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Spring POLITICAL SCIENCE News 2015 The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences newsletter for the Department of Political Science The Chair’s Message for 2014-15 IN THIS ISSUE Dr. Frank Harvey, Chair ing some of the many reasons we Chair’s Message had to celebrate this past year. The obvious starting point is to thank Faculty News Bob Finbow, our past Chair, for the enormously important role he played Forum on Misogyny in advancing our reputation as one of CFPS News the strongest programs at Dalhousie and among the most well respected Canadian Naval Review Update political science departments in the country. I encourage everyone to read Academic Military Co-op through Bob’s 2013-2014 message as Defence Fellow News outgoing Chair (http://www.dal.ca/ EUCE News faculty/arts/politicalscience/news- It is a pleasure for me to welcome events/newsletters.html). It provides Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers you to the 2014-2015 Department a superb summary of why we should Initiative News of Political Science Newsletter. As be so proud of our relatively small you will see from the many good department, particularly in light of Undergraduate, Graduate, and news items peppered throughout this the many outstanding contributions PhD Student News edition of our annual update, our over the years by so many distin- Alumni News faculty, students and research fellows guished scholars and teachers. During have had a very productive and our fi rst transition meeting I distinctly successful year. Generous support recall being more than a little intimi- from alumni contributions was dated reading through the long list critical to the success of the of tasks and responsibilities attached conferences, guest lectures, seminars, to the Chair’s role. As I read through social events, professional develop- this multi-page, colour-coded fi le of ment activities, awards and courses responsibilities, one thought immedi- described below. Your help continues ately came to mind - Bob completed to make a substantial and meaningful these tasks, over two terms (six years) difference in the quality of education as Chair, without any fanfare, with a and support we can provide to our selfl ess yet relentless dedication to the students and faculty. On behalf of success of the department and to the everyone in the department, I would welfare of its full-time and part-time We want to hear from you! like to thank our alumni for their faculty members, and often at the ex- Please send all comments, important role in making this year pense of his own demanding research suggestions, ideas or inquiries such a success. and publication schedule. Thanks, to [email protected] Bob, for everything you’ve done and As the department’s new Chair my continue to do to sustain and comments will focus primarily on strengthen our long and distinguished thanking a few people and highlight- legacy - your commitment is inspiring and, to be honest, more than a little the list goes on. Tracy does all of this in praising both colleagues for their humbling. while successfully juggling so many important research, teaching and other core responsibilities tied to administrative contributions. As I would also like to thank Tracy managing the curriculum, scheduling President Florizone noted in his Powell, the department’s wonderful courses and juggling room letter of promotion, “the granting administrative assistant. It has been assignments, administering the of tenure is tangible recognition of such a pleasure working with Tracy graduate admissions process, and that the excellence of your work. Without this past year, as it was working with particular list goes on as well. In the fi ne teaching and research, there are her on the graduate program from midst of managing these responsibili- no great universities. Promotion 2010-2013. Steep learning curves are ties, which Tracy always completes recognizes work of this caliber.” typical during most administrative with a smile, she still insisted on Allow me to add just a few more transitions and are often pretty hosting the department’s Xmas party, reasons to celebrate these daunting, but Tracy has been so despite silently dealing with her own outstanding scholars. incredibly effi cient at walking me daughter’s very serious health issues. through the various tasks that she A signifi cant part of Anders’ teach- has made the transition seamless, at Speaking of exceptional staff, ing load has been in the College of least from my perspective. Tracy’s Shannon Langton, our energetic Sustainability (COS). In light of these dedication to keeping the department and dedicated administrative assistant substantial running so smoothly is awe for the Centre for Foreign Policy contributions to COS, Dr. Lawrence inspiring, to say the least: tracking Studies, has been enormously helpful Plug (the current Director of the time lines for numerous graduate to Tracy. “In addition to her role for College) provided the following scholarships, making sure students the Centre,” Tracy points out, assessment of Anders’ contributions remain aware of pending deadlines, “Shannon’s continued support to teaching: helping students work through any around the department, in particu- number of administrative lar, dealing with the department’s “Anders came into the course when it requirements or personal anxieties, website, Honours program, seminar was well-established but has monitoring the health risks tied to series, graduate student symposium, continued to shape it and make construction projects on our fl oor, professionalism in supporting faculty contributions that include topics such pushing to ensure new faculty and students, reception, and, I must as work-time-reduction, the politics members get computers, graduate add, technical diffi culties that arise, surrounding anthropogenic climate students get new furniture in the are all invaluable. It’s always a great change, introductory economic PhD offi ce, faculty offi ces get new pleasure working with Shannon!” concepts, and too many others to list. blinds or much-needed repairs, and Some of these are ‘bread and butter’ Words cannot describe how undergraduate topics, with the privileged I feel to serve as Chair of signifi cant difference that they are a department surrounded by such woven together and with natural remarkable staff and colleagues. science in SUST1001; to me, Anders’ most surprising (in a good way!) Our full-time and part-time faculty contributions have come through continue to excel in teaching and distilling my and visitors’ lectures in research. We are very happy to ways that connect them to the rest announce that both Anders Hayden of the course, and that challenge me and Ruben Zaiotti have been and the students…. One realizes, in a promoted to Associate Professor class like this, how easy - perhaps with Tenure. The recommendations automatic is a better description - it is from the department’s tenure and to resort to treating interdisciplinary promotion committee, the Faculty of teaching as an exchange of Arts and Social Sciences Professional messages between traditional Development Committee, Dean disciplinary silos, instead of the more Administrative assistants Tracy Powell and Robert Summerby-Murray, and all ambitious and meaningful process of Shannon Langton external reviewers were unanimous actually getting into one another’s si- 2 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences los. Message exchange is an easy way multiple efforts to enhance recruit- tation in the Canadian EU Studies out. Anders’ ability to thrive in an ment to our program. Thanks largely community was reinforced even interdisciplinary teaching to his efforts we have run two very further through his selection (in May environment makes him a great successful recruitment campaigns, 2014) as Vice-President of the colleague and educator.” one in October and another in European Community Studies February, and are hopeful these Association. All four external reviewers who were efforts will translate to even higher asked to assess Anders’ tenure and numbers of political science majors I cannot recall a single instance when promotion fi le were glowing in their next year. Ruben has declined a request (in his praise for his latest book - When mind, opportunity) to serve on a Green Growth is Not Enough (McGill The external reviews of Ruben’s departmental committee or graduate Queen’s University Press, 2014). They tenure and promotion fi le were thesis committee. In fact, despite all all agreed the manuscript makes an equally impressive. One assessor of his other commitments, Ruben important, multidisciplinary commented on the quantity and agreed this year to take on the contribution to central debates in quality of Ruben’s publications additional task of organizing the environmental studies, with one exceeding that of others at a similar department’s seminar series, and reviewer highlighting the book’s stage of their careers and positioning continues to serve on the PhD “distinct and original contribution to Ruben in the “upper echelons” of SSHRC and Killam scholarship the fi eld” that will “cement Hayden’s his cohort. Another described Ruben committees administered by the reputation as a rising force in as “one of the leading scholars on Faculty of Graduate Studies. environmental analysis and thought.” Europe’s border regime and the Another commented on the security dimension of the Schengen David Black and Katherine multidisciplinary features of Anders’ Zone,” and a “productive scholar Fierlbeck have had another very scholarship and his mix of empirical who consistently produces

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