Professional Development
Beyond the Applauses: How Conference Insights are Beneficial for Research Practice
By: Britney Roach, M.A., Ph.D Student in the School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University When thinking about networking at academic conferences, images of introductions, panel discussions, receptions, and brief conversations between sessions are often imagined. In reality, the most…
Without a Blueprint: A First-Generation Journey to Graduate Education
By: Britney Roach, M.A., Ph.D Student in the School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University My own path towards becoming a scholar is shaped less by a single defining moment and more by a gradual process of learning how to navigate academic systems without inherited guidance. As a…
Beyond the Presentations: Turning Points by Conference Spaces
By: Britney Roach, M.A., Ph.D Student in the School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University Attending the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Annual Conference in my first year of graduate study was an important part of learning how to situate myself within the discipline. As…
Presenting, Learning, and Growing — Insights from Inside MPSA 2025
by Bakhytzhan Oskeyeva, PhD student in Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Note: This blog post is Part 2 of a reflection series based on a voluntary questionnaire I shared during MPSA 2025. It gathers informal insights from attendees about what they presented, what they…
A Symposium By and For Graduate Students
by Carolina Bermejo Goodwin and Edwina Chih-Yu Chen, Department of Political Science, University of South Carolina As graduate students, we often find ourselves searching for spaces that prioritize our needs: places where we can share ideas, get meaningful feedback, and connect with others who are…
First Impressions, Real Impact — Who Attends MPSA and Why It Matters
by Bakhytzhan Oskeyeva, PhD student in Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Note: This blog post reflects responses to a voluntary conference reflection questionnaire I created and circulated among attendees. The survey was independently designed and does not represent an…
Wondering how to organize a mini-conference at MPSA? Prof. Martin Castillo shares some clues
By Juan Corredor-Garcia, PhD student in political science at the Graduate Center, City University of New York One format that students and faculty alike should consider at MPSA is organizing a mini-conference. This format offers a unique opportunity for creating panels on very specific (and new)…
How to Conference for the First Time: Strategy, Reflection, and Recharging at MPSA 2025
by Muhammad Hassan Bin Afzal, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Service, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga When I first visited Chicago in 2017 to volunteer for a conference and workshop, I fell in love with the city. Then, MPSA entered my life. One of my…
My Experience Balancing Life, Research, and Conferences
by Bakhytzhan Oskeyeva, PhD student in Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte As I prepare for the upcoming MPSA Annual Conference, I find myself juggling multiple roles—researcher, attendee, and, most importantly, a single mother of two wonderful children: my 13-year-old daughter…
Connecting the past and present: Political scientist brings expertise to Wikipedia during election year
by Colleen McCoy, Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Wiki Education This blog has been reprinted with permission from Wiki Education. In the ever-evolving landscape of information, the need for accurate, well-sourced content has never been more critical, particularly in the midst of this…