News & Announcements

Morris Dees "With Justice for All in a Changing America"

Morris Dees J.D., founder and Chief Trial Attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center came to speak
at Rollins College.  The @splcenter is “dedicated to fighting hate and
bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our
society.”  We enjoyed hearing and learning about the founding and history
of the SPLC and its work in exposing hate groups today.

Tales of an Ecotourist Book Talk at the Orange County Library with Dr. Gunter

Dr. Mike Gunter spoke at the Orange County Library downtown on Tuesday, September 18th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM to explore the topic of climate change as he discusses his new book, "Tales of an Ecotourist.  For more information, click here

Dr. Foglesong's Retirement

We are celebrating Dr. Rick Foglesong’s 40 years as a professor.  Congratulations, Dr. Foglesong! 

Course Spotlight: Globalization

First-year students eager to dive into college get a crash course in how the world works and how they can be part of changing the narrative.  Click here to read more about Professor Joan Davison's Globalization course spotlight.

Gunter Publishes Book on Climate Change

Crossing the far corners of the globe, Mike Gunter’s Tales of an Ecotourist showcases travel—from the hot and humid Amazon jungle to the frozen but dry Antarctic—as a simple yet spellbinding lens to better understand the complex issue of climate change. 

To read more about the book, click here

The Right to Vote: the Vote Fraud Commission

Myrna Perez from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law joined us for a public presentation on the current voting rights environment in the United States, President Trump’s commission on voting integrity, and the adoption of restrictive voting requirement in states.                             

To view photos from the event, click here, and for more information about the Brennan Center for Justice click here

Dr. Dan Chong: Change Agent

As new faculty director of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, Dr. Dan Chong is dedicated to helping his students see the world differently. To read more, click here.

Gunter publishes USA Today Op-Ed on Climate Change

To read Dr. Gunter's article,"Confront Climate Change or Count on Ever Crueler Hurricanes and Septembers", please click here

Gunter publishes Op-Ed on NFL QB Kaepernick

To read Dr. Michael Gunter's article in the Orlando Sentinel, please click here

Chong Named Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub Faculty Director

Political science professor Dan Chong has been named faculty director of Rollins’ Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub. Beginning in fall 2017, Chong will lead faculty training and development in social innovation pedagogy, research, and curricular and co-curricular partnerships alongside Hub staff director Patrick Odoyo.  Read more here

Department Honors Two Stellar Students at Annual Academic Awards Ceremony

Raquel Leon, left, received the 2017 Outstanding Achievement in Political Science Award for her overall performance in political science throughout her college career. Paige Lyle, center, was recognized as the winner of this year’s Pi Sigma Alpha Award, which honors the student who most stimulates scholarship and intelligent interest in political science on campus. Raquel and Paige are pictured here with Professor Mike Gunter, chair of the Political Science Department.

Congratulations Dr. Chong

Congratulations to Associate Professor Dan Chong on being awarded the prestigious Hugh F. McKean Award, selected annually by the senior class of Rollins College to symbolize the art of quality instruction... Read More

Nimby Is Beautiful

Paperback edition to Nimby Is Beautiful out last month, featuring chapter by Mike Gunter, professor and chair of Political Science, on The Dalian Chemical Plant Protest, Environmental Activism, and China's Developing Civil Society.  Read more about the book here

Tanzania Field Study

Dr. Chong describes Tanzania as one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen. “Snow-capped mountains, dense forests with waterfalls, underground caves, broad savannahs with exotic animals, the birthplace of the human race–it’s just a place worth seeing in its own right.”  Read more about his field study to Tanzania here

Voting Rights Suit

See Professor D. Davison’s comments regarding a voting rights suit filed in North Carolina here

Dr. Mike Gunter

Dr. Gunter wrote an opinion piece on Brexit for the Dec. 2016 issue of the British, Czech and Slovak Review.

He was also part of an eight-member American delegation hosted by the Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2016.
Learn More.

Rollins Welcomes First Refugee Family

Professor Dan Chong helped to create the new "Refugee in Residence" program at Rollins -- one of the first of its kind in the country.  Rollins welcomed its first family from the war-torn country of Colombia in the fall of 2016. Read more on Rollins360

The State of Voting Rights in America

Professor Don Davison is invited to a special panel on 'The State of Voting Rights in America'.

The 2016 presidential election was the first since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down critical elements of the Voting Rights Act. As a result, several Southern states and other districts were able to revise voter ID requirements and close or change the location of polling sites without federal approval. Read More.

The best thing you can do for democracy in Trump’s America is read

In this article, Professor Julia Maskivker argues that quitting on the news is not conducive to helping our democracy however difficult and frustrating staying informed may be.
Read more here

Graham-Frey Civic Award

Professor Don Davison wins the Graham-Frey Civic Award for the State of Florida.  The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of civic learning and engagement in sustaining our participatory democracy.  Read more on Rollins 360

Political Science Major Interns with Project Vote Smart

Political Science major Tristan Baker ’17 interned with Project Vote Smart in Montana. Read his recollection of the experience.

Davison, Lewicki Team Up on Research Project

In their project The Comparative Effects of Electoral Laws on Political Participation, Professor of Political Science Don Davison (left) and Margaret Lewicki ’16 (right) are trying to find out what factors influence voter turnout in elections.
Read More on Rollins360

Hoilett Named Jessie Ball duPont Fund Fellow

Political Science Alumni Marco Hoilett accepted a prestigious Jessie Ball duPont fellowship upon graduation. The political science major spent his first two years after graduation working to build effective democratic communities.

"I am extremely appreciative and grateful to be named a fellow for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund where I will spend the next two years working to build effective democratic communities," Hoilett says. "I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Don Davison for his assistance during this process and the Political Science Department for preparing me for this new and exciting journey."
Read More on Rollins360

Julia Maskivker Organizes First-Ever Naturalization Ceremony at Rollins

In November, Assistant Professor of Political Science Julia Maskivker, along with Melissa McGuire-Maniau ’15 and the Rollins’ Democracy Project, helped organize the first naturalization ceremony on the Rollins campus. 
Read More on Rollins360

A Word On Freedom

Julia Maskivker explores how the Founding Fathers understood the work of freedom.
Read More on Rollins360