Department of Political Science
Old Main 428
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (479) 575-3356
Fax: (479) 575-6432
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Corporate Social Responsibility Panel
Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Walton College Room 203
Presented by Political Science, Asian Studies, & the Walton College of Business
The Department of Political Science is releasing its annual newsletter.
If you have any updates on friends or colleagues, do let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Arkansas Poll Enters its 13th Year
The Arkansas Poll team of the Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society in the Department of Political Science recently kicked off its 13th annual poll of politics and policy in the state. The Poll is an annual statewide telephone survey of Arkansas adults. The poll collects accurate, impartial, and timely public opinion data about politics and policy in Arkansas. The Poll just announced its annual "call for questions." For the complete questionnaire, summary results, and full datasets for 1999-2010 as well as a list of poll-related publications, public presentations, and election prediction record, please visit the Arkansas Poll's website at: http://www.uark.edu/depts/plscinfo/partners/arkpoll.php. If you have questions about previous polls or the upcoming poll please contact poll director Dr. Janine Parry parry@uark.edu.
Faculty News
The department is currently beginning the process to hire for new two assistant professor faculty slots in Public Administration. If you have any interest please consult the attached job descriptions. Review of applicants will begin October 15, 2011
Todd G. Shields, has been named dean of the Graduate School, effective July 1.
Dr. Shields, professor of political science and former chair of the Political Science department, served as interim dean since July 1, 2010, while also serving as interim associate dean for academic affairs of the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock. Additionally, Shields is the director of the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. He will continue as director of the Blair Center.
The department is happy to announce the hiring of two three-year instructors. Karen Sebold will be offering several sections of American National Government and Soundarya Chidambaram will be teaching sections of Introduction to Comparative Politics starting fall semester, 2011.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Persuadable Voter: Wedge Issues and Presidential Campaigns by political scientist Todd Shields has been chosen the winner of the 2009 Robert E. Lane Award for the best book published in political psychology in 2009, given by the political psychology section of the American Political Science Association
It is with great sadness to report that Professor Emeritus Robert Lynn Savage, 71, passed away January 26, 2011.He was born in 1939, in Fort Worth, Texas. He served in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1959. Savage received his B.A. degree from Tartleton State College in 1963 and his M.A. degree from the University of Houston where he served as graduate and teaching assistant from 1964 to 1966. He graduated in 1966 with a thesis titled "Absurdity and the Political System: The Political Thought of Albert Camus" under the direction of Professor John Green. Upon graduation he pursued his doctorate in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed his academic work in 1971 with a dissertation titled "Sociocultural Change and Policy Values in the American States". His dissertation chair was Prof. Dan Nimmo with whom Bob maintained a life-long friendship. Nimmo's influence shaped Savage's interest in political communication and behavior and state politics. He started his career at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1974. He was promoted to Associate Professor just three years later in 1977, and to Professor in 1982. He served as interim chair during that year, and as chair of the department from 1989 to 1998. Bob retired in 2001. Besides his academic work he enjoyed following politics, cooking and the creative arts.
Among his publications were "Patterns of Multilinear Evolution in the American States" (1973), "Policy Innovativeness as a Trait of American States"(1978), "Looking for Political Subcultures: A Critique of the Rummage-Sale Approach"(1981), "Abortion Policies in the Fifty States: A Current Case of Pluralistic Responsiveness" (1981), and "Dimensions of Responsiveness to Women's Policies in the American States" (1984),(the latter two articles were co-authored with Diane Blair). He and Dan Nimmo co-authored the book "Candidates and Their Images: Concepts, Methods and Findings (1976). Dan was co-author on many book chapters and articles as well. Bob's last article "Changing Ways of Calling for Change: Media Coverage of the 1992 Campaign" appeared in 1993 in the American Review of Politics.
Bob had a profound effect on shaping the department by the faculty he hired during his time at the helm. We will miss him as a friend and a colleague
Students News
Teresa A. Williamson (Taylor) B.A., 2001; M.P.A., 2003) just accepted a position as the Operations Director for 7Hills Homeless Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Tamika Wordlow (B.A., M.P.A. 2010) was appointed the HEI Program Coordinator for the Department of Housing on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas campus.
Karen Sebold (M.A., 2009) is currently working on finishing her dissertation in Public Policy at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. As a member of the Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee she helped product the new Teaching Assistant Handbook. She accepted a three year position at the University of Arkansas as a 3-year Instructor in Political Science starting August 2011
Diane Ounpraseuth (M.P.A., 2006)just accepted the position as Senior Specialist for Teacher Effectiveness at the Community Action Project in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Lensa Odima (B.A., 2005; J.D., 2009) is the Sebastian County Legal Advocate for the Crisis Intervention Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Jessica Breaux(M.P.A. 2008) has been appointed Community Development Consultant at Arkansas Economic Development Commission in Little Rock
Melissa Bridges (B.A., 1994; M.P.A., 1999) just returned to Arkansas and currently works for the city of Little Rock Information Technology Department as the Network Security Manager.
Clark Brown (B.A., 2007) will graduate in May 2011 from The University of Arkansas School of Law. For the past year he served as the Executive Editor of the Arkansas Law Review. Following graduation he will be an associate at Barber, McCaskill, Jones & Hale in Little Rock, Arkansas.
John Davis (B.A., 2009) will graduate with an M.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas in May 2011. Starting in fall 2011, he will attend the University of Missouri, Columbia to work on his Ph.D.
John Kyle Day (B.A., 1997; M.A., 1999) is an assistant professor of History at the University of Arkansas – Monticello. This past October he was elected President of the Arkansas Association of College History Teachers for 2010-2012.
Joan Dempsey (M.P.A., 1983) was recognized during the 66th Annual Alumni Awards Celebration on October 28, 2010 as one of the 2010 Distinguished Alumni. She is a senior vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton in Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Ray Gosack (B.A., 1980; M.P.A., 1985) has been appointed the City Administrator of Fort Smith, Arkansas. He is recognized by the International City/County Management Association as a credentialed manager, which reflects his commitment to ongoing professional development. He has served as president of the Arkansas city Management Association
Newsletters
Click on the newsletter you would like to read. These are in Adobe PDF format. If the free Acrobat Reader is needed, click HERE to obtain the Reader.
Happy Holidays from the Department of Political Science!
We invite you to join the many thousands of students who have found that studies in political science at the University of Arkansas are a proven path to successful careers in teaching, politics, research, and numerous other professions.
We offer a bachelor’s degree in political science as well as a master’s in political science (MA) and a master’s in public administration (MPA)
The Political Science Department is one of 19 departments in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Fulbright’s legacy in international affairs remains strong in the department: faculty from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East join their American colleagues to provide you with an academic program that is both broad and deep.
While you are here, we will encourage you to take advantage of internships, activities on campus and community involvement—they are central elements of a strong liberal arts education. Before you leave, we will be sure you have learned how to apply your knowledge in a variety of practical arenas.
A Message from the Chair
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American Politics
The field of American Politics examines the structure and dynamics of mass behavior, public opinion as well as governmental institutions. It further looks at their interrelationships and their role in the political and policy process. Specifically, it studies national government institutions such as the presidency, Congress, the bureaucracy and the courts and subnational governments and the federal system. Organizations such as parties, interest groups and social movements are also part of this field. Specific attention is directed to the political behavior of parties an, interest groups and social movements and their influence on these institutions and public policy.
Faculty in American Politics
Andrew Dowdle
Pearl Ford
Rafael Jimeno
Brinck Kerr
Angie Maxwell
Janine Parry
William Schreckhise
Todd Shields
International Relations/Comparative Politics
Both areas of study focus on international affairs, broadly conceived. International relations students examine foreign affairs as well as relations among state and non-state actors in the international system. The discipline draws from economics, law, organizational studies and other fields.
Comparative politics focuses on some of the same issues but tends to examine them more within regional contexts. Typically, faculty will focus on Asia, western or eastern Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East.
Faculty in International Relations/Comparative Politics
Patrick Conge
Najib Ghadbian
Donald Kelley
Jeff Ryan
Ka Zeng
Public Administration
Public administration, and especially the Masters of Public Administration (MPA), prepares people who pursue public service careers. These degree programs develop the skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems while addressing organizational, human resource, and budgetary challenges. Graduates work in a wide variety of public service fields and in all levels of government (federal, state, local, and regional), in nonprofits, as well as in the international arena, and in the private sector.
Faculty in Public Administration
John Gaber
Seok Kim
Margaret Reid
William Schreckhise
Patrick Stewart