Call for Proposals: 23rd CES Conference

The Program Committee for the 23rd International Conference of Europeanists (on the theme, “Reslient Europe?”) invites participants to consider contemporary Europe’s capacity for resilience. Since the financial crisis began in 2008, stresses and shocks of various sorts have posed dilemmas that challenge Europe’s resilience in economic, political, and cultural domains. How will European economies, societies, democracies, and powers respond?

The Council for European Studies (CES) seeks proposals that explore the quality of resilience in Europe. It encourages proposals from the widest range of disciplines and, in particular, proposals that combine disciplines, nationalities, and generations. To form panels, participants may find it useful to connect with like-minded scholars through the many CES research networks, which can be found here: http://councilforeuropeanstudies.org/research/research-networks.

Proposals may be submitted from August 17 to October 1, 2015. Participants will be notified of the Program Committee’s decision by December 10, 2015. Information on how to submit proposals will be posted on the CES website and disseminated through its newsletter. To subscribe to the CES newsletter visit: http://councilforeuropeanstudies.org/.

2016 SPSA Meeting

The theme for the 2016 Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting will be “Rich and Poor Democracy,” reflecting an overarching interest in the positive and normative aspects of inequality in democratic representation, often due to the rich or poor performance of democratic institutions. The program committee eagerly awaits paper proposals and innovative conference ideas. We look forward to seeing you in January 2016 in Puerto Rico!

-David Lewis, 2016 Program Chair

Go to http://spsa.net/annual-meeting/2015-conference-overview/? to submit your abstract for the 2016 Meeting. The 2016 Conference will be held January 7–9, 2016 at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

APSA STAFF SPOTLIGHTS Director of Government Relations, Public Engagement, and Congressional Fellowship Programs

Kara Abramson joined APSA in August as director of government relations, public engagement, and congressional fellowship programs. From 2005 to 2012, she served as senior counsel and advocacy director at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which is mandated by Congress to monitor human rights and the rule of law in China. A specialist in China’s western region of Xinjiang, Kara analyzed Chinese policies on ethnicity and religion for the Commission. Most recently, Kara was a visiting fellow at the University of Tokyo, where she conducted research on political conditions in western China. She also taught international law and human rights law as an adjunct professor of law at Temple University Law School’s Tokyo campus. Her scholarship on China and human rights has appeared in publications including the Journal of Asian Studies and Harvard International Law Journal. Kara received a JD from Harvard Law School and AB from Princeton University.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Because APSA strives to communicate effectively with members and the public, the association has brought on new expertise to accomplish these goals. Dan Gibson recently joined APSA staff to serve as director of communications and marketing. He is responsible for APSA media/press relations, branding, and web communications. He is a veteran communications and marketing professional. He has worked primarily in the association field for more than 20 years using his expertise to deliver clear, consistent messaging and promote the interests of organizations and their memberships. His travels include the IEEE Computer Society, United Rentals, the American Gas Association, the National Association of Workforce Boards, the International Franchise Association, and the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professional. Gibson received a BA Communications from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, and has received numerous awards in marketing and communications.

Director, Diversity and Inclusion Programs

Kimberly Mealy is director of diversity and inclusion programs, and oversees the APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI), Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), and the Mentor Program. From 2007 to 2014 Kimberly directed Education, Professional Development and Diversity Programs, and the Teaching and Learning Conference. She has supported two APSA presidential task forces, “Political Science in the 21st Century” (2010) and “Negotiating Agreement in Politics” (2013), and currently supports the RBSI Working Group and the APSA Status Committees. Prior to joining APSA in 2007, Kimberly taught in the political science department at Wellesley College, as a teaching fellow and a visiting assistant professor. Kimberly earned her BA from Swarthmore College and her PhD in political science and public policy from Indiana University, where she also directed mentoring and professional development programs for the Office of the Dean for Women’s Affairs and taught courses in political science. Kimberly has coauthored articles on graduate education and teaching and learning in political science.

APSA Appoints Senior Director, Research and Development

Betsy Super has been appointed as the senior director of research and development. Betsy oversees research support programs for ASPA members including the Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs, small research grants, travel grants, and the ethics program. She also leads the association’s research on the profession, and individual and institutional development. From 2011 to 2014 Betsy led International Programs at APSA, overseeing the Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Workshops supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Prior to joining APSA, Betsy worked at the University of Edinburgh on an ESRC-funded project investigating party positioning on immigration and EU membership, and was the first project officer for the Public Policy Network. Her scholarly work has been published in Scandinavian Political Studies, Acta Politica, and Environmental Politics, among others. Betsy received her BA in government from Dartmouth College and PhD in politics from the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Pictured is a roundtable held at 2015 MPSA Conference with contributors to the PS: Political Science and Politics Spotlight Symposium on “The Politics and Policy of Ebola.” The presenters from left to right are Joshua Busby, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin; Kim Yi Dionne, Smith College; Laura Seay, Colby College; Ruxandra Paul, Harvard University; Logan S. Casey, University of Michigan; Carolyn M. Somerville, Hunter College; and Maryam Zarnegar Deloffre, Arcadia University.