Across state lines, two institutions of higher learning are building bridges that lead to a lifetime of learning. The Department of Political Science at Texas A&M University has partnered with Arkansas State University to launch the Pathways Program, an initiative designed to expand access to high-level research opportunities for undergraduates while strengthening the pipeline to doctoral education. Through the program, Arkansas State students gain direct experience working with political science faculty and graduate students at a leading Carnegie-designated Research 1 institution, offering early exposure to advanced research, methodological training, and the realities of doctoral study.

According to Dr. Cameron Wimpy ’14 (PhD), chair of the Department of Government, Law, & Policy at Arkansas State, the partnership was created to open doors that can otherwise feel closed to many students. “For many of our students, particularly those who are first-generation college students from the Arkansas Delta, the path to graduate education can seem unclear or even unattainable,” Wimpy said. He emphasized that direct engagement with Texas A&M faculty and Ph.D. students provides “hands-on research experience, exposure to critical methodological skills, and allows them to learn what doctoral education looks like in practice.” Wimpy noted that the collaboration benefits both institutions by giving Texas A&M faculty the opportunity to get to know prospective doctoral applicants while offering Arkansas State students transformative academic experiences.

For students like Houston Swan, a senior political science major at Arkansas State, the program has helped demystify graduate school. After participating in an in-person visit to the Bush School, Swan described the experience as eye-opening. “It was an exceptional opportunity to visit and see what life is like for an Aggie,” he said. Conversations with faculty and graduate students helped him better understand the expectations of graduate education, particularly as a first-generation student. “Programs such as these are helpful in disentangling much of the mystery of the graduate school process,” Swan added, encouraging other interested students to take part.

Senior Logan Cathey echoed those sentiments, describing the Pathways experience as pivotal in reaffirming his academic aspirations. During his visit, Cathey met with Ph.D. students, discussed research agendas, attended his first job talk, and spoke extensively with Texas A&M faculty about admissions and academic career paths. “The Pathways Program not only reaffirmed my aspirations,” Cathey said, “but gave me an opportunity and experience I will remember for my lifetime.” Texas A&M Department Head Dr. Guy Whitten highlighted the broader value of the collaboration, noting that the partnership “strengthens both departments by investing in talented students early and expanding access to rigorous research training,” adding that programs like Pathways reflect a shared commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and excellence in political science.