August 29, 2024
Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society for college students, has recognized Oakland University’s Nu Omega chapter with a 2023-2024 Best Chapter Award, marking the 11th consecutive year the chapter has been so honored.
The award is given annually to chapters that are exceptionally active in their universities and communities and embody Pi Sigma Alpha’s mission to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science.
“It's an honor to hold onto this award for 11 years straight, especially since we are competing with so many amazing universities from across the country,” said Nu Omega President Taylor Richardson “We are respected as the best, and I think our chapter has done a lot of hard work to keep that Best Chapter Award coming back year after year.”
In an email to OU leaders announcing the Best Chapter Award, Pi Sigma Alpha Executive Director Tanya Schwarz lauded Nu Omega’s “achievements in developing activities supporting student career development, especially given the significant challenges faculty and students around the country continue to face.”
Nu Omega members went to Washington D.C. for the 2024 Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference. |
Throughout the past year, Nu Omega members hosted monthly events to encourage student engagement, research, or career preparation. The largest events were a panel on "How to Succeed in Law School" featuring three OU alumni, and a research symposium where students presented their capstone or honors research projects in a poster session. Nu Omega officers applied for and received a $2,000 grant from the national chapter to cover the cost of refreshments and poster awards for the top student presenters.
Another notable accomplishment was sending nine student presenters to the 2024 Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C.
“This was the most presenters of any university in the country,” said Nicole Mathew, associate professor of political science and Nu Omega faculty advisor. “Two of our graduating seniors mentioned that attending this conference was their favorite experience during their time at Oakland.”
Richardson has “many fond memories” of the conference, where she presented a research paper co-authored with political science professor Matthew Fails.
“We have a great department full of faculty who encourage every political science student to work hard to achieve their absolute best,” she said. “That’s reflected not only by our attendance at events, but our commitment to keep submitting research and presenting at conferences.”
The Best Chapter Award includes a cash prize of $500 for the chapter, as well as an additional $200 to the advisor for their service. In addition, winners will be featured in the American Political Science Association’s magazine, Political Science Today.
Learn more about programs and opportunities in OU’s Department of Political Science at oakland.edu/polisci.