Political Science, Philosophy and Geography

Colloquium explores ‘wicked problem’ of AI
Faculty and students agree: 'AI is not a replacement'

On today’s college campuses, one can hardly go a single day without hearing the letters “AI.” Eastern Connecticut State University recently dedicated a full day to unpacking the...

Posted on April 01, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

‘He is still teaching me’
A student-professor bond spans 40 years

When Robert “Bob” Polito ’86 retired from his job as senior vice president at Webster Bank in 2019, he found he had a bit of time on his hands. COVID-19 exploded a few months...

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Ed Osborn

For Drouin sisters, road through Eastern leads to Ph.D.s

Erin (’16) and Renee (’15) Drouin have a close relationship as sisters — “above average closeness,” according to Erin. They also share the uncommon bond of both...

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Governor Lamont discusses globalization, housing, and DEI with students

Governor Ned Lamont visited Eastern Connecticut State University on May 6, where he met with university administrators and students during a productive and thoughtful campus visit. After a meeting...

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern alumna excels as appellate public defender
Ruth Burke '20 passes bar, begins legal career

An alumna of the Department of Political Science, Philosophy, and Geography at Eastern Connecticut State University recently passed the Connecticut Bar Exam and now works as an appellate attorney....

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Local politicians visit Eastern for environmental panel discussion
Panel is part of Eastern’s Big Read program

Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo and Connecticut State Rep. Susan Johnson visited Eastern Connecticut State University for a panel discussion on March 4 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Proscenium...

Posted on March 05, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Rukgaber's new book reimagines bygone philosophical movement
'The Human as the Other' revisits philosophical anthropolgy

Philosophy Professor Matthew Rukgaber of Eastern Connecticut State University recently published a book examining an early 20th-century philosophical movement that blended with science to analyze...

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern inducts hundreds into honor societies in spring 2024

More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.

Posted on May 16, 2024

Eastern brings together experts to consider solutions to opioid epidemic

Experts on opioid epidemic open community dialogue at Eastern
Veteran EMT shares first-responder insights

Early in his career as a paramedic, in the 1990s, Peter Canning responded to a cheerleading accident in which a high school girl broke her back. Two years later, he responded to her again, this...

Posted on March 06, 2024 by Michael Rouleau

2 students travel to Puerto Rico to present AI research

Two students at Eastern Connecticut State University who are native Spanish speakers recently presented important research on technology while in a setting reminding them of home. Katherine...

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Noel Teter

National Student Exchange opens doors for Eastern students

Students study afar through college exchange program

Just as some Eastern students choose to study abroad, others come from far away for a semester at Eastern. Through the National Student Exchange (NSE) program, two students from Guam and Canada...

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Social Action Day tackles opioid crisis

Addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic was the topic of this year’s Social Action Day on Oct. 31, during which students prioritized an awareness campaign about this decades-long...

Posted on November 08, 2023 by Michael Rouleau

Lastrina paves her way for a career in human rights law

A political science major at Eastern Connecticut State University was recently accepted into a scholarship program that will enrich her law school application. Isabelle Lastrina ’24 was...

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Noel Teter

3 students awarded for equity and social justice

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students have won Equity and Social Justice Awards for their work promoting civil rights, resources for undocumented students, and mental health services...

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Students present in Wisconsin at National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Eastern Connecticut State University sent eight students to the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire on April 13 to present their research findings at the National Conference for Undergraduate...

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Jack Jones

Senator Chris Murphy addresses students’ concerns

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy fielded questions ranging from gun violence to foreign policy at an open forum on April 12 sponsored by the Political Science Club and the Department of Political Science,...

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Jack Jones

Connecticut attorney general speaks with Eastern students

Speaking to a crowd of Eastern students, faculty and staff on April 5, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the reasons why he pursued his law career and went on to become the first Asian...

Posted on April 06, 2023 by Amanda Irwin

Student Katherine Escalante advocates for DACA on Capitol Hill

Sophomore political science major Katherine Escalante received the chance of a lifetime this November when she was invited to Washington, D.C, to advocate for Deferred Action for Childhood...

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Katherine Escalante

College Democrats reactivate just in time for Election Day
Student organization brings top Democrats to campus

Gov. Ned Lamont, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Atty. Gen. William Tong and other top Democrats in the state came to Eastern on Nov. 4 to encourage students to vote on Election Day. The event happened...

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Jack Jones

Philosophy panel examines right to abortion

Two philosophy faculty members examined perspectives on the right to abortion in a panel discussion on Nov. 7. Professor Ana Funes-Maderey and Lecturer Matthew Rukgaber each presented a different...

Posted on November 09, 2022 by Noel Teter

Student artist displays her Mental health inspired work

Eastern hosts COPLAC’s Northeast research conference

Eastern hosted the Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) on Oct. 28-29. The conference...

Posted on November 07, 2022 by Jack Jones

Pi Sigma Alpha students table for voter registration

Pi Sigma Alpha receives grant to promote voter registration

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Political Science honors society, Pi Sigma Alpha, recently hosted a voter registration event on Oct. 26. Aiming to promote civil engagement and register...

Posted on November 01, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Supreme Court hears 2 cases at Eastern
‘On Circuit’ gives students up-close look at judicial process

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted the Connecticut Supreme Court on Oct. 19 as it heard two cases in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center. The event marked the return of...

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Noel Teter

Students participate in SRIs at Eastern.

Research institutes examine big data, political ideology and literary scholarship

Eastern hosted three Summer Research Institutes (SRIs) at the conclusion of summer break. Occurring from Aug. 22 – 26, the weeklong institutes engaged 29 students in the fields of English,...

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Philosophy Club wins New Club of the Year award

The Philosophy Club at Eastern Connecticut State University has been named winner of the New Club of the Year Award. The presentation took place during the annual Budget and Management (BAM) Spring...

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Matthew Rukgaber and his new book, “Nietzsche in Hollywood: Images of the Übermensch in Early American Cinema.”

Rukgaber publishes book on Nietzsche in Hollywood

Matthew Rukgaber, lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Philosophy and Geography, has published a new book, “Nietzsche in Hollywood: Images of the Übermensch in Early American...

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Campus Briefs

CCE hosts ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters’; Biology major receives travel award; ‘Eye-Mind-Body’ presents drawing in action; Vasillopulos and Rezai author new books; and more.

Posted on March 08, 2022

Pi Sigma Alpha receives grant for political debate

Eastern Connecticut State University’s political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, has been awarded a Chapter Activity Grant by the national honor society to help facilitate a debate...

Posted on March 07, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Vasillopulos' new book interprets Greek tragedy 'Medea'

Christopher Vasillopulos, political science professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, recently authored a new book titled “Interpreting Euripides’s Medea from Aristotelian and...

Posted on March 07, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Students 'test the waters' via internships in fall 2021

Eastern Connecticut State University students have immersed themselves into real-life practice through internships during the fall 2021 semester. Ranging from work with probation officers to...

Posted on December 01, 2021 by Molly Boucher

Campus Briefs

Shackathon exposes students to substandard housing; Class Day celebrates sophomore students; Canterbury book draws international celebration; and Vasillopulos to sit on accreditation panel of Greek...

Posted on October 26, 2021

Vasillopulos to sit on accreditation panel of Greek university

Political Science Professor Christopher Vasillopulos has been asked by the Athens, Greece-based Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to serve on a Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE)...

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

4 faculty authors publish new books

Four faculty members from Eastern Connecticut State University have recently published academic books spanning philosophy, Caribbean economics, the musicality of film and Latina leadership. The...

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Bobbi Brown, Molly Boucher, Dwight Bachman

Eastern partners in AAC&U-sponsored open educational resources project

Eastern Connecticut State University was recently selected to participate in an Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) project to accelerate the development and adoption of...

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Vasillopulos and 'alter ego' author book on state of America

Christopher Vasillopulos, political science professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, has published a new book, “Aristotle’s Ghost: How Good Free Men Built Good Free...

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern is top university for ‘Opportunity Scholars’
TheDream.US program provides full scholarships to undocumented students

Since TheDream.US started its groundbreaking scholarship program to support undocumented students in 2016, it has relied on five institutions nationwide to host more than 600 Opportunity Scholars....

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Michael Rouleau