Dana Goodrum

A University of Illinois Springfield researcher has co-authored a new study showing that the way political leaders talk about refugees can significantly influence public opinion.

The University of Illinois Springfield delegation earned the prestigious Outstanding Delegation award—the highest honor presented—at the 2025 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference held April 13-17 in New York City.

Conor was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha. Conor works part-time for the Collins Law Firm as a video editor. He is also a fellow with the Progressive Turnout Project as a canvasser for the Sean Casten campaign. He hopes to work in the state legislature. He is the owner of the newsletter and podcast, The Progressive American.

Amy teaches 10th and 11th grade history at Cornell High School and a dual- enrollment Government and Politics course for seniors in partnership with Robert Morris University. She was one of 18 educators awarded the 2024-25 Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching to the United Kingdom. She will spend four months at the University of Glasgow researching civics and humanities education in the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.

Isaac got IRB approval to survey seniors at the high school where he teaches about their views on the death penalty. He also content analyzed DNC and RNC platforms throughout all of U.S. history and analyzed GSS data pertaining to the death penalty. Based on the UIS website, Isaac is the first political science student to win this award since 2000.

Dr. Geras chaired the thesis committee.