WCU Political Science, Public Affairs, and International Studies

WCU Political Science, Public Affairs, and International Studies WCU's Political Science and Public Affairs Department (which includes International Studies) is dedi Have you ever wondered why countries go to war?

Why people vote the way they do? Whether the Mass Media are truly “biased"? Or why the Supreme Court decides cases the way it does? If so, the study of political science and public affairs may be for you. When you enroll in our undergraduate and graduate academic programs—the NASPAA accredited MPA Program among them—you won’t find yourself regurgitating lecture information, you’ll be researching a

nd applying your knowledge to real-world social and political problems on a local, national, and global scale.

Learn more about what our fall PSC 353 class will cover.  Grab a seat in this class while they're still available!*This ...
06/08/2026

Learn more about what our fall PSC 353 class will cover. Grab a seat in this class while they're still available!

*This class currently requires registration overrides for all students, so please reach out to Mina to request that override.*

We celebrated Dr. Michelsen's retirement this past December, but he continued teaching... in Madrid, Spain with the Fulb...
05/27/2026

We celebrated Dr. Michelsen's retirement this past December, but he continued teaching... in Madrid, Spain with the Fulbright Program! While there for the spring semester, he attended the Crossing the Strait conference hosted by the Moroccan Fulbright team.
Scroll through a collection of pictures taken in Spain and Morocco, including the spot where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet!

Isa Gandy, who graduated last weekend, presented research at the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chi...
05/15/2026

Isa Gandy, who graduated last weekend, presented research at the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chicago, IL.
“At MPSA, I presented research completed with Dr. Bego examining the success of the Spanish, right-wing populist party Vox. Our paper explores how Vox has utilized opportunity structures and legitimization strategies to emerge from the fringe and consolidate its place in the Spanish political arena.
Attending the conference was an incredible experience to network, learn from other scholars, and get interdisciplinary insight on a range of topics through panels. Everyone was so engaged and eager to make connections, and I hope to return in the future!"

Congratulations to the North Carolina Student Legislature @ WCU chapter for several award wins at their latest event!Zio...
05/04/2026

Congratulations to the North Carolina Student Legislature @ WCU chapter for several award wins at their latest event!
Zion Mathis was awarded as Best Oralist for the NCSL Moot Court and Best Speaker in the House of Representatives.
Dr. Christopher Cooper was awarded best faculty advisor for the 89th Legislative Year.
Brandon Teague was elected as the Attorney General for the 90th Legislative Year.
4/6 WCU bills passed both chambers and were signed by the Governor.
Graduating Seniors: Adam Harp, Grayson Myers, Joshua Murphy, Sean Riley.

Thank you to everyone for coming to PSPA Day yesterday!  We had a wonderful time catching up with everyone before the su...
04/30/2026

Thank you to everyone for coming to PSPA Day yesterday! We had a wonderful time catching up with everyone before the summer. A big congratulations to all of our award winners and graduating seniors! Head to the Political Science canvas page for a link to the full photo album.

Congratulations to our Dean's Scholar winners this year!  We're so proud of all your hard work!Political Science: Isa Ga...
04/28/2026

Congratulations to our Dean's Scholar winners this year! We're so proud of all your hard work!
Political Science: Isa Gandy
International Studies: Ashlyn Hannon
Master of Public Affairs: Masen Sherrill

Remember to come to PSPA Day this Wednesday at 11:15am! Enjoy more awards, snacks, and door prizes!!

Congratulations to Jamie Kalbaugh!  He'll be attending Georgetown University this fall in their M.A. Security Studies pr...
04/23/2026

Congratulations to Jamie Kalbaugh! He'll be attending Georgetown University this fall in their M.A. Security Studies program!

We would love to share your successes! If you have an exciting employment or graduate school update, please let Mina know.

Last week was full of guest speakers!  On Monday, Congressman Chuck Edwards spoke to several sections of our PSC 101 cla...
04/21/2026

Last week was full of guest speakers! On Monday, Congressman Chuck Edwards spoke to several sections of our PSC 101 class about the day in the life of a congressman. Then on Friday lobbyists Jeff and Valerie Morelli discussed their career paths across a national presidential campaign, Capitol Hill, and the CDC, highlighting how political science skills translate across politics, policy, and public service. They emphasized that careers were often nonlinear and shaped by transferable skills, networking, and openness to unexpected opportunities.

A big congratulations to two of our graduating seniors who have been accepted to graduate school programs!  They're both...
04/15/2026

A big congratulations to two of our graduating seniors who have been accepted to graduate school programs! They're both still considering which program to accept, but we wanted to go ahead and celebrate their accomplishments!
Jamie Kalbaugh has been accepted to Georgetown and American University!
Francesca Maisano has been accepted to University of Maryland, George Mason University, and American University!
We can't wait to hear more about their journeys after graduation. If you're receiving acceptances to graduate schools or exciting job offers, we'd love to celebrate you too! You can email updates to [email protected]

Congratulations to our 2024 Alumn, William Gordon!  Below is a great feature that the University of Georgia published to...
04/08/2026

Congratulations to our 2024 Alumn, William Gordon! Below is a great feature that the University of Georgia published to celebrate his win for their April 2026 MPA Student of the Month:

"William Gordon is a Master of Public Administration student at the University of Georgia in his final semester of the program. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Leadership from Western Carolina University, where he first developed a strong interest in public service. Throughout his academic career, William has cultivated a commitment to public administration and aspires to serve in the federal government, with a focus on policy and public service at the national level.

During his time at UGA, William has developed a broad academic foundation in international policy, economic policy, and criminal justice. He has intentionally approached his studies as a generalist in public administration, seeking to build a versatile and comprehensive understanding of complex policy issues across multiple domains. In the summer of 2025, he completed an internship with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, where he gained exposure to a wide range of law enforcement operations. This experience reinforced his interest in public safety and has influenced his plans to begin his professional career in law enforcement while maintaining a long-term interest in federal service.

William’s academic achievements reflect his dedication and work ethic. He has maintained a 3.9 GPA throughout his graduate studies and will be inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration, in May. He also completed the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Professional Development Program in Fall 2025, further strengthening his leadership and professional skill set. As a first-generation graduate student, he takes particular pride in these accomplishments and the path they represent."

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Cullowhee, NC
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