Best Chapter

For the fifth consecutive year – and seventh of the last eight years – the national political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA) has recognized its Oakland University chapter with a Best Chapter Award.   

The award is given to chapters that are exceptionally active in their universities and communities, and exhibit high levels of energy and creativity in furthering the goals of PSA. Oakland was one of only four schools with enrollments between 15,000 and 25,000 students selected to receive a Best Chapter Award.

During the 2017-18 academic year, Oakland’s PSA chapter, Nu Omega, welcomed 46 new members and hosted 42 events, including a forum on terrorism. The event featured OU professor, department chair and international relations expert Dr. Peter Trumbore, and was attended by 30 OU students and 20 high school students.

The chapter also had its first collaboration with OU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Nu Omega students and OU faculty comprised a panel that responded to audience questions during a talk-back session following a theatre production of George Orwell’s dystopian classic “Animal Farm.”

Last November, the chapter held the fourth installment of its Elephant in the Room series. Dr. Alan Epstein, OU special instructor of political science, was the featured speaker for the event, which focused on Communism and Marxist thought.

In January 2018, associate professor and chapter adviser Dr. Terri Towner, chapter president Ryan Dempsey and chapter secretary Ajaypal Gill appeared as guest experts on FOX 2 News to offer perspective on the State of the Union Address.

The chapter co-sponsored OU’s Political Science Research Symposium in April 2018. Along with other political science, international relations and public administration majors, several Nu Omega members presented posters with their original research.

"We had an ambitious agenda this year, as we wanted to provide an environment for aspiring scholars, engage the university community on important issues and help Oakland political science students discover what career path might best fit them," said Dempsey. "We connected with other organizations at OU and brought students together with our deeply devoted faculty and our alumni network."

In addition, the chapter continues to host the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, which publishes outstanding undergraduate research from around the country on a bi-annual basis. The journal is operated entirely by undergraduate students from the host university, who review, edit and produce the journal.

For being named a 2018 Best Chapter, Nu Omega received a $600 honorarium and a certificate from the national PSA organization. Pi Sigma Alpha is the only honor society for college-level political science students in the U.S.

 To learn more about programs and opportunities in OU’s Department of Political Science, visit oakland.edu/polisci.