Dordt University Political Science Department

Dordt University Political Science Department Politics, like every other part of this world, belongs to God. Its role is to promote justice for all people as they relate to one another in the public square.

On Friday, Dr. Taylor had a reunion with political science alum Nate Muyskens and Spring '22 Intro to Political Science ...
04/07/2025

On Friday, Dr. Taylor had a reunion with political science alum Nate Muyskens and Spring '22 Intro to Political Science student Jonah Hofmeyer. Nate works at Northwest Iowa Community College. Jonah and Dr. Taylor were at NCC to share information with middle-school students for 8th Grade Career Day.

Dordt political science alum Jensen Cooper is serving as the clerk (legislative assistant) for State Senator Adrian Dick...
04/07/2025

Dordt political science alum Jensen Cooper is serving as the clerk (legislative assistant) for State Senator Adrian Dickey at the Capitol in Des Moines. Dr. Taylor--also a Senator--sees Jensen most days during the January-April session. Jensen has applied to political science graduate programs, hoping to start in the Fall.

On Monday, political scientist Stanley Carlson-Thies visited our Practical Political Engagement class. Dr. Carlson-Thie...
11/12/2024

On Monday, political scientist Stanley Carlson-Thies visited our Practical Political Engagement class. Dr. Carlson-Thies is founder of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance (Center for Public Justice). Pictured are Trygve Bulthuis, Jensen Cooper, Briana Gardner, Mylia Wagenaar, Dr. Carlson-Thies, Bennett Krommendyk, and Dr. Taylor.

In early May, the Introduction to Politics class at Dordt University enjoyed their annual presidential campaign simulati...
07/02/2024

In early May, the Introduction to Politics class at Dordt University enjoyed their annual presidential campaign simulation. It featured party platforms, debates, speeches, press conferences, mudslinging, and biased reporters. A good way to end the semester!

Today Dr. Taylor had lunch with Justin Vos and Ranae (Boonstra) Vos at Culver's in Sioux Center. Justin and Ranae were ...
07/02/2024

Today Dr. Taylor had lunch with Justin Vos and Ranae (Boonstra) Vos at Culver's in Sioux Center. Justin and Ranae were Political Science/History majors who graduated from Dordt in May 2016. They got married two months later. Ranae was part of the first cohort of POLS students taught by Dr. Taylor when he began at Dordt in August 2011. Her third major was Education. She is a school administrator in Florida; Justin is a university professor.

Tonight Dr. Taylor hosted supper at Culver's in Sioux Center for Political Science majors and minors. Ten students were...
11/02/2023

Tonight Dr. Taylor hosted supper at Culver's in Sioux Center for Political Science majors and minors. Ten students were able to attend: Jeralyn Wessel, Sam Zylstra, Sara Hofer, Trent Van Gilst, Wilson Harshbarger, Iain Cornette, Trygve Bulthuis, John Copley, Briana Gardner, and Mylia Wagenaar.

Unfortunately, the Political Science Department was unable to host the quadrennial Presidential Politics Conference of I...
10/29/2023

Unfortunately, the Political Science Department was unable to host the quadrennial Presidential Politics Conference of Iowa this year, but as a small gesture in lieu of the conference, Dr. Taylor hosted a conversation via zoom with three alums of the 2015 and/or 2019 conferences. Saturday evening, he was joined by historians Michael Cohen of American University, Itai Sneh of John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York), and Kristin Kobes Du Mez of Calvin University. For two hours, they had a great discussion about the Iowa caucuses and wider presidential campaign.

On Tuesday, Dr. Taylor's International Relations class met outside for a change of pace. Some had a late lunch from the...
10/04/2023

On Tuesday, Dr. Taylor's International Relations class met outside for a change of pace. Some had a late lunch from the Grille. They continued talking about our nation’s gradual move toward internationalism-imperialism, and away from nationalism-isolationism, under Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Students in the class are Alayna Greenwaldt, Jensen Cooper, Briana Gardner, Mylia Wagenaar, and Trygve Bulthuis.

Monday morning, Dr. Taylor was at Northwest Iowa Community College, in Sheldon, serving as a Junior Career Day presenter...
10/04/2023

Monday morning, Dr. Taylor was at Northwest Iowa Community College, in Sheldon, serving as a Junior Career Day presenter. He spoke to about 80 juniors from area high schools. In addition to focusing on his experiences as a state legislator, he had an opportunity to put in a good word for Dordt University and our POLS program. Each student was offered a copy of the POLS promotional flier.

Last Friday the Introduction to Politics class had our fifth annual Presidential Campaign Simulation. Competition was b...
05/13/2023

Last Friday the Introduction to Politics class had our fifth annual Presidential Campaign Simulation. Competition was between tickets of the Tradition Party (John Copley-Ryan Dyck), Freedom Party (Jensen Cooper-Ella Zwart), and Progress Party (Alexandra Bandstra-Madeline Hofer). Roles also included debate moderators, news reporters, campaign managers, platform writers, speech writers, publicity agents, and coordinator assistants. The simulation was a success, with numerous informative and entertaining developments.

Dordt University graduation was today. In addition to other conversations, Dr. Taylor congratulated two senior Politica...
05/13/2023

Dordt University graduation was today. In addition to other conversations, Dr. Taylor congratulated two senior Political Science majors--Rodrigo Uhl (pictured) and Trey Engen--and caught up with a third, Lexi Schnaser (who graduated last year).

This evening the Political Science Department had a pizza party for its majors and minors. Dr. Taylor didn't quite make...
09/29/2022

This evening the Political Science Department had a pizza party for its majors and minors. Dr. Taylor didn't quite make it in time to be part of the first 10-second-timer group photo--which, for some reason, students found funny--but he did join everyone for the second picture. Pictured L to R: Trygve Bulthuis, Sam Zylstra, Jensen Cooper, Wilson Harshbarger, Trey Engen, Jeralyn Wessel, Rodrigo Uhl, and Dr. Taylor. Not able to join us for the party: Lexi Schnaser, Sara Hofer, and Briana Gardner. Having finished her on-campus coursework, and having walked during May commencement, Lexi is finishing her time as a Dordt student at Oxford University this semester. A great group of POLS students!

Address

498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, IA
51250

Telephone

+17127226335

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dordt University Political Science Department posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Dordt University Political Science Department:

Shortcuts

Share

Category