Department of Political and Global Affairs

Department of Political and Global Affairs

Department of Political & Global Affairs (PGA) News

Welcome to the Department of Political and Global Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) News Page! You can read updates about PGA students and faculty and stay connected with the department. For alumni updates, please visit Spotlight on Graduates.

Student News

PGA recently held its annual spring banquet celebrating our scholarship and departmental award winners, as well as new and past inductees to our chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha and Gamma Theta Upsilon. 

This year’s honors banquet was one of the biggest in a long time! Pi Sigma Alpha Zeta Nu inducted 22 new members! Gamma Theta Upsilon welcomed 6 new members. We also honored numerous departmental award winners and scholarship recipients.

Nick Perrone- Outstanding Overall PGA

Siri Reynolds- Outstanding Pre-Law

Alex Garcia – Outstanding Pre-Law

Lee Nguyen – Outstanding International Relations

Amelia Sutherland – Outstanding Political Science

Jeremy Grover – Outstanding Public Policy & Management

Hannah Evans – Outstanding Global Studies & Human Geography

Jonathan Escobar – Marin- Joann Arnold Memorial Scholarship

Jose Ramirez- Jane Henegar Duke Memorial Scholarship

Mai Gibbons- Harry Horne International Relations Scholarship

Savannah Taylor- David W. Kious Scholarship

Lauren Sparkman- Norman Parks Scholarship

Savannah Harrington- Norman Parks Scholarship

Gavin Cooley- PGA Department Scholarship

Ab-e Zannat- PGA Departmental Scholarship

Makenzie Edwards- Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship

Jonathan Escobar-Marin- Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship

Alex Harriott – Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship

David Vargas – Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship

Shelby Walton – Gene H. Sloan Scholarship

Max Cochran – Jack Justin Turner Scholarship

Ellie Lendley – Vernardakis Family Scholarship

Marcos Escobar Perez – Drs. Clyde and Irina Willis Scholarship

Kessler Jones- Dr. David Grubbs Memorial Scholarship

Binyad Qaradakhi – Dr. Vanessa Lefler Scholarship

Anastasia Ulumenfo – Dr. John R. Vile Scholarship for Experiential Learning

Maya Chapman – Africa Education Abroad Scholarship

PGA Awards with students standing with their certificates in front of a MTSU blue backdrop.
Professor giving a speech in top left corner. The top right corner has two students posing in front of MTSU backdrop with their awards. Bottom left is a Pi Sigma Alpha logo cord. Bottom right is a professor giving a speech.
Groups of students posing with their professors and certificates and awards.
Professor Novkov giving a presentation in front of a large television screen to an audience of professors, students, and guests in a classroom.
groups of award winners from the EXL program and american red cross
a large group of students from pi sigma alpha and gamma theta upsilon posing with a sign that welcomes new members to the honors societies
group of students with names (names are also listed above) for pi sigma alpha inductees
group of students with names (names are also listed above) for gamma theta upsilon
groups of students who won scholarships posing with certficiates and donors
list of students who won outstanding student awards (also listed in text form above)
list of students who won scholarships (also listed in text form above)
list of students who won pga scholarships (also listed in text form above)
groups of students at the award banquet, assorted pictures of award ceremony and induction
groups of students at the award banquet, assorted pictures of award ceremony and induction
groups of students at the award banquet, assorted pictures of award ceremony and induction
groups of students at the award banquet, assorted pictures of award ceremony and induction
groups of students at the award banquet, assorted pictures of award ceremony and induction
TLIP 2026
The Tennessee Legislative Intern Program was established in 1972 to provide Tennessee College and University students with an opportunity to work and learn in a hands on legislative environment. Each year 70 to 80 students from around the state participate in this program to learn about leadership responsibilities as well as develop legislative process skills. The interns assist legislative offices with their activities and work functions. MTSU sends several students every year to participate in TLIP. Students are paid, full-time interns (some are PT) and can receive credits.
TLIP 2026
Jacob Pagel – Representative Mike Sparks Alaya Fuqua – Senator Shane Reeves Abby Neeley – Representative Bryan Terry Victoria Grigsby – Representative Andrew Farmer & House Judiciary Committee Alex Barwise – Representative Gino Bulso Tania Humphrey – Representative Karen Camper
In addition to working in Legislators’ offices across the Tennessee General Assembly, interns have the opportunity to participate in mock committees, welcome their families to the Capitol on Family Day, play in a basketball game vs. Legislators, volunteer at local organizations, hear from and meet high ranking officials such as the Governor, Speaker of the House, etc., tour the Tennessee Supreme Court and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and much more! Their daily work can include attending meetings, assisting with constituency services, administrative support, and helping arrange special events.
TLIP 2026
TLIP 2026
TLIP 2026
TLIP 2026
TLIP 2026
TLIP 2026

Find More Information

We can be reached at pga@mtsu.edu or you may visit this page to learn how to apply today!

Our social media accounts are under the handle @mtsupga. You can follow us for daily updates and news.

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