Kent State Political Science Department

Professor Patrick Miller is excited to introduce Poland: Nationalism, Identity, and the Politics of Democracy, a new faculty-led study-abroad course he will be leading to Poland, from May 17–28, 2027.

The course will examine Poland’s struggle with democracy over roughly the last century, with particular attention to nationalism, identity, democratic development and backsliding, communism, Russian influence, Ukrainian refugees, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust.

Over 12 days, we will travel to Warsaw, Gdańsk, and Kraków, as well as the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In each destination, we will visit important historical, cultural, and political sites, while also having opportunities to experience contemporary Poland and explore the cities.

There will be more to the trip than studying Poland. Students will also have free time after class activities to explore independently, to experience Polish food and culture, and enjoy these destinations at their own pace.

The trip counts for Political Science undergraduate credit (POL 40589), but students from all majors are welcome to apply. You can find the full itinerary, program cost, and other trip details here:
https://www.kent.edu/globaleducation/education-abroad/poland-nationalism-identity-and-politics-democracy

Applications are now open; the application deadline is January 28, 2027, and the withdrawal/commitment deadline is February 4, 2027. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the course is full.

Welcome back, Flashes!

The Political Science department has moved from Bowman Hall to Merrill Hall. PoliSci students, come visit us if you need anything!

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Daniel Chand, Professor of Political Science at Kent State University, was recently featured on the Bayoulands podcast discussing the remarkable story of his grandfather, Pandit Mehar Chand – one of the first South Asians to earn U.S. citizenship.

The conversation explores Dr. Chand’s years of historical research into his grandfather’s life, including his experiences with immigration, discrimination, and eventual presidential pardon by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The episode recently received the Best Podcast Episode award from the Press Club of Southeast Texas.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KIy5l4mirRxCFlX7Yog0M?go=1&sp_cid=cd563995-66e0-4291-a523-38039f621362&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&si=c0c23d7fd1f84ce7&nd=1&dlsi=b2ea0a813b344c44

Daniel Chand: Pandit Mehar Chand Bayoulands · Episode

Political Science MA students admitted into great PhD programs at University of Virginia and University of Cincinnati!

Wahinya Njau (2025) began PhD studies this past fall at University of Virginia and Ryan Miller (2026) will begin PhD studies this fall at University of Cincinnati.

Join Kent State for the 2026 Juneteenth Jubilee, a celebration of community, culture and history. This free event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 18 on Risman Plaza and will feature live performances, music, food, vendors and more. See you there!

Ph.D. Candidate Meghan Geist and Dr. Ashley E. Nickels publish a study critically examining the marginalization of the Second Founding period (1865–1877) in public administration scholarship.

This study analyzed 67 articles and book chapters across leading public administration journals and handbooks and identified key gaps in PA literature. Their findings suggest that acknowledging the Second Founding’s contributions can deepen the field’s commitment to social equity and reshape understanding of historical narratives.

Link to read the full article through the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration (JSEPA):

Historical Amnesia: Public Administration and the Second Founding | Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration Published for a global audience, JSEPA’s mission is to illuminate inequities and to provide a learning space. The journal’s content makes it possible for public service profe...

Drs. Claassen, Ensley, and Beam awarded $20,000 LaunchPad Grant from the Healthy Communities Research Institute.
The grant will fund research into the effects of politics on relationships and the associated implications for the loneliness epidemic.