TXST Department of Political Science

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TXST Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science is a part of the College of Liberal Arts at TXST. PS) and public administration (BPA). PS), legal studies (M.A.

We are the academic home for about 800 undergraduate majors & minors and 380 graduate students. As a liberal arts discipline, the department offers two undergraduate degrees, political science (B.A. In addition, we offer three graduate degrees including political science (M.A. LS), and public administration (MPA), as well as graduate certificates in mediation and paralegal studies. We house the Wi

lliam P. Hobby Center for Public Service and the Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training (CRPPT), as well as the Armed Forces and Society Journal and the Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy.

05/27/2026

Dr. Will Moravits represented Texas State University at Rodriguez Elementary School’s second annual Career Day. His talk to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students focused on what a college professor does. Dr. Moravits’s presentation explored how you go about becoming a college professor, what the qualifications were, the means by which prospective students might become a college professor, and the subject matters that college professors can teach.

Rodriguez Elementary School’s Career Day invites a variety of professionals from a wide array of occupations, including that of public safety, in order to introduce students to the intricacies of today’s labor force in an accessible way.

Dr. Moravits is a lecturer of political science at Texas State University and has previously taught for Texas A&M University at San Antonio, St. Philip’s College, and Northeast Lakeview College. A former high school teacher, he was also a police officer for the City of San Marcos, Texas, having graduated as the Top Cadet from the 77th Basic Training Academy of the University of Texas at Austin. His publications include The Blue Divide: Policing and Race in America (Houndstooth Publishers, 2022).

05/26/2026

On Monday, May 4, the Department of Political Science hosted a farewell gathering for four faculty members. Drs. Cecilia Castillo, John Burke, Ezekiel Loseke, and Prof. Jordan Villarreal were celebrated for their contributions to the department during their time at Texas State. Faculty, staff, and students attended the sendoff wishing them the best in their future endeavors.

Dr. Cecilia Castillo has been with TXST since 1991. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Classics from the University of Dallas. She received her Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas, which she had also attended as an undergraduate. During her time at Texas State, she served as the director of the Master of Arts in Political Science program for two decades, as a member of the Texas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for 17 years, and as the managing editor of the Catholic Social Science Review for 11 years.

Dr. John Francis Burke received his received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame. He had previously taught at TXST in the 1980s. His books include Mestizo Democracy: The Politics of Crossing Borders (Texas A&M Press, 2002), and he has published articles in a wide variety of journals including the Review of Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Peace and Justice Studies.

Dr. Ezekiel Loseke received his M.A. in Political Science from Texas State University, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Hillsdale College. During his time at Texas State, he served as the faculty advisor for the Rho Eta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society; the coordinator for Graduate Instructional Assistants; and book review editor for the Catholic Social Science Review.

Prof. Jordan Villarreal received his M.A. in Political Science at Texas State University. During his time here, over and above teaching incoming freshman during a time of historically high enrollment levels at the university, he also helped direct the department’s Discourse in Democracy programming and the Poli Sci Inklings talks.

“We want to thank these faculty members for all they have contributed over the years to the department and university,” stated Department Chair Ken Grasso. “They will be missed.”

05/22/2026

On Saturday, May 2, the Texas State chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, hosted its annual induction dinner at Palmer’s Restaurant Bar & Courtyard. It was a night of celebration to commemorate the academic achievement and perseverance of its members. President Sarah Trayhan and faculty sponsor Dr. Ezekiel Loseke inducted the new members.

Ten new members were inducted: Amru Fadl, Amelie Juarez, Elisabeth Faidi, Elena Cavo, Hannah Kriese, Hillary Ruedas, Jayla Palmer, Kyle Sanger, Victoria Vicuna, and Abena Amankwa.

President Sarah Trayhan said, “I am so happy to honor all the new members of Pi Sigma Alpha!” Dr. Loseke added that “it was wonderful to see so many young scholars interested in political science.”

Chapter Rho Eta of Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society chapter at Texas State University. Open to eligible political science, public administration, and legal studies majors and minors, Pi Sigma Alpha’s goal is to connect those interested in politics and policy with a wide variety of professionals from across the state and help its members get jobs, internships, and experience before and after college.

Those interested in learning more about the Rho Eta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha should check out the chapter’s page on the department website or contact President Sarah Trayhan at [email protected].

05/21/2026

The Chancellor’s U.S. Capitol Internship Program is a new System-wide initiative that provides financial support for TXST students seeking the unique opportunity to serve as Congressional and public policy interns in Washington, D.C. Interns engage with and develop a greater understanding of the policymaking and legislative processes while gaining invaluable professional skills, practical government work experience, and a more robust professional network.

This is the second class of Chancellor’s scholars to represent Texas State in Washington, D.C. The following students served during the Spring 2026 semester.

Alexandra J. Johannigman – Representative Greg Casar (TX)

Morgan C. Blakley – Representative Monica De La Cruz (TX)

Eduardo Almanza – Representative Henry Cuellar (TX)

Miguel Perez – Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX)

Trinity Sutherland – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA)

Alexandra Johannigman, an MPA student, shared her experience. “I just completed an internship with Congressman Greg Casar’s DC office. The city’s culture and accessibility are incredible, and I am glad I made time to explore its different neighborhoods. The most valuable skill I learned during this internship was how to write concise, consistent legislative correspondence. The most memorable experience was the breakfast I shared with the Congressman and his family. It felt wonderful to converse with someone I have admired for years and to create a meaningful connection. Additionally, I felt honored to have the privilege of being invited to have a delicious breakfast at the Democratic National Club.”

She concluded with advice for future interns, stating, “This experience is what you make it. If you put yourself out there, maintain a great attitude, and make time for things you enjoy, you will have a wonderful time.”

To learn more, visit the U.S. Chancellor’s Capitol Internship at Texas State University webpage or contact Dr. Vance McMahan at [email protected].

05/20/2026

Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) recently hosted its final meetings of the Spring 2026 semester.

On April 21, members were able to enjoy a “Study With SWIPS” session, where attendees worked on their upcoming assignments and prepared for their final exams. Additionally, officers shared several announcements, highlighting the student worker openings the Department of Political Science is currently hiring via applications on Handshake and that SWIPS is seeking applicants for two open positions (Treasurer and Outreach Coordinator) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

On May 5, SWIPS hosted its final meeting of the Spring 2026 semester. Officers shared that Texas State has officially approved a minor in pre-law for students who are considering law school or who simply have an interest in law. The minor consists of 18 credit hours total, including 12 hours of required courses and 6 hours of electives. Interested students can search for the informational webpage or contact Dr. Ken Ward at [email protected] with any questions or concerns regarding the program. For the remainder of the meeting, members played various games to bond with one another and provide a stress reliever during finals season.

The officers for the 2026 Fall semester are as follows:

Ihechi Diribe — President
Benedict Kazadi — Vice President
Favour Madojutimi — Secretary
Ashlee Chrisman — Senior Advisor

Additional officer roles for the fall are still open. Contact President Ihechi Diribe at [email protected] for more information on how to apply.

SWIPS is a nonpartisan women’s organization at Texas State University. This professional education and development organization is dedicated to helping political science majors and other students explore the various aspects of political science, enabling them to pursue their professional and academic interests. SWIPS meets every other Tuesday at 6:00PM in THH 406.

If you’d like to learn more information about this organization, please contact SWIPS President Ihechi Diribe at [email protected]

05/19/2026

On Saturday, April 25, Professors Roger Abshire, Mari Garza, and Emily Cedillo represented the Department of Political Science at the university’s second Bobcat Day of the Spring 2026 semester.

The event welcomed thousands of prospective students and their families to campus for a closer look at what Texas State University has to offer. During the program, faculty members met with attendees to discuss academic opportunities and provide insight into both the field of political science and the department itself. They connected with more than 100 students and parents, answering questions about political science, public administration, and pre-law while sharing informational materials on degree options, course requirements, internships, career pathways, and available classes.

Dr. Roger Abshire emphasized the value of the event, stating, “Bobcat Day is a great opportunity for the Department to make an outstanding first impression on prospective Political Science students.”

05/15/2026

On Thursday, April 23, the Department of Political Science held its annual Awards Ceremony for the 2025-2026 school year. Departmental awards and scholarships were presented by Dr. Ken Grasso, Department Chair; Dr. Vince Bagnulo, the department’s Associate Chair; Dr. Howard Balanoff, Professor and Co-Director of the Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program; and Dr. Michelle Evans, Director of the Legal Studies Program. Dr. Mary Brennan, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, distributed College of Liberal Arts Academic Excellence Certificates to juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Faculty, students, and their families were able to come together at the LBJ Student Center to celebrate the year’s accomplishments.

Students recognized at the ceremony included:

Political Science Awards and Scholarships

- Outstanding Graduate Student: E. Reagan Haik

- Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Ashton Hansen

- The Richard B. Henderson Political Science Award: William Barry

- The James H. McCrocklin Memorial Political Science Endowed Scholarship: Camilla Velazquez

- The Bettylee & Daniel Farlow Endowed Scholarship in Political Science: Jakob Salsgiver

- The Barney & Linda Knight Endowed Scholarship Fund: Saniyha Coleman, Lea Hartman, Fritz Kokinda, Monique Perez, Layla Saldua

- The Walter Richter Endowed Scholarship Fund: Valentina Vera-Gonzalez

Public Administration Awards and Scholarships

- William P. Hobby Center for Public Service Scholarship: Mst Thahsina Aktar Asha, Hannah Faith Amaya, Tanya Garduno, Heather Hampton, Ben Holt, Syeda Zareen Jahan, Ishrat Ritu, Ariela Velazquez

- Francis Rich Scholarship: Savanna Batson, E. Reagan Haik, Nusrat Neela, Julia Hester
Clarence E. Ridley Scholarship: Walker Allee

- ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship: Riyanka Aryal, Joa Brown

- Pi Alpha Alpha Inductees: Fall 2025 – Mst Thahsina Aktar, Stacy Oakley, Chezelle de la Peña; Spring 2026 – Hannah Faith Amaya, Joa Brown, E. Reagan Haik, Zoe Kulas, Nusrat Jahan Neela, Ariela Velazquez

Legal Studies Scholarships

- Outstanding Legal Studies Graduate Student: Andrea Toro Yehya
- The Dale Hardin Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Alyssa Abitia

05/13/2026

On Saturday, April 11, several student organizations from TXST attended “Careers in Politics 2026,” a conference organized by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas at Austin. The event offered students insight into diverse career paths in politics, policy, and public service. It provided direct access to professionals working in campaigns, government, nonprofits, media, and advocacy. Additionally, there were resume-building opportunities, including professional headshots.

Representatives of the following student organizations participated in the conference: International City County Management Association (ICMA) student chapter, Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS), and the Mock Trial Team. Several poli sci students who were not affiliated with an organization also attended.

Attendees spoke positively about the experience, particularly about the networking opportunities with the various esteemed speakers. The keynote speakers were Rep. Dade Phelan of TX House District 21 (a prominent Republican legislator and former Speaker of the House) and Samantha Lopez-Resendez, Democratic Nominee of TX House District 50.

05/11/2026

On Tuesday, April 28, the Mock Trial Team celebrated the end of the school year with a banquet at Kerbey Lane Cafe. The banquet gave team members a chance to share a meal and reflect on their experiences. It also gave them a chance to discuss their plans for next year. They were joined at the banquet by faculty advisors Drs. David Levy and Christopher Brown, who expressed their pride in what the team has accomplished and praised the dedication of its members.

Officers shared how excited they were to begin competing next school year and their plans to build up the team’s skills through continued scrimmages in the meantime. Members were also able to recognize team members set to graduate in May, thanking them for their participation and wishing them well for the future.

The Mock Trial Team at Texas State University is a competitive academic organization that prepares students for intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Founded in 2025, the team provides members with hands-on legal experience through trial simulations, workshops, and guest speaker events. Open to students of all majors, the organization emphasizes skill development, collaboration, and preparation for future legal careers.

05/08/2026

On Monday, April 27, the International City County Management Association (ICMA) student chapter at Texas State met with the city manager of Pflugerville, Texas, Sereniah Breland, at Buda’s City Hall. She gave a presentation entitled “From Where I Started to City Management: Leadership, Growth, and Impact.”

The presentation focused on the means by which future and current public administrators can deal with the professional tensions that arise in bureaucratic institutions. Particular attention was drawn to the city managers in navigating these tensions. Attendees gained insight on strategies for effective human capital management, work-life balance, advancement in public-sector careers, and the strengths/weaknesses of leadership roles in municipal governance.

Sereniah Breland is currently appointed as the City Manager of Pflugerville. Previously, she served in the cities of Alvin, TX, and Guthrie, OK, as well as serving as City Manager of Goliad, TX. She began her career in local government as an assistant to the City Manager in Greenville, TX through the Urban Fellowship of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, which led her to Denton, TX as a Recycling Coordinator and then Sugar Land, TX as the Support Services Director.

The International City County Management Association (ICMA) advances professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics. ICMA’s members are the professional city, town, and county managers who are appointed by elected officials to oversee the day-to-day operation of our communities. At the subnational level, ICMA has state associates, including the Texas City Management Association (TCMA). TCMA cultivates a grassroots pipeline of professional talent with chapters on college campuses, including the Region 7 chapter at Texas State University.

For more information on Texas State’s International City/County Management Association student chapter, please contact President Hannah Kriese at [email protected] or faculty advisor Dr. Miha Vindis at [email protected].

05/06/2026

On Friday, April 17, the College of Liberal Arts hosted the 2026 Undergraduate Expo, an annual opportunity for undergraduate students across COLA’s nine departments and three centers to share their research. Students participate in oral or poster presentations, competing for recognition from a panel of judges as well as from their peers.

The following students’ projects were participated in the in the expo:

- Alondra Ayala, “Civil Society Resistance to Third-Term Presidencies: Zambia and Cameroon in Comparative Perspective” (oral)

- Haley Smith, “Foundations in Decay: An Analysis of Democratic Backsliding in Mexico” (oral)

- Danielle Rodriquez, “Social Media & U.S. Foreign Policy: How Digital Platforms Shape Responses to International Crisis” (poster)

Four political science students in total participated in the event, all of whom worked directly with Dr. Vince Bagnulo, Assistant Professor of Instruction in the department.

Dr. Bagnulo, the department’s Associate Chair, coordinated the department’s participation in the even and observed that “the reflected students’ dedication, diligence, and willingness to go above and beyond what is expected of them. Each students’ impressive work served as a reminder of the extensive talent and work ethic of political science students.”

Prizes were generously donated by TXST alumni, with 1st Place Poster and Oral receiving $1000 scholarships and 2nd Place Poster and Oral receiving $500 scholarships. This year’s winners were Brandon West (History, oral), Carolina Cambron (Geography, oral), Isabella Litwin (Spanish & Business Management, poster), and Electra Zatorski (Psychology, poster).

Additional photos can be seen on the College of Liberal Arts’ Instagram page ()!

Address

601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX
78666

Website

http://www.polisci.txstate.edu/

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