Thursday August 30, 2001 |

National convention to host nearly 4,000 people

Students in political science classes will have an extended Labor Day weekend, thanks to professors who have headed west to recruit faculty, jobs and teaching ideas at a political science convention in San Francisco.

More than half of the University of Arizona's political science department's 29 employees - 15 to 20 professors and graduate teaching assistants - will attend the annual American Political Science Association meeting that runs Wednesday through Sunday, said William Mishler II, Department Head of Political Science.

"It's where faculty members go to hear about the latest research in their area and see what's being published lately," Mishler said.

The meeting is a bazaar of opportunities and people.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 political scientists will attend, Mishler estimated.

"They'll fill up three hotels," he said. "The place will just be crawling."

Professors can sell the books they've written, and browse textbooks to order for courses next semester.

Graduate students can seek out future jobs and grants, present papers and network with professors from universities across the country, Mishler said.

The UA will be among those recruiting instructors, he said.

In what Mishler calls "informal recruiting," five professors from other universities who specialize in public law will be interviewed, and some may be offered positions with the political science department later this year.

Recruitment for the department comes in light of the "brain drain" effect the university has experience in recent years.

"We've shrunk from 32 faculty to currently 25 faculty," Mishler said. "We've hired one but we'd like to hire two more."

UA professors will pass along the names of graduate students who are eyeing the job market to colleagues at other universities, Mishler said.

Greg Johnson, Carrie Currier and Pat McGovern are among the UA graduate students considering starting their teaching careers at other universities, Mishler said.

The meeting is also an opportunity to recognize professors for their achievements.

For the first time, the political science honorary, Pi Sigma Alpha, is presenting awards for "Outstanding Teaching in Political Science." The awards will be handed out at a reception.

James W. Clarke, university distinguished professor and professor of political science, is the only UA political science professor who will be receiving an award.

But Clarke has elected to receive his award by mail, so he doesn't have to skip class to attend the conference.

"I don't like to miss class to go to (the meetings)," Clarke said.

Clarke has been a UA professor for 30 years.

Meanwhile, a graduate student newer to political science will present a paper today on wars an intervention.

"I'm really excited, and a little nervous," said graduate student Greg Dixon.

Though Dixon has attended the conferences before, he has never presented a paper.

Dixon joked with his class that he would be up late with his co-authors, preparing for their 8 a.m. presentation.

Dixon is looking for critique and feedback on the theories presented in his paper, before he and his group attempt to get it published in political science journals.