Imma James, CIP

Political Science

The Department of Political Science is an academic unit within the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University. It is home to five undergraduate major concentrations: international and comparative, standard political science, public policy, public law and secondary education and five graduate programs: Master's, Accelerated Master's, International Development Administration, Doctoral and the interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Climate Change Policy Management.

Fall 2022 Main Office Hours

  • In Person - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Virtual Office: Webex via Becky's personal room

 VIRTUAL OFFICE

To contact the Department of Political Science: email Dr. John Clark or Rebecca Huntley or call (269) 387-5680

Department Awards

Take a few minutes and view the 2022 Honors presentation that acknowledges the achievements of our students, faculty, and alumni.

Student News

CIPs with alumni

were featured in the Bronco Advocacy Network newsletter. Both interned in the WMU Government Relations office with Vice President Jeff Breneman, political science alumni

Amauri with president

won first place at the WMU Graduate College's Research Presentations 2021 event

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received the 2021 WMU Graduate College's Gwen Frostic Dissertation Fellowship.

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received the 2021 WMU Graduate College's Patricia L. Thompson Dissertation Award.

 

Recent Ph.D. placements

  • Manuel Soque, (Ph.D., 2022): Wittenburg University, Ohio
  • Naomi Bick, (Ph.D. 2021): California State University at Fresno, California
  • Brittany Brake, Ph.D., candidate: Central State University, Ohio
  • Kathleen Bolter (Ph.D., 2019) has been appointed to Kentuckiana Work
 

Faculty News

Dr. Mark Hurwitz

Hurwitz, Reid, and Curry secure NSF grant

Collaborating with University of Texas at El Paso professors, Drs. Rebecca Reid and Todd Curry, Dr. Hurwitz will be working on the project: Build and Broaden: Indigenous Peoples Before United States Courts: A Systematic Examination.
Dr. Denise Keele

Keele named Director

Dr. Denise Keele was named Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network in the summer of 2022.
Dr. Lauren Foley

Foley receives prestigious FRACAA grant

Dr. Lauren Foley is a 2022-23 recipient of Western Michigan University's Office of Research and Innovation's Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award for her project, "Universities Before the Court: Equality, Civic Life, and the Constitution." 
Dr. Jim Butterfield

Butterfield awarded for his International Leadership

Dr. Jim Butterfield received the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities 2021 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award for his dedication to promoting international education at WMU.
Dr. Kevin Corder

Corder, second time corecipient of Victoria Schuck Award

Dr. J. Kevin Corder received the American Political Science Association's Victoria Schuck Award for his co-authored book A Century of Votes for Women: American Elections since Suffrage.
Dr. YK Wang

Chiang Chin-kuo Foundation bestows grant to Wang

The Chiang Chin-kuo Foundation awarded Dr. Y.K. Wang for his ongoing project entitled "The Chinese World Order in East Asian History: Power, War, and Change."

Alumni News

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  • Dan Witt, (B.B.A. Public Administration, 1983) is one of the 2021 WMU Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Read more! “It’s been over 40 years since I arrived in Harrison Hall at WMU.  No question about it:  WMU is forever.”
  • Christopher Womack, (B.S. Political Science, 1979) was one of the 2020 WMU Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Read more! 
  • Katia Levintova, (Ph.D., 2004) received her university's Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, the top teaching award.