Political Science Education Award Recipients
More on the Political Science Education section
The Best APSA Conference Paper Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Distinguished Service Award
The Craig L. Brians Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research & Mentorship
McGraw-Hill Award
The Best APSA Conference Paper Award
The Best APSA Conference Paper Award is given for the best presentation on undergraduate education at the past year’s APSA Annual Meeting.
| 2025 | Bronwyn Hayward, University of Canterbury; Kate Prendergast, University of Canterbury; Mahmah Timoteo, University of Canterbury; Sacha McMeeking, University of Canterbury; Yvonne Crichton-Hill, University of Canterbury; Steve Ratuva, University of Canterbury; Helena Cook, University of Canterbury “Attending to the tā and the vā–reimagining “civics” education to support Indigenous youth leadership in chaotic climate futures.” Presented at the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting. |
| 2025 | Christopher M. Wegemer, University of California, Los Angeles and Brett L. M. Levy, State University of New York at Albany “Who Motivates? Longitudinal Effects of Discussions, Interest, and Efficacy.” Presented at the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting. |
| 2024 | Jacob Wobig, Wingate University “The Write Stuff: Designing Undergraduate Writing Assignments in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” APSA Annual Meeting 2023. |
| 2023 | Chelsea Kaufmann, Wingate University “From Global to Local: Service-Learning in a Comparative Politics Course.” APSA Annual Meeting 2022. |
| 2022 | Kathleen Cole, Metropolitan State University “That’s Our House! Let’s Take It Over! Antiracist Pedagogy in Direct Advocacy Courses” |
| 2021 | Christopher L. Brown, Georgia State University “Changing the Paradigm? Creating an Adaptive Course to Improve Student Engagement and Outcomes in Introductory Political Science Classes.” |
| 2021 | Jeannie Grussendorf, Georgia State University “Changing the Paradigm? Creating an Adaptive Course to Improve Student Engagement and Outcomes in Introductory Political Science Classes.” |
| 2021 | Michael Shea, Georgia State University “Changing the Paradigm? Creating an Adaptive Course to Improve Student Engagement and Outcomes in Introductory Political Science Classes.” |
| 2021 | Clark DeMas, Georgia State University “Changing the Paradigm? Creating an Adaptive Course to Improve Student Engagement and Outcomes in Introductory Political Science Classes.” |
| 2020 | Renee Van Vechten, University of Redlands “Whither the Political Science Major? A Cross-Institutional Analysis of Curricular Design and Program Learning Outcomes at 110 Colleges and Universities” |
| 2020 | Maureen Feeley, University of California – San Diego “Whither the Political Science Major? A Cross-Institutional Analysis of Curricular Design and Program Learning Outcomes at 110 Colleges and Universities” |
| 2019 | Diana Owen, Georgetown University |
| 2018 | Donald M. Gooch, Stephen F. Austin State University “Structuring Civic Education: Assessing Civic Literacy Retention and Curricular Sequencing.” |
| 2017 | Michael T. Rogers, Arkansas Tech University “The Past, Present, and Possible Future of Civics in Political Science.” |
| 2016 | Eric Michael French, Oklahoma State University “How to Lose a Class in Ten Days: The Link between Pedagogy and Student Retention.” |
| 2016 | Brendon Wrestler, Indiana State University “How to Lose a Class in Ten Days: The Link between Pedagogy and Student Retention.” |
| 2015 | Jeffrey K. Sosland, American University “The Internship Supervisor and Experiential Learning” |
| 2015 | Diane J. Lowenthal, American University “The Internship Supervisor and Experiential Learning” |
| 2014 | Ellen Claes, Catholic University, Belgium “The Effect of Direct and Indirect Forms of Citizenship Education Results From a Three Wave Longitudinal Panel Survey in Belgium” |
| 2014 | Marc Hooghe, Catholic University, Belgium “The Effect of Direct and Indirect Forms of Citizenship Education Results From a Three Wave Longitudinal Panel Survey in Belgium” |
| 2013 | Ryan Claassen, Kent State University “New Media, Civic Learning, and Civic Action Among Young People.” |
| 2013 | Quin Monson, Brigham Young University “New Media, Civic Learning, and Civic Action Among Young People.” |
| 2012 | Rebecca Glazier, University of Arkansas Little Rock Satire and Efficacy in the Political Science Classroom |
| 2011 | Joe Gershtenson, Eastern Kentucky University Attitudes about Voter Registration: The Influence of Teaching |
| 2011 | Dennis Plane, Juniata College Attitudes about Voter Registration: The Influence of Teaching |
| 2010 | John Ishiyama, University of North Texas Do Graduate Student Teacher Training Courses Affect Placement Rates? |
| 2010 | Christine Balarezo, University of North Texas Do Graduate Student Teacher Training Courses Affect Placement Rates? |
| 2010 | Tom Miles, University of North Texas Do Graduate Student Teacher Training Courses Affect Placement Rates? |
| 2008 | Shannon Jenkins, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth “The Impact of In-Class Service-learning on Cognitive and Affective Learning Outcomes” |
| 2007 | Jeffrey Bernstein, Eastern Michigan University How Citizens Learn Political Skills |
| 2006 | David Rankin, SUNY, Fredonia “U.K.-U.S. Identity, Political Knowledge, and the War in Iraq” |
| 2005 | Philip Pollock III, University of Central Florida “Teaching and Learning Online: Assessing the Effect of Gender Context on Active Learning” |
| 2005 | Kerstin Hamann, University of Central Florida “Teaching and Learning Online: Assessing the Effect of Gender Context on Active Learning” |
| 2005 | Bruce Wilson, University of Central Florida “Teaching and Learning Online: Assessing the Effect of Gender Context on Active Learning” |
| 2004 | Larry Chappell, Mississippi Valley State University Co-Authored with Bernard L. Bray, Talladega College, “Civic Theater for Civic Education” |
| 2004 | Bernard Bray, Talladega College Co-Authored with Larry W. Chappell, Mississippi Valley State University, “Civic Theater for Civic Education” |
| 2003 | Joel Westheimer, University of Ottawa “Educating the ‘Good’ Citizen: The Politics of School -Based Civic Education Programs” |
| 2003 | Joseph Kahne, Mills College “Educating the ‘Good’ Citizen: The Politics of School-based Civic Education Programs” |
| 2002 | Matthew Lindstrom, Sienna College “What’s a Bus Ticket Got to Do with My American Politics Class? Experimenting with a Political Treasure Hunt.” |
| 2001 | Michelle Deardorff, Millikin University “The Role of the ‘Major’ in Political Science Assessment: Recruitment, Rigor, Rolodex” |
| 2001 | Jacek Lubecki, Millikin University “The Role of the ‘Major’ in Political Science Assessment: Recruitment, Rigor, Rolodex” |
| 2001 | Robert McIntire, Milikin University “The Role of the ‘Major’ in Political Science Assessment: Recruitment, Rigor, Rolodex” |
| 2000 | Matthew Reed, DeVry Institute “Back to Square One; Reinventing Political Science as a Humanistic Pursuit with Career-Minded Students” |
| 1999 | Lynne Ford, College of Charleston “Providing a Reason for Students to Care: Creating Learning Communities through A Simulation Exercise” |
| 1999 | John Creed, College of Charleston “Providing a Reason for Students to Care: Creating Learning Communities through A Simulation Exercise” |
| 1999 | Phil Jones, College of Charleston “Providing a Reason for Students to Care: Creating Learning Communities through A Simulation Exercise” |
| 1999 | Frank Petrusak, College of Charleston “Providing a Reason for Students to Care: Creating Learning Communities through A Simulation Exercise” |
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a person whose lifetime contribution to political science have had a significant impact on undergraduate education.
| 2025 | Renée Van Vechten, University of Redlands |
| 2024 | Juan Carlos Huerta, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi |
| 2023 | Terry Gilmour, Midland College |
| 2022 | Sherri Wallace, University of Louisville |
| 2021 | Michelle Deardorff, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
| 2020 | E. Fletcher McClellan, Elizabethtown College |
| 2019 | Michael Brintnall |
| 2017 | Dick W. Simpson, University of Illinois at Chicago |
| 2016 | Kerstin Hamann, University of Central Florida |
| 2015 | John Berg, Suffolk University Boston |
| 2003 | Sheilah Mann, American Political Science Association |
The Distinguished Service Award
This award may be given at the section meeting held at the APSA annual meeting. The awardee must have a strong record of exceptional and extensive contributions to the goals of the section, including the promotion of teaching and learning in the discipline and the scholarship of teaching. Any section member may submit a nomination letter to the Executive Committee. Nominations are due by April 1. The Executive Committee will determine if a nominee is eligible and will decide by June 1 if the award will be given. This award does not have to be given every year.
| 2025 | J. Cherie Strachan, University of Akron |
| 2024 | Patrick Mckinlay, Morningside College |
| 2023 | Mitchell Brown, Auburn University |
| 2022 | Renee Van Vechten, University of Redlands |
| 2021 | Juan Carlos Huerta, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi |
| 2020 | Alison Rios Millett McCartney, Towson University |
| 2019 | Victor Asal, State University of New York at Albany |
| 2018 | John Ishiyama, University of North Texas |
| 2017 | Michelle D. Deardorff, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga |
The Craig L. Brians Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research & Mentorship
Established in 2014, this award will be awarded annually at the Teaching and Learning Conference, with recognition also given at the APSA annual PSE section reception. The award will be given to faculty members who demonstrate commitment to and excellence in encouraging and developing scholarship among undergraduate students, and in mentoring undergraduate students in preparation for graduate school or public affairs-related careers. Evidence for these commitments may include, but not limited to, formal and informal supervision of undergraduate student original research, collaborating with undergraduate students on original research projects, assisting undergraduate students with public presentations and/or publication of work, and accompanying students to academic conferences. In honor of the person for whom the award is named, preference will also be given to faculty members who engage in developing undergraduate scholarship through enhancing information literacy.
| 2025 | Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State Harrisburg |
| 2024 | Rebecca Glazier, University of Arkansas at Little Rock |
| 2023 | Andrew Porwancher, University of Oklahoma |
| 2022 | Kelebogile Zvobgo, College of William & Mary |
| 2021 | Judithanne McLauchlan, University of South Florida |
| 2020 | Malliga Och, Idaho State University |
| 2020 | Shamira Gelbman, Wabash College |
| 2020 | Michael Binder, University of North Florida |
| 2020 | Emily Sydnor, Southwestern University |
| 2019 | Celeste Montoya, University of Colorado Boulder |
| 2018 | E. Fletcher McClellan, Elizabethtown College |
| 2017 | Megan Becker, University of Southern California |
McGraw-Hill Award
The McGraw-Hill Award recognizes political scientists who advance civic engagement through the study of engagement and participation. The award seeks to honor a wide range of unique and new approaches to the scholarship and teaching of civic engagement, but in particular scholars who raise political awareness, involvement, and participation of undergraduate students.
| 2009 | Daniel Shea, Allegheny College |