Archives 2008-09
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August 2009
Congratulations to our undergraduate and graduate students who completed their degrees this month. The following are a list of Political Science graduate students and their degrees.
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Kevin P. Donnelly
- Master of Arts
- Cansu Uysalel
- Master of Public Administration
- Robert A. Deleo
- James V. Imprescia
- Cheikh A. Ould Sidi
- Ivo B. Tankov
July 2009
Chris Chanyasulkit (PhD Candidate) has been appointed to a full board position on the American Public Health Association Education Board. The American Public Health Association Education Board is charged with maintaining and enhancing professional knowledge, increasing technical proficiencies, and enabling members to promote and protect environmental and community health.
May 2009
Another Successful Year for Northeastern University's United Nations Association
The United Nations Association of Northeastern (UNA) had another successful year in 2008-2009, continuing its tradition of excellence in intercollegiate competitive Model United Nations and Model Arab League simulations, while also hosting a number of successful conferences and events on campus.
During the fall semester, the UNA, in conjunction with the Model United Nations class taught by UNA Advisor Dr. Philip D'Agati, fielded one of its largest delegations ever for the prestigious Harvard National Model United Nations Conference. Also in the fall, during its first year of participation in the Boston Area Regional Model United Nations at Boston University, Northeastern took home eight individual awards, as well as Outstanding Delegation.
In the Spring, the UNA welcomed more students than ever before to its Model Arab League (MAL) team, and continued to build upon Northeastern's strong national reputation in the MAL program, taking on the role of delegates from the Republic of Iraq in the simulated debates of the League of Arab States. From March 13-15, the team took part in the highly competitive Southeast Regional Model Arab League at Converse College in South Carolina, receiving an Outstanding Delegation award for its second-place finish at the conference.
Two weeks later, from March 27-29, Northeastern's MAL team competed in the National University Model Arab League (NUMAL) in Washington, DC, which features the best schools from the regional and international MAL conferences in simulations of eight councils of the Arab League. Northeastern's MAL team is proud of several accomplishments at NUMAL this year: NU brought 28 Representatives, the largest team in its history and in attendance this year; NU's Iraq Delegation won 4 awards in individual councils; NU won two Chairing awards, including Outstanding Chair; NU received two Secretariat appointments, including the position of Assistant Secretary General for the 2010 NUMAL. Overall, Northeastern's MAL team placed 3rd out of 23 teams at Nationals this year.
This successful finish at the National Model Arab League capped off a successful year of Model Arab League that had begun in November, before the Model Arab League class began, when the UNA hosted the Northeast Regional Model Arab League Conference. In addition to preparing for, hosting, and providing almost all the staff for this conference, the UNA also claimed success as delegates, receiving an Outstanding Delegation award for its performance.
In addition to its participation in intercollegiate models, the UNA also engaged with high schools and middle schools in the Greater Boston area through a partnership with the United Nations Association of Greater Boston. During the 2008-2009 year, the UNA brought over 600 high school and middle school students to campus for Model UN simulations, as well as sent students into the community to work directly with students in Boston Public Schools.
-Matt Cournoyer (Executive Vice President of UNA)
April 2009
Political Science Recognition Dinner
On April 17, the Department of Political Science sponsored the annual Political Science Recognition Dinner. A number of students were recognized for their accomplishments, and the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) served as this year's keynote speaker and was awarded the Department's Distinguished Public Service Award.
State Representative Robert A. DeLeo has represented the 19th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1991 and became Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives on January 28, 2009. Since becoming speaker he has concentrated on ethics, transportation and pension reforms.
Representative DeLeo, who received his Bachelors degree from Northeastern as a political science major, joked that Northeastern was his first introduction to girls after attending the then all boys, Boston Latin School. On a more serious note, he noted how Northeastern's commitment to experiential education and his co-op experiences led him into a career in politics. He then thanked his family, including his son, Robert DeLeo, who recently received his MPA from Northeastern and now continues as a PhD student in the Department.
During the evening, awards were also made to two exceptional seniors: Rachel J. Anemone as the Outstanding Senior in Experiential Education and Sonja R. Yuhas Cove as the Outstanding Senior in Political Science. In the annual Best Paper Award contest, four students received awards: graduate students Hans Eijmberts and Robert DeLeo, and undergraduates Brendan Cahalin and Stefan T. Kaluziak, Jr. And finally, thirty four undergraduate students and seven graduate students were inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honorary society for political science.
Five PhD students reach Candidacy
Five PhD students successfully passed their comprehensive examinations and reached candidacy in the Spring 2009 semester. Four will be writing dissertations in the Comparitive Politics/ International Relations field and one will be writing his dissertation in U.S. Politics and Policy. The students in alphabetical order are as follows,
The Department congratulates all five of these students and we look forward to working with them as they work toward completion of their dissertations.
Congratulations Seniors and Graduate Students!
Seventy students completed their degrees this past month from the Department of Political Science. Click here for a full list of all graduating seniors and graduates students who completed their program requirements.
PhD Candidate Runs Boston Marathon
Johannes (Hans) Eijmberts (PhD Candidate) sucessfully completed the Boston Marathon on April 20th, 2009. Hans raised funds and ran for the Boston Medical Center. Congratulations, Hans!!!
March 2009
PhD Student's Article accepted for Publication
Christopher Cunningham (PhD student) recently had an article, "Northern Ireland and the War on Terror: Political Perceptions", accepted for publication in Irish Political Studies. It will be published in September 2009 or January 2010.
Political Science Students and Faculty well-represented at NU Research Expo
Political Science students, faculty, and affiliated faculty had the highest turn-out of any social science department participating in Northeastern University's Research Expo that took place on Thursday, March 26, 2009. We congratulate all of this year's presenters, and we encourage even more of our students to participate and present work next year. The following are short descriptions of Faculty and students from the department who presented research this year, but you can click on any of the project titles for links with additional information.
First, congratulations to doctoral candidate Kristen Hudak, whose poster, Political Institutions & Grassroots Development: The Political Economy of Microfinance, was recognized as the best graduate student poster in the category of Social Sciences, Business and Law. Kristen's research examined, Where has microfinance been most successful and why? Kristen was presented with a certificate by Provost Director and we plan to frame her poster for viewing in the Department.
Professor Kirsten Rodine Hardy presented a poster titled, Globalization and liberal telecom reform. Her Research Assistant, Beth Boorman, undergraduate political science major, assisted Professor Rodine Hardy in preparing the poster.
Caitlin McAllister (MPA student) and Professor Christopher Bosso presented a poster titled Local Government and Conditions of Uncertainty: Cambridge and the Regulation of Nanomaterials. Their research looked at the dilemma of local governments having limited capacity to address potential environmental and public health effects of new technologies, yet such effects are often felt first at the local level.
Hans Eijmberts (PhD candidate) and Professor W.D. Kay's poster was titled Nuclear Lessons for Nanotechnology: How Governments May Handle Emerging Technologies by Learning from the Past. This study looks at the history of U.S. government involvement in nuclear fission to in order to highlight the similarities and differences between the policy approaches applied toward nuclear fission in the early 20th century and current government involvement in the development of nanotechnology issues.
Professor Denise Garcia, along with Political Science and International Affairs undergraduate students: Richard McLaws, Suzana Loureiro, Emily Turner, Briana Keene, and Jessica Robinson, presented a poster titled The International Arms Trade. This project deals with one of the most under-studied topics in international security: the international arms trade, why it impacts human security worldwide, how it constitutes an obstacle to peace in many intrastate conflicts around the world and in widespread humanitarian abuse, and principally how new normative understandings have evolved to enable the support for an Arms Trade Treaty(ATT)and other international treaties on arms control of great interest to political science and international law.
Finally, Professor Denise Horn from the International Affairs Program, presented a poster titled, The King and I: Nationalist Projects and the Manipulation of Civil Society. Her research examines the manipulation of civil society by the state and outside forces and its effect on political opposition and democracy in Thailand.
To view additional information on these research projects and the NU Research Expo, please visit, www.exponeu.edu.
December 2008
ROBERT L. CORD ENDOWED BOOK FUND AWARDEES
The following students are recipients of awards ($400-500) from the Cord Book fund for the 2008-09 Award year. Congratulations to these students.
Marita Spooner
Jordan Clark
Sonja Cove
Nicholas Boston
Loraine Peone
Mary Abbott
Sarah La Monaca
The Robert L. Cord Endowed Book Fund was established by alumni who are former students of Robert L. Cord, Matthews Distinguished Professor and Professor of Political Science. The purpose of the fund is to provide assistance to academically-deserving undergraduate students for the purpose of purchasing books and course materials.
The Department of Political Science Awards Sean Patrick O'Rourke Scholarships
The Sean Patrick O'Rourke Scholarship was established in 1989 through the generosity of Larry O'Rourke in memory of his son, Sean Patrick O'Rourke, a class of 1990 junior majoring in Political Science. Tragically, Sean was killed in an automobile accident before finishing his degree. The scholarship is awarded to juniors and seniors. Seven awardees were recently announced for 2008-09.
- Colin Bosio-Cady
- Nicholas Boston
- Ronald D Coenen Jr.
- Aaron H Carty
- Matthew S Evola
- Lena M Marceno
- Sonja R Yuhas Cove
These students, along with Dr. Portz and Dr. Wallin, had the pleasure of meeting and thanking Larry O'Rourke in person over dinner earlier this month. The department continues to express its thanks to Mr. O'Rourke for his past and continuing support of Political Science students.
PhD Student awarded State Department scholarship for study of Punjabi language and culture in India
Christopher Cunningham, a PhD in Public and International Affairs student, has been selected as a recipient of a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship. Christopher will participate in the Punjabi intensive summer language institute in Chandigarh, India. The highly-selective program includes both inside and outside the classroom language and cultural training and is hosted by the American Institute of Indian Studies. For more detailed information on this program and other critical need language programs, please visit http://clscholarship.org/home.php.
PhD Candidate selected for position on Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
PhD Candidate, Chris Chanyasulkit has been selected for a commissioner position on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW). The MCSW is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. The Commission provides a permanent, effective voice for Massachusetts women and is comprised of 19 diverse members from across the state. Chris was selected for her appointment by Governor Deval Patrick�s Office. For more information on the MCSW, please visit http://www.mass.gov/women/aboutus/aboutus.htm.
Fall 2009 Milestones for PhD students
Three of our students from the PhD in Public and International Affairs program successfully defended their dissertations and two PhD students passed their comprehensive exams and reached degree candidacy in the fall 2008 semester.
First, it is with great pleasure that we announce that Alison Uzdella and Johannes Eijmberts have reached Doctoral Candidacy after successfully completing all coursework and passing their comprehensive examinations. Both students are concentrating in Comparative and International Politics and Policy.
Additionally, Joseph Coelho, Robyn Olson, and Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh all successfully completed the requirements of the PhD degree and defended their dissertations.
Joseph Coelho's dissertation titled, "Building Stable and Effective States through International Governance: The Politics of Technocratic Interventions," was defended on October 31, 2008, before Professors David Schmitt, William Crotty and Amilcar Barreto, all members of the faculty of the Department of Political Science at Northeastern University.
Robyn Olson's dissertation titled, "The Politics of Water Fluoridation from a Problem Definition Perspective," was defended on November 19, 2008, before Professors Christopher Bosso, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northeastern and Faculty member of the Department of Political Science, David Rochefort, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Northeastern, and Dr. Catherine Hayes, of Tuft University's School of Dental Medicine.
Finally, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh's dissertation titled, "Deadlock: a Political Economy Perspective on the Massachusetts Health Policy Reform Experience," was defended on December 5, 2008, before Professors David Rochefort, Governor Michael Dukakis, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University, and Robert Hackey from the Health Policy and Management Program at Providence College.
It is with great pleasure that we recognize these five students for their accomplishments and contributions to the Department of Political Science at Northeastern.