Best Undergraduate Honors Thesis
WINNER
Grace Orians
The Ohio State University, Omicron; “Central to Success: The Impact of Congressional Speech Networks on Legislative Effectiveness”
RUNNERS UP
Chelsea Tabachnik
Columbia University, Mu; “Patchwork Progress: The State-Centered Struggle for Paid Family Leave in the United States”
Justine Orgel
University of Pennsylvania, Beta Tau; “Predicting Backlash: Where Housing and Immigrants Meet”
Best Undergraduate Class Paper
WINNERS
Eline Xia, Qualitative Category
Stockton University, Alpha Zeta Rho; “Catalysts or Barriers of Change: The Role of Extreme Weather in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies”
Kaia Eikenberry, Quantitative Category
Lewis & Clark College, Alpha Lambda Pi; “Crosses, Crescents, and the Euro: Religion and Resistance to EU Integration in Post-Communist Europe”
RUNNERS UP
Judianne Meredith, Qualitative Category
Wake Forest University, Nu Zeta; “Competition or Cooperation? The Role of Media Framing in US-China Strategic Narratives”
Larissa Giacomin, Quantitative Category
Oakland University, Nu Omega; “The Relationship Between Restrictive Immigration Policies and Democratic Backsliding”
2025 Penniman Scholarship for Graduate Study
AWARDEES
Adachi Love Amaram
North Carolina State University, Zeta Epsilon
Dale Eugene Justice
Eastern Michigan University, Zeta Tau
Gvantsa Tvaliashvili
La Salle University, Psi Mu
Sophia Lander
Columbia University, Mu
David Lawrence
George Washington University, Eta Beta
2025 Nancy McManus Scholarships for Washington Internships
AWARDEES
Braxton Tempest
Oklahoma State University, Delta Kappa
Julianna Mazzella
Quinnipiac University, Chi Tau
Kate Barnes
University of Pennsylvania, Beta Tau
Natalie Glezen
University of California–San Diego, Psi Omega
David Lawrence
George Washington University, Eta Beta
2025 Lengle Advisor Recognition Award
Robb McDaniel
Middle Tennessee State University, Zeta Nu
2025 Alumni Award
Dana Parke
Oakland University, Nu Omega
2025 Pi Sigma Alpha Best Chapter Advisor
Astin Cole
Tuskegee University, Tau Chi
Holley Hansen
Oklahoma State University, Delta Kappa
Jessica Velasco
Sul Ross State University, Omicron Phi
Yu Ouyang
Purdue University Northwest, Tau Psi
2025 Pi Sigma Alpha Best Chapters
Undergraduate Enrollment <5,000
LaGrange College, Alpha Alpha Nu
Sul Ross State University, Omicron Phi
Texas Lutheran University, Alpha Mu Psi
Tuskegee University, Tau Chi
University of Redlands, Alpha Delta Psi
Virginia State University, Kappa Psi
Undergraduate Enrollment 5,000-15,000
Columbia University, Mu
Oakland University, Nu Omega
Purdue University Northwest, Tau Psi
Saginaw Valley State University, Alpha Eta Sigma
University of Central Oklahoma, Sigma Mu
University of Montana, Epsilon Mu
Undergraduate Enrollment 15,000-25,000
California State University, Fresno, Alpha Delta Beta
California State University, San Bernardino, Theta Iota
Illinois State University, Kappa Sigma
Oklahoma State University, Delta Kappa
Stony Brook University, Eta Theta
The University of Texas at El Paso, Epsilon Epsilon
Undergraduate Enrollment >25,000
Auburn University, Epsilon Nu
Florida International University, Tau Rho
The Pennsylvania State University, Beta Pi
The University of Washington, Nu
San Jose State University, Epsilon Iota
University of California, Davis, Delta Upsilon
Meet the Staff
The staff at APSA work diligently to provide members with high quality resources, tools, and other materials relevant to the discipline. In each ”Meet the Staff" section, we aim to showcase select individuals behind the American Political Science Association and the responsibilities of each role. Most of the APSA staff are based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area while other staff remain remote.
ANN BURKE
Director, Congressional Fellowship Program
Ann Burke serves as Director of the Congressional Fellowship Program. She leads all aspects of the Congressional Fellowship Program, including supporting fellows in preparing for, securing, and being successful in their placements; organizing the fellow recruitment and selection process; and managing relationships with program partners and host offices. Prior to joining APSA, Ann developed and directed experiential education programs for nearly 15 years at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Ann attended George Mason University (GMU) where she earned her Bachelor’s in Global Affairs, Diplomacy and Governance and a Master’s in Public Administration, International Management. A former military dependent, Ann has lived in a lot of places but now calls Virginia home with her husband, daughter, and son.
LILLY GUTHRIE
Communications & Marketing Assistant
Lilly Guthrie is the Communications & Marketing Assistant at the American Political Science Association (APSA), where she supports digital media, content creation, and member communications. She works across departments to assist social media, email campaigns, and website updates. Before APSA, Lilly held roles in political communications, public affairs, and digital strategy through internships on Capitol Hill and with advocacy organizations. She earned a B.A. in Political Science with minors in Communication and Marketing from American University. Based in Washington, DC, Lilly enjoys exploring the city and spending time with her rescue dog, Goose.
BENJAMIN R. FIORE-WALKER
Senior Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Professional Ethics
Benjamin R. Fiore-Walker, PhD (He/Him) serves as the Senior Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Professional Ethics focused on advancing the scholarly and professional interests of political scientists in the United States and internationally. His portfolio includes overseeing the development, implementation and review of the association’s external facing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and policies; its professional ethics resources, policies and procedures, and reporting systems; and other initiatives aimed at addressing inequity by promoting, enhancing, and developing sustainable, equitable and inclusive environments for scholars within the profession.
Before coming to APSA, Ben was the senior director for the Opportunity and Inclusion Center (OIC) at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in Washington, DC, where he led a team of advancement and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) professionals to build programs, training sessions, communication plans, and products, dismantling systemic barriers that limit people with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds. Ben spent 19 years at Georgetown University and the Georgetown School of Medicine as a faculty member in Psychology and the Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion.
Ben is originally from Southampton, PA in suburban Philadelphia. Ben received a PhD in neuroscience (psychobiology) from the University of Virginia, and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
ADRIANA I. NATAL ORTIZ
Associate Editor, Political Science Today
Adriana I. Natal is the Associate Editor for Political Science Today. Before joining APSA, she earned a Master’s degree in Publishing from George Washington University. Native to Puerto Rico, Adriana enjoys spending time with her cat, Suki, building her next Lego set, and reading.
