Political Science Educator: volume 26, issue 2

Allow me to wish you all a happy new year as we enter 2023. This year begins another year of uncertainty with the continued scourge of Coronavirus, a terrible flu virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. I hope that everyone stays healthy and our continued diligence brings us a more normal environment in 2023. The opportunity to lead what I consider the most valuable and enriching part of the American Political Science Association excites me. Through the Political Science Education section, I have found my home. As the only person in my doctoral cohort to finish, I lacked the same network of people at APSA as many others until I attended my first Teaching and Learning Conference in 2008. I felt welcomed, met great new friends, and found a way to serve the discipline. Since then, my experience with PSE keeps getting better.

It was so exciting to see so many of you in Montreal for the annual meeting. As always, the award winners brightened our business meeting. Please join me in congratulating these outstanding scholars:

• The Craig T. Brians Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research & Mentoring went to Kelebogile Zvobgo (College of William & Mary).
• The Best APSA Conference Paper went to Kathleen Cole (Metropolitan State University) for her paper “‘That’s Our House! Let’s Take It Over!’: Antiracist Pedagogy in Direct Advocacy Courses”
• The Distinguished Service Award went to Renee Van Vechten (University of Redlands).
• The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sherri Wallace (University of Louisville).

Many thanks to the award committees for their hard work.

As a section, PSE has long sought to increase our visibility across APSA. We have been extraordinarily successful in this regard with John Ishiyama (University of North Texas) concluding an outstanding year as the President of APSA in Montreal, and with several members on the APSA Council including Terry Gilmour (Midlands College) and Mary McHugh (Merrimack College). We will nominate others to serve both the section and APSA as we continue to make teaching a priority within APSA. Please email me or any other member of the Executive Committee if you are willing to serve. A survey will also be forthcoming to facilitate this endeavor.

The 2023 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference will return to Baltimore in February. The theme, “Re-Energizing Political Science Education: Innovations and New Opportunities,” should make for exciting and engaging discussions. The Conference will be held at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, from February 10-12, 2023. Register[1] to attend for a diverse set of workshops and tracks including “The Post-Covid Classroom: Innovations to Keep,” “The Inclusive Classroom: Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism,” “Civic Engagement,” “Simulations & Games,” “Teaching Research, Writing, and Information Literacy: How to Handle Misinformation,” and “Rethinking the Political Science Education: Recruitment, Retention, and Advising.” Many thanks to the conference co-chairs Rebecca Glazier (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) and Young-Im Lee (California State University-Sacramento), as well as the rest of the organizing committee. PSE holds its business meeting on Saturday, February 11 from 5:30-6:30 pm and co-sponsors a networking breakfast on Sunday morning. Please make plans to attend both. I look forward to seeing everyone.

My vision, as I embark on a two-year term leading the PSE section, is to continue the mission that we have established over time. We have become more inclusive in many ways by including scholars from different backgrounds and different types of colleges and universities and granting graduate student members no-cost membership. I aim to encourage graduate student involvement and engagement with the section. As such, I hope to amend our section bylaws to include a graduate student member of the Executive Committee so that we can hear more clearly their concerns. I also want to continue making the section more visible within APSA. With several other section members, I am on the new Civic Initiatives Working Group within APSA led by J. Cherie Strachan (University of Akron) and Diana Owen (Georgetown University). The Working Group hopes to continue the important work building a robust civic education program within APSA, including of the APSA civic education books, new programs and engagement opportunities, and to expanding the reach of both sections in this important area. The work is just beginning, and we will meet in Baltimore.

Finally, I want to thank members of the PSE section Executive Committee for their service. I am over my word count, so I will not name all of them. I will say: They are valued, and I value them. Thoughtful and dedicated servants bless our section and our profession. I am particularly grateful for Terry Gilmour, our past president, for her graciousness, encouragement, and passion for education as she guided our section for the past two years. Her tenure is notable for its growth and withstanding the pandemic. Thank you, Terry!

Best Wishes,

Joseph W. Roberts

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Joseph W. Roberts is Chair and Professor of Politics and International Relations at Roger Williams University. He is also the president of the Political Science Education section of the American Political Science Association.

[1] https://connect.apsanet.org/tlc2023/registration/