The Department of Political Science at UNCP begins its twenty-seventh year as a separate academic department. It is also the beginning of my sixteenth year in the department, and my ninth as department chair.
Times also change.
Today, as a Comprehensive I masters level institution, our mission and the work of our faculty have expanded beyond teaching to include scholarly research, applied research, public service, grantsmanship, and resource development for both the university and service communities. My inclination is to be future oriented and to plan for bigger and better things. Still, there does come a time to reflect upon the past, to express our respect and acknowledge our debt to those who went before. There is also a time to celebrate. In three years, as we celebrate our thirtieth anniversary as a department, I would hope we can make it a very special occasion and that all of our alumni will want to be a part of it.