Fall 2009 Years Ago, I Assumed Goal Is to Develop a That I Would Be in the Nationally Recognized Inside This Issue: Job a Short Time and Ph.D
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Department of Political Science Newsletter Message from the Department Head When I agreed to serve ing, research and ser- as Interim Head two vice. My first major Fall 2009 years ago, I assumed goal is to develop a that I would be in the nationally recognized Inside this issue: job a short time and Ph.D. program. To do that my role was es- this, I will work to en- Personnel News 2 sentially that of care- sure that every mem- taker. Now, as I begin ber of the faculty has Awards 3 a five-year term as an active research Head, I think it is im- agenda and is publish- Faculty Spotlight 4 portant to articulate a ing scholarly books vision for the Depart- and high-quality jour- Research Grants 4 ment and an agenda nal articles. I must also must be team efforts, for my headship. work to see that our and we have a strong Outreach Activities 5 Ph.D. graduates obtain team in place My vision is of a de- faculty positions at now. The role of the Other News 5 partment that is a na- major research univer- department head ... tional leader in teach- sities. Of course, these (continued next page) Faculty Research 6 Graduate Student 13 Editor’s Note Research Alumni News 14 Thanks to many peo- long. It is so gratifying touch with the depart- Opportunities for 16 ple’s help and coopera- to hear from our ment and continue to Giving tion, our expanded de- alumni and to know send us your updated partmental newsletter they are doing so well. information. We will is finally out. I apolo- Due to the limited try to publish our gize for the length of space I had to edit out newsletter each fall. the newspaper. After much information that Any comments on the all we have a lot to our alumni sent us. newsletter are wel- report since we had not Special thanks to Bob come and can be sent published our newslet- Cunningham for gath- to me via email at ter for the last two ering the information [email protected]. years. I promise that from our alumni the our next year’s news- past year. I hope our letter won’t be this alumni will stay in Page 2 Department of Political Science Newsletter Message from the Head continued is to provide leadership, encour- agement, and material support Faculty, students and alumni all As everyone knows, the University when possible. have a role to play in strengthening of Tennessee is experiencing tough our programs, which brings me to fiscal times, and my biggest chal- My second major goal is to offer my third major goal—reconnecting lenge as Head will be to maintain the very best undergraduate pro- with our alumni and friends. We support for our various programs gram possible—one that rivals have been working to improve our and activities. Asking our alumni what students can get at the best departmental web site (http:// and friends to help is one way to liberal arts colleges. We have a web.utk.edu/~polisci/default.html) deal with our fiscal challenges. fine coterie of undergraduate in- and would invite suggestions on For more information on existing how we can make it even better. structor and our undergraduate departmental funds or other oppor- courses are very well regarded on tunities to assist or get involved Thanks to the assistance of Associ- the campus. I want to further en- with the Department, or if I can ate head Yang Zhong, we have also ever be of assistance to you, please rich the undergraduate program by reinstituted our newsletter, and having more extracurricular activi- would love to receive information do not hesitate to contact me. ties and by building a sense of (and photos) from our friends and community among our undergradu- alumni that we can post there. Best Wishes, ate students. John M. Scheb II Personnel News Dr. John M. Scheb, a member of the Political Sci- ence faculty since 1982, has been named Depart- ment party was held in Bob’s honor on Thursday, No- ment Head by Dean Bruce Bursten effective August vember 5, 2009. 1, 2009. Dr. Scheb has been serving as Interim Head since July of 2007. Scheb’s goals include raising the national visibility of the PhD program, Dr. David Houston, a member of developing resources through enhanced private giv- the UT faculty since 1991, has ing, and reaching out to alumni and friends in the been promoted to the rank of Pro- community. fessor effective August 1, 2009. Congratulations to Dr. Houston! Dr. Yang Zhong, a member of the Political Science faculty since 1991, has been appointed as Associate Dr Li Jing from China’s Jilin Head of Department of Political Science effective University is a visiting scholar at the department for on September 29, 2009. academic year 2009-2010. Professor Li’s main research interest is concerned with ethical issues in public ad- Dr. Bob Cunningham, a ministration. Dr. Li is working in collaboration with member of the Political Dr. Yang Zhong on a public opinion survey among Science faculty since Chinese bureaucrats. 1972, retired effective May 31, 2009. Bob has been named Professor The Department has hired Cary Nailling (who got his Emeritus by the Univer- Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi) to teach un- sity and will continue to dergraduate courses in comparative politics and inter- teach in the Political Sci- national relations. ence Department on a part-time basis. A retire- Fall 2009 Page 3 Faculty Awards Amy Atchison and Professor Ian Down’s paper field, May 8, 2009. He also won a teaching award: “Cabinet Representation and Maternity Leave Enti- Professor of the Year” (2008-2009), by our depart- tlement” won the Marian Irish Award for best paper ment Graduate Student Association. on Women in Politics presented at the Southern Po- litical Science Association, January 2009, to be awarded at the 2010 annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Professor Yang Zhong was named a University Guest Atlanta, GA. Professor by Sichuan University and a Ziqiang Profes- sor by Shanghai University in spring 2009. Both are Professor Nathan Kelly was honorary titles. QUEST Scholar of the Week, highlighting the work of a fac- ulty member at the University of Will Jennings, a lecturer in the department, was Tennessee who is doing out- named a "University Teacher of the Semester" for the standing work regardless of the Fall of 2009 by the UT Pan-Hellenic Council. Graduate Student Awards Hemant Sharma is the first recipient of the Otis H. Stephens, Jr. Fellowship. The Fellow- ship, established by alumnus Jay Young, recognizes excellence in the study of public law, courts and judicial processes. Sharma’s dissertation, “The Sword, the Purse and the Gavel: Institutional Influences on the Behavior of Supreme Court Justices,” was com- pleted during the summer of 2009. Costel Calin received the David Mock Award for Outstanding Performance by a Gradu- ate Teaching Associate. Matthew Gross received the John Shanks Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of American Politics. Rebecca Falls received the Lee S. Greene Award for Outstanding Performance in the Field of Public Administra- tion. Amy Atchison received the Award for Best Conference Paper by a Graduate Student. Undergraduate Student Awards The following awards and scholar- Arnett A. Elliott Award Ruth Stephens International Rela- ships were given to undergraduate Tommy Joe Norton tions Award students at the Political Science Brandon Hensley Awards Banquet in April 2009. Ruth Stephens Scholarship Justin Tillson These awards are funded by pri- George Barnes II vate donations. Aneel Bhimani David Lepard James O. & Minnie Elliot Schol- Vernon Iredell International Re- arship Sasha Qualkenbush lations Award David Derdzinski John Baugh David Hatten Page 4 Department of Political Science Newsletter Faculty Spotlight Dr. Tony Nownes, who was William T. “Ted” Brown is a lecturer promoted who teaches courses in constitutional to the rank law and “Law in American Society.” of Profes- Mr. Brown holds a B.A. in History sor in from UTK and a law degree from 2008, Vanderbilt. He came back to UTK serves as from Atlanta, where he had a thriv- the De- ing legal career. His courses are partment's among the most popular in the De- Director of Undergraduate partment. Here is what one undergraduate student had to say about Mr. Studies and Advising Brown in an email: Coordinator. He also supervises the Honors Program. Dr. Now- “Ted Brown is just one of those teachers that students will never forget and one nes spends one afternoon a who rarely forgets his students. I know that it is cliché to say that someone goes week working with students at above and beyond but Mr. Brown really exemplifies this statement. Having given the Arts and Sciences Advising up a professional career practicing law to return to Knoxville and teach, Mr. Brown Center, for which he was re- has taught, counseled, and inspired hundreds of students including myself. I know cently given an advising award that personally when I have gone to meet with Mr. Brown in his office by the College. This year, Dr. we have discussed everything from the LSAT and law school to student Nownes was recognized as government and my fraternity. Mr. Brown ultimately agreed to serve as Teacher of the Year by Kappa Delta. Tony is also an out- the faculty advisor to my fraternity, just another way that he has gone standing scholar and recently above and beyond in serving students. Mr. Brown has impacted my life published a book with the Cam- and I think that the Political Science department is lucky to have such a bridge University Press.