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St. Olaf College to host Undergraduate Journal of Politics

Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is excited to announce that the Omicron Alpha chapter and the Department of Political Science at St. Olaf College have been selected to host the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics for a three-year term beginning Fall 2026. The Omicron Alpha chapter takes over from the Sigma Upsilon chapter at Elon University, where the Journal was housed since 2020.

“The Undergraduate Journal of Politics has an important role to play in showcasing the very best undergraduate political science research. I am excited to see St. Olaf build on that foundation, broaden the Journal’s reach, and continue developing it as a vibrant national forum for the next generation of political science scholars,” said Pi Sigma Alpha National President Terri L. Towner of Oakland University.

St. Olaf College was selected following a competitive proposal process that highlighted its talented students, strong faculty commitment, and significant institutional support for the Journal. Dr. Menevis Cilizoglu, Associate Professor of Political Science and chapter advisor for the Omicron Alpha chapter, will serve as Faculty Editor.

Dr. Cilizoglu said, “I am thrilled to serve as the new Faculty Editor of the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics. At a time when thoughtful and rigorous engagement with political questions is more important than ever, the Journal offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to participate in the scholarly conversation and share their research with a broader audience. I look forward to working with our student editors at St. Olaf College to continue the Journal’s strong tradition of recognizing and showcasing outstanding undergraduate scholarship in political science.”

The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics is central to the organization’s mission to advance undergraduate research. In 2026, the Journal celebrates its 25th anniversary. For over two decades, the Journal has served as an outlet for quality undergraduate student research. In addition, it serves as an important professional development tool for students from the host institution serving on the editorial board. These roles provide student editors with the opportunity to strengthen their own writing and editing skills, think critically about the writing of their peers, and work collectively through the peer review process.

Menevis Cilizoglu is an Associate Professor of Political Science and the Director of the International Relations program at St. Olaf College. Her research examines the processes that connect foreign policy to international economics, focusing on how states and non-state actors interact under conditions of economic interdependence and political conflict. Dr. Cilizoglu received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a B.A. in Social and Political Science from Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition to her academic work, she has served as Chapter Advisor for the Omicron Alpha chapter since 2019.

Proposals for hosting the Journal were reviewed by a selection committee composed of Barı​ş Kesgin (Executive Council member and Faculty Editor), Elon University; Zoe Oxley (Past-President and former Faculty Editor), Union College; Terri Towner (President and former Faculty Editor), Oakland University; and Tanya Schwarz (Executive Director).

The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics was founded in the spring of 2001 by the Delta Omega Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha at Purdue University. Since then, the biannual online publication has published over 220 articles, and has been successfully led by four additional editorial teams at Union College, the College of William & Mary, Oakland University, and Elon University.

For the past six years, the Journal was led by a rotating field of faculty advisors – Barı​ş Kesgin, Laura Roselle, and Aaron Sparks – as well as student members of the Sigma Upsilon chapter at Elon University. From the beginning, Elon’s strength in undergraduate scholarship and faculty mentorship was readily apparent. Elon students and faculty built a strong, student-centered editorial process that gave undergraduates meaningful experiences in peer review, editing, and publication. The Sigma Upsilon chapter and the Department of Political Science at Elon University have made a lasting contribution to Pi Sigma Alpha by expanding opportunities for undergraduate research and publication. We thank the entire team for their thoughtful and consistent leadership of the Undergraduate Journal of Politics.

For more information on the Journal and submission guidelines, visit https://pisigmaalpha.org/psa-journal-home/.