Resources for First-Time Attendees
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…
An Exciting Opportunity with Verasight at MPSA 2026: A Free National Survey Question
By: James Steur, Ph.D., Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Practical Steps on Book Publishing: Insights from Political Science Acquisitions Editors
By James Steur, Ph.D., Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Many individuals…
Handling Challenging Moments at Conferences: You Got This!
By James Steur, Ph.D., Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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…
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…
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…
Fascinating Findings: Health & Politics at MPSA 2024
By James Steur, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Political science is a discipline that…