Exciting opportunities in the PPPA internship program

internships-300x206The PPPA internship program provides wide ranging opportunities for majors to get hands on experience in a setting outside the classroom.  PPPA interns work in settings that are related to government, political campaigns, and public policy.  This quarter interns are working on congressional campaigns and in law firms.  Taylor Rome is working on congressman Denny Heck’s reelection campaign, Alina Gnatyuk is working on Congressman Derek Kilmer’s reelection campaign, and Sandra Kruh is working at the Barokas Martin and Tomlinson law firm. Another exciting internship opportunity is the Washington State Legislative Internship program, which is open to all UW Tacoma students.  We currently have intern hopefuls interviewing for the legislative internship program, and the successful candidates will intern full time in Olympia during Winter quarter.  There will be more internship opportunities for PPPA students during Winter and Spring quarters.  PPPA interns get practical experience, an extension of their academic studies, and complete their Capstone requirement with the internship.  All PPPA students interested in doing an internship during Winter or Spring quarters should contact Professor Ann Frost at acfrost@u.washington.edu.

PPPA intern Taylor Rome – Front and center during election season

UW Tacoma Junior and PPE major Taylor Rome is spending  Fall quarter completing an internship in the PPPA internship program.  Rome is an intern for Denny Heck, congressman for the 10th congressional district.  Initially elected in 2012, Heck mounted his first re-election campaign this fall.  During this fall’s election season, Rome’s work as an intern has put her at the center of the action.

Each day of Rome’s internship sees her actively involved in the re-election effort.  In its effort to “Get out the Vote,” the team gathered data on people they called and on whose doors they knocked.  After entering the information they assessed who they still had to remind to send in their ballots.  Rome was then part of determining which voters they would target for contact, including people with a good voting record, those who have been identified as supporters, and likely supporters of the candidate.  Rome then hit the streets or the phones to put the plan into action.  “Canvassing, or door-belling as we call it in Washington, is one of the more exciting and important things on a campaign because it is face-to-face voter contact,” says Rome.

According to Rome, one of the best parts of this internship has been contact with various people, including her co-workers and voters.  The internship has provided Rome with an opportunity for learning that is unparalleled.  Says Rome, “Every day I learn something new about how the average voter thinks and what shapes their opinions.  I have had eye-opening conversations with people at the door, and ones that have left me shaking my head.  When you work on a campaign you adopt all of the staff as your family.  You are with them all day every day for months and create a bond that you can’t compare to anything else.”

This internship has rounded out Rome’s education at UW Tacoma, giving her hands on experience that has enhanced her classroom learning.  The internship has been particularly helpful in opening doors for Rome and creating career opportunities.  Although she doesn’t know precisely what career path she will choose, Rome has learned that she belongs in this field.  She recommends this type of work to others, saying that the contacts she has made and the experience she has gained will be of great use to her in the future.

Planning ahead – Summer 2015 study abroad to China

image-2Planning is already underway for the 2015 China Study Abroad, which will include a special focus on the Chinese economy in a course taught by PPPA economics professor Will McGuire.  The one-month program will be housed at Renmin University in Beijing, where students will study Mandarin for three weeks in addition to studying Chinese history and economics.  The economics study will include field excursions to Chinese businesses and state-run industries.  The study abroad will also include a week-long excursion to Tianjin and cultural field trips in the Beijing environs.

The 15 credit academic program for the study abroad includes: TCHIN (Mandarin Chinese) 101-203, depending on entrance and exit exams (the exact course number is determined by where a student tests in and out) TINTL 480, Chinese History and Culture; TECON 461, Current Issues in Chinese Economy.

Course descriptions:

TECON 461- This course will provide a brief introduction to the creation and reform of China’s socialist economic system, and then focus on the biggest economic challenges facing the country today. The topics covered will include, among others, economic inequality, macroeconomic stability, and environmental sustainability. We will combine academic study with firsthand knowledge by combining lectures with site visits and interactions with local business leaders and/or policymakers.

TIAS 480 –  This course will examine the history, culture, language, and politics of China.  Classes will be held at a cooperating university in People’s Republic of China.

Dates for the study abroad are June 21- July 18, 2015. The cost for the program is $4900, (which includes the 15 credits, three weeks’ lodging in Beijing, coursework, one week travel to QIngdao and Jinan, and all food, lodging and travel during the one week travel portion).  For more information about the 2015 trip, please consult the International Programs website http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/international-programs/china-west-east or http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/international-programs/china-past-present. You can also contact Dr. Mary Hanneman (hanneman@uw.edu), Dr. Will McGuire (mcguire@uw.edu) or Dr. Yi Li (yli@tacomacc.edu).

Information session – UW Tacoma fellowship opportunities

Students are invited to an informational session on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 @ 12:30 pm in BB 104. Cindy Schaarschmidt, director of the UW Tacoma Office of Student Fellowships and Awards will be presenting  information on competitive institutional, national, and international fellowships available to students. Hope to see you there!

Applications being accepted for fall internships

As Fall Quarter approaches it’s time for our Law and Policy and Politics, Philosophy and Economics students to decide whether or not to apply for an internship.  PPPA internships, generally limited to our graduating seniors, offer exciting opportunities for students to round out their coursework with practical applications.  Enrolling in one of our internship courses (TPOLS 496 or TPOLS 497) also is a way of meeting our majors’ capstone requirement.  Right now we are accepting applications for a select number of students to engage in Fall internships via TPOLS 496.  For more information please contact Professor Ann Frost at acfrost@u.washington.edu.

During the winter and spring quarters, other select students will have the opportunity to engage in additional internships via TPOLS 496, and all PPPA students will have the option of interning for the Washington State Legislature and enrolling in TPOLS 497 and earning their capstone credit.  You can learn more about this competitive internship by visiting our website or attending an upcoming information session in BHS 106 on Tuesday September 30th from noon until 12:50.

Kayaoglu named editor of Muslim human rights’ journal

muslim journalScholars associated with the prestigious Muslim World Journal of Human Rights recently selected Professor Turan Kayaoglu to be its new Editor.  The journal, how housed at UW Tacoma, serves as a forum for debate over various aspects of human rights in the Muslim World, and is edited by leading international scholars of Islamic studies, Middle Eastern studies and human rights.

New faculty joining PPPA

We wish to welcome three new faculty members who will be joining us this coming year.  Jeramy Gee, who is now completing his PhD in Philosophy from UW Seattle, will be teaching philosophy courses.  Jeramy’s interest in philosophy was sparked during a schoolyard discussion about the existence of God with a friend, and he’s been interested inGee philosophical questions ever since.  His research focuses on understanding sentiments like anger and hatred when they are directed at wrongdoers, and the moral status of these attitudes. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the University of Washington, Tacoma this fall to teach introduction to philosophy, practical reasoning, and courses in ethics. The interdisciplinary character of IAS is also exciting and I look forward to great conversations with my new colleagues.”

Ishita Nandi will also be joining PPPA this Fall. Ishita earned her PhD in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on labor and economic growth theory. Her current research is examiningNandi wage inequality between men and women in the United States. Ishita is a seasoned instructor, bringing with her over ten years of teaching experience.  For the past four years, she has been a faculty member at Oakland Community College. Next year she will teach courses in economic principles, public policy, and development economics.   Says Ishita: “Teaching has been in my family for generations and I am proud to continue this tradition by being a mentor and teacher to the bright and dedicated students of UW Tacoma.”cockrell

Finally, Andrew Cockrell will join the PPPA faculty this January.  Andrew has an MPhil from Oxford University, England and is currently completing his PhD at the University of Washington, Seattle. Andrew is a political psychologist who studies emotion in international conflict. He is a recipient of the 2011 UW Excellence in Teaching Award and will teach Introduction to International Relations and Introduction to Globalization both in the winter as well as the spring quarter.

Congratulations to our 2014 graduates!

Congratulations to all our 2014 graduates!  We’re proud of this year’s UW Tacoma graduates who have majored in Politics, Philosophy & Economics or Law & Policy.

Politics, Philosophy & Economics graduates:
Jaime Ray Dalit Arreola, Imanjit Singh Bains, Miguel Angel Balderamma, David Allen Barnes, Nicholas Bradford, Brynn J. Brooks, Raymond Brooks, Jacob Alan Bush,
Fu-Yen Chan, N01_-_Mortar_Board142Annie Songyie Choi, April A. Coberly, Lauren Catherine Conley, Patrick Courtney, Brant Robert Delarme, Yahye Y. Dineh, Semone Dover, Kevin James Drugge, Nicolas J. Dunning, Alex-Jon Earl, Kaycie Elwess, Thomas Gregory Farrow, Erin Barbara Gaede, Uuriintuya Erika Ganjargal, Brandon Green, Cristina M. Hakansson, Shane Gregory Hall, Janessa India Harris, Thomas L. Harris,  Katrina Ann Honrade, Tzu Yang Hsu, James D. Jagger, Aaron Robert Jones,
Michael A. Jordan, Sheetal Kavita, Elliot J. Klavuhn, Aaron C. Knapp, James Koo,
Feipang Lam, Wei Li, Arely Lopez, Colin W. McCann, Jason Frederik McCausland,
Carley N. Metcalf, Jason M. Michaud, Dominique Andrew Miles, Chantell Munoz,
Megan Kimberly Nation, Martin Nderi, Jason Michael O’Neill, Madeleine Broxton Park,
Alycia Lorraine Patterson, Yessica M. Perez, Jeremy Scott Peterson, Stacilynn Mae Rambow, Julian Lavar Richards, Laura C. Richardson, Jeremy Bradon Rothschild,
Michelle Santos, Janaia Marie Seacrest-Holden, Arianna Elizabeth Shorey,
Ronald Smith, Liliya A. Stakhovich, Jesse Jameson Strege, Madhav Subedi,
Milena Summers, Tallman Harlow Trask IV, Thanhhong Thi Vu-Smith,
Perrin J. Walker, Nicole Nadean Wilcox, Tremicka Nicole Williams, Rees T. Yaden, and
Dennis E. Zuleta-Dupleich

Law & Policy graduates:
Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, Sharon-An B. Athey, Grady Heins, Jordan Emma Katherine Jones, Ramon Ralph Maddox, and Michael Wotherspoon