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News Release

Nov. 8, 2018

Northwest hosts international political science conference

Dr. Jessica Gracey

Colleen McCain Nelson

Scholars from throughout the world converged Oct. 26-27 at Northwest Missouri State University for the 21st Annual Great Plains Political Science Association Conference (GPPSA), hosted by the University’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Scholars, practitioners and students in political science and related disciplines annually attend and share their research at the conference.

This year’s presenters included three Northwest students.

• Taylor Moore, a sophomore public administration major from Lenexa, Kansas, presented “Reforms to Racial Profiling” and provided commentary during a roundtable about Kansas politics.
• Megan Clasen, a senior public administration major from Chesterfield, Missouri, presented “A Prayer Revolution: A Case Study of Engel v. Vitale.”
• Tyler Bears, a sophomore global affairs major from Elmo, Missouri, presented “A Brief History of Conversion Therapy.”

Additionally, three Northwest faculty members were elected as GPPSA officers for 2018-19.

• Dr. Jessica Gracey, an assistant professor of political science, was elected president.
• Dr. Bronson Herrera, assistant professor of political science, was elected vice president.
• Daniel Smith, assistant professor of political science, was re-elected treasurer.

Dr. Luke Campbell, an assistant professor of political science, was president of GPPSA for 2017-18 as Northwest hosted the conference for the second consecutive year.

A keynote address featuring Colleen McCain Nelson, a Pulitzer Prize winner and the vice president and editorial page editor for The Kansas City Star, highlighted the conference. McCain Nelson shared insight about her years of covering the White House and presidential campaigns for The Dallas Morning News and The Wall Street Journal.

The Great Plains Political Science Association was created in 1997 to promote the study of political science and public affairs and supports academic study of the topics through an annual conference that serves as a forum for both faculty and student presentations, faculty development and public affairs workshops.