Dr. Jon Peterson, assistant professor of politics and governmentFaculty aim to engage civically active student body in political science studies
CHICAGO (November 25, 2015) 鈥� 鈥淣orth Park students are politically engaged in all kinds of fields,鈥� says Jon Peterson, assistant professor of politics and government at 黑料吃瓜. Surveys conducted by students in Peterson鈥檚 research methods class find that 黑料吃瓜 students of various majors are 鈥渇ar more involved in political activities than their peers,鈥� he says, attributing the University鈥檚 location for cultivating their political engagement. Students regularly head downtown and across Chicago to demonstrate, march, sign petitions, and volunteer with organizations.
One of two faculty members teaching the University鈥檚 politics and government majors, Peterson is proud to watch many of his current students working in political offices across Chicago. 鈥淚n the last six years, we鈥檝e had 17 students in political internships, working for both of our U.S. senators, four congressional offices, and two Chicago aldermen,鈥� Peterson says. 鈥淣orth Park students are doing political work.鈥�
Peterson has watched his students go on to careers with nonprofits, ministries, and businesses. He鈥檚 seen some go on to law school. Over the last few years, in line with a campus-wide push to emphasize academic and research writing in all North Park curriculum, the department has been intentionally nurturing scholarly engagement among its students through a writing intensive and writing research courses.
On Saturday, November 7, 2015, the school had a unique opportunity to host the annual Illinois Political Science Association conference, 鈥淧romoting Scholarship in the Social Sciences and Humanities.鈥� This event regularly draws political science professors from across Illinois schools, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, and North Park was honored to be chosen among three Chicago campuses as an ideal location. Lectures and panels at this year鈥檚 event covered topics from Middle East dynamics to corruption in Chicago politics.
But what excites Peterson about the University hosting a conference like this is developing student interest in scholarship. The department hopes to host again next year, as the size of the conference makes it an ideal place for undergraduate students to step out and practice writing and presenting research to professionals in the field. Peterson says, 鈥淭his is the kind of opportunity that would allow us to show students what research science in this field looks like, to get them thinking about teaching and graduate school.鈥�
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