Political Science

ACLU talk about voting with ECSU students

Eastern hosts ACLU to get students election-ready

A recent Youth Poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics found that only 33% of voters between 18 and 29 expect the 2026 election to be conducted fairly, suggesting faith in voting is at a nadir...

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Tim Stevens

Students with Professor Steve Muchiri during the "Data Analytics-Oriented Undergraduate Research: Industry 4.0 and Big Data Analytics in Healthcare" institute.

Eastern expands Summer Research Institutes
Seven institutes provide research opportunities to students

Nearly 70 Eastern students began their summer immersed in research. This June, the University expanded its Summer Research Institute (SRI) program from three to seven faculty-led institutes,...

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Savannah Striano ‘25

Beludji Narcisse's ’25 journey from Haiti to law school

A recent alumnus of Eastern Connecticut State University has been accepted into the University of Connecticut School of Law after a tumultuous journey from Haiti to the United States. Beludji...

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Elisabeth Craig '26

VIDEO: Students shine at CREATE conference

Student research and creative activity took center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 24 during the annual CREATE conference, a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate...

Posted on May 04, 2026 by Michael Rouleau

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

Alumna champions liberal arts on Capitol Hill
Grace Carlos ’23 speaks at COPLAC legislative breakfast

Political science alumna Grace Carlos ‘23 represented Eastern Connecticut State University at the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges’ (COPLAC) legislative breakfast on Jan. 22 in...

Posted on January 29, 2026

Political science alumni take their talents to Washington, D.C.
Carlos, Escalante land work on Capitol Hill

Two recent political science graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University recently began their professional careers in the nation’s capital. Grace Carlos ’23 serves full-time as...

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

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

Political science honor society hosts discussion on housing crisis
State Department of Housing joins Pi Sigma Alpha

Eastern’s chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society hosted a discussion on housing issues on May 7 in the Gelsi-Young Hall Connecticut Room. In collaboration with...

Posted on May 12, 2025

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

Post-election panel analyzes turnout and historical precedents

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a “Post-Election Reflections” panel on Nov. 13. The discussion was moderated by history Professor Tom Balcerski and political science...

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Darlene Orozco B. '28

Local political parties urge voter turnout
'Youth is the future of politics'

Major political parties visited Eastern Connecticut State University from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 to engage with students during a weeklong schedule of events as a part of Eastern’s larger...

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Kyle Berson

‘Voting Matters’ kicks off with political panel featuring acclaimed professors

Eastern Connecticut State University began its “Voting Matters” week on Sept. 30 with a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring political science experts from prestigious...

Posted on October 02, 2024 by Kyle Berson

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

Political science honor society hosts first ‘Emerging Minds’ conference

Eastern Connecticut State University’s political science honor society hosted a conference “for students by students” on April 5 in the Science Building lobby. The inaugural...

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Katherine Escalante

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

History majors uncover lost relics in Willimantic Town Hall

Eastern history majors and members of the History Club uncovered centuries worth of historical documents in the top floors of the Willimantic Town Hall at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester.

Posted on October 04, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

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

Students recall summers abroad

Eastern Connecticut State University offers countless opportunities for students to grow as intellectuals, professionals and people. Over the summer, students had the chance to travel outside the...

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Students reflect on summer 2023 internships

While summer may be a time for rest and relaxation, many Eastern students take it as an opportunity to gain work experience via internships, allowing them to apply lessons learned in the classroom...

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Marcus Grant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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