Mackenzi Matthews graduated with her BA in political science and public policy in 2021. Since then, she obtained an MA in political science and government from American University. She spent 3 years at the National Governors Association as a policy coordinator and legislative associate. In September, she started working at the US House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant. Her legislative portfolio includes: agriculture, arts, childcare, cryptocurrency, education, financial services, housing, small business, tax.

Amanda Temir-Young

MA: Political Science, 2024

BA: Political Science, 2022

Jason Pierceson, professor of political science in the School of Politics and International Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield, has published a new article analyzing how the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion, is influencing federal judges’ approaches to transgender rights.

Miguel M. Valente

Jacob Friedman

Jacob Friedman is a 2023 graduate of the Master of Arts in Political Science program at the University of Illinois Springfield. During his time at UIS, Jacob served as Editor-in-Chief of The Observer, where he managed publication operations and mentored student journalists, helping them reach their writing goals while honing the organizational management skills he utilizes today.

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.