The Engel Prize in Political Science:

Cameron Tiefenthaler (Junior)
Isabelle Sistino (Senior)

The Engel Prizes in Political Science were established in 1997 through the generosity of Alan and Sondra Engel. The nomination and selection of awardees is made by faculty teaching courses in the area of law and public affairs.  This is given for outstanding promise in the field of law and public affairs to one junior and one senior, with a copy of Black’s Law Dictionary, as well as a monetary prize. Alan Engel was a member of the Department of Political Science from 1960-1997 when he retired at the rank of Professor. He was very active in university faculty governance and served for many years as one of Miami’s premier pre-law advisors.

Howard White Award:

Howard White was chairman of the Department of Government at Miami University from 1927 to 1958. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the American Political Science Association from 1938-1941, and President of the Midwest Conference of Political Scientists from 1942-1946. He served as a delegate to the European Conference of Professors of International Law and Relations in 1926 and was a member of the Heidelberg International Workshop on the Social Studies in 1950. In 1959 he participated as a delegate to the Atlantic Council in London, and was also involved in the 5th NATO Parliamentarians Conference in Washington. Active in state and local government and author of many publications, Dr. White had a truly distinguished career as a political scientist.  This award recognizes seniors who have excelled in their scholarship and leadership.

Cyril Kofie Daddieh Award:

Cyril Kofie Daddieh was a professor at Miami University from 2006 until his death in 2017.  Daddieh joined Miami University in 2006 as director of black world studies and professor of political science. He served as director for five years. After that, he returned to research and teaching in the political science department where he taught international relations and black world studies courses for the next six years.  Daddieh was born in Jaway, Ghana, and each year, he spent his summer break conducting research in Ghana and the Côte d’Ivoire and writing about his findings.  For several presidential election cycles in Ghana, he participated as an election monitor through the Ghanaian Center for Democracy and Development. He wrote a myriad of articles on the political economy and electoral system in Ghana. This award is given to juniors whose overall academic record and work in the department of political science’s three majors has been outstanding.

Sara C. Glosik Scholarship:

Callaway Chapman
Minnie Warfield

Sara Glosik was a native of Brecksville, Ohio, and was a junior at Miami University majoring in Political Science and Finance. She was involved in a number of campus activities, including the lecture board and the multicultural council. She was also an active member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She died an untimely death at the age of 20 in a car accident over Easter weekend of 2002, and her family, friends, and sorority sisters have endowed this scholarship in her memory.  This scholarship is based on academic merit and is awarded to one or more undergraduate students majoring in political science who are rising juniors or seniors.

Gary Best Memorial  Scholarship:

Olivia Balakos
Cameron Tiefenthaler

The Gary L. Best Memorial Award was established by the Department of Government in 1966 to confer high honor upon a student of distinguished scholarship and professional promise. This award pays tribute to the memory of a good friend and colleague, who served at Miami from 1961 until his death in 1964. This award honors the qualities of outstanding scholarship, excellence in teaching, and personal merit reflected in his undergraduate education at Bradley, in his doctoral studies at Northwestern, and in his career as a political scientist at Oregon, Stanford, and Miami. This scholarship is awarded to a student who is a rising senior majoring in Political Science who demonstrates excellence and an interest and promise in teaching.

Augustus J. "Gus" Jones, Jr. Memorial Scholarship:

Lily Moncivaiz

The Augustus J. "Gus" Jones, Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established by the Department of Political Science and the family of Dr. Jones to honor his memory upon his unexpected death in 2015. Dr. Jones taught courses and conducted research on American civil liberties, constitutional law, civil rights, and American politics and diversity. In addition, he served Miami’s students as a pre-law adviser for nearly 30 years. He was selected as Outstanding Educator by the Miami University Alumni Association in 1999 and was named Distinguished Educator by the College of Arts and Science in 2002. This scholarship will be awarded every spring for the next academic year and given to students of historically underrepresented populations, with preference to African American students.

Ohio Public Leader Fellows:

The Ohio Public Leaders program provides students with a practical, co-curricular experience that enhances their understanding of the inner-workings of state and local government institutions. Students emerge prepared for success in the arena of public leadership while host organizations benefit from engaging with outstanding young talent. Watch what they had to say about their experiences. (video)

Pi Sigma Alpha Initiates:

Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1920 at the University of Texas in Austin to encourage and recognize superior achievement in the study of government and politics at the undergraduate and graduate level. It remains the only recognized college honor society in the discipline of political science.

Phi Beta Kappa:

Since our founding in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and championed freedom of thought. As America’s most prestigious academic honor society, we are uniquely equipped to advocate for the value and benefits of liberal arts and sciences education.

Departmental Honors:

Joshua Kennedy

Students with an overall grade point average of 3.5 and above, and a 3.7 GPA in the POL, DGP, or PA major, who are at the end of their third year or beginning of their fourth year, are invited to declare their intent to pursue Departmental Honors in Political Science to be completed during their fourth year. Students who may be finishing their degree in 3 years may also apply for their final year. Students must have at least 9 hours in political science coursework at a 300 level or above.

Truman Scholar Award:

Cameron Tiefenthaler

Fulbright U.S. Student Program:

Sinait Sarfino (alternate)

Presidential Distinguished Service Award:

Khenadi Grubb
Amitoj Kaur
Jazmine Williams

JANUS Executive Committee:

JANUS Forum Moderators:

Reena Murphy
Cameron Tiefenthaler

Political Science Office Assistants:

Callaway Chapman
Alex DiMarco
Hanna McDermott

Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs Interns: