegel, Denise Stacks, Sarah Tanbakuchi, and Bethany Wright. Congratulations!

Pi Sigma Alpha

Fifteen members were inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for political science. Those new members of Pi Sigma Alpha are: Scott Beaton, John Bragg, Rebecca Bryan, Jessica Curry, Ryan Daniels, Joshua Esrick, Aaron Greenberg, Sharon Kaufman, Liam Kincaid, Peter Musso, Janelle Olmer, Lauren Siegel, Denise Stacks, Sarah Tanbakuchi, and Tiffany Toh. Congratulations!

New Faculty

There many good reasons to be optimistic about the Department’s future. Although the Department continues to be understaffed, it has been quite successful in recruiting high-caliber faculty in recent years and the University’s administration supports bringing the Department's faculty numbers up to 20 faculty as soon as possible.

In the last few years, the Department has made a number of excellent faculty hires. Both Harvey Palmer, an Associate Professor in Political Behavior (both comparative and American), and James Battista, an Assistant Professor in American politics, joined the Department in 2007-08. Both are exceptional scholars and colleagues who have already contributed greatly to the Department’s mission. The two most recent additions are also reasons to be optimistic. Dinissa Duvanova, an Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics, joined the Department in the Fall of 2008 after having had a productive post-doctoral year at Princeton. Professor Duvanova received her Ph.D. at Ohio State University. Philip Arena, an Assistant Professor of International Relations, joined the faculty in the Fall of 2008. He received his Ph.D. from Penn State.

The Department is delighted to welcome Christina Boyd to the faculty as an Assistant Professor specializing in Public Law and Judicial Politics. Professor Boyd completed her doctorate at Washington University, St. Louis in the summer of 2009.

Civic Engagement and Professional Service

In addition to fulfilling their research and teaching commitments and to serving the Department, College, and University in various administrative capacities, a number of the faculty were also active in providing service to the political science profession and to the public more broadly.

Several members of the Department held national leadership positions in professional organizations, on editorial boards of scholarly journals, and in organizing professional meetings and conferences. Professor Campbell serves as President of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society of Political Science. Professors Battista, Campbell, Eagles, Welch, and Zagare each serve on at least one editorial board of a scholarly journal. Professors Benson, Campbell, Danilovic, and Eagles each served on at least one executive council or advisory council of a national professional organization.

Scholarship involves both the production and the dissemination of knowledge and the dissemination does not stop at the classroom door nor at the professional conference, several political science faculty are very active in sharing their research and ideas with the public through the media and in direct forums and otherwise bringing their professional expertise into the public arena. This is a key aspect of civic engagement. In this vein, Franco Mattei also was interviewed a number of times by both national and local media about nominating campaigns. Claude Welch was called upon by international (Pravda in Bratislava, Slovakia) and local (WBEN, WHAM, WBFO radio, WGRZ, WKBW, and Bridges-TV television, and The Buffalo News) news media for commentary on many international political issues.

Professor Campbell was often called upon by national, international, various local, and Buffalo area news media about his election research and commentary on American elections. These included: National Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, USA Today, Politico, Newsday, RTT News, the Binghamton Press and Sun-Journal, Yahoo News, CBS Market Watch, the Montreal Gazette, Greensboro News-Record, Mobile Press-Register, Palm Beach Daily News, DC Examiner, as well as a number of other media outlets. He also contributed essays on the election to both The Britannica Blog and to Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball websites.

Professors Halpern and Dyck also brought their political science expertise into the public arena. Professor Steve Halpern used his expertise in law to supervise law school interns and to serve as a pro bono counsel to a number of clients, including the Buffalo Living Wage Commission. Professor Josh Dyck served as volunteer consultant to Voter’s Direct, a non-partisan group focused on voter turnout.

Student News

Political Science Club Panel Discussion

The Political Science Club and the Department co-sponsored a panel discussion on Thursday, March 19th in 280 Park Hall on "Exactly How and Why Do You Become a Professor?" Professors Johnson, Palmer, and Campbell participated on the panel and several other faculty participated from the audience. There was a good turnout and an active discussion among Political Science Club members and faculty. Pizza was provided. These could be related.