The Political Science Department continues to grow in number of students, majors offered, and in public recognitions for our faculty and students. Majors now total over 400 undergraduates and our graduate program continues to serve a select 22 graduate students working toward the MS/MA degree. We have expanded offerings for our students and faculty through a variety of Merrill Endowment Funded Conferences and Lecture Series, including a conference on Religion and Terrorism with Internationally renowned scholars this Spring and a conference on Constitutional Interpretation with top legal scholars and Justice Antonin Scalia next fall.

Political Science has found success in many arenas. Our Pi Sigma Alpha chapter, under the tireless direction of Bill Furlong, continues to be identified as among the nation's best and most active chapters. Every year our policy internship program, directed by Randy Simmons and Cindy Nielsen, grows larger and more successful in placing students in important jobs in D.C., Utah government, or local Courts and municipal offices. Students also enjoy a variety of internationally-focused opportunities including a joint program with business students to visit the European Union, participation in the Air Force Academy special programs and study abroad. Faculty members shine as well. Several have been recognized for their research over the last 5 years with over 1.5 million in grants and awards and with participation in prestigious fellowships, honorary programs and professional associations.

We recognized a number of our best undergraduates at our annual Pi Sigma Alpha Banquet on April 22, 2008. Dionne Garlick, Spencer Jacobson and Nathan Whitaker each received a Milton R. Merrill Scholarship; Nathan Lloyd was selected as the Wendell B. Anderson recipient; Kelsei Martinez was named Asa and Vivian Bullen Scholar; Erika Morris will receive the Cynthia Farr Bylund Scholarship and James Winings will take the John S. and Unita Welch Scholarship to Arizona State University Law School in the Fall. Alec Cannon, Cade Buck and James Winings were named Outstanding Seniors for 2008.

Several Political Science Majors successfully competed in the Pi Sigma Alpha Paper Contest. Nathaniel Mitchell and Erik Skankey won in International Relations. Erika Morris and Zachary Myers were selected in American Politics and Jeremy Moyes was recognized in Comparative Politics. In addition, Nathaniel was selected in the State competition for Best International Relations Paper and Erika and Jeremy were recognized for best presentations in their categories. Congratulations to all of our winners.

This last year, the Department bid goodbye to Peter Galderisi who retired from Utah State to his home in San Diego with his wife Holly. He will continue to teach as an adjunct faculty member at UCSD and will return to visit Logan for an occasional program or lecture series. Two new faculty members joined us last year. Huiyun Feng (PhD from Arizona State) teaches Chinese Politics and International Relations and James Strickler (PhD from Stanford, JD from BYU) specializes in Law and Constitutional Studies. We will welcome another new colleague, Damon Cann, (PhD from SUNY, Stony Brook) in the Fall to teach parties, elections and methods.