Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

Page 1 of 6 May 2015 Newsletter

Student News

ACU Valedictorians from our Depar tment!

Savannah Hostetter Kalyn Prince

Joyce Schuster

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Lucy Danley Britton Trotter Brandon Dornak Wriley Anderson Blair Hand Lynn Grady Steven Hendry Kelsey Leverett Savannah Hostetter Chad Mancine Philip Lamborn Nicholas Richardson Chris Perkins Jeff Tatum Kalyn Prince Jacob Wooden Joyce Schuster

Congratulations to students named Who’s Who!

Tabitha Culpepper Savannah Hostetter

Jonathan Parker Chris Perkins

Rhianna Cooper has been accepted into a prestigious

internship with the FBI in Oklahoma City for this

summer, specializing in Computer Investigations.

Congratulations to SA President—Beau Carter and

Vice-President—Caleb Orr who were elected by the

ACU student body on April 9.

Alexis Sauceda has been accepted into The Fund for

American Studies for this summer in Washington, D.C.

Dylan Fowler has applied for a White House Internship.

Congratulations to the team of Joyce Schuster and Caleb

Orr who finished 17th at the NPDA/NPTE National

Debate Tournament held March 13-22 in Kansas City.

And congratulations to the team of Sion Alford and

Rachael Shudde who also competed in nationals.

Nick Richardson, new CJ graduate, was invited to the

Detroit Lions Mini-Camp.

Alumni News

Missy Mae Walters (‘05) works for James S. Nathanson & Associates in

House and Senate campaigns across the U.S. on March 19, JSN received a

Pollie Award from the American Association of Political Consultants at

its national conference in New Orleans. A Pollie is the Industry’s highest

bipartisan honor given to political consultants at the national and

international level. JSN was recognized in the category of Field

Operations/Best Get Out The Vote Effort for its exemplary work during

the 2014 political season. Missy Mae reports that in the most r recent

election, she ran JSN’s door-to-door work in Ohio for none other than

Speaker Boehner’s re-election efforts.

Conner Best (‘12) will clerk for a year with the Texas Supreme Court

after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law.

Kwame Twumasi-Ankrah (‘12) has graduated from the Bush School of

Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Some of Our Graduating Seniors, May 2015 and Dec. 2015

DR. MEL HAILEY NAMED NATION’S BEST

PRE-LAW ADVISER!!

SEE STORY PAGE 3

2015 ACU Undergraduate Research Festival

Savannah Hostetter—"A Demographic Case Study and Comparative Analysis of Sexual Violence and Texas Bordertowns."

Caleb Orr—"The Solid South: Campaign Issue Strategies in the 2014 Southern Senate Races."

Kalyn Prince—"The Power of the Pant Suit: A Rhetorical Analysis of Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Dress."

Tyler Salter—"Various Federal Laws and Their Effects on Identity Theft and Data Breaches in the United States."

Joyce Schuster—"Women’s Rights in Iran’s Legislative Documents: A Critical Analysis of the Constitution, Civil and Penal Code."

Faculty News

Congratulations to Dr. David Dillman for being designated as

an alternate candidate for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar

Program.

Congratulations to Stuart Platt who received the Faith

Integration in Teaching Award at the College of Arts and

Sciences Banquet on April 7.

Dr. David Dillman attended a seminar “Politics and the

Presidency” on April 11 at the University of New York.

Dr. Neal Coates was named ACU Honors Adviser of the

Year.

Congratulations to Carmen Price, whose son Michael

married Kirsten Smith on March 11 in Wichita Falls, TX.

Michael is a munitions officer and deploys in June to Korea.

Dr. Neal Coates published an op-ed, “Mideast Perils Should

Eclipse Protocol Concerns,” in the Waco Tribune-Herald,

March 3, 2015.

Dr. Coates published an op-ed, “Good Deal—Bad Deal?” in

the Abilene Reporter News, April 4, 2015.

Dr. Coates is now the ACU campus representative for the

Truman Scholarship.

Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

May 2015 Newsletter Page 2 of 6

Jack Pope Fellows Scholarship Program

Congratulations to our new Pope Fellows!

Sion Alford Tim Kang Cerzi Bawi-Tlung Abbey Moses BriTanya Brown Briana Overton Chanel Brown Dalee Rodgers Cristian Engelmann Rachael Shudde Kenzie Jennings Courtney Tee Tim Kang Tessa Wolford

Guest Speakers in CJ Courses

Chief Standridge (APD) was a guest speaker in Dr. Platt’s

Law Enforcement Leadership Class on March 26 and was

interviewed by the class members to determine the leadership

style/theory he most closely represents.

Dr. Platt and Dr. Knight hosted Doug Wren, Asst. APD Police

Chief, in their courses.

University Scholar

Congratulations to Kalyn Prince, selected as the University

Scholar for the Department. She received the honorary medal

on April 16 in Chapel on the Hill from Dr. Dillman.

Nick Cartwright, ACU

POLS student, standing

outside the blast door at

the Lawn Atlas Missile

Base. Students in Dr.

Coates’ American

Foreign Policy course

this semester all

worked to restore the

Base and learned about

the Cold War.

CJ Poet Speaks in Department

Sarah Cortez, a former Houston police officer and now

poet, spoke to Kelly Knight’s Crime and Delinquency

class on Mar. 24. Cortez is now a full-time writer and

creative writing teacher, and was on the ACU campus

as a guest of the Language and Literature

Department. Her latest volume of Cold Blue Steel has

been named a finalist for statewide prize at the annual

Texas Book Festival in Austin. She also spoke before

an Abilene Fire Department audience with the support

of AFD Chief Larry Bell.

Hailey named best pre-law advisor in U.S. ACU Homepage, Posted March 23, 2015

Dr. Mel Hailey of Abilene Christian University has been named the pre-law advisor of the year for 2015 among all U.S. colleges and

universities.

Hailey will receive the 2015 Dean Gerald Wilson Award for Excellence in Pre-law Advising in October. The award is given annually to

just one pre-law advisor in the country.

Hailey teaches in the Department of Political Science and has served as pre-law adviser for the university since 1994. He has advised

hundreds of students. ACU students gain admission into law school each year at a rate exceeding 90 percent, and political science students

are admitted at a sterling 99 percent rate.

Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the ACU Department of Political Science, said, “Dr. Hailey is known for his outstanding knowledge of law

schools and the superb advice he gives. He is also quite keen in helping students match their qualifications with a law school that will result

in successful completion of their degree. Dr. Hailey even maintains relationships with many of our ACU graduates through their careers in

law. This is a testimony to Dr. Hailey as an advisor but more importantly as a person.”

The Dean Gerald Wilson Award for Excellence in Pre-Law Advising is awarded annually by the Pre-Law Advisors National Council

(PLANC). The award will be presented to Hailey this October at the annual meeting of the Southwest Association of Pre-law Advisors

(SWAPLA), which is a regional association of PLANC. That meeting will be held in Las Vegas in conjunction with the Western

Association of Pre-Law Advisors Conference. Hailey also will be recognized in 2016 at the PLANC national conference in Chicago.

Dean Gerald Lee Wilson is a founding member of PLANC and was elected its first chair in 1984. As the editor and compiler of the

Handbook for Pre-Law Advisors, he is widely recognized as the pre-eminent pre-law advisor in the nation. He has been the pre-law advisor

at Duke University for four decades.

Hailey also has served as chairman of PLANC for two years and has served as president of SWAPLA two terms.

Hailey was nominated for the 2015 award by Dr. Jeff Robb, professor of government at Texas Woman’s University and current SWAPLA

President. In his nomination, Robb included comments from Dr. Jerry Polinard, professor of political science at the University of Texas, Rio

Grande Valley, and from Dr. James Calvi, professor of political science at West Texas A&M University, and a former chair of PLANC.

Polinard described Hailey by saying, “His leadership qualities go far beyond simply calling a meeting to order and negotiating the agenda.

He has the rare ability to make those around him not just better advisors, but better people.”

Calvi said of Hailey, “He is a great friend, a great colleague and one of the most dedicated prelaw advisors I have ever known. Many prelaw

advisors master the mechanics of the admissions process, which enables them to give students the technical information they need to

navigate the intricacies of the process. Dr. Hailey is exceptional in that he learns about the individual law schools so he can better advise his

students as to which law school fits their abilities, needs and personalities. His intimate knowledge of the requirements of so many different

law schools has never failed to impress me.…He is a treasure chest of information that serves his students well.”

Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

May 2015 Newsletter Page 3 of 6

Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

May 2015 Newsletter Page 4 of 6

DC Internships.Org—as real as it gets

Capital Semester in Washington, DC

International Affairs & Public Policy

www.DCinternships.org/CS

Fall: August 26 – December 11, 2015

Spring: January 13 – April 30, 2016

*Guaranteed Internships - Courses for Credit - Housing in DC *Fall Semester Early Deadline: March 1, 2015

*Scholarship Funding Available

Spend a semester in Washington, DC making an investment in your future that will help set you apart after college.

This comprehensive program sponsored by The Fund for American Studies includes a guaranteed internship placement

in the fields of international affairs and public policy, courses for transferable credit, and furnished housing the

Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

EXPERIENCE

We’ve been creating academic internship experiences for over 40 years and guarantee all participants an internship

placement. Your options are endless – we work with over 300 different international affairs organizations, federal

agencies, policy groups, and government relations offices.

A few examples of past internship placements include:

Atlas Economic Research Foundation Peace Corps

Center for European Policy Analysis Student Conservation Association

Center for Strategic and International Studies U.S. Department of the Treasury

Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Women in Government

Embassy of Brazil World Vision

Federal Aviation Association

COURSES FOR CREDIT

Earn 12 academic credits from the DC Metro Area’s George Mason University. In 2012, Mason was ranked #1 Up and

Coming University by U.S. News and World Report. Capital Semester has a curriculum that is designed to complement

the internship experience. The classes include an economics course on international economic policy and a government

course on constitutional interpretation.

BACKSTAGE PASS

You will have a front row seat to a variety of exclusive briefings and uniquely D.C. events. Students will have the chance to

attend once in a lifetime tours and hear from leaders within such powerful institutions as the State Department, U.S.

Congress, White House, World Bank, and the Pentagon.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Students will be accepted on a rolling basis until the Fall 2015 final deadline of June 1, 2015. Applicants are encouraged to

apply for the early deadline of March 1, 2015 in order to receive preference in admissions and scholarship consideration, as

well as a 5% tuition discount. The early deadline for Spring 2016 is October 1. There is a substantial amount of scholarship

funding available, and awards are made based on financial need and merit.

For more information and to be begin an online application, please visit www.DCinternships.org/CS. Questions may be

directed to Dana Faught at dfaught@tfas.org or 202.986.0384.

Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

May 2015 Newsletter Page 5 of 6

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) Regional Victim Services Coordinator

(RVSC) position in Abilene has posted and was scheduled to close on April 27 but has been extended. The RVSC position

provides training and outreach efforts to criminal justice and victim services professionals. In addition, the RVSC provides

direct services to crime victims, which includes: assistance with crime victims’ compensation; assistance with the Victim

Impact Statement form; assistance with the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system; assistance with

the TDCJ VSD Victim Notification System; information regarding parole review procedures; and accompaniment to meet-

ings with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, revocation hearings and victim impact panels.

If you would like more information regarding this position, please view the job posting at www.tdcj.texas.gov. The Job

Posting No. is 043074AB.

Job Board

A local government job board is located at www.SGRjobs.com. Students may also want to check out candidate resources at

www.GovernmentResource.com. SGR produces a weekly “10 in 10” Update on Leadership and Innovation in that is fo-

cused on local government and is free, with over 60,000 subscribers.

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.

www.usajobs.gov/getjob/viewdetails/365805400 Homeland Security

www.usajobs.gov/getjobs/viewdetails/365562300 Park Ranger

Dr. Coates suggests that students read, “C.I.A. Officers and F.B.I. Agents, Meet Your New Partner: The Analyst,” NYT,

3-26-15, www.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/us/cia-officers-and-fbi-agents-meet-your-new-partner-the-analyst.html

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.

Internship Ideas

If you are looking for an internship ideas, please visit these organization homepages: Interpol, Freedom House,

Transparency International, Texas Right to Life, Amnesty International, and International Justice Mission.

Abilene Christian University Department of Political Science

May 2015 Newsletter Page 6 of 6

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Current Anticipated Vacancies: Three (As of January 2015)

*Base Salary

Police Cadet $23.35 per hour

Probationary Police Officer $23.78 per hour (0-6 months); $24.54 per hour (6-12 months)

Police Officer $24.54—$33.63 per hour (Depending on length of service)

Police Sergeant $34.32—$38.93 per hour (Depending on length of service)

Police Lieutenant $39.53—$45.82 per hour (Depending on length of service)

Police Captain $46.23—$50.52 per hour (Depending on length of service)

Police Assistand Chief $51.50—$53.05 per hour (Depending on length of service)

Base Salary does not include incentive pay for TCLEOSE Certification/Education Pay: Longevity Pay; or Shift Differential

Applications must be received at the Deer Park Police Department or at Deer Park City Hall, Dity of Deer Park Employment.

Applications are available online at http://www.deerparktx.gov/egov/docs/1225835639_903717.pdf.

Police Officers work assigned shifts, perform proactive and reactive patrol; regulate traffic; arrest or cite persons involved in crimes or

misconduct; render first aid; investigate motor vehicle accidents; and provide numerous other law enforcement services. They must be

proficient in mofer law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques and equipment; be able to communicate effectively; and be able to

exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making wise decisions within department policy and legal guidelines. They must be

able to perform tasks requiring good physical condition and are expected to work full time; weekends, holidays and hours other than

between 7 am—5 pm.

Minimum Requiremenst

Bachelor’s Degree by hire date; United States Citizenship; at least 21 yeas of age by time of appointment; Essential Hearing/Vision, Valid

Driver’s License; No Conviction(s); for: an Felony, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Assault Involving

Family Violence or any Crime involving Moral Turpitude; have not ever have been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for

any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court

order; No illegal drug use within five years; If a veteran, an Honorable Discharge, free of conditions.

For further information contact: Officer Jammas Ph: 281-930-2121 Email: sjammas@deerparktx.org

Physical Address: Deer Park Police Department 2911 Center Street Deer Park, TX 77536

Mailing Address: Deer Park Police Department P.O. Box 700 Deer Park, TX 77536

The City of Deer Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Qualified Individuals