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What to Know About Election Night
As the United States inches closer to the 2020 presidential election Nov. 3, UCF Professor Aubrey Jewett explains the pros and cons of the Electoral College, Florida’s role as a swing state, and what major factor could delay knowing the outcome on election night. Jewett is an internationally recognized political scientist and co-author of the […]
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Political Science Faculty Weigh in on 2020 Election
The world has been watching the build-up to the U.S. presidential election for months now. The candidates and their platforms, the Electoral College and, in 2020, allegations of potential voter fraud are all of intense interest to international media. To find out what topics international media are interested in, we spoke with three faculty members […]
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The Kurdish Political Studies Program announces the Best Article Award in Kurdish Political Studies
The Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP) awards every year the best article written by a rising scholar in Kurdish Political Studies. This year, the competition considered articles in social sciences and humanities that have been published in English and peer-reviewed journals in 2019. The selection committee was composed of Ozlem Goner (City University of New […]
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Kurdish Culture, Literature, and Politics Come to UCF
On October 2, the Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP) at SPSIA in partnership with the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, hosted the first of a series of virtual events in fall 2020. At the “Kurdish Literature & Culture” panel moderated by Dr. Haidar Khezri of UCF, KPSP welcomed Dr. Wendelmoet Hamelink from the […]
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Indian American Business Association Proves Valuable Ally to India Center
Community partners play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the India Center at UCF, including the Indian-American Business Association and Chamber (IABA). IABA President Prashant “Peter” Patel said expanding public knowledge and scholarship of India are just two of the shared goals between his organization and the India Center. More recently, though, IABA’s […]
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Charter Faculty Member Provides Perspective On UCF Overcoming Historical Challenges
We hear “unprecedented times” often as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds through 2020 and into the next year. But someone with the long lens of history like Professor Emeritus Robert Bledsoe, Ph.D., a charter faculty member of UCF, can attest this is far from the first challenge the university has faced. “This university has weathered a […]
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UCF Announces 2020 Alumni Award Winners
UCF Alumni announced its slate of its Shining Knights award winners for 2020 — seven individuals recognized for their commitment to the university in the categories of Distinguished Alumni, Honorary Alumni, Young Alumni and Distinguished Student. They will be honored in a virtual ceremony on the evening Sunday, Oct. 18 to kick off UCF Homecoming […]
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Alumnus’ Advocacy Secures Garbage Truck To Improve Dominican Republic Sanitation
By WHITNEY CHISHOLM ’17 The Dominican Republic holds a special place in my heart, going all the way back to high school when I was introduced to the future mayor of Santo Domingo. I stayed in close contact with the island for years and eventually landed a position as the city’s U.S. liaison. It was […]
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Ph.D. Candidate E-Attends Conference on Sustainable Development in Times of COVID-19
By: Sara Belligoni, Ph.D. Candidate Sara Belligoni, Ph.D. Candidate in Security Studies at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs, participated to the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) organized by the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), The Earth Institute at Columbia University, the Global Master’s in Development Practice (MDP), and the […]
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Alumna Blends Medicine and PoliSci To Create World-Changing Impact
At the intersection of political science and medicine sits the passion of Kezia Domond ’20, a recent UCF political science graduate with a calling to help those in underrepresented and underprivileged communities throughout the world. This upcoming fall, Domond takes a seat in Boston University’s Masters of Public Health program, where her hope is to […]
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UCF Preps Alumna For Career In International Relations
It was the second semester of her freshman year when Andrea de la Camara ’13 stumbled upon the political science department at the University of Central Florida. An aspiring veterinarian at the time, de la Camara didn’t know that she’d soon be an ambitious graduate with a budding career in the field of political […]
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UCF Faculty Member Appointed to Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
By ALEXANDRA SHIMALLA “I have desks all over the place,” laughed Eric Merriam. “I think I have four right now. I spend a lot of time at those desks.” Merriam is an associate professor, with a joint appointment to the Department of Legal Studies and the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs at UCF. […]
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UCF Experts Weigh in as Coronavirus Captures Headlines
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to dominate daily news cycles, UCF experts in areas ranging from hospitality, tourism, economics and student health services are helping shape the conversation surrounding the effects of the virus on various industries and the community as a whole. Kenneth Adams, professor — Ph.D. in criminal justice from State University of […]
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College of Sciences Celebrates Summer 2020 Ph.D. Grads
A doctorate degree represents one of the highest honors in academia. The 2020 Summer term’s Ph.D. graduates not only earned this honor, they did so with the extra stress of doing their work remotely. The College of Science recognizes and applauds the hard work applied to receive this degree. Chemistry Ziyang Huang, Ph.D. Faculty Advisor: […]
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Renewed Funding Keeps ICCAE Inspiring Intelligence Students for Five More Years
UCF students pursuing careers in intelligence will continue to receive competitive advantages thanks to renewed federal funding for UCF’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (ICCAE). The five-year funding from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is particularly helpful for minority students, who are historically underrepresented in intelligence careers. ICCAE Director Tom Dolan […]
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Indian Viewpoints on Conflict Resolution Focus of Two New Books
The enduring legacy of non-violent conflict resolution championed by two prominent Indian thinkers is the focus of two new books by Adjunct Professor Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra, Ph.D. The first is titled “Gandhi and the World,” and it explores the question: “Is it possible to generate Gandhian optimism in nonviolent methods to address conflicts in the […]
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Tallahassee Internship Gives In-Depth Picture of Florida Politics
Jessica Caruso was unsure what she would find when she headed to Tallahassee this spring for a legislative internship, but that uncertainty quickly disappeared. Now with the experience as a UCF Legislative Scholar, Caruso has returned home more passionate about politics than ever before. “A lot of people worry that when they take on an […]
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UCF Experts Partner for Virtual Black Lives Teach-In July 2
UCF faculty members will host a virtual event July 2 to discuss the critical issues of racism in American history. The Black Lives: Racism and the Struggle for Justice in the American Democracy teach-in will include historical lessons about local, national and global racial injustices and systemic racism that Black people have been subjected to […]
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Indian Visitors Stranded By Pandemic Find Ally In India Center Partner
A community thrives off unity. This is the philosophy lived by Kannan Srinivasan ’96 MS, CEO of Global KTech and an affiliate of the UCF India Center. When the global pandemic left Indian citizens stranded in Florida, Srinivasan did not hesitate to help them return home safely. “We had multiple organizations and wonderful leaders from […]
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Degrees Launch Career of Service for 30 Under 30 Winners
Two alumni from the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs are recipients of the UCF 30 Under 30 Class of 2020 award. Kristina Merritt ’12 and Brandon Fair ’13 are being celebrated for their achievements and service in their respective careers. Merritt, a dual major in psychology and political science, uses her background from […]
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Florida Political Science Association Chooses Longtime Professor For Award
The Florida Political Science Association has picked a UCF associate professor for its most prestigious honor – an award given only every three years. Aubrey Jewett, Ph.D., was honored with the Manning J. Dauer award in recognition of his “sustained exemplary record of research, teaching, mentoring and service related to Florida politics and policy and […]
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Childhood Dream Leads Alumnus to Security Studies Ph.D.
Jason Christensen, Ph.D., distinctly remembers fear and tragedy during the catastrophic events of 9/11. That morning, he also remembers his resolve to protect people and pursue a career in national security. “Even then as a child I realized any day could be a 9/11,” said Christensen. “I knew that I wanted to do something, […]
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Political Science Alumnus Sees Change Coming in Fight For Equality
By Whit Chisholm ’17 I really believe we are witnessing the early elements of a political revolution. When I took Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence, I never thought I’d actually witness or play a role in one. One thing I learned in that class was that a sharp reversal of economic fortune and widespread frustration […]
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Lou Frey Institute Launches Series Addressing Government Actions During Pandemic
The Lou Frey Institute is adding to the national conversation on pandemic liberties through a series of one-page conversation starters for K-12 teachers. Called “Civics in Real Life”, the series provides a historical and civics-based lens on current events, including the distinction between the power of states and federal government; the Defense Production Act; […]
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Immigration Officer Points To Political Science Classes For Career Inspiration
Political Science graduate Ross Cotton, ’11, Ph.D, recalls the natural curiosity that led him to pursue an academic career in political science and, ultimately, landing him a career as an asylum officer for U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services. Born in Australia, Cotton arrived in America at the age of six and found that the older […]
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Passion For Teaching, Political Science, Leads Grad to Principal Role
Jordan Filderman, ’09, M.A.’11, always knew his purpose was to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As the principal of Hebbville Elementary, Filderman uses education as his vehicle to serve underrepresented and underprivileged students in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. “My personal philosophy is that every child deserves an equal and quality […]
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Diasporas’ Affinity for Ecological Groups
“Go means Green: Diasporas’ Affinity for Ecological Groups,” a study co-authored by Anca Turcu, Ph.D., and R. Urbatsch, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, was published by Global Environmental Politics (a MIT Press Journal) in January 2020. Recent expansions of diaspora rights have given overseas residents increasing political voice. This study shows this is particularly significant […]
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Political Parties’ Overseas Enfranchisement Strategies
“European Ruling Parties’ Electoral Strategies and Overseas Enfranchisement Policies”, a study co-authored by Anca Turcu, Ph.D., and R. Urbatsch, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, was recently published by the European Journal of Political Research. Emigrants’ ideologies and partisan attitudes may diverge from other voters’: overseas voters are ideologically self‐selected, receive distinctive information about campaigns and […]
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UCF Grad Earns Pulitzer Prize
International reporting by Michael Schwirtz ’03 recently earned him one of journalism’s top awards, and his journey to this moment started, in part, with a desire to stay close to home. The DeLand native and political science graduate started globe-trotting when he was still in high school, including summers abroad in London and Europe. When […]
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Pandemic Exposes, Amplifies Weaknesses In Water Infrastructure, Researchers Argue
Three researchers are exploring the connections between access to clean water and the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. In a recent blog post stemming from a scholarly paper exploring the effects of rights constitutionalization and democratic governance on water access, the authors argue that recognition of the human right to water is central to […]