UofL Political Science

A heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2026! We are so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments, and can’t wait to see where you go next.

We also encourage you to stay in touch with the department by joining the Political Science Alumni Council! The link to join is available in our bio.

Congrats to all of our grads! 🎓✨🎉

We are happy to annouce our 2026 Jean & Eleanor O’Sullivan Award Winner, Kylie Strehl! The Jean & Eleanor O’Sullivan award is presented to an outstanding senior majoring in political science who intends to pursue a graduate or professional degree.

We are so proud of you, Kylie! Excited to see what you accomplish!

Since 1979, the Louis Kesselman Award has been granted to deserving students based on academic performance and service. The 2026 Award is presented to Elia Trocan and Harper Hall.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you all!

We are proud to present the 2026 winners of the John & Kathryn Esselburn Scholarship, Elizabeth Gangwer & Carson Esquilin!

The John & Kathryn Esselburn Scholarship was established by Kathryn S. Esselburn in 2005 as a scholarship for undergraduate Political Science majors seeking a bachelor’s degree at U of L who have an interest in state or local government. This award is based on academic merit and given to promising students.

Congratulations, Elizabeth and Carson!

Each year, to wrap up a great semester, our Department presents 4 different awards to our outstanding Political Science students at our Spring Fete and Award Ceremony.

Our first 2026 award is the Erin Lyons Rouse Award. This award was established in 1985 to honor the memory of Erin Rouse, who was a student and staff member in the department. This award recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding service to the University and beyond.

The 2026 Erin Lyons Rouse Award was presented to Ofelia Mattingly and Benjamin Puppato. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments!

We are proud to feature double POLS Alumna Brooke Holton (BS '19, MA '23) for our graduate alumni spotlight! Brooke was featured in the graduate alumni interview for our spring professional development panel this past semester, and is currently the Chief Operating Officer at The Stephen Group, a national consulting firm that specializes in nonprofit, government, and relationship management. Brooke cites her experience working on a grant application as a Graduate Assistant in our department as a valuable experience in developing her professional skills. We look forward to seeing your continued success, Brooke!

You are invited to join us for the 2026 Grawemeyer Award Keynote Lecture featuring the recipient of the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, Dr. Joshua Busby, on his book "States and Nature", which examines how climate change-induced challenges lead to security hazards in some places, but not others.

The talk will be held in the Chao Auditorium at Ekstrom Library on Tuesday, April 14th at 1pm. The event is open to the public, and admission is free. We hope to see you there!

Applications are NOW OPEN for the Fall 2026 cohort of Louisville Metro internships! This program provides UofL students with hands-on experience working at Metro Council, gaining experience in both a legislative office as well as local government. To complete your application, complete the application below, and send a copy of your resume, transcript, and cover letter (max one page) to Dr. Sherri Wallace. Best of luck in your application! https://tr.ee/qrM0IiEcm1

🎓✨Ready to turn your passion for politics into an impactful career? UofL’s Political Science graduate program opens doors to leadership roles in government, non-profits, law, and public affairs, with NO GRE required to apply.

Applications are now open for both the Spring and Fall 2026 semesters. Apply now at graduate.louisville.edu/admission/apply, or email [email protected] for more info about the program!

From the classroom to the global stage! 🌏 Programs like Asian Studies don’t just shape your degree—they shape your perspective, your community and your future.

“My coursework in the Asian Studies Program was a highlight of my time at UofL. In particular, I enjoyed studying the Chinese political system, which influenced me to write a senior thesis on China’s One Country, Two Systems policy. Another highlight was traveling to China with Dr. Shiping Hua. His insights and contribution to the Sino-American political science literature are truly unmatched. Finally, the Asian Studies Program provided an incredible community. I built lifelong friendships with my peers, and I appreciated all the dinners, gatherings, and other community-building events the faculty organized.”
—Eric Bush (pictured above), Former Asian Studies Student, currently JD candidate at Harvard Law School

Learn more about how you can turn your passion into purpose at A&S. Email [email protected]!