2024 Newsletter

Department Chair’s Message

The 2023-24 academic year was an exceptional one for the Department of Political Science and Public Administration! We continue to develop outstanding educational programming for our students and advance knowledge in critical areas.

The newsletter describes some recent teaching developments. In particular, we were proud to have hosted UTEP’s first cross border course collaboration with the Autonomous University of Chihuahua. The department is also proud to announce that one of our own won an important College teaching award. We also continued our education mission by hosting a career panel with professionals that relayed important information for getting students their first job and how to successfully manage their career paths. Some in the panel were UTEP alumni! The newsletter also includes success stories of our students and honor societies.

Our alum spotlight this year is on Christina Serna. She is currently Deputy Associate Director for Policy at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division. She has made significant impact in the world of public service during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond!
We also have a story on research by Dr. Beata Halicka, Professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland. Her presentation explained the hardships and complexities Poland has had with refuges coming across the Belarus and Ukraine borders.

And of course, our newsletter updates you on the progress made by our faculty in the areas of teaching and research.

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 (with a new fully online degree!) 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-UTEP 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. Gaspare M. Genna, Political Science and Public Administration Department Chair

UTEP Launches Team-Taught Classes with Autonomous University of Chihuahua

By Patrick Timmons

In a sign of strengthening ties between higher education institutions in the Chihuahuan Desert region, Fall 2023 saw the first ever collaboration between the University of Texas at El Paso and the Autonomous University of Chihuahua. Dr. Patrick Timmons, Associate Professor of Instruction in our department, inaugurated this series of team-taught virtual classes for undergraduates. UTEP President Dr. Heather Wilson and UACH Rector Dr. Luis Rivera Campos spearheaded the initiative, which is also backed by the State Government of Chihuahua. Dr. Anadeli Bencomo, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, tapped the Department of Political Science and Public Administration to launch the initiative. UTEP’s Spanish language American Government and Politics class taught by Dr. Timmons was teamed up with UACH’s Mexican Constitutional Law class taught by Dr. Heliodoro Araiza, a Mexican constitutional legal scholar who embraces public service and who has also served as Chihuahua’s Attorney General. The initiative is part of UTEP’s commitment to the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) methodology, the objective of which is to bring students and faculty together across international borders, especially throughout North America. This is a particularly important issue for students at Mexico’s universities, many of which do not include study abroad programs. The class gave students a taste of what higher education is like in the U.S. and Mexico, and all without having to cross a border.

To overcome the international divide, this initiative relied on recent technological advances in the delivery of higher education. The tools which many educators relied on in the pandemic, such as virtual meeting spaces and online educational materials, have permitted UTEP and the UACH to collaborate in learning and research initiatives with students and faculty across the border. This includes collaboration between campuses that are not only in different countries, but also hundreds of miles apart from each other. While the UACH has a campus in Ciudad Juárez, this inaugural class drew from a professor and students at its Law School which is located in Ciudad Chihuahua, about 300 kms south of El Paso and Juárez. While the UACH students gathered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in a lecture hall in Chihuahua, the UTEP students and professor appeared in the UACH class on these days via a virtual meeting platform. Dr. Timmons lectured on Mondays, Dr. Araiza lectured on Wednesdays, and on Fridays, the students from the UACH and UTEP engaged in virtual discussion of legal and political issues dominating the news in the U.S. and Mexico. The class was taught in Spanish as a way to deepen the ties between students in our region, many of whom came to realize significant similarities and differences between politics and the law in Chihuahua and Texas.

UACH and UTEP are committed to building enduring virtual and actual ties between students and faculty at the two institutions. While the inaugural class built on strengthening virtual ties, the UTEP President, Liberal Arts Dean, UACH President, and law faculty administrators also ensured that students and faculty could meet each other in person at the UTEP campus at the end of the Fall 2023 semester. Guided by Mr. Arturo Barrio, UTEP’s vice-president of international affairs, a dozen of the UACH students, accompanied by Dr. Araiza, the director and academic secretary of the Law School and the UACH Rector, visited UTEP and several local government agencies, including a much enjoyed visit with El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, and a visit to Mexico’s Consulate in El Paso. The students from both institutions also met each other and conversed about the semester, including what they learned, during meals hosted by the College of Liberal Arts. The universities will continue this collaboration in Fall 2024 when Dr. Gaspare Genna will teach North American Relations with a UACH professor and students from the two regional partners in public higher education.

Dr. Patrick Timmons awarded the 2024 Ann and Charles Horak III Outstanding Teacher in the College of Liberal Arts 

The Ann and Charles Horak III Outstanding Teacher award in the College of Liberal Arts recognizes the extraordinary teaching of fulltime faculty. We are proud that Dr. Patrick Timmons was honored this year with the award. Dr. Timmons joined us as a part time instructor in 2015 and then became a fulltime Associate Professor of Instruction in 2021. He teaches undergraduate courses both at the lower and upper division levels and is brilliant in the classroom. Some of his lower division courses are taught in Spanish, which has been a long tradition in our department since such instruction provides native speakers help in transitioning into UTEP’s various degree plans. Although he is originally from the UK his fluency was honed during his many years of experience as a journalist and as part of the British embassy in Mexico.

His key recognition is in cross-border education. He is well tooled in approaching international teaching through certification in Collaborative Online International Learning, which is sponsored by the North America Program for the Internationalization of the Curricula. He uses this training when he regularly collaborates with faculty at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez and later with inaugural collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (please see the story in this newsleter).

Dr. Timmons is also a strong advocate for our students who commute from Juárez. He is a resident of the city and joins the thousands that cross daily. He is always thinking of ideas to help students who often have barriers when crossing to get their UTEP education. As the reader may know, although the actual distance is perhaps is no larger than any other student in El Paso (or the vicinity) commuting to campus, the long wait times can often be a barrier to student success. His advocacy for ideas that can better their experiences hopes to put our students in Juárez on even playing field with our El Paso students.

Dr. Timmons is a true model instructor not only for all instructors in our College, if not the entire University. He is always looking to better serve our students and his efforts and outcomes clearly demonstrate his dedication. So it is will deep sincerity that we congratulate him on this honor!

Department Hosts Career Day Panel

Last Fall, the department hosted a panel to coincide with UTEP’s Career Fair. Presenting to our undergraduates and graduate students was a great sampling of how lessons taught in the classroom translate to fulfilling careers.

One of our panelists was Christina Castillo Serna, Deputy Associate Director with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is a department alumnus returning to UTEP to give students guidance! Her more recent work involved working with a leadership team in developing policy recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her main contribution was to help our students understand the networking processes involved in obtaining employment in Washington DC. Another panelist, Sven Jensen, US State Department, discussed recruitment, the multiple positions that the State Department need filled, and invited students to tour the Ciudad Juárez Consulate to learn more about its workings. Another department alumnus, Desirae Manzanares, joined in to discuss her unique career path and talked about her work with local businesses as part of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The last panelist was Alexander Godinez-Roberson, of the US Department of Energy. He presented on the many fellowships offered by the National Nuclear Security Administration and his leadership insights in designing the Minority Serving Institutions Internship Program.

The panelists demonstrated that degrees in political science and public administration translate into a very large array of career prospects. The creative approach towards career developing opens up an almost unlimited set of opportunities with the skills and content learned from our faculty!

Our Pi Sigma Alpha Won the 10th Best Chapter Award

Thanks to our dedicated and fantastic student members, officers, and faculty advisor, Pi Sigma Alpha at UTEP is continuing with its impressive trajectory of academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement. The Epsilon Epsilon Chapter was awarded yet another (our 10th!) Best Chapter Award for the activities and accomplishments made during the 2022-23 academic year.

During the current 2023-24 academic year, Pi Sigma Alpha has continued to be active. During the fall semester, members organized biweekly research support meetings, successfully submitted a grant proposal to the National Office and won a chapter activity grant to host a student paper conference in the spring, and organized volunteering activities with the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, to mention a few of its notable activities.

Pi Sigma Alpha members participated in UTEP’s ProjectMOVE to paint the YWCA Transitional Living Center in El Paso on April 6, 2024. 

Pi Sigma Alpha members are currently working hard to carry out its Student Paper Conference on Policy and Politics, which was held on April 24 in UTEP’s Thomas Rivera Conference Room. This was an exciting opportunity for UTEP students to share their research and receive feedback from faculty and student audiences.

Pi Sigma Alpha, Epsilon Epsilon Chapter Officers, Academic Year 2023-24
President, Keely Adriana Valero

Vice President, Oriana C. Torrealba

Secretary, Job I. Sanchez (Fall); Sofia Ortega Vazquez (Spring)

Academic Year 2023-24 PSA Inductees

Job I. Sanchez

Oriana C. Torrealba

Michael A. Gutierrez

Congratulations and Welcome to Pi Sigma Alpha!

The Updates and Achievements from our MPA Program

This past year has seen significant developments for our Public Administration program at UTEP. We launched our fully online MPA program that welcomed in 15 new students across the borderland and State of Texas. This access supports our working professionals and ensures that public servants near and far can advance in their educational and career journeys.

Our community is also getting stronger. Our alumni have made strides through the formal development of our Advisory Board, with the adoption of bylaws and elections of new leadership. The Board has
enthusiastically been involved with serving on panels and as mentors, as well as helping us bring in exciting speakers for PA in Action. We are thrilled to welcome 8 recent graduates into the rank of MPA alumni.

Dr. Eric Boyer and Alejandro Yu, VP of Marketing at Raiz Federal Credit Union at PA in Action

On the research front, our faculty have been actively presenting at conferences, publishing in major public administration journals, and are meeting the need of our growing student body. 2024 marks the MPA’s 50th Year Anniversary. We hope that you stay connected to us to help us celebrate the past 50 years, as well as look forward to what we can do next.

Dr. Dr. Ljubinka Andonoska and presenting students at Captone Research Showcase

MPA attends El Paso Central Business Association (CBA) Luncheon

Dr. Beata Halicka Presents Latest Research on the Refugee Crises in Eastern Europe

The Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine in February 2022 brought war once again onto the European continent. Among many of its economic, humanitarian, and political impacts is the mass movements of people attempting to escape and secure safety in Poland. Another refugee crisis, on the Belarus border, began years earlier. Dr. Beata Halicka, History Professor of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland presented to department faculty and students an overview of the causes and consequents of these crises.

She notes that Poland, as a member of the European Union, is at its eastern-most edge, bordering both Belarus (a strong ally of Russia) and Ukraine. Poland’s geopolitical position finds it with the two migration challenges. From Belarus, it has experienced large numbers of immigrants fleeing war in the Middle East. Both Belarus and Russia have allowed refugees to come into their countries with promises of a safe haven in the EU. From Ukraine, Poland needed to accept millions of refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.

Its EU membership, however, provides assistance in addressing both migration crises. The EU financed the strengthening of the border between Poland and Belarus in order to control the number of individuals entering the country. The Belarus response was to push refugees to its border with Poland and stranding them in the wooded region during the winter. The human tragedy produced mixed views in Poland and the EU regarding how to best address the crisis. Dr. Halicka emphasized the refugee crisis was constructed by Belarus and Russia for the purpose of creating conflict within Polish and EU societies.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine only added to the tense situation. Since the start of the war, millions have fled Ukraine with Poland as their first stop. The EU stepped in by providing Ukrainian refugees the right to live and work in Europe for up to three years. This lowered the pressure on Poland because migrants could leave for other parts of the EU. The EU also provided aid packages to both Poland and Ukraine to assist with refugee settlement.
Dr. Halicka concluded that Poland’s membership in the EU was critical in addressing both issues. She also noted that being at the EU’s eastern external border will also require stronger solidarity with its EU member partners to address this long standing set of crises. 

Student Accomplishments

Two Political Science Majors Made Top 10 UTEP Seniors.

Michael Gutierrez is a Political Science senior at UTEP. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in intelligence and national security at UTEP as well as a Ph.D. in Global Security.

Michael's journey at UTEP has been transformative and enriching. He was involved in founding of the Queer Texas Student Association, an organization that strives for a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Michael also served in the Student Government Association and was named Mr. Texas Western by the student body.

“UTEP provided me with the space and resources to champion diversity and advocate for the rights of marginalized communities on campus,” Gutierrez said. “My journey at UTEP was not just about earning a degree but about transforming into a resilient, empathetic and compassionate individual.”

 Benjamin Shipkey, another Political Science senior, plans to continue working for the Office of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales and then serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Benjamin developed a strong interest in public policy from a young age, influenced by his upbringing on Fort Bliss. Inspired by the committed leaders around him, Shipkey was determined to follow in their footsteps. He regards UTEP as the perfect environment where he deepened his understanding of foreign affairs and got equipped with an education to actively engage in public service. While at UTEP, he interned for Rep. Gonzales, and later earned a full-time position within the Congressman’s office.

“My education at UTEP provided me with a profound understanding of real-world problems and the need for solution-oriented leaders,” Shipkey said. “In an era filled with significant challenges, my commitment lies in pursuing tangible solutions— drawing from lessons learned in my childhood at Fort Bliss to my professional journey on Capitol Hill.”

Student Admitted to Reputable PhD Program

Jaime Carbajal, a political science major, proudly accepted an offer from the PhD program at The University of Texas at Austin. He received another three offers from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Texas A&M University, and The University of Arizona. In preparation for graduate school, he had joined multiple research labs in both the fields of psychology and political science. He benefited greatly from his mentorship by Dr. Melissa Baker, who deepened his understanding of data research and political psychology. He also thanks her peers, collaborators, and other faculty for her success.

Student Gained Valuable Experience at the Southern Political Science Association Conference

Denise Saenz attended the annual 2024 SPSA conference in New Orleans. Supported by the Travel scholarship the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Denise presented a paper she co-authored with Dr. Rebecca Reid titled " Evaluating Regime Support Groups and Judicial Independence."

The research analyzed a regime's dependence on business elites and how that relationship affects the degree of judicial independence afforded to the high court of the country. It was a great experience for her to meet professors and students from prospective PhD programs.

An interview with Cayleb B. Stives on his prestegious APSA fellowship

Stives Cayleb, a  graduate student of Political Science, won the prestegious APSA Diversity Fellowship (https://www.apsanet.org/dfp). With the fellowship, he is attending the PhD program at the University of Colorado Boulder. In this interview, Cayleb shares about his being awarded this fellowhip, his academic journey, and his advice to younger cohorts.

Q: Congratulations on winning the APSA Diversity Fellowship! How did you hear about this fellowship, and how did you make the decision to apply for it?

Cayleb: Thank you! I first heard about the Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) through APSA’s Diversity Student Recruitment Program (DSRP) email mailing list. Funnily enough, the email calling for applications arrived the day after I had submitted my final application to the Fulbright program. I had been working on my Fulbright application throughout the summer and fall as part of UTEP’s Fulbright bootcamp which greatly helped me develop my skills as a grant writer and made applying for the DFP an easy decision.

Q: Any updates on your applications to PhD programs? Have you made any decision yet? Why did you choose that program?

Cayleb: Yes, I have accepted an offer to pursue my PhD in political science at the University of Colorado Boulder where I have also accepted a fellowship through the Colorado Diversity Initiative (CDI), as well as from the political science department for Fall and Summer. In terms of the decision making process, the DFP provided me with a list of schools that offered fee waivers for my involvement both with the DSRP and as a recipient of the DFP. From there it came to finding the best fit for my research interests, namely political communications, American politics, and political behavior. CU Boulder had come onto my radar as it was suggested by UTEP faculty as well as my dad and I’s fandom of their football team this season. I had received multiple admission offers, though I ultimately chose Boulder due to their faculty expertise in politics and social media as well as their strong placement record for graduates.

Q: What topics of research would you like to pursue as a doctoral student? What is your career goal?

Cayleb: I would like to continue pursuing my research on social media as a vehicle for political action as it has only become more salient in recent years. My career goals are to stay in academia where I hope to publish all the paper ideas I have in my notes app as well as support students as I was at UTEP.

Q: How would you describe your experiences at UTEP, including your interaction with faculty, staff and other students?

Cayleb: It’s hard to sum up the eight years I spent at UTEP, but I can say that overall it has been the place where I figured out what I wanted to do in life and how I’d do it. The personal relationships I’ve developed with the people here have been tremendously important in my journey. For every step along the way there has been someone I’ve turned to for support, so as soon as I had any good news to share I’d have plenty of emails to send off.

Q: What role does student organizations play in your overall experience at UTEP?

Cayleb: Student organizations contributed heavily to my personal growth. My involvement in both the Black Student Union (BSU) and Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA) provided not just a social space, but also a number of opportunities to develop my research, leadership, and organizing skills.

Q: Any advice and tips for younger cohorts who aspire for an academic career?

Cayleb: The most important thing I learned at UTEP was to be active, get involved, and ask questions. There are countless things academic institutions have to offer so the biggest challenge tends to be seeking them out. Talk to your instructors and your peers because your network will be your greatest asset in your professional and personal lives.

Alumni Highlight: Christina Serna

Our alum spotlight this year is on Christina Serna. She is currently Deputy Associate Director for Policy at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division. As the division’s name suggests, it is not hard to imagine the hard work she has put in over the last few years. Christina started her career journey after graduating from UTEP by enrolling in the Master in Public Policy and Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University’s from Heinz College. Being admitted to the program is an accomplishment in itself given that Carnegie Mellon University is usually ranked in the top 25 of US universities. Her academic success secured her Public Policy and International Affairs fellowship in the program. She prepared for this educational opportunity while participating in the fellowship at Princeton the summer between her junior and senior year at UTEP. After her graduate work, she went on to get her first full time job at the Government Accountability Office, where she worked on their Health Care Team for 9 years. Christian then moved to the Centers for Disease and Prevention. Her work at CDC is in its policy offices and also the CDC Washington office. Her current assignment has her as the acting Congressional Team Lead in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease. This position helps inform policy development at the US Congress. 

 Studying at UTEP provided her with an important springboard into her current career. Since all the positions she’s held have been related to Congress, she is thankful for the foundational understanding of Congress she acquired at UTEP. In addition, her training in surveys and statistics at UTEP has been a huge help in her career. Equally important was the skills she acquired to be a writer and critical thinker.

When asked about offering advice to students, she points out that anxiety about the future is normal. She mentioned that she had a lot of anxiety about her career because she did not know where she would end up. It therefore felt like she was taking a path that was not clear. Also, she wants to let students know at while she enjoyed a lot of success, she also experiences a lot of rejects. If she could, she would tell her younger self that if you continue to work on a skillset and maximize the opportunities you are given, more will follow. She would also tell her younger self to enjoy the journey more. Her many happy accidents brought her into a career in public health and into a job she truly enjoys.

Her love for policy was born out of her love for El Paso. She recalls writing her graduate school essays about wanting to bring my skills back to El Paso. Although her efforts were not successful, she is happy and making a difference professionally. She states that wherever she goes, her roots remain in El Paso and at UTEP. This is something she is very proud of! 

CongratulationS to our Department Scholarship Recipients! 

Marian and Alina Komarnicki Undergraduate Scholarship

Adame, Daniel
Arreola, Hugo Arturo
Avila, Joseline Anahi
Bassett, Angela
Bazan, Briana
Blanco, Orion James
Briseno, Roberto
Chairez, Samantha Alexis
Corona, Alexis
Duran, Alek
Flores, Eduardo Alberto
Gutierrez, Michael Andrew
Guzman, Manuel Ivan Victor
Ibarra, Carolina
Martinez, Alyssa Savannah
Mendoza Juarez, Megan Anne
Millian, Alex Ivan
Monroy, Ruben Alejandro
Suchi, Alexis
Vera, Cira

Marian and Alina Komarnicki Graduate Scholarship

Cue, Claudia
Jacqueline
Mickelson, Sarah
Naomi Reyes, Priscilla Tiffany
Saenez, Andrea Gabriela
Soriano, Karina
Zubia, Christopher

Dr. Joseph B Graves Scholarship

Hinojos-Tomeny, Gavin

June M. Kruszewski Memorial Scholarship

Henry, Annica

Irena Grabowska Kruszewska Memorial Scholarship

Reynoso, Ian

Mary Misiewicz Sadowski Memorial Scholarship

Reyes, Mariana

Faculty Briefs

Dr. Ljubinka Andonoska published two co-authored articles. The first one, in Public Money & Management, examines the impact of gubernatorial elections on state government pension plans. It provides empirical evidence that not only elections, but also a number of fiscal institutions affect pension funding in the U.S. states. The second article was accepted for publication in the Public Finance and Management. It provides short-term and long-term frames to examine the factors that affect state governments’ fiscal health. The authors find that fiscal institution have different impact various fiscal health indicators. Dr. Andonoska also supervised the final projects of the graduating MPA students in their capstone classes and organized the final presentations through poster presentations. S, where students presented their work in front of the other MPA students, MPA alumni, and their families and friends.

Dr. Melissa Baker published a co-authored paper on vaccine hesitancy attitudes from her ongoing co-authored book project on how people respond and behave during times of crises. This paper received international media attention including the US, UK, and Netherlands. She has two chapters scheduled for release this year, one on anxiety in politics and the other, co-authored with UTEP students, on neuroscience in political communication. Dr. Baker also received a grant with Dr. Kayla Canelo at University of Texas at Arlington to continue a project on the public opinion consequences of judicial scandal. She has recently started as a co-lead UTEP’s Interdisciplinary Research and Education community of practice so as to expand and strengthen interdisciplinary work at UTEP. Her work as co-chair of the WPSA Inclusive Teaching Virtual Community has continued to offer pedagogy talks on pressing issues (e.g., the use of artificial intelligence) in addition to writing a forthcoming chapter on horizontal mentoring aiding in faculty pedagogical development.

Dr. Charles Boehmer continued his research as part of the grant received last year from the North American Development Bank, in cooperation with the EPA, to study air pollution on the Bridge of the Americas and its effects on the local community. He is a Co-Pi on a new grant from the National Science Foundation in the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program. He is the new Director of the Intelligence and National Security Studies (INSS) program and continues to work as the Associate Dean for Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts. He stays engaged in university service, such as serving as UTEP’s Truman Scholar representative and as a member of the Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives (COURI) Advisory Board.

Dr. Eric Boyer recently published an article in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory that explains how government contracting officers secured personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The study identifies techniques that can help contracting officers to secure critical products from global supply chains in future crises. Dr. Boyer also presented at the annual meeting of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration on a panel of MPA directors discussing techniques for serving students from rural regions and he presented his research on emergency contracting at the annual conference of the American Society of Public Administration. Dr. Boyer continues to serve on the editorial boards of the American Review of Public Administration and the Journal of Strategic Contracting and Negotiation. He is currently assisting the Paso del Norte Health Foundation with a survey of nonprofits in the El Paso community to identify their funding and training needs.  

Dr. Gaspare Genna completed his first three years as department chair and was reappointed by his colleagues and the Liberal Arts Dean for another term of three years. However, he is not letting his duties as chair slow down his research. He published two journal articles: one in Regions and Cohesion and another in Social Sciences. He also presented at academic conferences and submitted a research grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. On the teaching front, he continues to engage students through classroom instruction and work on masters and doctoral theses. He also is completing his last year as the Political Demography and Geography section chair for the International Studies Association.

Dr. Hyunrang Han joined our department in Fall 2022 and is expanding MPA course offerings in nonprofit management by developing new courses such as Volunteer Management. In her new course, Nonprofit Fundraising and Resource Development in Fall 2023, as a community project, students had a chance to select a nonprofit organization of their interest in the community, interview a fundraising manager, analyze the organization’s fundraising and resource development strategies based on course materials, and provide suggestions for improvement on its strategies. For the project, students collaboratively worked with diverse community organizations, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Amaanah Refugee Services, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, Humane Society of El Paso, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, No Lost Food, and Rio Grande Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Taeko Hiroi published two co-authored articles in 2023, on in Regions & Cohesion and other in Politics & Policy. With former MA Political Science student, Jay Langford, she is building a comprehensive database of coalitions, cabinets, parties, and legislators in Brazil. Dr. Hiroi also mentored graduate students as their thesis advisor or committee member, and many of them graduated in 2023. Dr. Hiroi continues to serve as the faculty advisor for the Epsilon Epsilon (UTEP) Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society, as well as on Pi Sigma Alpha’s National Executive Council and its Executive Committee. Dr. Hiroi is pleased to report that the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter won its 10th Best Chapter Award in 2023! 

Dr. Rebecca A Reid published a co-edited volume, Research Handbook on Law and Political Systems, with Elgar Edward press. She has a forthcoming book chapter in Judicial Activism in Comparative Perspective (Peter Lang) and published a book review on Melinda Rankin’s De Facto International Prosecutors in a Global Era: With My Own Eyes. She serves as the Graduate Director for the MA in Political Science, as well as serves as President for Southern Political Science Association Women, as a member of the American Political Science Association’s Law and Courts Nominations Committee and Edward S. Corwin Award Committee. She also serves on the PS: Political Science and Politics and The Journal of Politics editorial boards. She continues to run the International and Comparative Law & Courts Research Collaborative as well as serve as a Native American and Indigenous Studies faculty affiliate.

Dr. Cigdem Sirin continued her Co-PI role in UTEP's NSF-funded Institutional Transformation Grant, collecting and analyzing data on the effects of faculty development on equitable teaching practices on student belonging, success, and retention. She gave invited talks on her Group Empathy work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, San Diego State University, and Valdosta State University. She presented two papers in the Midwest Political Science Association Conference and also submitted an NSF grant on affective polarization.

Dr. José D. Villalobos presented two co-authored research papers at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, gave two invited special presentations at San Diego State University (SDSU) Imperial Valley, served as an honored co-speaker for the Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony for Valdosta State University, and, more locally, was an honored guest speaker at Temple Mount Sinai Synagogue in El Paso. All of his presentations centered on the role and impact of empathy on American public opinion and political behavior. He also joined as co-author with Dr. Jon Bond and Dr. Lydia Andrade for the 6th edition of Analyzing American Democracy: Politics and Political Science (Routledge).

Dr. Joseph Yingnan Zhou was promoted to associate professor in 2023. He led students to collect original data in his POLS 3600 Research in Political Science. He revised and resubmitted his paper about Chinese government's COVID response to the Journal of Contemporary China, and is collecting data for his book project on the political resocialization of overseas Chinese students.