A Note from the Editor
We’re four weeks into the semester, which means you’ve already made it through the hardest part of getting started. This month’s newsletter highlights several upcoming events and opportunities we encourage you to attend and apply for. These programs are great ways to get involved, build skills, and make meaningful connections. Keep pushing forward and take advantage of what’s ahead!
Upcoming Departmental Events
These are events our department is hosting in the near future, so keep an eye out!
Sweet Research Series
Dr. Jeremy Strickler with Dr. Lucy Schultz (PHIL & EVST)
February 9th – MCB 268 – 11am
“Camping and the Public Good”
Drs. Schultz and Strickler will discuss their forthcoming chapter, “Camping and the Public Good,” included in the volume Camping and Philosophy: Big Ideas in the Great Outdoors (Milestone Press). Their work brings together the philosopher John Dewey’s ideas about democracy and education with an overview of the development of recreational camping and public parks in the U.S. They argue that camping in publicly maintained campgrounds aids in the formation of the “public” in Dewey’s sense, which may promote civic engagement and the cultivation of environmental values. Pizza and donuts will be provided!
Upcoming:
March 9th: Dr. Sarah Heise
April 13th: Dr. Trevor Samaha
April 20th: Dr. Michelle Deardorff
Protest, Repression, and Human Rights in Iran: What the Current Uprisings Reveal About the Regime’s Future
February 25th – Derthick 201 – 12pm
Dr. Saeid Golkar
The talk examines recurring waves of protest in Iran and the state’s systematic response to popular dissent. Focusing on repression, surveillance, mass arrests, and human rights violations, it explores how the Iranian regime manages unrest and why protests persist despite intense coercion. Rather than predicting immediate regime change, the discussion offers a historically grounded analysis of what sustained protest and repression reveal about the structure, fears, and limits of authoritarian rule in Iran today.
Faculty Features
Our faculty are not only dedicated to providing a world-class education to our students, but are also committed to their own research projects, workshops, journals, and more!
Dr. Irina Khmelko
Dr. Irina Khmelko, UC Foundation Professor of Political Science and Public Service, has been re-elected by an international community of scholars to serve as Chair of the Research Committee of Legislative Specialists (RC08) of the International Political Science Association (IPSA).
The Committee is internationally recognized for producing agenda-setting scholarship on legislatures, shaping the global research agenda in comparative legislative studies, and engaging with policymakers and the international development community. Under Dr. Khmelko’s continued leadership, the committee advances global scholarly collaboration, strengthens dialogue between academics and practitioners, and promotes research with clear societal and policy relevance.
Dr. Khmelko’s re-election underscores her strong international standing in the field and highlights the growing global visibility and impact of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Political Science research and international academic leadership.
Dr. Chris Acuff
UC Foundation Associate Professor Chris Acuff was recently featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, offering expert insight on a notable local trend: the City of Chattanooga has tripled the number of employees earning six-figure salaries.
In the article, Professor Acuff provides context on what this shift means for the city’s workforce, budget priorities, and broader economic landscape. His commentary helps translate complex policy and economic data into a clearer picture of how these changes affect both local government and the community it serves.We’re proud to see Professor Acuff’s expertise contributing to important public conversations and highlighting the impact of faculty scholarship beyond the classroom.
Read the full article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Dr. Christopher Horne
Dr. Christopher Horne was recently interviewed by George Sayour, host of the Grace at the Gates podcast, which explores themes in political theology. The conversation centered on Dr. Horne’s monograph, Bureaucrats in Babylon, and examined the intersections between religion and public administration. In the episode, Dr. Horne discusses how religious ideas and institutions interact with bureaucratic systems, offering insights into the role of faith within public governance.
Student Features
Join the PSPS Student Advisory Board
The PSPS Student Advisory Board will soon be convening for the semester, and we are looking for student members! This board meets once or twice each year to provide feedback to PSPS faculty, helping guide improvements and ensuring student perspectives are heard.
Membership is open to all PSPS students. To nominate yourself, complete this form and include a brief paragraph explaining why you’d like to participate and what perspective you would bring. Selections will be made in consultation with PSPS faculty to ensure broad representation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard and help shape the PSPS student experience!
North Callahan Special Collections Undergraduate Fellowship
Special Collections will select a fellow to contribute to description and/or digitization projects using archival and digital asset management systems commonly adopted by libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) in the United States.
The selected fellow must work ten hours per week onsite in Special Collections both semesters from August 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. The fellow will be compensated at a rate of $13 an hour.
To read about eligibility and the application process, visit HERE. Candidates who submit an application, including a cover letter and résumé, before Monday, February 16, 2026, will receive first consideration.
Scholarship Opportunities
Washington Center Cybersecurity Accelerator Program
March 12–15, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
This program offers workshops, site visits, and networking with leaders in cybersecurity, AI, and tech policy. Scholarships may be available for eligible students. Housing is provided.
Unaka Foundation Internship Scholarship
Summer–Fall 2026 | Mentored internships
Provides funding for students in mentored internships, supporting housing, travel, and program costs. Awards up to $2,500/month. Preference for students under 26 and within certain counties. Applications due April 1, 2026.
For eligibility details, deadlines, and application links, please visit Canvas.
Internship Opportunities
Want to learn more? Check out the PSPS Canvas page for internship listings and application details, or reach out to Dr. Marcus Mauldin for internship advising.
Are you interested in a Spring 2026 Internship? If so, complete the form found at the following link: PSPS Internship Interest Form
University Events
Here are some other cool events happening around campus you should check out:
Free Workshop: What is an Annotated Bibliography?
Various February dates- online- UTC Library
Free Workshop: Microsoft Word for Undergraduates
Various February dates- online- UTC Library
From Curiosity to Courtrooms, a Real-World Look at Forensic Accounting
February 10th, 2026 – Auditorium, University Center – 5-7pm
Free Workshop: Understanding Media Manipulation
February 11th, 2026 – Library Room 205 – 12:30-1:30pm
Spring 2026 All Majors Job & Internship Fair
February 11th, 2026 – University Center, Tennessee Room – 11am-3pm
Free Workshop: How to Read a Scholarly Article
February 17th, 2026 – Library Room 205 – 12:30-1:30pm
Majors & Minors Fair
February 18th, 2026 – University Center, Tennessee Room – 1-3pm
Study Abroad Information Session
February 23rd, 2026 – Lupton Hall 393 – 3:30-4:30pm
Community Service Day
February 27th, 2026 – 1-5pm
Academic Calendar
March 16th- 22nd- Spring Break
March 30th- Last Day to Withdraw with a W
April 3rd- Spring Holiday (No Classes)
April 27th- Last day of Spring Semester Classes
April 29th- May 5th- Final Exams
Quote of the Month
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.
– Elie Wiesel
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