Department of Political Science and Philosophy Archives

Missouri State’s Model UN wins multiple awards at 2026 regional conference

April 9, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Several Missouri State students brought home awards from the Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) Conference, held Feb. 18-21 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The team garnered three delegation awards and nine individual awards.

Twenty-two students from the university attended. Thirteen were from Dr. Ashley Leinweber’s Model United Nations (PLS 333) class. They were Corrigan Bielefeld, Delilah Boggs, Brooklyn Cortez, Ann Costanzo, Ameliya Gerlt, Kerrigan Hand, Madeline Hardwick, Jennifer Hedges, Sean Lay, Emma Mabary, Traven Madison, Harriet Melton and Christian Wood.

Nine Model UN Club students attended as well. They were Abigail Hardwick, Mehmet Karatas, Sewly Khatun, Keira Monroe, Daphne Pierson, Isabella Reed, Thomas Ryan, George Swayne and Ian Toney. Missouri State and Model UN Club alumna Chloe Mitchell also volunteered as legal staff for the General Assembly 4 committee, Leinweber said.

Leinweber serves as faculty advisor for the club. She is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Philosophy.

Dr. Steve McKnight named American Society for Public Administration Fellow

February 17, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Steve McKnight, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Philosophy, has been named a Founders Fellow of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

The Founders Fellows program provides a support network for early-career public administrators and public administration scholars, McKnight said.

McKnight is a member of the 2026 Founders Fellows cohort. He will present his research at ASPA’s annual meeting March 20-24, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

“At the conference, fellows present their research, attend professional development workshops, and get paired with an experienced member of ASPA that connects with the fellow’s career interests,” he said.

As part of the fellowship, ASPA provides financial and logistical assistance to attend the conference.

RCASH student wins third place in public affairs essay contest

December 5, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Freshman Design/Technology/Stage Management major Iris Vallier, a student in the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Science and Humanities (RCASH), won third place in the 11th annual Dr. Michael N. Compton Public Affairs Essay Contest.

Young man presenting an award to a young woman — Iris Vallier receives her award certificate from Sigma Pi President Nate Walls.

Vallier received an award certificate and a $150 cash prize.

The annual contest is open to all Missouri State full-time undergraduate students, according to Stacey Trewatha-Bach, assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs Support.

“The contest is a joint undertaking between the MSU Sigma Pi fraternity, its alumni through the Institute for Development of Ethics and Leadership and the MSU Office of Public Affairs Support,” she said.

Along with a $1,500 cash prize, the first place winner received $500 to donate to a charity or non-profit of choice, Trewatha-Bach said. Sigma Pi fraternity’s alumni non-profit organization, IDEAL, provides these prize funds.

Second place winners receive a $300 MSU Bookstore gift card, sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Philosophy. Third place winners receive $150.

RCASH sets new participation record in Education Abroad programs

October 29, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) continues its impressive participation in Missouri State University’s Education Abroad program.

For the 2024-25 academic year, RCASH led in both the number of participants and percentage of graduates who engage in study abroad.

According to a report issued by Education Abroad Director Elizabeth Strong, 188 RCASH students participated in education abroad programs during the 2024-25 academic year. That number is up from 177 during the previous year.

“This growth is reflected in the percentage of RCASH education abroad participants compared to RCASH graduates in the same academic year, which is 28.5%,” Strong said.

A total of 434 Missouri State students participated in education abroad programs during 2024-25.

In addition, of the 316 faculty-directed activities, 140 were led by RCASH faculty.

Panzer and Geibler named 2026 Education Abroad Faculty Fellows

Two RCASH faculty members have been named to the 2026 Education Abroad Faculty Fellow cohort. They are Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Panzer, from the Department of History, and Assistant Professor Dr. Robert Geibler, from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Other Missouri State faculty named to the cohort are Alison Alaimo (McQueary College of Health and Human Services), Mandy Benedict-Chambers (College of Education), Leslie Echols (McQueary College of Health and Human Services), Asif Ishtiaque (College of Natural and Applied Sciences), Nancy Kageyama (Darr College of Agriculture) and Kristen Thornton (College of Business).

RCASH schedules robust Education Abroad activity for 2026

RCASH Dean Shawn Wahl said he continues to be impressed by faculty engagement with Education Abroad.

“Their collaboration across academic areas to deliver impactful learning experiences for our students is inspiring,” he said. “This collaboration is the essence of Missouri State as the Public Affairs University.”

Several RCASH faculty have already scheduled Education Abroad activities for 2026, Strong noted.

2025 Education Abroad Faculty Fellows Nikki Ferry and William Harwood — Greece
2025 Education Abroad Faculty Fellow Jeff Loughary (coordinated with Dr. Tonia Tinsley) — Morocco
Leslie Seawright — United Arab Emirates
Jonathan Newman and Rhonda Stanton — United Kingdom
Cameron LaBarr — Australia and New Zealand
Antoinette Barffour — Ghana
Vadim Putzu — Italy
Gwen Walstrand and Marcus Howell — Italy
Luis Lombilla — Mexico and Spain
Jason Shepard — Ecuador [“Eight Missouri State students enjoy studying in Ecuador“]
Vanessa Rodriguez de la Vega — Peru
Holly Holladay and Cristina Pippa — United Kingdom
Amy Muchnick — United Kingdom

Learn more about Education Abroad

Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez to speak Nov. 3

October 16, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Head shot of man in suit — Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez. Photo credit: Kellogg Institute.

Missouri State University’s Master of International Affairs (MIA) program will host a talk by Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez from 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Duane G. Meyer Library Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public.

Meléndez-Sánchez will discuss the public security strategy of El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele’s in “The ‘Bukele Model’: Public Security and Democracy in El Salvador.”

Meléndez-Sánchez is currently a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His visit is part of an informal speaker event series hosted by the MIA program and the Department of Political Science and Philosophy.