The events of this academic year brought renewed focus to the climate within the department and the university as a whole. The department has been active in three key areas: ensuring we are promoting an inclusive learning environment in which our diverse study body can thrive, hosting conferences aimed at promoting early career scholars and the study of marginalized groups, and ensuring that we are identifying talented undergraduate students from atypical backgrounds who might enhance the intellectual diversity of our discipline.
To support our inclusive learning environment, I once again hosted a “Department Climate Lunch” with representatives from each of our Ph.D. cohorts to discuss the department’s climate and how faculty can best promote our students' academic success and development. Keen on student’s minds was how recent changes to U.S. immigration policy and enforcement might affect our strong history of support for international scholars and students. We remain committed to ensuring that our colleagues from the international community continue to be valued and supported within the department.
The Department of Political Science this year held several events to steepen the trajectory of early career scholars and promote intellectual diversity in our department. Professor Enamorado hosted Frontiers in Political Methodology and Professor Schnackenberg hosted the Formal Theory Conference--both of which were focused on developing the scholarship of Ph.D. candidates from across the country. WashU also hosted two conferences focused on the politics of marginalized groups: CPAC XII: The Politics of Marginalized Groups, and the Mid-American Conference for Race, Gender, Immigration, and Ethnicity. Each conference brought to campus distinguished faculty members and PhD students from across the country engaging in cutting edge research.
Finally, Professors Dan Butler, Sunita Parikh, and I will host the third-annual Washington University Summer Training Experience in Political Science (WUSTEPS). The program focuses on identifying talented undergraduate students from atypical backgrounds who might benefit from exposure to research experiences. This year’s cohort includes students from Northwest Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University, Michigan State University, and the University of Louisville. Previous students from this program have found tremendous success in pursuing postgraduate study: 2 are currently enrolled at WashU for their Ph.D., 2 other students have received offers from PhD programs in political science, and several others have explored graduate options at other institutions. We are heartened by the success of this program in identifying bright students and helping them realize their dream of attending graduate school.
We are also heartened at the success of the conferences we've hosted this year to expand not only the knowledge of our department but the impact on the discipline. I also want to acknowledge the success and strength of our faculty and students as we forge ahead into the coming years.
