School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal & Security Studies

Faculty Accomplishment Fridays!

We are proud to celebrate Justin Katusak on co-authoring his first peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. In "The Limits of the Law: Reimagining Marketplace Accessibility," Justin and his co-authors from the University of Houston and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee make the case that true marketplace inclusion requires marketers to go beyond mere legal compliance in designing experiences for all consumers.

The Limits of the Law: Reimagining Marketplace Accessibility” Volume 45, Issue 3 of Journal of Public Policy & Marketing is available at https://doi.org/10.1177/07439156261427001

Dr. Richard Longoria continues to garner national media attention for his expertise in celebrity politics.

Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles spearheads wave of reality stars running for office A new wave of celebrities are appearing on ballots across the country, showing just how far a famous face can carry a candidate to office with no political experience. ​Spencer Pratt, a reality tel…

Faculty Accomplishment Friday!

Prof. Mark J. Kaswan was a keynote speaker for the Visual Political Propaganda: Sources, Incarnations, Future conference sponsored by the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland. His talk was titled, “In the Post-Truth Era, What’s Left of Politics?” While there, he also did a seminar attended by several members of the faculty and graduate students, entitled “Happiness, Democracy, and the Socialist Imaginary.”

Faculty Accomplishment Friday!

Why does the United States aggressively prohibit price-fixing at home while tolerating cartel behavior in global oil markets? In his latest commentary, Justin Katusak examines OPEC’s influence over oil prices, the UAE’s pending exit from the organization, and what these developments could mean for competition, energy policy, and American consumers.

Commentary: The cartel we tolerate For more than a century, the United States has treated price-fixing as one of the most serious economic offenses imaginable. When private firms coordinate output, restrict supply or attempt to influence prices, federal law is unambiguous: It is illegal.

Faculty Accomplishment Friday!

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Longoria for his interview feature in the New York Times's "Unfortunately, We Have to Take Spencer Pratt Seriously as a Politician," where he lends his insight on celebrities running for office.

Opinion | Unfortunately, We Have to Take Spencer Pratt Seriously as a Politician Reality stars and influencers in government are here to stay.

On Wednesday, May 20, we concluded this semester’s "Civics Simplified: Understanding Government" series at the McAllen Public Library. Dr. Diana Almaguer delivered a compelling presentation on community engagement, weaving her personal experiences into a broader discussion on how we cultivate ties and build meaningful relationships with those around us. It was the perfect talk to wrap up the series.



We are deeply grateful to the McAllen Public Library for a fantastic year of partnership. This platform has allowed us to showcase UTRGV PPLSS faculty (and students!) while providing an invaluable opportunity to engage with our local community. Listening to the public's questions and concerns has not only been rewarding but has also provided us with food for thought on how to recalibrate and enrich our own pedagogical practice.



We look forward to returning with more events in the coming months. Watch this space!

This semester, PPLSS held its inaugural Student & Faculty Research Symposium events on both the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.

The Edinburg Symposium featured presentations by our students Adam Bernal, Hoskar Sosa, and Gloria Flores, followed by a book launch by Dr. Andreea Stoian Karadeli.

The Brownsville Symposium featured presentations by our students Zanela Denise Bajarias and Kaidyn Nelson, followed by a research panel with Dr. Alexandre Couture-Gagnon.

Thank you to all who presented and attended, and keep an eye out for future symposiums!

Our final talk of the academic year in the Civics Simplified: Understanding Government series will take place TODAY at 6:00 PM at the McAllen Public Library. Join us for a discussion on community engagement with Diana Almaguer!



This public talk series is designed to make civic knowledge accessible, relevant, and engaging for everyone. Led by PPLSS faculty, the series explores how government works, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and how civic participation can empower individuals and strengthen communities.



This free event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend!

Our final talk of the academic year in the Civics Simplified: Understanding Government series will take place on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:00 PM at the McAllen Public Library. Join us for a discussion on community engagement with Diana Almaguer!



This public talk series is designed to make civic knowledge accessible, relevant, and engaging for everyone. Led by PPLSS faculty, the series explores how government works, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and how civic participation can empower individuals and strengthen communities.



This free event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend!

Congratulations to the winners of the Best Political Science Paper Contest, organized by the School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies!

First place went to Nora Jaramillo ($100 prize), second place to Samantha Sandoval ($75 prize), and third place to Sofia Varela ($50 prize).

Thank you also to everyone that submitted a paper for consideration!