The department is proud to host a chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, which recognizes students’ extraordinary academic achievement and brings notable guest speakers to campus to discuss current topics of interest to members of the political science and international relations community.
Spring 2025 membership invitations were sent out in March. MTSU’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter recently held an initiation banquet for new members with a catered dinner. This was held after our guest speaker event featuring Dr. Carla Martinez Machain speaking on the future of US soft power in an era of increasing Chinese influence and great power competition. You can view the recorded lecture below.
Spring 2025 Pi Sigma Alpha & Gamma Theta Upsilon Banquet & Guest Speaker
Dr. Carla Martinez Machain
Dr. Carla Martinez Machain
Dr. Jon DiCicco, Dr. Carla Martinez Machain, Dr. Robb McDaniel, Dr. Amy Atchison, and Dr. Francis Koti
Dr. Lisa Langenbach, Jorge Avila, Amaya Carter, and Dr. Amy Atchison
Pi Sigma Alpha 2025
Gamma Theta Upsilon 2025
Dr. Robb McDaniel addressing banquet audience
Dr. Michael Federici & Dr. Robb McDaniel
Dr. Amy Atchison, Madison Staggs (Graduate Student of the Year), and Dr. Jon DiCicco
Dr. Lisa Langenbach, Victoria Grigsby (PGA Student of the Year), Dr. Amy Atchison
Dr. Robb McDaniel, Amaya Carter, and Nikita Smith
Dr. Robb McDaniel, Nicholas Perrone, and Nikita Smith
Dr. John Vile & Dr. Francis Koti
Dr. Robb McDaniel, Amanda, and Nikita Smith
Madison Staggs & Dr. Jon DiCicco
Frequently Asked Questions
Class rank of Junior with 60+ credits by the end of the spring semester 2025.
Completed at least 5 classes in political science (including those taken in the springsemester of 2025).
Must have an overall “B” (3.0) cumulative average in political science courses.
Must have an overall GPA must be 3.3 or higher
Must pay a membership fee which is for a lifetime membership in Pi Sigma Alpha.
Write checks to: Pi Sigma Alpha and give either to Dr. McDaniel in PH 256 or Ms. Nikita Smith, PGA Executive Assistant, in PH 209.
For full benefits, please visit the Pi Sigma Alpha website benefits page. Members get access to scholarships & awards, special events, graduation regalia, discounted American Political Science Association Membership, a head start as a GS-7 Federal Employee, eligibility for participation in National Student Research Conference, and much more.
Applications will come out every year. You can contact advisor Dr. Robb McDaniel (robb.mcdaniel@mtsu.edu) for information and/or watch PGA email and social media for alerts.
Recent keynote speakers for the Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremonies at MTSU include Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned, associate director of the Public Policy Fund at Penn State Behrend, who spoke about Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Dr. Naazneen Barma, director of theScrivner Institute of Public Policy and associate professor in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, who addressed the problems and prospects of governance in Afghanistan.
Please contact Dr. Robb McDaniel (Pre-Law & Political Science) for additional information.
2024 Pi Sigma Alpha inductees with Dr. Robb McDaniel
