CCU Political Science

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Summer Collins, winner of the Mary Jean Byrd Best Paper Award at the 2026 meeting of the South Carolina Political Science Association!

The award is given to the best undergraduate paper presented at the association’s annual conference. Her paper is titled "From Federal Courts to State Courts: The Effects of Rucho v. Common Cause on Partisan Gerrymandering Litigation." It will be published in the 2027 edition of the Journal of Political Science.

Summer, a junior political science major and Honors student from Easthampton, Massachusetts, is the first Coastal Carolina University student to win the award since 2014. She plans to attend law school after graduation.

08/18/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Norris!

08/14/2026

Looking for a paid spring internship that builds your résumé? 📈

The RISE Center is currently accepting applications for the UN Student Youth Corps internship program! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience with local organizations.

💵 $16 per hour
🎯 60-70% of applicants are hired!
🎓 Earn credit toward your major.
🏠 Reduced-cost housing options are available.

📌 Application Deadline: Oct.12. Apply now: bit.ly/riseccu.

Get paid to make a local impact! 🌟

CCU's RISE Center is now accepting applications for the Spring 2027 UN Student Youth Corps internship program.

⏰ Deadline to apply: Oct.12.
🔗 Apply at bit.ly/riseccu.

08/05/2026

's RISE Center is helping strengthen the Grand Strand's future through hands-on career opportunities for students. Thanks to a $20,000 grant from Bank of America and Partnership Grand Strand, 14 students gained paid summer internships that built skills, connections, and pathways to success right here in our community.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Tsxs6S

07/15/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Suheir Daoud on the publication of her new book, Inside the Belly of the Whale: Islamism in the Jewish State! 🎉📖

07/11/2026

We had a great time hosting this event again this year. Thank you to everyone who led and participated in the sessions!

06/24/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Vaughn!

Congratulations to Dr. Justin Vaughn on being selected to participate in American Association of State Colleges and Universities Emerging Leaders Program! This highly competitive program is designed to help top academic and administrative professionals advance to senior leadership roles and drive impactful change in higher education. We are so proud to celebrate this achievement! 🎉

“I’m delighted and honored to be a part of AASCU’s new cohort of higher education leaders. It is an exciting opportunity and I’m grateful to Provost Knotts and HTC Honors Dean Hottinger for making my participation possible."

Learn more: https://aascu.org/news/45-higher-education-professionals-to-participate-in-2026-emerging-leaders-program

06/11/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Ye!

We are thrilled to congratulate Min Ye, Ph.D., for achieving the Quality matters (QM) course certification for POLI 101: Introduction to World Politics on June 9, 2026 in the CCU Spadoni College of Education & Social Sciences! Join us in celebrating Min's dedication and commitment to excellence in online education!

06/01/2026

Department of Political Science Chair Mikel Norris and political science major Kallie LaCount were among the participants in this spring’s inaugural Coastal Listens event, which focused on civic listening and dialogue.

The event was part of the Coastal Civic Initiative and was organized by Dr. Justin Vaughn, professor of political science and director of the Center for Applied Civic Leadership.

Also pictured are Associate Provost Dr. Clayton Whitesides, one of the event’s speakers; Associate Provost Dr. Rob Young; and CCU student Abigail Turka. Abigail and Kallie are Fellows in the Center for Applied Civic Leadership.

05/18/2026

Congratulations, Kennedy!

Congratulations to Kennedy Kovach, recipient of the 2026 Hudson Institute Political Studies Summer Fellowship!

A rising senior political science major, Kennedy will spend six weeks in Washington, D.C., engaging in seminars, policy workshops and discussions with leading scholars and public officials. She plans to pursue law and run for Congress.

"I am excited to deepen my engagement with political theory, public policy, and contemporary governance while learning alongside an exceptional group of peers."

Dr. Kimberly Hale, associate professor of political science, nominated Kennedy for the fellowship.

"Kennedy is one of the top students in the Political Science major at . Her passion for politics and commitment to being an active, engaged citizen is remarkable. The Hudson Institute Political Studies Summer Fellowship program brings together the most outstanding political theory undergraduates from across the country for extensive study of the most enduring questions of political life. I believe that Kennedy is an ideal candidate for this program, and have no doubt she will be an outstanding representative for CCU."

CCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gibbs Knotts echoed this sentiment:

"I was lucky to have Kennedy as a student in my POLI 368: Campaigns and Elections course, and she is a star. I have also watched her grow as a campus leader over the past couple of years and know she will do very well in this prestigious program."

Kennedy serves as a CCU student senator, participates in Mock Trial and is active in HTC Honors College through the Pluralism Fellowship and Quill Project.

For information about nationally competitive awards, contact [email protected].