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Department Chair’s Message

The 2025-2026 academic year continued in an upward trajectory for the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, with many exciting new developments and steps forward. PSPA is also now offering Fast Track graduate courses for major, minor, and/or elective undergraduate credits. This past year I began my term as Department Chair and could not have done it without the help of our Administrative Manager, Ms. Lorena Chavez, for whom this marks her tenth-year anniversary of providing unparalleled service to PSPA. I am also grateful to all our faculty, staff, and students for their help and support in moving onward and upward. We have seen ongoing notable growth in our enrollments, have launched a new Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, had the Masters of Public Administration program successfully reaccredited, and are also in the midst of proposing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs. Among other achievements, some of the most recent include Dr. Joseph Zhou being awarded a Career Enhancement Award by ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Office of Research and Innovation, Dr. Melissa Baker and her collaborators being awarded a $397,054 Grant from the Social Studies and Humanities Research Council, Dr. Eric Boyer getting published in the flagship journal The American Review of Public Administration (ARPA), Dr. Gaspare Genna being selected to serve as AI Fellow with the University of Oxford, and Drs. Sirin and Villalobos winning the SWPSA Best Paper Award. This year also marked the retirement of Dr. Bill Weaver (co-founder and former director of the Law School Preparation Institute who is still teaching popular courses for us), as well as the 99th birthday of our esteemed friend and longtime colleague, Dr. Tony Kruszewski (Professor Emeritus). Among student accomplishments, we saw a recurrence of recognitions for Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA), the launch of the MPA's Phi Alpha Alpha Student Association, and, among other things, many student awards, scholarships, internships, and job announcements detailed below. We also held a very well attended fall celebration event last November that had many wonderful colleagues and friends joining us, including alumni from the 1970s as well as some of our most recently graduated Miners. We also give a special thanks to Dean Anadeli Bencomo, Vice Provost Deana Pennington, Provost John Wiebe, and President Heather Wilson for their steadfast support and guidance along the way. Finally and as always, we are incredibly thankful and appreciative of all those in the Miner community who provide their invaluable time and assistance in continuing to connect with us for our various programs and events each year.

If you are interested in giving back to our department, especially to help our current students succeed, please consider contributing! Many of the extra work students undertake, such as internships outside of El Paso, study abroad, or attending and presenting at academic conferences, require supplemental funding from our department. Our funding from the Texas State government does not keep pace with the increasing costs of education. We wish to give our students the same experiences (or better!) that students in other nationally-ranked institutions have. Did you know that our department gives out approximately $60,000 dollars in scholarships each year? This is due to the generosity of people like you, enabling us to distribute scholarships to a large number of very deserving students who have achieved success in their course work.

Please consider giving, even a small amount. We are sending out this newsletter to approximately 15,000 people. Imagine if each of you donated only $20? We would have enough to create an endowment to fund 50 students each year into the future! Even small contributions have large and lasting impacts on our students. So consider clicking this link and donating whatever you can. It is very easy, and we thank you in advance for your kind contributions and support!

We would also like to help you with educational opportunities. Please look at our Masters Degree in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration to see if they fit into your career plans. Many students take a break between undergraduate and graduate education. Therefore, it is never too late to undergo the change you need to see in yourself!

Please enjoy the rest of the newsletter. If you are not in the area, please do drop us a line and give us an update. Your post-¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ experiences help us design the most appropriate education for our current students. In addition, of course, please stop by to visit when you are in town. 

~ Dr. José D. Villalobos, Chair of Political Science and Public Administration

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ approves Pspa's new bachelor of Arts in public administration (ba in pa) program (for launch in fall 2026)

The College of Liberal Arts will add a new Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration beginning in Fall 2026, expanding educational opportunities for students interested in public service, nonprofit leadership, and government careers. The program was developed in response to growing demand for undergraduate public administration education and was informed by faculty engagement with the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), conversations with students, and extensive outreach to regional employers. Faculty found that public and nonprofit organizations throughout the region consistently expressed a need for graduates equipped with administrative, leadership, and organizational skills tailored to today's workforce. 

Development of the degree began in the summer of 2024 and involved close collaboration among faculty members across the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Key leadership for the initiative was provided by Dr. Eric Boyer, Director of the Master of Public Administration Program; Dr. Gaspare Genna, Director of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Studies; and Dr. José Villalobos, Department Chair. Together with faculty who teach public administration at the graduate and undergraduate levels, the team designed a curriculum that aligns with workforce needs while reflecting national best practices in public administration education. 

“We didn't just design a degree, we built a launchpad, ready to send graduates straight into public service or straight into furthering their education,” said Dr. Genna. 

The new degree is also a product of the department's recent merger of its Master of Public Administration program with the former Department of Political Science, an effort intended to create stronger academic synergies and enhance student learning opportunities. While public administration was previously offered as a concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, faculty recognized the need for a modernized curriculum and additional coursework that better prepares students for immediate employment and graduate study. The program is expected to serve as a valuable pathway to advanced degrees, including ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Master of Public Administration.

See also: /liberalarts/news/july-2026/college-of-liberal-arts-launches-new-ba-in-public-administration.html

Dr. Baker's Political Engagement and Cognitive Health Lab 

The Political Engagement and Cognitive Health Lab, directed by Dr. Melissa Baker, has supported ten ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ undergraduate and graduate students this year who have been working on research. This lab provides opportunities for students to get involved in social science research and gain skills to prepare them for graduate school, law school, and future jobs.

The 2025-2026 academic year is the third consecutive year where Dr. Baker and a student have submitted successful funding proposals to Campus Office of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Research Initiatives to provide financial support for students working on research. Of note, two students have also received recognition for their research work. Miguel Alvarado received the Outstanding ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Research Assistant Award from the department for his work on a stress and politics project. This project examines how individual level stress affects political participation and the ways in which stress reduction techniques can help individual health and boost political participation. Miguel focused on synthesizing and communicating public health research that can contribute to this project. Darek Perez was chosen as a Top Three Poster at the College of Liberal Arts’ Research Symposium where he presented a poster on ongoing research in the lab about perceptions of artificial intelligence use. This project examines the perceptions of legality and morality of AI generated content. Darek focused on project development, understanding experimental data, and science communication of this work. He will also be presenting at the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Spring Research Symposium.

Taylor Bell, a PhD Student, presented a research talk at the American Psychology and Law Society annual conference on the role of political ideology in perceptions of artificial intelligence use. Taylor is expanding the perceptions of legality and morality of AI generated content project by looking at differences in perceptions in liberals and conservatives to better understand how political identification can influence the perception of this content. She is writing a paper on this project for submission to a journal.

Looking toward the summer, Dr. Baker has been awarded a Restricted Data Research Award which provides summer support for a student to work alongside her on project proposal development and big data skills applied to a stress and politics project. Members of the lab will be working on issues related to restricted data, merging data, and analyzing Census and National Health Institute Survey to better understand the relationship between health, particularly stress/stressors and their health consequences, and political participation.

Pi Sigma Alpha's 12th Best Chapter Award and other Achievements

Pi Sigma Alpha at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ continues its impressive record of academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement under the guidance of Dr. Hiroi. The Epsilon Epsilon Chapter received its 12th Best Chapter Award for the 2025–26 academic year. During the Fall 2025 semester, the chapter also secured two grants from the Pi Sigma Alpha National Office, supporting major initiatives in Spring 2026. In February, four chapter members (Abraham Sidrian, Chris Leavitt, Marian Reyes, and Oriana Torrealba) presented their research at the Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference at American University in Washington, D.C.  The PSA chapter also now has an office in Benedict Hall 101.

Pi Sigma Alpha, Epsilon Epsilon Chapter Officers, AY 2025-26
President: Chris Leavitt
Vice President: Abraham Sidrian
Secretary: Everly Rodriguez
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Taeko Hiroi
 

Fall 2025 Inductees
Daniela Adame
Felix Chidi
Jessica Baidoe-Ansah
Aylinne Morales
Angel Ayala
Daniel Alvarado
Nicole Duran
Mairan Reyes
Donna Lopez-Medrano
Raymond Leavitt
Alexa Garcia
Alfred Kwaw
 

Spring 2026 Inductees
Christopher Vukadin
Bridget O'Malley

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Professor Patrick Timmons hosted renowned journalist Jonathan Blitzer of The New Yorker as part of the Liberal Arts Dean Speaker Series

 

The New Yorker magazine staff writer, Jonathan Blitzer, visited ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ to talk to students about his prize-winning book, Everyone Who is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin, 2024). Blitzer, who specializes in covering immigration for The New Yorker discussed his book, and the changes to reporting about immigration in the Americas, and especially from Juarez/El Paso, over the past 13 years. Blitzer explained that he wrote the book to capture how public immigration policies shape the life stories of five asylum-seekers to the United States, from 1980, through to the COVID-19 pandemic. A book-length treatment was a necessity, he felt, given how the existing infrastructure of immigration regulation, once focused on single men from Mexico, was unable to address the large numbers of parents and children from Central America seeking asylum as they fled violence, discrimination, and authoritarianism. He also discussed the importance of El Paso as a reporting location about how national immigration policy affects local communities. The standing-room only event took place in the comfortable surrounds of the new Texas Western Hall. Blitzer was invited by Dr. Patrick Timmons, Associate Professor of Instruction of Political Science, as the guest of POLSPA and the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Speakers Series.

"It was a full house for Jonathan Blitzer of The New Yorker. He spoke and answered questions for about 87 minutes, and stayed longer to chat with students. It was standing room only with more than 60 attendees. Our students are amazing."

~ Professor Patrick Timmons

Dr. Gaspare genna selected for prestigious ai fellow position with the university of oxford

Dr. Gaspare Genna was selected as a fellow in the AI Upskilling for Social Scientists Program at the University of Oxford. Approximately 200 applications were submitted for the fellowship, with only 20 participants ultimately selected.

The program has two primary objectives. First, it aims to provide social scientists with a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of artificial intelligence, including how the code and models that power major AI applications are developed. Second, it seeks to foster new research agendas that examine the implications of AI for key social science topics.

The fellowship includes a series of virtual sessions designed to support the first objective. In addition, fellows are required to attend a mandatory workshop at the University of Oxford from October 8-10, where participants will begin collaborative discussions and research planning related to the program's second objective. Travel expenses for this workshop are covered by the fellowship.

DrS. Sirin & Villalobos win SWPSA Best Paper Award

Dr. Cigdem Sirin and Dr. José Villalobos, professor of political science, were awarded the 2025 Best Paper Award from the Southwestern Political Science Association (SWPSA) Annual Meeting. Their paper, entitled "Group Empathy and Voter Behavior in the Post-Roe Era: Fallout from the 2022 Elections," continues their award winning work in the area of empathy and politics. They were officially recognized for this award at the 2026 meeting in Nashville, TN.

Their other work on empathy includes the book "Seeing Us in Them: Social Divisions and the Politics of Group Empathy." This book has won many awards, including the American Political Science Association's Best Book Award, the David O. Sears Award (best book on mass politics), the Robert E. Lane Award (best book in political psychology), and the APSA Best Book in Experiment Research Award. 

The Southwestern Political Science Association was officially established in 1919 and is the political science affiliate of the Southwestern Social Science Association (SSSA). This association is also affiliated with the social science journal Social Science Quarterly.

Student Accomplishments & Testimonials

Elizabeth Antie's reflections and advice for other students:

"My journey at The University of Texas at El Paso has been one of growth, discovery, and purpose. When I began my Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, I was eager to deepen my understanding of public service, but I left with much more - a sharpened sense of direction and the confidence to contribute meaningfully to society.

During my time in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, I immersed myself in both academic and practical experiences that shaped my development. Serving as a Teaching Assistant was one of the most impactful parts of my journey. It gave me the opportunity to work closely with students, support their learning, and collaborate with faculty. These experiences strengthened my communication, leadership, and instructional skills. At the same time, my role as a Graduate Research Assistant challenged me to think critically and analytically, as I worked with data, synthesized research, and used tools such as SPSS and Stata to support evidence-based insights. These experiences were not just academic, they were transformational. They prepared me to transition confidently into the professional world.

Reflecting on my journey, I carry a deep sense of gratitude for the foundation ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ has given me. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to serve with purpose, and I am excited to apply these skills to make a meaningful impact in public service.

I am excited to share that I have begun my career as a Child Support Legal Assistant with the Child Support Services Division, under the New Mexico Health Care Authority. In this role, I support case management processes and collaborate with clients, attorneys, and government agencies to help ensure effective and equitable service delivery. Every day, I see the real-world impact of public administration, and I am grateful to be part of work that directly supports families and communities.

To current students, my advice is simple: embrace the journey, even when the path is not clear. Growth often happens in moments of uncertainty. Take advantage of every opportunity, continue building your skills, and trust that each step is preparing you for something greater. As I move forward, I remain committed to growing in the field of public administration and contributing to policies and programs that create lasting, positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities."

Miguel Alvarado's accomplishments and reflections:

 Miguel Alvarado has had a very accomplished academic year. In the Fall, Miguel was awarded the Outstanding ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Research Assistant Award from the department. This award recognizes the top research assistant in the department as nominated by faculty. Miguel’s work as a research assistant with Dr. Baker was impressive, as he went above and beyond in his work to have individual impact on a project at the intersection of political science, psychology, and public health to better understand the relationship between stress and political participation. This Spring, Miguel has been an Archer Fellow where he has interned for the House Minority Whip, Katherine Clark. Speaking on this experience, Miguel says "It has been a rich and meaningful learning opportunity to engage with other students across the U.T. System and my cohort with the Democratic Whip's office. I have gained more of an understanding into the day-to-day operations behind the Democratic Whip's and have dipped my foot into the realm of House floor procedure. Washington D.C. is beautiful with endless wealth in history and culture but expensive. Nonetheless, I wish to return after graduate school to continue my journey on Capitol Hill."

Juan Saldana's testimonial and accomplishments:

 "The summer of 2025 marked the beginning of my academic year, where I had the opportunity to participate and complete the Law School Preparation Institute Phase I and II, where I delved into a tort law-style class and intense LSAT preparation, while at the same time, I was honored and privileged to be sworn in as a Senator At Large for the Student Government Association (SGA). During the Fall 2025 semester, I joined leadership positions within SGA, where I became the Chair of the Student Appointment Review Committee and Co-Chair of the Leadership Committee (EXCEL) while also remaining active within two other committees within SGA, namely the Document Review Committee and the Welfare Committee, where I continued my personal commitment to representing the student body. During this semester, I had the opportunity to co-author the International Voices Scholarship project within SGA, which awarded 3 $500 scholarships to International Students. On a personal note, it has been an honor to be part of such an impactful initiative. At the same time, I joined the Miner Ambassadors, where I have had the opportunity to represent ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ with pride and honor during special events. I also worked at the Miner Athlete Academic Center as a tutor, helping Division 1 athletes perform well in their classes. My commitment continued throughout the Spring 2026 semester as I remained active in my responsibilities and also became Co-Chair of the Welfare Committee within SGA. I also participated in the International Voices Scholarship project for the spring 2026 semester, which will award 6 $500 scholarships. One of the highlights of my academic school year was definitely the admission to the Archer Fellowship for the Fall 2026 semester. Being selected as an Archer Fellow has truly been an honor; the Archer Fellowship will grant me the opportunity to live and intern in Washington, D.C., and meet students from across the UT System for a full semester. I am truly honored to represent ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ at such a prestigious program and to have the opportunity to continue with my personal commitment to public service. I am truly grateful for every person who has supported my journey. I look forward to what is ahead and tackle every opportunity with humbleness and gratitude."

Davion Dunn's numerous achievements and ongoing projects:

 Davion Dunn has stood out as an excellent representative of the political science and ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ student body to both faculty and his fellow students. This year, Davion was elected by his peers as the political science representative to the College of Liberal Arts Student Council. Davion has also been working as a research assistant with Dr. Baker where he works on social science research. Also in this academic year, Davion served as a Texas Civic Ambassador with the Annette Straus Institute where he worked with local high school Speech & Debate chapters to establish the communities first ever El Paso Speech & Debate Alumni Association which works to connect current and former competitors with the broader El Paso Community. Davion was also selected to participate in the Young Invincibles Student Advisory Council, where he has been tasked with connecting with legislators and executive officials on the state of Texas plan to reevaluate how public 4-year Texas institutions are funded, the University of Texas at El Paso included. This summer, Davion has been selected for a prestigious opportunity where he will be interning in Washington D.C as a Roosevelt Network Fellow conducting research in Economic Policy.

elizabeth macias on the vital role of community-engaged learning

"I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase my volunteering efforts, and I sincerely thank Dr. Villalobos for creating a space where we could share this work. For me, volunteering has always been about serving my community in a meaningful way. It is not simply about showing up, but about applying the skills I have gained to genuinely support and strengthen nonprofit organizations. When we bring our knowledge and abilities into these spaces, we do more than help, we create a lasting impact.

Through my experiences, I have learned the importance of being intentional with my time. As a student, a professional, and a parent, I understand how valuable time is. Even dedicating one or two hours a week can make a significant difference when that time is used purposefully. I have also been fortunate to learn from mentors who guided me, challenged me, and supported my growth through honest and constructive feedback.

My message to my classmates and to anyone entering the nonprofit world is simple: do not hide your strengths, your leadership, or who you are. Our communities need people like you, people who know how to turn ideas into action. As you continue to grow and develop your skills, you expand your ability to give back. The more you learn, the more you can offer, and in doing so, you become the light and spark that so many organizations truly need."

*Click HERE to see a slideshow of Elizabeth's community service advocacy work this past year.

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ SPecial event with Karl rove

On May 8, 2025, Karl Rove, former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, visited ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ for a special presentation on Perspectives on Leadership in a Changing Time. By special invitation from President Heather Wilson, PSPA students Heidi Nava, Alfred Kwaw, Arantxa Rangel, and Chris Leavitt (pictured below left to right with Mr. Rove) had the unique opportunity to sit at President Wilson's table with the guest of honor for lively conservation and a front row to Mr. Rove's remarks and Q&A session.

roundup: PSPA Special Talks & Brownbags

Below is a list of some of the very exciting presentation events we had last year.  We look forward to many more going forward - please do not hesitate to keep in touch with us so we can help spread the word on and off campus to share these types of opportunities with current and former members of PSPA.

Interdisciplinary Colloquium - Spring 2026 (organized by Dr. Melissa Baker)

February 16: Diana Bolsinger (Criminal Justice and Security Studies) presented “Patterns of Influence: U.S. Intelligence Liaison and Authoritarian Rule”

February 23: Rebecca Reid (Political Science and Public Administration) presented “Examining State Submission to Supranational Human Rights Courts: Evaluating the Inter-American Court of Human Rights”

March 2: Eric Boyer (Political Science and Public Administration) presented “Public Procurement Under Tariffs and Global Uncertainty: Perspectives from State and Local Purchasing Professionals”

March 9: Idan Blank (UCLA Psychology) presented “Understanding ‘Understanding’ in Large Language Models”

March 30: Esther Han (Political Science and Public Administration) presented “Generation Gaps in the Federal Workforce: Are MZS Really Different?”

April 6: Amanda Goodson (Criminal Justice and Security Studies) presented “Prevalence and Correlates of Sexual Violence among Latino/as”

“PA in Action” Speaker Series (organized by Dr. Ljubinka Andonoska)

February 19: Nicole Schiff - Paso del Norte Center of Hope, Executive Director

April 2: Annette Gutierrez - Rio Grande Council of Governments, Executive Director

April 28: Georgina Hernandez - United Way of El Paso, CEO

PSPA Fall Celebration Event

On November 14, 2025, PSPA held its special Fall Celebration Event at Benedict Hall. There was a fantastic turnout of alumni, faculty, staff, and students, and Provost Wiebe also stopped by to visit and wish us well. We all had a great opportunity to reconnect while enjoying delicious eats. It was a wonderful event full of good cheer!

CongratulationS to our Department Scholarship Recipients! 

Marian and Alina Komarnicki Top Graduate Scholarship

Maritza Rodriguez Landess
Sylvia Perez

Marian and Alina Komarnicki Graduate Scholarship

Melissa Faulkner
Diego Araiza
Ernesto Altamirano Barraza
Marian Reyes

Marian and Alina Komarnicki Top ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Scholarship

Ingrid Felix Hernandez
Diego Iturriaga

Marian and Alina Komarnicki ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Scholarship

Yeray Lasanta
Abraham Sidrian
Diego Herrera Castilla
Luis Vergara
Daniel Mata

June M. Kruszewski Memorial Scholarship

Isabela Valencia

Irena Grabowska Kruszewska Memorial Scholarship

Jesse Corralejo

Dr. Joseph B Graves Scholarship

Jacqueline Ibarra

Faculty Briefs

Dr. Melissa Baker published three new papers in Social Science Quarterly, Analysis of Social Issues and Public Policy, and Politics and the Life Sciences during the 2025-2026 academic year. She also published a chapter with two ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni in the Encyclopedia of Political Communication. Dr. Baker was awarded the Restricted Data Research Award from the College of Liberal Arts to fund restricted data collection efforts and student financial support on the project. This will provide a longitudinal data supplement to her ongoing grant work examining stress and political participation. Her lab, the Political Engagement and Cognitive Health Lab, has housed ten students this year working on research, including the department awardee for Outstanding ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Research Assistant and a College of Liberal Arts Research Symposium awardee for Top Three Poster. At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, Dr. Baker also continues to serve as the organizer for the Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium series and as a co-organizer for the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Community of Practice at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Outside of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, she continues to serve as the Chair for the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences.

Dr. Charles Boehmer continued to serve as Associate Dean for Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Director for Intelligence and Security Studies. His research continued through the spring as a Co-Pi on a grant from the National Science Foundation in the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program. He also published an article on the effects of economic development on interstate war.  Service to the university included serving as ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Truman Scholar representative and as a member of the Campus Office of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Research Initiatives (COURI) Advisory Board.

Dr. Eric Boyer published a paper in Public Works Management & Policy, entitled: “An Integrated Framework to Improve Public Involvement in Public-Private Partnerships” (with Drs. Can Chen and John Clayton Thomas at Georgie State University) and also published another paper in the American Review of Public Administration, entitled: "Exploring How Demand and Supply Knowledge Can Improve Centralized Public Health Procurement" (with Drs. Niccolò Cusumano, Carlos Olmedo, and Veronica Vecchi). He also led the successful reaccreditation process for ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's MPA program, was contracted to write a report on the perceived impacts of U.S. tariffs on public procurement pricing by the NIGP: the Institute of Public Procurement, and gave a presentation entitled “Hispanic Serving Institutions’ Roles in the Education Ecosystem within the Context of Public Service and Society” at the  annual meeting of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Dr. Gaspare Genna continues to elevate the department’s national and international profile through scholarly leadership and strategic program development. He recently participated in the Council on Foreign Relations University Educators Summit, engaging CFR fellows on pressing global issues including U.S. relations with China and Iran, as well as the economic and security implications of opening Arctic waterways to international trade. His new research on contemporary U.S. foreign policy and long-term global stability informs both his teaching and mentorship of students. As the new Director of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Studies, Dr. Genna helped lead and complete the launch of PSPA's new undergraduate degree in Public Administration, offered in both in-person and online formats, and is leading development of a new degree in International Affairs. Both initiatives expand access, strengthen workforce preparation, and position the department for continued growth. He also serves as Director of North American Studies and Associate Editor of Politics & Policy, reinforcing the department’s visibility, academic excellence, and public impact. Most recently, Dr. Genna was selected to serve as AI Fellow with the University of Oxford and was also recently invited to serve as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations' (CFR) Education 2026-2027 Higher Education Ambassador Program.

Dr. Taeko Hiroi continues collaborative research with former students on topics ranging from presidential cabinets and legislative support in Brazil to conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, presenting coauthored work at major national and international conferences. She also delivered an invited research talk at the Institute of Developing Economies/JETRO in Japan and served as a Visiting Fellow in Assessment for AP Comparative Government and Politics with The College Board.

Dr. Hiroi serves as faculty advisor to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter, which earned its 12th Best Chapter Award, and as National President‑Elect of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society. She also provides national service to the American Political Science Association as Vice Chair of the Representation and Electoral Systems Section and Co‑Division Chair for the APSA 2026 Annual Conference.

Dr. Euipyo Lee continued to advance his research agenda over the past academic year through a strong record of publications and scholarly engagement in public administration. He published three peer-reviewed articles in leading journals. In the International Public Management Journal, coauthored with Dr. Nicholson-Crotty and colleagues, he examines how representation and expectations shape citizen evaluations of police. In the International Journal of Public Administration, he analyzes how innovation and performance influence citizen satisfaction in local governments. Additionally, his article in the Review of Public Personnel Administration investigates the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between job autonomy and innovative behavior.

Dr. Lee also actively disseminated his research at major academic conferences. He presented his work at the Public Management Research Conference, the American Society for Public Administration conference, and the international conference of the Korean Association for Public Administration. These contributions reflect his ongoing commitment to producing rigorous and policy-relevant scholarship on organizational behavior, and citizen–state interactions. 

Dr. Sergio Peña after eight years has stepped down as the coeditor-in-chief of the Journal of Borderlands Studies (JBS), along with Dr. Christophe Sohn from the Luxembourg Institute for Socioeconomic Research (LISER).  The journal is published by Taylor & Francis and “The distinctive purpose of Journal of Borderlands Studies as an international journal is to publish original research covering the development of theories and concepts, methodological perspectives, empirical analysis and policy debate in the field of border studies. The journal is an interdisciplinary forum, which showcases diverse perspectives and analytical techniques.”  During those years, JBS became an international leader in the publication of academic work related to border topics all around the world. Also, JBS for the first time in history received an impact factor and it was included in multiple indices such as Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, among others. The acceptance rate went of JBS went from almost 75% to 27% which shows that JBS has become a very selective journal that publishes high quality articles. 

Dr. Rebecca A Reid in her current research is examining state recognition of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ (IACtHR) contentious jurisdiction, judicial decision-making in indigenous cases before U.S. federal courts, the role of extrajudicial communication by the IACtHR via social media, indigenous law and state compliance with the IACtHR, and the role(s) of judicial independence in democratization. These research projects have been presented at several national conferences and internal ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ presentations, along with her student research assistants and co-authors. She continues to serve as the Graduate Director for the MA in Political Science program and as a ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Native American and Indigenous Studies faculty affiliate. She recently completed her four years in leadership role(s) for SPSA Women, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the status of women in Political Science. She currently serves as Chair-Elect of American Political Science Association (APSA) Law & Courts Section and serves on the Executive Board for International Political Science Association (IPSA) RC09 Comparative Judicial Studies. She continues to run the International and Comparative Law & Courts Research Collaborative.

Dr. Cigdem Sirin published a journal article in Political Behavior entitled: "Outgroup Empathy and Opposition to Restrictive Voting Laws" (with Nicholas Valentino and José Villalobos). She also presented two co-authored research papers at the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Political Science Association (SWPSA) in April 2025 and International Studies Association’s West Region (ISA-West) Conference in September 2025. The paper she and her co-author, Dr. José Villalobos, presented at the SWPSA conference won the Best Paper Award. She also gave invited research talks for the University of Kentucky and Rutgers University. Dr. Sirin continued to serve as the Co-PI of the NSF Institutional Transformation Grant (NSF 20-599 Improving ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program). She also joined and served as an Associate Editor and member of the Editorial Board for The Social Science Journal.

Dr. José D. Villalobos began serving as chair of PSPA this year. His latest publications include a journal article in Political Behavior entitled "Outgroup Empathy and Opposition to Restrictive Voting Laws" (with Cigdem Sirin and Nicholas Valentino), a solo book chapter entitled "Pardon My Immunity: Embarking Upon a New Era of Unprecedented Presidential Pardons and Executive Orders?" (Kendell Hunt), and a co-authored book with Routledge entitled Analyzing American Democracy: Politics and Political Science, 6th edition (with Jon Bond and Lydia Andrade). He is also lead author of a forthcoming book chapter (with Cigdem Sirin) entitled "Group Empathy as a Driver of Pro-LGBTQ+ Attitudes in the United States" (University of Michigan Press). He and Dr. Sirin also recieved the Southwestern Political Science Association's SWPSA Best Paper Award for their co-authored paper “Group Empathy and Voter Behavior in the Post-Roe Era: Fallout from the 2022 and 2024 Elections.” Dr. Villalobos also received an Academy of Distinguished Teachers (ADT) Teaching Research Grant, organized and led ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s annual Constitution Day events, served as member of the Provost's Community Engagement Council, and served as a Faculty Marshal for the College of Liberal Arts spring commencement ceremony. Last, he began serving as Editorial Board member for Presidential Studies Quarterly and Associate Editor for The Social Science Journal.