Michigan State University Political Science

MSU PLS Assistant Professor Raúl Rodríguez, director of The LeFrak Forum, discussed the current LeFrak theme of "Pursuit of Happiness" on WJR this morning. Check it out here!
https://jr-morning.simplecast.com/episodes/msu-students-chase-happiness-tackle-ai-and-debate-founding-fathers

MSU Students Chase Happiness, Tackle AI, and Debate Founding Fathers | 'JR Morning June 23, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson speak with Raul Rodriguez, Director of the LaFrak Forum and Assistant Professor of Political Thought at MSU. They discuss the pursuit of happiness in the 21st century.

MSU PLS wishes the best of luck to doctoral student Angela Perez as she defends her dissertation at 10 a.m. Wednesday June 24. You've got this!

Juneteenth is a day of liberation, celebration, and education.

We celebrate today with all Spartans!

Raul Rodriguez is the director of the LeFrak Forum, as well as an assistant professor of political thought at the College of Social Science. Here, he answers questions on what the “pursuit of happiness” means two-and-a-half centuries later.

MSU professor reflects on the ‘pursuit of happiness’ 250 years since America’s inception Raul Rodriguez, professor and director of MSU's LeFrak Forum forum, answers questions on what the “pursuit of happiness” means two-and-a-half centuries later.

Congratulations to MSU PLS PhD candidate Kelechi Amakoh whose Dutch Research Council (NWO)-funded project just received the Top Faculty Paper Award at the International Communication Association Conference in South Africa! The awarded paper is titled: “Distinguishing news media trust, skepticism, and cynicism through elaboration: toward a global typology of distrustors, mistrustors, automatic trustors and engaged trustors.” The team is lead by Dr. Mark Boukes, University of Amsterdam. Great work, team!
https://www.nwo.nl/en/projects/406xs04155

MSU PLS is pleased to introduce our newest cohort of Political Science Scholars. These excellent students are assigned a faculty mentor, have access to funding support, meet with alumni and office holders, and can serve as a Undergraduate Learning Assistant. To learn more about the program, go to https://polisci.msu.edu/undergraduate/political-science-scholars.html
Today's Scholar Spotlight is Siobhan Whalen.

MSU PLS is pleased to introduce our newest cohort of Political Science Scholars. These excellent students are assigned a faculty mentor, have access to funding support, meet with alumni and office holders, and can serve as a Undergraduate Learning Assistant. To learn more about the program, go to https://polisci.msu.edu/undergraduate/political-science-scholars.html
Today's Scholar Spotlight is Savanna Seeling.

Seven incoming College of Social Science students have been awarded full merit scholarships to attend MSU!

Congrats to our newest Social Scientists!

http://spr.ly/6183B8YaLb

Michigan State University Department of Economics History Department, Michigan State University MSU Psychology Michigan State University Political Science

Thank you Rep. Fitzgerald!

MSU PLS is pleased to introduce our newest cohort of Political Science Scholars. These excellent students are assigned a faculty mentor, have access to funding support, meet with alumni and office holders, and can serve as a Undergraduate Learning Assistant. To learn more about the program, go to https://polisci.msu.edu/undergraduate/political-science-scholars.html
Today's Scholar Spotlight is Meredith Nestor.