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season year newsletter

A Newsletter
For UNCP Political Science & Public Administration Alumni

Spring 2000

Vol. 4 No.1

 

POLITICAL SCIENCE TODAY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE

From the Editor

Dr. Nicholas A. Giannatasio

Hello alumni and friends! Welcome to another edition of our department newsletter. This is an exciting year at UNCP as we welcomed our new Chancellor, Dr. Allen C. Meadors. He is a dynamic and caring leader who is driven by the desire to make UNCP the premier regional university. Dr. Meadors has taken the time to meet with all faculty and administration to "internally assess his operational environment" (my specialty is public administration, so I couldn t help the cliché!). We are all impressed with changes that are occurring around us and his plans for the future. Some of the highlights of these changes are:

• The reorganization of the university into three new schools and a college. The College of Arts and Sciences (Political Science and Public Administration is in this college), School of Business and Mass Communication, School of Education, and the School of Graduate Studies.
• The creation of an Honors Council for the development of an Honors College.
• December Graduation where over 200 graduates participated in the ceremony.

To paraphrase Max Weber, when the leader is charismatic, the charisma is routinized in the organization. In our department, the entre-preneurial spirit of the Chancellor is very present. You will see it in the pages of our newsletter as we report on our students, alumni, and faculty.

From the Chair

Dr. Robert Schneider

In an article which I have recently written on former U.S. Senator and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, I was fascinated to find that he earned a master's degree in political science from Louisiana State University in 1940. His goal was to complete his Ph.D. and become a college professor. However, during the depression, he was compelled to return to his family home in South Dakota to help run the family drug store. He would accept a job with the War Production Administration in 1941 and spend the rest of his life in public service. While he would go on to have an extraordinary career and come to stand as the foremost exemplification of progressivism in American politics, I cannot help but think his first instinct was the correct one. A life in the professorate is truly a rewarding experience and is another, perhaps even better, way of making important contributions to society. This point is driven home to me each time I review the activities and contributions of our outstanding faculty and the accomplishments of our graduates.

As you review the activities of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration for this past year, I think you will agree that we have a vibrant and exciting environment these days. I am particularly impressed with the new career advisement workshop series and the Model UN club. As always, I am inspired by my colleagues and their commitment to quality teaching, scholarship, and service. I think it is safe to say that we have been found to be y2k compliant. The new millennium will find us better and stronger than ever. I hope you will continue to be interested in our activities and, perhaps, even contribute to the political science fund so that we can do even more for our students. We have a winning team in the department and encourage all of our alumni to be a part of it! By all means, keep us up to date on important developments in your life in the new millennium.

I am pleased to note that this issue of our newsletter marks the beginning of Dr. Nick Giannatasio s turn as editor. I am sure Nick will be creative and that you will enjoy the results of his work. Please feel free to make suggestions to him regarding future issues. I suppose I should close my comments with something profound to mark the turn of the century and the millennial celebration. I have nothing original, but will remind you of the wise words once written by Jose Ortega y Gasset. AIn time the so-called dark ages will be thought of as including our own." So I guess our work is not finished. May success and fulfillment be yours as you write your part of the story that will be the twenty-first century!

Alumni News

Gilbert M. Ray, a 1973 political science graduate and a retired Naval officer, is employed by the NC Employment Security Commission as an Agricultural Employment Consultant. Mac is married with two children, son Brian is a freshman at Fayetteville Tech and daughter Shelley is a freshman at Terry Sanford High School. He enjoys photography, boating, fishing, astronomy and research (various subjects) especially genealogy.

Sonny Kirkley, a political science graduate of UNCP, is the president and CEO of Information in Place Inc. The company s product provides information and services to individuals based on location and environment, such as the hand-held devices for personal tours used at museums and national parks. Additionally, Kirkley is an adjunct faculty member in the Instructional Systems Technology program at Indiana University.

Rhonda Jeaneen Graham a recent pre-law graduate has applied for and is accepted in the Graduate Program at NC State University. She will be pursuing a Masters degree in School Administration. Rhonda is currently working with Penn Corp Financial (Raleigh) in customer service.

Wendy Lowery, a recent public administration graduate is teaching third grade in the Magnolia School in Robeson County. Her picture also appears on the front of the 1999-2000 UNCP catalog.

Lauren Dunn, a recent political science graduate, has celebrated the birth of her daughter Caitlyn Brianna Dunn, born on December 12, 1999 (same birthday as Frank Sinatra, however, not a UNCP alum). Caitlyn was 6 pounds, fourteen ounces at birth and both mom and baby are doing fine.

If you have alumni news you would like to share with us, contact us by phone at 910.521.6363 or by e-mail at giannata@sassette.uncp.edu or shirley.rodgers@uncp.edu.

The Faculty

Bob Schneider has a new publication entitled "Knowledge and Ethical Responsibility in Industrial Disasters" which is scheduled to appear in a spring 2000 issue of the International Journal of Disaster Prevention and Management. His articles on John F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey, published in The Biographical Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century World Leaders, also made it into print in January of 2000. Bob and his wife Doris are looking forward to a trip to Italy over the summer.

Nick Giannatasio will deliver a paper at the American Society for Public Administration s national conference in San Diego. The title of the paper, "Worms and Coffee: Municipal Consolidation in the South," will review the trend of consolidating governments as the next step in the productivity equation. Also, Nick has started a weeklong, three-credit, in-residence graduate course that will be conducted on campus May 22-26. Also, Nick has proposed, and the University has accepted, a 12 credit Health Administration Curriculum in the graduate Master in Public Management program.

Featured Faculty

Michael Hawthorne presented "Wiring the Future: The Politics of the Information Highway" at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, September 5, 1999. He also presented "Political Responses to Changes in Telecommunication Policies" at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 15-17, 1999, in Chicago, Ill. June-July 1999, Michael was as an instructor with the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research Summer Program in Ann Arbor, MI, at the University of Michigan. He is the president-elect of the North Carolina Political Science Association. The Association will hold its annual conference March 31 and April 1, 2000 at UNC Greensboro.

Michael is currently working on several projects. A research methodology text, Research Methodology for the Uninitiated, is in development. Michael has also initiated a program in the Department to encourage students to work with faculty on research projects. This program will provide students with opportunities to observe on-going research efforts, and to engage in related professional activities, including presenting research results. As a part of this effort, Michael is preparing a paper for presentation at the North Carolina Political Science Association on media coverage of higher education s role in economic development efforts. This paper will be co-presented by Deanne Wells, one of our current majors, who is working with Michael on the project.

Elizabeth Normandy continues to direct the University s re-accreditation effort (1999-2000). In connection with this process, she attended the annual conference of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She also completed her first year as the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center. She continues to be involved in the planning and execution of the University s annual Public Policy Institute sponsored by the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, Ohio. She also reviewed scholarly papers for Africa Today and African Studies Review.

Frank Trapp has completed a book chapter entitled "Religious Extremism in Palestine: A Case Study of HAMAS" which will be published in Religion and Politics: An Examination of the Explosive Interaction," Ashgate Press (U.K.). This chapter examines the organizational structure of HAMAS, the internal power struggles and the external dynamics vis-à-vis the PLO and Middle East peace process. This chapter is an outgrowth of a large research project in the study of Israeli counter-terrorism and its effectiveness in terms of deterring acts of terrorism against Israel and its citizens. This project has a database of over 9,000 events in a three-volume chronology.

Dan Barbee, director of the Master in Public Management program has been pursuing his research interests in conflict resolution, environmental policy and conflict, crisis management, emergency management, public policymaking and public administration. His current projects include creating public value in the midst of major disasters, welfare reform and institutional change, and interdependent leadership for crisis management. On campus, his program director duties are expanding as the MPM degree will now offer a health care and criminal justice concentration.

Model United Nations Organizations

The UNC Pembroke Model United Nations Organization attended conferences in Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. They received the Outstanding Delegation recognition in Charlotte, and in Atlanta, two students were recognized as Outstanding Delegates. Both trips were partially subsidized by the PSPA department and the UNC Pembroke Foundation. Frank Trapp has been appointed Director of International Programs for the Southeastern Model United Nations Program. Frank and one UNCP student will be accompanying a delegation of students from the southeastern United States universities to Hague, Netherlands this summer. The Model UN Organization will be hosting a training conference for high school teachers in April 2000 and a high school student conference in the fall 2000 on the campus of UNCP.

Our Scholars

The Walter L. Weisberg Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Erica Fisher, a junior majoring in Political Science. Erica is an exemplary student who seeks a career in public service. She is currently an intern in Congressman Mike McIntyre s office. Walter Weisberg was a faculty member in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Upon his passing, a trust was set up by the family and the University to award a deserving student.

Price/Earnings Ratio

In today s booming economy we are often amazed at the investment opportunities that are available. Not too many years ago, a price to earnings ratio of "4" was an acceptable risk. Paying four times the per share yearly earnings of a stock was an agreeable venture. Today the P/E ratio is in the stratosphere if it can be calculated at all! However, we have an investment for you that has a P/E ratio of less than "1." Your return on investment is 100%. That investment is a donation to the department of Political Science and Public Administration. In turn, your money is used to foster scholarship and special educational experiences for our studentsyour future peers. Invest in the future; please use the insert form and be as generous as you can. Thank you!

Career Workshop --- Providing a well-balanced educational experience also includes preparing our students for employment related to their field of study. In light of this objective, Professors Hawthorne and Giannatasio presented career workshop seminars for Political Science and Public Administration majors. The seminars were well attended and included tutorials on public sector opportunities, presented by Chancellor Meadors, Resume Writing with the University Writing Center s Dean Hinnen, Mary Thomas-Locklear, an alumna and Director of Human Resources at Robeson Health Care, who gave a presentation on job interviews.

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke held its first winter commencement on December 15, 1999. The Installation of Dr. Allen C. Meadors as the Fourth Chancellor of UNC Pembroke preceded the commencement. The Political Science and Public Administration Department is pleased to announce and CONGRATULATES the following graduates:

Sherri Dawn Byrd Public Administration
Lauren Brook Dunn Public Administration
Michael Wayne Evers PreLaw
Brandon Faircloth PreLaw
Wendy Ann Lowery Public Administration
Samuel Duval Shaw Public Administration
Philip E. Walker Political Science

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Condolences
Please join the department in expressing sympathy to Rhonda Jeaneen Graham in the loss of her father on February 2, 2000.

You may contact the department at the following Internet address: http://www.uncp.edu/pspa.

Mailing address: Political Science and Public Administration, UNC Pembroke, P.O. Box 1510
Pembroke, NC 28372-1510
Phone: (910) 521-6363
Fax: (910) 521-6446

Updated: Monday, June 30, 2008

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