News
Best Practices in Discussant Roles & Interactions
By Emily Boykin, Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration at Florida State University Social science scholars continually choose to attend MPSA’s annual conference in part due to the quality of panel attendance and corresponding richness of paper or poster feedback. The role of the discussant is…
The Politics of Higher Education Reform
By Kenneth Burke The criticisms of higher education have become more vocal and visible, particularly in relation to issues such as political correctness, diversity, and inclusion. Political conservatives have recently voiced these criticisms loudly, viewing higher education as a hotbed of liberal…
Overheard at the Palmer House – A Love Letter to the 80th MPSA
By Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida MPSA2023 finally wound down—the badges were all printed, the Zoom sessions were troubleshooted, and number of people sitting in the Palmer House lobby with their carry-ons ebbed then flowed. People had finally figured out…
Insights From a MPSA First-Time Attendee
By Juan Corredor-Garcia, PhD student in political science at the Graduate Center, City University of New York Academic conferences are privileged spaces for graduate students for various reasons. Whether it is submitting a work-in-progress, a dissertation chapter, or an article to submit to a…
Coherence Over Linearity: Transitioning to Administrative Roles
By James Steur, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Over the course of a career, it is natural for your professional goals to change over time. For many members of the academy, especially faculty members, moving into staff and administrative roles are one prominent and…
Less is More
By Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida One of the defining things about conferencing is wondering what your audience will be like. Maybe you’re the person is so excited that you can’t help but wonder what lies ahead—whether the audience will have good feedback,…
The False Promise of Conference Imposters
By Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida Now that MPSA23 is in full swing, all of us are getting into our conferencing groove; comments are being offered, posters are being presented, mini mentoring session coffees are being drank. While not all of the conference…
Is This the Post-Trump Era? Nope, Not Yet
by Michael A. Smith, Professor of Political Science, Emporia State University Every year, the MPSA Annual Meetings convene at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago. Just a few blocks away, the Trump International Hotel and Tower looms, the former President’s name clearly visible from down…
An Honest Conversation: Parenting in the Academy
By James Steur, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Parenting is both a fulfilling and demanding experience, and parents in academia face unique professional challenges at all stages in their career. Parents in the academy juggle a high volume of research, teaching, and…
On Returning to In-Person Conferences: A How-To(-Not-Be-Awkward) Guide
By Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida We’re officially back in Chicago in full force for MPSA 2023—and as one of this year’s Conference blogging team, myself and others are here to offer some insider commentary on the overall MPSA experience. The folks…