June 2014 - Abilene Christian University

Page 1 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Scholarships Awarded!
Congratulations to Criminal Justice students receiving the
Jeffrey Wendling Scholarship:
Glenn Halbert
Nicholas Richardson
Congratulations to students receiving the Maxine Durrett
Earl Charitable Foundation Scholarship:
Zachary Ferrell
Chad Mancine
Jonathan Parker
Amelia Springer
Christiana Virone
Jacob Wooden
Congratulations to Political Science Students receiving
scholarships during the 2014-15 school year:
Trent and Nell Meaders
Michel Mfashingabo
Abigail Moses
Christopher Perkins
Judge Ted Poe
Christopher John
B.F. Sisk
Lucy Danley
Philip Lamborn
Pat and JoAnn Sublett
Savannah Hostetter
Gary and Nancy Thompson
Kalyn Prince
Department
Commencement Awards!
Lemoine G. Lewis Valedictorian Awards:
Dylan Benac
Dylan Brugman
Trustees Award:
Dylan Brugman
Dean Adams Achievement Award:
Amanda Bitner
Honor Man:
Dylan Benac
B Sherrod Scholarship:
Parker Gordon
Alumni News
Lori Windham ('01) is on The Becket Fund legal team
which represented Hobby Lobby on March 25 at the
U.S. Supreme Court in oral arguments for Sebelius v.
Hobby Lobby Stores. Lori addressed the media before
and after the arguments. Before the day of oral
arguments she also media appearances such as: http://
video.foxnews.com/v/3381521764001/supreme-courtto-hear-hobby-lobby-case/#sp=show-clips
Elizabeth Alvarez Bingham ('05) was awarded the
Dallas GOP Chairman's Award for Young Republican
of the Year.
Susanna Lubanga ('05) of the International Rescue
Committee spoke at the ACU Peace Conference on
Mar. 3.
Andrew Greenberg (‘06) has taken a position as a
Regional Field Director for the Alaska Democratic
Party’s Coordinated Campaign.
Gary Ray ('10) is now Operations and QA Analyst
at Loopback Analytics
Amanda Crawford Steger ('10) will attend Baylor Law
School.
Rebekah Singleton (‘13) has been hired by the Dallas
office of the international firm Dahlgren Duck
Page 2 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Department
Student News
Political Science & Criminal Justice
Graduating Class of 2014
Pictured above is Amanda Bitner's poster “Art and
Civil Disobedience in Iran” that she presented at the
2014 ACU Undergraduate Research Festival.
Jeremiah Shaeffer (CJ major) and Abigail Moses
(POLS major, IRCP concentration) were selected as
ACU student representatives for the April 17
announcement that former Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice will speak in Abilene this fall for
Global Samaritan Resources.
Annual Political Science / Criminal Justice BBQ
Student News
Abigail Moses was one of the featured presenters at the
ACU Peace Conference on Mar. 3. She spoke on the
“Women of Northern Uganda”.
Sony Nshimirimana was in New York City during Spring
Break at the United Nations and the Tanzanian Mission.
Briana Close (POLS minor) will work this summer for
Rep. Steve King.
Stewart McGregor will serve as Preaching Intern for the
Oak Ridge Church of Christ in Willow Park, TX this
summer.
Parker Gordon, presented at the ACU Research Festival,
“In the Shadow of Bayreuth, How the Music of Richard
Wagner Influenced the Architect of the Third Reich.”
Mike Mfashingabo has been accepted in an internship
with Oxfam International in Boston this summer.
Congratulations to Beau Carter, who has served this
year as Sophomore Class President and has been
elected as Vice President of the Students Association.
Caleb Orr will be in an internship with the Office of
Senator Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. this
summer.
Liam Doyle, freshman CJ student, is currently
applying for the Platoon Leadership Course of the
Marine Corps, a path to becoming an officer.
Congratulations to Darian Hogg for being hired as a
police officer in the city of Waco, Texas!
Annual Political Science / Criminal Justice BBQ
Page 3 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Department
Special Guests
On Apr. 7, Professor Jim Gash of Pepperdine University spoke in Department Chapel and visited with students
interested in attending the School of Law.
Central Texas Diplomat in Residence Julie Connor was on campus Mar. 19 to tell students about opportunities to
intern with the U.S. Department of State.
Dr. Hailey hosted the Citizens Bee on April 8, in which high school students from Wylie, Eula, and Gustine
participated.
On April 28, DEA Dallas Division Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Kuykendall was in the
Department to speak to Assistant Professor Platt’s Criminal Law class. He also distributed DEA recruiting
materials to students regarding a career with the DEA. Agent Kuykendall has 25 years’ experience with DEA
and spent many of those years in South America. He is also the son of a DEA Agent and is a devout follower of
Jesus and cares greatly about his discipleship while serving in law enforcement.
Faculty News
David Dillman has been accepted to attend a seminar in Cuba this June run by the Center of Global Education at
Augsburg College. The seminar is designed to help faculty understand the current cultural, economic, and
political context in Cuba.
Dr. Hailey served as a judge at the Undergraduate Research Festival.
Dr. Hailey and
Parker Gordon,
Department's 2014
University Scholar
(left)
Please join us in
Congratulating
Stuart & Carissa Platt.
Stuart is an
Assistant Professor
for Criminal Justice
and they welcomed
a new granddaughter.
Gabriella Grace.
(right)
Page 4 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Department
Glenn Halbert (CJ '14) was a guest speaker in
Terrorism Studies on Mar. 3, talking about his two tours
in Iraq. He is pictured with student Garrett Burkhart
(who is dressed in Glenn's desert fatigues).
Page 5 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Department
ACU speech and debate talent recognized
Posted February 27, 2014, ACU Optimist
ACU senior Dylan Brugman has been chosen to represent the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA)
at the 2014 NPDA national tournament. Brugman, a senior Honors student studying political science and
sociology, will debate with student representatives from Ireland on March 21 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Brugman is one of three debaters in the U.S. selected to represent the NPDA against the Irish national debate
champions.
"We are honored that Dylan has been chosen to represent the national parliamentary Debate Association, as well
as ACU at the NPDA national tournament," says Dena Counts, communication instructor and director of forensics.
"Dylan's leadership, scholarship and character were factors in his nomination."
The debate team is also celebrating a victory from last weekend's tournament at the Oklahoma State University
debate championship. Team members Caleb Orr, freshman political science major, and Taylor Rudolph, freshman
accounting major, won second place at the tournament. Orr and Rudolph triumphed over more experienced teams
from the University of Oklahoma, Kansas Wesleyan University, Texas Tech University, and other schools. Orr also
was named fourth top speaker at the tournament.
Page 6 of 6
June 2014
Newsletter
Political
Science
Department
New Law School Scholarship
The Political Science Department is pleased to announce a third pre-law scholarship. Joining Baylor and
Pepperdine, the Faulkner School of Law is now offering a tuition scholarship for ACU students.
Application packets will be available this coming January in the department. Thank you Faulkner!
Job Board
In case any of your students are interested, our local government job board is located
at www.SGRjobs.com. They may also want to check out some of our candidate resources on our
website atwww.GovernmentResource.com.
We produce a weekly 10 in 10 Update on Leadership and Innovation that is focused on local government and is free. I have over 60,000 subscribers. If any of your students would like to receive it, they can shoot me a note.
Searching for Jobs?
See USAJobs.gov for Job Information! Here are some examples of pathway jobs with the potential to
return and get a preference in hiring for full-time jobs.
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/365805400 (Homeland Security)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/365562300 (Park Ranger)
Internship Opportunity
REP. TED POE’S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Representative Poe’s Office is looking for an ACU intern for every semester and summer.
Congressman Poe is an alumnus of ACU. If you or anyone you know (and of any major) may be
interested please have them contact his Office.