2024 Conference Program

A map of UAM, including presentation rooms for the conference, is available at: Facilities Map.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Registration (12:00-4:00 p.m.)

          Location: School of Forestry & Natural Resources Conference Center

                             Lobby (Look for directional signs on the first floor)

Session 1 (1:15-2:45)

American Politics: Roundtable

The 2024 General Elections in Arkansas and its Effect on, and Implications for Public Policy

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A101

Chair: Andrew Dowdle, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Participants:

Hal Bass, Ouachita Baptist University

Joseph Giammo, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Heather Yates, University of Central Arkansas

International Relations / Comparative Politics: Paper Panel

Immigration, Peacekeeping and Elections in the World

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Gizachew Tiruneh, University of Central Arkansas

Papers:

“Workplace Diversity and Immigration Policy Preferences.”

David H. Bearce, Texas A&M University, and Brendan J. Connell, Lyon College.

“Third-Party Peacekeeping Missions in Intrastate Disputes, 1946-2022: Recent Trends and Patterns.”

Mark Mullenbach, University of Central Arkansas, and Jaylan Harris, University of Central Arkansas.

“Outgroup Trust and Cross-Ethnic Voting in the Sub-Saharan Context.”

Hyo-Won Shin, University of Central Arkansas.

Graduate Research: Paper Panel

Issues of Christian Fundamentalism, Partisanship and Leadership

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Williams Yamkam, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

Papers:

“Christian Fundamentalists’ Influence on Policy Agendas: State-Level Analysis Controlling for Professionalization.”

Madeline Kittler, University of Missouri

“Term Limits and Partisan Motive”

Nathaniel T. Reeves III, Arkansas State University

“A Case Study of Leadership in Public Administration”

Dylan McClain, University of Arkansas – Monticello

Meet the Author: Roundtable

The Palgrave Handbook of Teaching and Research in Political Science

Moderator: Michael Rogers, Arkansas Tech University

Participants:

Kevin Brennan, Ouachita Baptist University

Jaeyun Sung, Lyon College

Donald Gooch, Stephen F. Austin State University

Hans Hacker, Arkansas State University

Matt Evans, Northwest Arkansas Community College

Session 2 (3:00-4:30)

Political Theory: Roundtable

A Critical Discussion of Demagoguery and Democracy by Roberts-Miller

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A101

Moderator: Mary Beth Sullivan, University of Central Arkansas

Participants:

Clay Arnold, University of Central Arkansas

Matt Evans, Northwest Arkansas Community College

Mike Rogers, Arkansas Tech University

Carol Strong, University of Arkansas – Monticello

Hans Hacker, Arkansas State University

Public Policy: Paper Panel

Issues of Public Service and Pedagogy

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Amber Overholser, Southern Arkansas University,

Papers:

“Public Service as a Profession: Encouraging Undergraduates to Pursue Public Service Careers.”

Kim Hoffman, University of Central Arkansas, Joe Howard, University of Central Arkansas, Kisha Hardwick, University of Central Arkansas.

“Technology Pedagogy in Public Administration Graduate Programs.”.

James McQuiston, Southern Arkansas University.

“Navigating the World of State Government: The Value of Undergraduate Internships.”

Katherine Hindsley, University of Arkansas – Monticello.

Undergraduate Research: Paper Panel

Issues of Foreign Policy, Social Media, and Digital Language in World Politics

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Dylan McClain, University of Arkansas – Monticello

Papers:

“The Impact of Social Media upon Voters’ Foreign Policy Preferences.”

Joshua Archer. Lyon College

“Digital Terrorism: The Connection Between Conspiracy and Social Media.”

Madeline Cleaves. Lyon College

“Importance of Translators and Wikipedia in Digital Language Hierarchies within Europe.”

Kolya Souvorin. Hendrix College

Business Meeting (4:45-5:45 p.m.)

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A101

Student ‘Meet and Greet’ with Victoria DeFrancesco Soto (4:45-5:15 p.m.)

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A101

Reception and Dinner (6:30-8:30 p.m.)

Location: UAM Student Center, Capitol Room

Networking Reception (6:30)

Light Refreshments and Musical Entertainment by Chris Prior.

Dinner (7:00)

Welcome: Dr. Carol Strong, 2024 ArkPSA Conference Chair

Keynote Speaker: Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Dean, Clinton School of Public Service

Post-Dinner Gathering off the Old Town Square                                                       

Location: Bella Luna, 200 North Main Street, Monticello Arkansas

Website: www.twobrothersrestaurant.net

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Registration (8:15-10:15 a.m.)

          Location: School of Forestry & Natural Resources Conference Center Lobby

Session 3 (8:30-10:00)

Political Theory: Paper Panel

The Art of Deception in Politics

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

    Chair: TBA

Papers:

“Lukács, Deception, and American Populism.”

Matt Evans, Northwest Arkansas Community College, and Mike Rogers, Arkansas Tech University.

“John Salisbury on Deception.”

Mary Beth Sullivan, University of Central Arkansas.

“Machiavelli and the Challenge of Deception.”

Clay Arnold, University of Central Arkansas.

“Machiavellianism and Interdisciplinary Synthesis: From Political Theory to Psychological Science and Back.”

Eric Prichard, University of Arkansas – Monticello, and Carol Strong University of Arkansas – Monticello.

Public Administration and Policy: Paper Panel

Issues of Veteran Homelessness, State Taxation and Fair Use

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: James McQuiston, Southern Arkansas University

Papers:

“A State-level Approach to Veteran Homelessness and the Potential Role of State Capacity.”

Eric Button, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.

“State Taxation of Vaping & Vaping Products.”

Catherine C Reese, Arkansas State University, Dean L. MacDonald, Jr., Arkansas State University.

“Searching for Help in Times of Crisis: A Systematic Review of Arkansas Domestic Violence Shelter Websites”

Amber Overholser, Southern Arkansas University and Cortney Sherman, Southern Arkansas University, .

“Place Your Bets! A Political History and Analysis of Casino Gambling in Arkansas.”

Chris Housenick, Arkansas Tech University.

Undergraduate Research: Paper Panel

Issues of Student Loan Forgiveness, Term Limits and Acceptance of Refugees

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Walter Everett, University of Arkansas – Monticello

Papers:

“An Analysis of Student Loan Forgiveness.”

Brooks J. Braugh, Northwest Arkansas Community College

“Effects of Term Limits in Arkansas.”

M.K. Duffield. Zoe Papazoglou, Lyon College

“What Explains Americans’ Attitudes towards the Acceptance of Refugees?”

Kourtney Thompson. University of Arkansas – Fayetteville

Session 4 (10:15-11:45)

Roundtable: International Relations / Comparative Politics

Geopolitical Uncertainties: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the China Straits

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A101

Chair: Gizachew Tiruneh, University of Central Arkansas, (gtiruneh@uca.edu)

Participants:

Kevin Brennan, Ouachita Baptist University, (brennank@obu.edu)

Christopher Housenick, Arkansas Tech University, (chousenick@atu.edu)

Mark Elrod, University of Central Arkansas, (melrod@uca.edu)

Carol Strong, University of Arkansas – Monticello, (strong@uamont.edu)

American Politics / Arkansas Politics: Paper Panel

Issues of Partisanship, Polarization, Term Limits and Gambling

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

    Chair: Michael Rogers, Arkansas Tech University, mrogers6@atu.edu

Papers:

“Polarization in the US Counties.”

Donald Gooch, Stephen F. Austin State University, (goochdm@sfasu.edu).

“Creating Opportunities: Leadership Diversity in Term-Limited State Legislatures.”

Jordan Butcher, Arkansas State University, (jordanmbutcher@gmail.com)

“Partisan Realignment among White Working-Class Voters,”

Curtis Sullivan, University of Missouri – Columbia

“An Orange Prince, Time with Andy, and a Disgruntled Photographer: A Little More than Fifteen Minutes worth of the Supreme Court Ruling on Fair Use.”

      John Sutherlin, University of Louisiana – Monroe, (sutherlin@ulm.edu).

Undergraduate Research: Paper Panel

Issues of Pirates and Colonial Legacy

Location: SFNR Conference Center, A102

Chair: Dr. Reagan Bijou, Associate Research Director, YouGov

Papers:

“Pirates, Famine, and Sheep: Why Somalia Remains Divided.”

Matthew Daniel Outlaw, University of Arkansas – Monticello

“Colonial Legacy: A Comparative Analysis of the Modern Status of former French and British Colonies on the African Continent.”

Garrett Marks, University of Arkansas – Monticello

Luncheon (12:00-1:30 p.m.)

Location:  UAM Student Center, Capitol Room

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Reagan Bijou, Associate Research Director with YouGov’s Scientific Research Group