Although the political topic may lead to divisions and heated debates at the dinner table, it will soon spark unity and in-depth discussions at the University of Michigan-Flint as the Michigan Political Science Association The conference will take place on the downtown campus. The conference, open to all students, is scheduled for October 19 and 20. Jim AnanichUM-Flint alumnus, former state senator and current CEO and president of the Greater Flint Health Coalitionwill speak at the MIPSA event on the evening of October 19, while the October 20 luncheon will feature UM-Flint alumni sharing their insights on working in public service.
The conference will also address topics ranging from global conflicts to civic education, as well as the annual debate over the past and future term of the United States Supreme Court. Other roundtable discussion topics include AI in the classroom and articles on immigration, local politics and voting.
Kim Saks, assistant professor of political science and MIPSA president-elect, is responsible for organizing the conference on campus. She said events like these provide multiple benefits, the first being showing what a student can do with a political science degree. “This is a great event for all students, especially those who are about to enter the workforce,” Saks said. “The conferences will provide many opportunities for students to gain new knowledge, make new contacts and get involved.”
While some students who major in political science attend law school or work in electoral politics, others take on a variety of roles in government, nonprofit organizations, and political positions. For example, Maeko McGovern, a public health major and political science minor from Flint, began conducting research that could impact how students receive support services on campus. Another example is Terae King Jr., a political science major and vice president of the Flint Community Schools Board of Education.
“Political science is a rich study of power, systems, behavior and theory,” Saks said. “The courses we offer at UM-Flint help students develop skills that allow them to effectively evaluate power structures, understand behavioral patterns, history, politics and theory. Science Politics is a field where theory meets practice.”
Saks said students also have many opportunities to apply what they have learned in their political science classes by getting involved in organizations such as the national political science honor society known as Pi Sigma Alpha, the Pre-Law Society, student government, Greek life. and campus resources like the Center for Gender and Sexuality.
“We have some of the most active students on campus who tend to appear anywhere,” Saks said.
According to Saks, the conference also gives students the opportunity to network with each other as well as with alumni. Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to speak with graduate students about coursework and post-grad projects.
“We have alumni everywhere, and they love giving back to our students and sharing their expertise and advice,” Saks said. “We all form lasting relationships and stay in touch.”
Students interested in registering for the conference can do so by by clicking here. For more information about the UM-Flint political science program, visit its Web page.
