SOPTLIGHT: Graduates of ECU Masters of Public Administration Program

The Dept. of Political Science’s MPA program is proud to announce that some students plan to continue their education even further.

For example, Kim Mack (graduated MPA in 2018) is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Community College Leadership at NC State College of Education, and she will be participating in Belk’s Center 2020 Fellows Program to represent her program at national conferences (https://ced.ncsu.edu/news/2020/02/04/doctoral-students-represent-nc-state-college-of-education-at-national-conferences-through-belk-centers-2020-fellows-program/).

Sapna Varkey (graduated MPA in 2015) is currently a doctorate candidate at the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) NCSU. She plans to graduate in May 2020 and will be going on the job market (https://grad.ncsu.edu/people/sapna-varkey/).

Very exciting news about our graduates who take an unconventional route to doctorate degrees! Congratulations to both.

Center for Survey Research and the 2020 Election

The Center for Survey Research (CSR) has begun polling for the 2020 presidential election. With the South Carolina Democratic primary approaching (Feb. 29), the CSR conducted two polls in the Palmetto state, one before the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) and one after the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary (Feb. 12-13). The results of the polls, which showed Joe Biden’s initial lead shrink significantly after the Iowa and New Hampshire contests, received national press attention in outlets that included The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Atlantic, Newsweek, New York Magazine, Vox, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The News & Observer.

Super Tuesday “Watch” Party

Join Dr. Baumgartner and others in the Main Campus Student Center, Room 252, on Tuesday, March 3, from 8-10:30, to follow and discuss the results from Super Tuesday voting.

Pizza, snacks & drinks will be provided.

Dr. Mosier Published in “Teaching Public Administration”

Mosier, Samantha L. and Susan M. Opp. 2019. Pracademics in Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration Accredited Programs: Insights from a Survey of Program Faculty Members. Teaching Public Administration.

Abstract: This article examines current and previous practitioner experiences of faculty in Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration accredited programs. Using original survey data, this study demonstrates that a majority of Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration program faculty members have prior or current practitioner experiences. However, prior practitioner experiences among younger faculty is significantly lower when compared to older faculty. Faculty report far less current engagement and, of those who do have active engagement roles, most are participating in short-term activities and in non-profit roles. Evaluation credit may be one dynamic to understanding a lack of engaged service activity. A majority of respondents engaging in outside service are from research-focused, doctoral-granting institutions, where it is more likely positive credit is received. Collectively, the results demonstrate that, for the most part, faculty members do have practical experience that can influence their teaching and research functions; however, current incentive and promotion structures may not actively support service engagement activities for modern faculty.

SEE: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0144739419894039?journalCode=tpaa

 

Dr. Morris Presents New Research in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Dr. Jonathan Morris, with Dr. David Morris , presented “Partisan Media Exposure, Polarization, and Candidate Evaluations in the 2016 General Election” at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association in San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 11, 2020.

From the abstract: This paper examines the influence of Republican and Democratic partisan television news on attitudes toward the candidates for president immediately following the 2016 general election. Using two waves of the 2016 American National Election Study, we examine feelings toward Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton before and after the election. Our findings indicate that exposure to Republican partisan media did have a significant negative effect on feelings toward Hillary Clinton, even when controlling for party identification, ideology, and feelings toward Clinton before the election. Consumption of Democratic partisan television, however, had no influence on feelings toward Donald Trump. We discuss the implications.

ECU Center for Survey Research: Biden Leads Presidential Primary Among Likely Democratic Voters

South Carolina Poll: Biden Leads Presidential Primary Among Likely Democratic Voters, But Many Open to Changing Their Mind Before Election Day. Trump and Graham Lead Comfortably in General Election Matchups.

Former Vice President Joe Biden leads all candidates in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, with support from 37% of likely voters, followed by Tom Steyer (19%), Bernie Sanders (14%), Elizabeth Warren (8%), Pete Buttigieg (4%), Andrew Yang (3%), Amy Klobuchar (2%), Tulsi Gabbard (2%), and Michael Bloomberg (1%).

Read more…

 

Recognition for Dr. Baumgartner’s Encyclopedia of “American Political Humor”

Dr. Jody Baumgartner’s recently published encyclopedia of “American Political Humor” was named to the 2020 Outstanding References Sources List, an annual list selected by experts of the Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of American Library Association.
SEE: https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/reference-experts-announce-annual-outstanding-reference-sources-list-for-adults-2/

ECU Political Science Professor Reacts to Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

Dr. Hanna Kassab recently spoke with WNCT about Iran and the president’s Middle East peace plan.

EYE ON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION: Who will the Democratic Party Nominate for President in 2020?

EYE ON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION: Who will the Democratic Party nominate as their giant slayer in 2020? Who will they pick to challenge President Trump? Will it be the familiar – and unpredictable – Joe Biden? The fiery but controversial Elizabeth Warren? Uber-progressive (and old white male) Bernie Sanders? What about “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg, the seemingly sensible centrist? Or will one of the other candidates make a surprise showing in Iowa or New Hampshire and vault to the front of the pack?

Join us this spring for three “Eye On The Democratic Nomination” events as we follow the Democratic nomination race. During each we will follow the evening’s events on as they unfold, in addition to talking about what it might all mean for the race, and our democracy in general.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 8:00 – 10:30 PM: The Iowa Caucuses. A lot will be determined on this first in the nation nominating event. While we might not get a better answer to the question, “who will win the nomination,” the Iowa caucuses gives us a clear idea of those several who probably cannot win.
Join us in the Main Campus Student Center’s Black Box Theater to follow this event as it unfolds.
Snacks & drinks will be provided.

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