Exceptionally capable, ethically aware

Political Science News

Student Advisory Board
Student Advisory Board Application Open Now
The primary function of the Student Advisory Board is for undergraduate Political Science students to represent the Department at a variety of recruitment events, help organize and staff department events, and to connect with alumni.  The majority of the activities you will participate in...
Hallene Gateway
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...
The early days of public service
Several U of I students serving as interns in Washington, D.C., last spring met with government officials such as former Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor to the president (center). At far left is (from left) Adriana Matsumoto, Josh Ellison, and Emma Murphy. Abigail Estrada is third from...
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...
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...
Faculty members receive named scholar and professorship positions
The College of LAS has honored 17 professors with named scholar and professorship positions in recognition of their contributions to research and education at the University of Illinois. The named positions include the Brad and Karen Smith Scholars, the Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors...
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...
Meredith Wieck

Alumni Spotlight: Meredith Wieck

MEREDITH WIECK ('09) works as a Feature Film Executive in the production and development department at Lionsgate, an entertainment studio based in Los Angeles, California. She began college as a psychology major, but in the second semester of her freshman year, she took an introductory class in political science, “fell in love with it,” and decided to make it her second major. Her work entails reading scripts and other submissions in search of potential movie projects. Many people in her industry went to film school, but Wieck feels that “having a different degree from social sciences is a...

2024 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 April each year.

Nominate a recipient