On Friday, December 2, 2022, the Department of Political Science Ph.D. Program at the Bush School of Government & Public Service celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center with a full day of events. Alumni, former faculty, and current students and faculty attended the celebration that included three panelist discussions, a lunch and group photos, and end of the day reception.
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Guy Whitten, Interim Head of the Political Science Department, followed by the first panel discussion titled “The Early Years” and moderated by current professor Johanna Dunaway. The panel included political science alumni Kelly Tzoumis (‘92), Lydia Andrade (‘93), Jeff Talbert (‘95), and Dottie Carmichael (‘99).
“Achieving my Ph.D. here at Texas A&M was critical for the next steps in my actual profession. It was really an important time for women to have their Ph.D., and so when I went into the National Labs, it was this Ph.D. that really propelled me into those policy-making roles,” Kelly Tzoumis said. “Later I went on for a Distinguished Chair in Environmental Studies with Fullbright, and now I’m a visiting scholar in Europe, and so it really started with the Ph.D. program here at Texas A&M.”
The first panel discussion was followed by a lunch where Mark Welsh, Dean of the Bush School, discussed the Political Science Department now being part of the Bush School.
“I think this is a phenomenal thing for us,” Welsh said. “The great part for the Bush School is that Political Science brings a very capable and accomplished department. It strengthens the school instantly.”
Dr. Whitten, who has been a part of the Political Science Department at Texas A&M since 1994, also shared his thoughts on the new and exciting transition.
“We are really excited about joining the Bush School,” Whitten said. “We think that there’s a lot of great synergies between our department and the two other departments in the Bush School.”
After lunch, the second panel discussion, titled “An Established Brand,” included including Claudia Avellaneda (‘07), Laron Williams (‘08), Ashley Ross (‘10), Cameron Wimpy (‘14), and Carla Flink (‘14). Dr. Kirby Goidel from the Bush School moderated the panel discussion.
Panel three followed, titled “TAMU and the Future of Political Science,” and included panelists Soren Jordan (‘15), Clayton Webb (‘15), Mallory Compton (‘16), Andrea Junqueira (‘22), and Jongwoo Jeong (‘22). This final panel discussion of the day was moderated by Dr. Todd Kent, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Political Science Department, who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M in 2006.
“It’s just overwhelming to think about everything that our Ph.D. graduates have done in the last 30 years,” Whitten said. “And to bring them all together here is just a great reminder to everybody about it and to take some time to reflect on it and enjoy it.”
The celebration ended with a reception where faculty and students could reconnect and discuss their thoughts on the day and their time at Texas A&M.
“This is a great event to bring back people who came to Texas A&M to study Political Science and have gone on to be successful in their field, to change the discipline,” Kent said. “It’s very exciting as you talk to people to hear not only their memories, but also their vision for the future.”
By Alexis Hixson
