New book from Jonathan Krieckhaus and University of Michigan Press, Geopolitical Economy, examines the significance and nature of trade agreements (FTAs), the primary policy tool through which modern nations seek access to international markets and promote economic growth. The book focuses specifically on how South Korea, the world’s leader in the number and significance of FTAs as well as the world’s sixth largest export economy, uses FTAs.

In April, the department held our annual awards reception, honoring our undergraduate and graduate student scholarship winners.

Undergraduate Scholarship Winners

William L. Bradshaw Scholarship
Serena Maxfield

Jeffrey D. Byrne Scholarship
Kaitlyn Sawyer

J.G. Heinberg Scholarship
Alexander Galvin
Sarah Jolley
Mary Grace Newman

PhD Candidate Mike Hendricks is co-founder and co-director of the new Missouri Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program.

Somewhere there is a gap between what we think the world should be and what policies can actually effect positive change. Bridging the two is something that TSPA student Michael Gawlick dedicated himself to as a Public Policy Fellow for the Urban Leaders Fellowship this past summer. The fellowship was centered on facilitating systems-level change, a harmony between problem-solving and an understanding for how such policy affects a broader community. A core philosophy of the Urban Leaders is “to impact real and lasting change, creating smart policy is not enough.

In the summer of 2018, ruman School graduate Zedilson Almeida became an Obama Leader. One of 200 Leaders from 44 countries throughout Africa, Almeida is Angola’s sole representative and will participate in a year of high impact problem-solving sessions, workshops, and serve in activities aimed at addressing local and international crises.

Political Science major James Bohnett was in the first class of Kinder Scholars and is currently working on his honors capstone. His achievements in the classroom and on the basketball court were recently featured by MU Student Affairs.

As I begin searching for my first career out of graduate school, I was interested in networking with other professionals in the field. I received the opportunity to assist with the initial development of a new nonprofit in northeast Iowa called Camp Bangarang. Camp Bangarang is a fun, empowering, and completely free camp experience for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.