Angelica Bernal, Assistant Professor of Political Science, has been awarded a Lilly Teaching Fellowship for 2011-2012.  

Jillian Schwedler, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Department honors program, is a recipient of one of this year's Distinguished Teaching Awards (DTA).

For over thirty years, the DTA has recognized and honored individual teaching ability and interest in student learning. Only current students or alumni may nominate faculty for this highly competitive and prestigious award. DTA recipients receive a monetary prize and are recognized at both the Undergraduate and Graduate Commencements.

“There is nothing quite like sitting in the courtroom before trial,” reports Joseph Mendes ’11 (legal studies), president and co-captain of the UMass Amherst Mock Trial team. “Your heart races and fingers twitch right up until the moment you make the first objection or deliver that powerful closing argument. It’s the competetiveness, the team bonding, the thrill of a trial and the accomplishments we’ve earned as team that have changed my UMass experience for the better.”

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“My career has been in business, press, and politics,” says Joe Donovan ’92 (political science), who recently joined the UMass Political Science Advisory Board. “It’s been about building relationships, making friends, taking risks, seizing opportunities and benefiting from the help of many generous people. That is what UMass taught me.”