Student to lobby on Capitol Hill / International partnership with Italian university /

Neuroscience travel award / Griffin Prize / More student stories

CMU graduate student Kyle Lawrence addresses a group of youth at the National Farmers Union’s annual All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colo. Lawrence was chosen to attend the National Farmers Union legislative fly-in in September.

Student to lobby on Capitol Hill

MPA student to address agricultural issues at legislative fly-in

Master of Public Administration student Kyle Lawrence has been selected to attend a National Farmers Union legislative fly-in in September.

The legislative fly-ins allow members to gather in the nation’s Capitol and help acquaint members of Congress with the challenges family farmers and ranchers currently face across rural America.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to get lobbying experience,” said Lawrence. “I will have the chance to meet senators and House members and educate them on the importance of relevant agricultural issues.” 

Lawrence received a grant from the National Farmers Union to cover his expenses for the fly-in and will join others from throughout Michigan in representing the Michigan Farmers Union.

The fly-in will address issues such as country of origin labeling, the 2007 farm bill, and other current agriculture issues such as Ethanol and its economic and agricultural effects on society when used as fuel.

“Events such as the fly-in provide the chance for passionate citizens to express the voices, and viewpoints of the citizens who they represent,” said Lawrence. “This is the highlight of my academic career thus far. All political science students dream of lobbying on the Hill, and I get to do it.”

Lawrence, a Swartz Creek native, began an internship at the National Farmers Union administrative headquarters in Denver in June, which is when he first showed interest in attending the fly-in. As an intern, Lawrence worked under the vice president, the director of co-operatives and director of education, helping to arrange various workshops, camps and events.

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International partnership sends student to Italy

CMU graduate student David Van Beveren (left) discusses details of his two-month trip to Italy with political science faculty member David Jesuit. Van Beveren spent two months in Italy conducting research for his thesis through a signed memorandum of understanding between CMU and the University of Macerata in Italy.

A Central Michigan University graduate student spent the summer conducting research in Italy, and two Italian faculty members are teaching a new course at CMU this fall thanks to a recently signed memorandum of understanding between CMU and the University of Macerata in Italy.

David Van Beveren, who is pursuing a master’s degree in political science, spent two months at the University of Macerata conducting research for his thesis, “Sovereignty Implications of Public-Private Partnerships in Border Security Policy.”

“This is a great opportunity for David and other graduate students who have similar interests in Italy or the European Union,” said David Jesuit, CMU assistant professor of political science. “These types of opportunities enhance the potential for our graduate students.”

In conducting research for his thesis, Van Beveren is examining the convergence of trade and border security policies, and more specifically partnership programs that are emerging between the public and the private sectors that attempt to reconcile these two interests. While in Italy, he met with public officials and private stakeholders to assess how policies of this type have been designed and implemented in the European Union.

“Learning is obviously strengthened when it incorporates varied approaches, and opportunities like this allow you to step beyond the classroom and the library and see how your ideas test against actual practices,” said Van Beveren.

The two visiting faculty members from the University of Macerata will join Jesuit in teaching “Comparative Constitutional Law: the European Union and the United States.” The course will be available to political science graduate students as well as qualified seniors.

The memorandum of understanding aims to enhance academic collaboration in the exchange of faculty members, the exchange of graduate students for the purpose of common research, the exploration of opportunities for undergraduate student exchanges, and consideration of other programs of common interest between the two schools.

“This is only the beginning of a partnership between CMU and the University of Macerata and the first step for our political science department,” Jesuit said. “We plan to sign an agreement that will make exchanges of our faculty and graduate students regular. Both sides are very hungry for this kind of international collaboration.”

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CMU senior receives neuroscience travel award

CMU senior Matt Bombard, right, conducts research in a neuroscience laboratory while his mentor, CMU psychology professor Gary Dunbar, looks on.

Senior Matt Bombard of Commerce Township received a Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Travel Award, which will enable him to present his research on genetically engineered stem cells at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego in November.

“To be selected for this award is an amazing accomplishment,” said Bombard. “It means a lot to be recognized nationally for such a prestigious award, and I think it’s great that I have the opportunity to represent Central Michigan University and our amazing neuroscience program at the national level.”

In order to be considered for the award, Bombard had to submit an abstract that presented results from his research, a statement indicating the importance of the project and his contribution to it, and the relevance of this research experience to his career plans.

Gary Dunbar, CMU psychology professor, director of CMU’s Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, and Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience member, is Bombard’s mentor and sponsored his nomination for the award.

“This is a huge and well-deserved honor for Matt, whose efforts in the lab over the past three years have been nothing less than extraordinary,” said Dunbar. “His passion for research and his phenomenal work ethic, combined with gifted technical skills and sharp intellect, are starting to pay off for him on a grand scale.”

Following graduation, Bombard plans to pursue a master’s degree in neuroscience at CMU, followed by medical school to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon.

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Graduates receive political science prize

Robert Avers (left) and Heather Chiarello (right) accept the Robert P. and Marjorie Griffin Prize from Bill Ballenger, the retiring Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.

Two recent CMU graduates recently received the Robert P. and Marjorie Griffin Prize chosen by Bill Ballenger, the retiring Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.

Heather Chiarello of Stevensville and Robert Avers of Kimball are the first recipients of the newly created award. They were among nearly 200 students who took part in the two seminar courses on Michigan politics and government taught by Ballenger during the past four years.

Chiarello, who received a bachelor’s degree in May, majored in political science and public administration with a minor in legal studies.

Avers, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in May 2006, majored in political science with minors in economics and legal studies.

Ballenger said that selecting Avers and Chiarello as “the best” all-around students he taught was a tough call.

“I had some really outstanding students and personalities during my four years at CMU,” Ballenger said. “Many of them are going to do great things.”

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