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Political Science News

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LAS celebrates alumni achievement
Seven alumni of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences will receive recognition during the college’s 2025 alumni awards at a celebration in April. They are researchers, volunteers, and political thinkers who have made incredible impacts in their fields and communities.   LAS...
Spring 2024 Congratulations Teachers Ranked as Excellent, David Kinley Hall
Spring 2024 Teachers Ranked as Excellent
Congratulations to all the faculty and teaching assistants on the Spring 2024 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent.  A special congratulations to the 17 instructors from the Department of Political Science who are on the list:  Seongjoon Ahn 230 TA Scott Althaus 519 Rob Carroll* 300 Don...

News

Rayna Patel and Erin Haslett
2024 Senior Thesis Awardees
We would like to congratulate Erin Haslett and Rayna Patel, winners of the 2024 Senior Thesis Award as part of the Political Science Honors Program. We asked Erin and Rayna to share a bit about their research experiences and future plans! Erin Haslett...
Jessica Vargas, Priyanka Zylstra, and Jon Hale in front of capital.
Student Spotlight: Jessica Vargas
HRI David F. Prindable intern Hafsa Faruqi spoke with Jessica Vargas, a senior majoring in political science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Vargas was part of the university delegation attending ...
Teachers Ranked as Excellent. Congratulations. Spring 2023. Image: David Kinley Hall
Spring 2023 Teachers Ranked as Excellent
Congratulations to all the faculty and teaching assistants on the Spring 2023 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent.  A special congratulations to the 15 instructors from the Department of Political Science who are on the list:  Spring 2023 Ekin Alpay PS 100 TA Kristin...
Head shot Emily Sallenback
2023 Senior Thesis Awardee
We would like to congratulate Emily Sallenback, who was awarded the 2023 Senior Thesis Award as part of the Political Science Honors Program. We asked Emily to share a bit about her research experiences and future plans!     What was the title of your Thesis...
Text: Teachers Ranked as Excellent, grey lettering. Background blue with orange ombre circle in center
Summer and Fall 2022 Teachers Ranked as Excellent
Congratulations to all the faculty and teaching assistants on the Summer and Fall 2022 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent.  A special congratulations to the 21 instructors from the Department of Political Science who are on the list:    Summer 2022  Hyo-...
Head shot Thomas Ballard. Tyeese Braslavsky on steps in front of David Kinley Hall
2022 Senior Thesis Awardees
We would like to congratulate Thomas Ballard and Tyeese Braslavsky, who were awarded the 2022 Senior Thesis Award as part of the Political Science Honors Program. We asked Thomas and Tyeese to share a bit about their research experiences and future plans!   Thomas Ballard...
Photo of Kasey

Alumni Spotlight: Kasey Umland

When KASEY UMLAND (BA ’05) accepted a program staff position at the University YMCA twelve years ago, she was returning to a place she had called home for the duration of her undergraduate degree. Umland started as many of young political science students do, wanting to run the World Bank or change the world on a macro scale. She started taking political science courses and became involved with various program centers on campus, such as the YMCA and the Leadership Center. Her time as a student activist with the Amnesty International chapter at the University YMCA, in addition to her other...

2026 Nominations

Alumni Awards

University of Illinois Political Science alumni have made significant contributions in many fields – academia, the law, government, politics, business, media and others. The Department of Political Science recognizes exceptional alumni each year through its alumni awards program. The nomination process is simple and open to all. We encourage you to nominate a candidate you think is deserving. Awards will be presented at an Alumni Awards Banquet in May each year.

Nominate a recipient