Best Paper Awards - Arkansas Political Science Association

Nominations for “Best Paper” awards in each of the categories shown below may come from Section Chairs, Panel Chairs, paper authors, or any member of the Association. To be eligible, the papers must have been presented by one or more authors during the annual meeting. Nominations should be forwarded (along with a copy of each paper) to the Chair of the “Best Paper” Awards Committee within one month of the end of the conference. Decisions will be announced by the Association within three months of the end of the conference. The authors of the best undergraduate student paper and the best graduate student paper are each awarded a certificate and a $250.00 check (shared by co-authors). The author of the best faculty paper is awarded a certificate and a $250.00 check (shared by the co-authors).

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2026 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Christopher Tyler Burks (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “Arkansas Politics, 1980-2025: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda”
Best Graduate Student Paper — Ryan Ramaker (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Troubled Waters: Policy Narratives, Attention Cycles, and Watershed Management Policy Processes – A Case Study Analysis of Beaver Lake, Arkansas”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper — Jayden Hughes (Lyon College), “Is Compassion Political? Politics, Economics, Civic Capacity, and Refugee Resettlement in the United States, 2015-2021”

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2025 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Hyo-Won Shin (University of Central Arkansas), “Imagining Intergroup Contact as a Method of Improving Outgroup Relations in Ethnically Diverse Contexts: Experimental Evidence from Burmese Migrants in Thailand”
Best Graduate Student Paper — None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper — Dani Brumbelow (Hendrix College), “Pro se Litigations: Determined or Deadly? The Impact of Self-Representation in Craighead and Faulkner Counties”

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2024 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas-Monticello, Monticello, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Eric Button (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “A State-Level Approach to Veteran Homelessness and the Potential Role of State Capacity”
Best Graduate Paper — Madeline Kittler (University of Missouri), “Christian Fundamentalists’ Influence on Policy Agendas: State-Level Analysis Controlling for Professionalization”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Joshua Archer (Lyon College), “The Impact of Social Media Upon Voters’ Foreign Policy Preferences”

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2023 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Clay Arnold (University of Central Arkansas), “Machiavelli’s Deceptions”
Best Graduate Paper — Kennedy Hill (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Representative Government: An Evaluation of Single-Party Dominance in Arkansas”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Kiera Boop (Hendrix College), “What Factors Impact the Speed of Crisis Response? Insights from COVID-19”

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2022 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Michael Rogers (Arkansas Tech University), “Appointed in a Very Odd Manner’: Anti-Federalist Critiques of Presidential Selection During the Ratification Debates”
Best Graduate Paper — Adil Yildiz (University of Mississippi), “Explaining the Intensity of Nonviolent Resistance”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Logan Hubberd (Lyon College), “Civic Engagement and Academic Success”

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2021 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Kimberly Maslin (Hendrix College), “Why Rahel Matters? Hannah Arendt and German Romanticism”
Best Graduate Paper — Murat Abus (ASU-Jonesboro), “Election Administration and UOCAVA Voting: The State and New Metrics”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Taylor Fitterling (Lyon College), “Vote-Switching: Independent Voter Volatility in U.S. Presidential Elections”

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2020 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — None
Best Graduate Paper — Murat Abus (ASU-Jonesboro), ” Reflections in the Mirror: Authoritarian Values and Political Identities in Turkey”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Bailey Brya (Hendrix College), “NGO-Driven Environmental Awareness and Citizen Participation: The Case of the Yangtze River Watchers in China”

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2019 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Kisha Hardwick (University of Central Arkansas), “Bureaucratic Information Environments and Institutional Arrangements: The Influence of Power, Professionalism, and Polarization on State Agency Head Interactions”
Best Graduate Paper — Alexandra Johnson (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), ” Sex, Stress, and the Supreme Court: Verbal and Nonverbal Analysis of Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh During his Senate Confirmation Hearings”
Best Undergraduate Paper — Hannah Burdette (Hendrix College), “Her Rights, Everyone’s Benefit: An Examination of Women’s Rights in the Global Economy”

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2018 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Patrick Stewart, Elaine Terrell, Alex M. Kareev, Blake Tylar Ellison, and Charini I. Urteaga (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Gamifying” online American National Government: Lessons learned from developing “Citizenship Quest”
Best Graduate Paper — Eric D. Button with Anne B. Diallo (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville),”Trends in Voting Behavior of Active-Duty Military Spouses: A Study of Sophistication, Access, and Participation”
Best Undergraduate Paper — C. Taylor Summerville (Arkansas Tech University), “Pakistan-India Territorial Disputes: Why do the tensions persist?” and Regan Williams (ASU-Jonesboro), “Elitism in Feminist Scholarship: A stronghold for sexism in American society”

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2017 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper — Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “The Syrian Civil War and Diaspora Transnational Justice Mobilization”
Best Graduate Student Paper — Eric Button (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “The Diffusion of Veterans Treatment Courts: A Prediction of Future Adoption for the Late Majority and Laggard States”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper — Brian Gregory (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “Faith in Action: A Look into Little Rock’s Religious Mobilization”

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2016 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas-Monticello, Monticello, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Paul A Crutcher and Dr. Gregory Shufeldt (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “The ‘Nativ’ Citizen: Political Attitudes, Outcomes, and State Pride”
Best Graduate Student Paper – Mark Nabor (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Most Other People and Me: A Case Study of Opinions about Same-Sex Marriage Among United Methodist Parishioners in Washington County”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Caylin Craig (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Investing in an Imprisoned America: Private Prison PAC Campaign Contributions in the U.S. House and Senate Elections”

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2015 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “The Nature and Effects of Political Party Culture on Political Careers”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Austin Nelson (Hendrix College), “Race and Redistricting: How Racial Gerrymandering Benefits Black Voters and Republicans”

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2014 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Mike Yawn (Sam Houston State University), “Teaching Local: Civic Engagement & Local Government”
Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “The Natural State in a Time of Change: A Survey-Based Analysis of State Party Organizations in Arkansas, 1999-2013”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Erika Bowsher (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “Twenty Years of International Justice: An Evaluation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia”

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2013 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “A Study of U.S. Senators with Presidential Aspirations”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Jacob Porter (Hendrix College), “Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Innovation in Spain’s Autonomous Communities”

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2012 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Rebecca A. Glazier (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) and Dr. William J. Miller (Southeast Missouri State University), “Whose ‘Clash’? Comparing Anti-Americanism and Anti-Muslim Attitudes”
Best Graduate Student Paper – Daniel Chand, Renee Deshommes, Kuatbay Bektemirov, and Leland McQueen (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Policies: An Analysis of the 287(g) and Secure Communities Programs in Arkansas”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Kelly Reed (University of Arkansas-Monticello), “The Rise of the Opposition: A Theoretical Appraisal of the Recent Arab Spring”

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2011 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Richard Hartwig (Texas A&M University at Kingsville) and Dr. Jesus Trevino (Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico), “Understanding and Coping with Mexican Drug Violence”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Elizabeth Whittington (Hendrix College), “Policy Challenges and Recommendations for the Implementation of Health Exchanges in Arkansas”

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2010 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – Wade Derden, Kalynn Heald, et al. (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “An Implementation Analysis of the Arkansas System of Care Network”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Carol Verbeek (Centenary College), “The Ties That Bind Are Fraying? An Examination of the New Transatlantic Relations”

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2009 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Michael Rogers (Arkansas Tech University), “Elected Monarchy and Aristocratic Junto: Criticisms of the Election of the President During Ratification of the Constitution”
Best Graduate Student Paper – Cameron C. Wimpy (ASU-Jonesboro), “Unconventional Political Behavior in the Middle East”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Hunter Gillium (University of Arkansas-Monticello), “Al-Qaeda: A New Generation of Terror”

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2008 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Michael Rogers (Arkansas Tech University), “Thomas Hobbes and Who Should Rule”
Best Graduate Student Paper – Angela Wolfe (University of Delaware), “Subnational Actors and the Impact of Human Rights Norms”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Chris McNeal (Harding University), “State Legislative Professionalism: An Examination of Its Effects on Spending and Taxation”

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2007 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Russ Montgomery’s (Hendrix College), “Shopping Malls at the Expense of Schools? The Impact of Tax Increment Financing on School Funding in Arkansas,” and Larissa Braden’s (Arkansas Tech University), “An Outline of the Iraq War”

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1995 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Haroon A. Khan (Henderson State University), “Comparison of the Level of Support for Presidents Among Freshmen and Non-Freshmen in the House: The Cases of Carter, Reagon, Bush and Clinton”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – None

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1991 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Little Rock, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Arthur “Art” English (University of Arkansas-Little Rock)
Best Graduate Student Paper – William J. Topich (ASU-Jonesboro), “Revolution and Regression in Cambodia: An Analysis of Khmer Communism”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – None

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1987 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Little Rock, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. F. David Levenbach, Dr. Charles W. Hartwig, and Dr. David E. England (ASU-Jonesboro), “Introduction to U.S. Government: Prior Levels and Correlates of Political Knowledge”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – None

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1983 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Professor Diane K. Blair and Dr. Robert Savage (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Regional Patterns in the Distribution of Political Opinions Among Arkansans”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Lance Thornton, “The Supreme Court and the American Public – An Analysis”

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1982 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – R. Christopher Perry (Tennessee State Energy Office), “Patterns of Intellectual Deference: Personal and Proxy Influences of Chief Justice Burger, 1976-1979”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Gary Perkey (ASU-Jonesboro), “Congressional Reform: The Impact of the Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970 on the American Legislative Process”

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1981 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, DeGray Lake State Park, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Gene Bigler and Chris Collier (Hendrix College), “The World is Closing in on Arkansas: International Relations and Public Opinion in the Heartland”
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Sallie L. Laux (University of Central Arkansas), “Preferential Treatment and Reverse Discrimination”
Best Arkansas Politics Paper – Mike Niggel, Ferris Baker, and Dr. Gene Bigler (Hendrix College), “Some Determinants of Split-Ticket Voting in Arkansas Elections”

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1980 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Fairfield Bay, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – None
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – None

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1979 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Kurt Tweraser (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Member Goals, Environmental Constraints, and Decision Rules: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Under Fulbright, 1959-1974”
Best Graduate Student Paper – Gayle Avant (Baylor University) and Dr. C. Jeddy Levar (Henderson State University), “Arkadelphia Changes its Water Rate: A Learning Design”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Mary Elizabeth Dobb (ASU-Jonesboro)

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1978 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, DeGray Lake State Park, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – None
Best Graduate Student Paper – Mike Brown (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville)
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Danny Richey (ASU-Jonesboro)

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1977 Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) Annual Meeting, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Best Faculty Paper – Professor Diane D. Kincaid (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “The Arkansas Plan: Coon Dogs or Community Services”
Best Graduate Student Paper – William Onopa (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “Improving State/Local Relations in Arkansas”
Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Adrienne Brietzke (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “The Issue of Appellate Review of Sentencing: Some Preliminary Findings from the States”