Kent State Political Science Department

04/27/2026

04/17/2026

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):

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...

04/01/2026

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.

01/21/2026

Consider joining us on January 29th for Kent State University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Luncheon.

Our own Dr. Sarah Schmidt, director of our Washington Program in National Issues and Columbus Program in State Issues will be a panelist, discussing “Keeping Joy, Faith and ‘The Dream’ Alive in Uncertain Times”.

12/19/2025

Free Application Week is coming soon for Kent State University's graduate programs! January 12-19th, domestic, degree-seeking graduate students can apply with no fee, and no promotion code is required.

If you don’t have letters of recommendation ready, don’t let that stop you! You can submit an application even without all of your materials ready; you just need to provide the names of your recommenders, then you can provide the letters later.

Questions? Email [email protected] or call 330-672-2444.

12/03/2025

Professors Danny Chand and Daniel Hawes, together with Polly Calderon of the University of Richmond, have published a new study examining how immigration nonprofits support and advocate for immigrant communities across the U.S.

They would like to thank the College of Arts and Sciences for the COVID Restart Grant that helped fund the survey for this project.

Prior research has established that nonprofits play a role in shaping public policy. However, prior research has focused widely on social service nonprofit

11/19/2025

All international student applications will be free of charge on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. This is a great opportunity to apply!

11/19/2025

We’re incredibly proud to recognize Regina Garcia Cano, Kent State alumna and Columbus Program in State Issues (CPSI) graduate, whose outstanding journalism was named the Associated Press’ “Best of the Week.” This honor highlights Regina’s commitment to truth, public service, and the highest standards of the profession.
Read her award-winning story here: https://bit.ly/4rlR7Sq
Regina’s work is a powerful example of where experiential learning can lead — and yesterday, we had the chance to see that future in real time.
Our CPSI team hosted 22 prospective students for a Preview Day at the Ohio Statehouse, where they spent the day learning alongside our current cohort, meeting with legislators, exploring public service pathways, and experiencing what it means to study in the heart of government.
The excitement in the building was undeniable. These future leaders asked hard questions, imagined new possibilities, and got a firsthand look at what a semester in Columbus can open for them.
We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of CPSI students!

11/18/2025

Professor Patrick Miller discussed the republican position on redistricting on All Things Considered, for Kansas City NPR. Check it out!

Kansas Republican leaders couldn't rally enough support this fall for a special session on redistricting. It's just one example of lawmakers pushing back on a new round of partisan gerrymandering.

11/06/2025

Professor Mark Cassell gave two talks on the importance of research at the annual Opportunity Financial Network (OFN) conference on October 21st. OFN is one of the largest gatherings for community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Cassell recently co-authored an article in Perspectives on Politics, titled, “Business as Usual? Conventional Politics, Critical Junctures, and Policy Feedback in the Paycheck Protection Program.”