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- Pi Sigma Alpha 1527 New Hampshire Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036
Terri Towner elected President of Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, announced the election of Dr. Terri L. Towner as its 46th president during the organization’s biennial business meeting on September 5, 2024. Dr. Towner will serve as president of the Pi Sigma Alpha Council from 2024-2026.
Dr. Towner is a Professor of Political Science at Oakland University in Michigan. She co-edited The Internet and the 2020 Campaign (Lexington Books 2021) and The Internet and the 2016 Presidential Campaign (Lexington Books 2017). Dr. Towner is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Technology and Politics, which publishes research on how information technology (IT) influences politics and government and how politics and government influence the development and use of IT. She previously served as the chair of the Information Technology and Politics section of the American Political Science Association. Dr. Towner has published in numerous journals, including Social Media + Society, The Social Science Computer Review, The Journal of Political Marketing, The Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, New Media & Society, and The Journal of Political Science Education. Her research focuses on the role of social media in campaigns and elections, centering on digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“Over the years Dr. Towner has shown incredible dedication to the success of Pi Sigma Alpha, and we are excited and very lucky to have her at the helm” said Dr. Tanya Schwarz, Pi Sigma Alpha Executive Director.
Dr. Towner has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Pi Sigma Alpha over the past 14 years. From 2010 to 2020, she served as Pi Sigma Alpha Chapter Advisor for the Nu Omega chapter at Oakland University. During her time as an advisor, the Nu Omega Chapter earned nine Best Chapter Awards for high levels of creativity and programming. From 2013 to 2020, Dr. Towner was also the Faculty Editor in Chief of the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, overseeing the publication of the Centennial Issue in 2020. She also served as a Pi Sigma Alpha National Executive Council member from 2012 to 2022 and as President-Elect from 2022-2024.
“I am incredibly honored to serve as the President of Pi Sigma Alpha,” said Dr. Towner. “Having worked as a chapter advisor at Oakland University and as the Undergraduate Journal of Politics editor, I’ve seen firsthand the honor society’s impact in recognizing and fostering academic excellence in Political Science. I’m excited to continue working with our outstanding students and faculty to further our mission and promote the highest levels of academic achievement.”
Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1920 and has inducted over 300,000 members in that time. Notable members include former Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, Nobel laureate Dr. Ralph Bunche, Senator Susan Collins, Representative Ilhan Omar, immigration activist Cristina Jiménez Moreta, and Dr. Jewel Limar Prestage, the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in political science in the U.S.
Pi Sigma Alpha is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States. With chapters on more than 830 campuses across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the organization brings together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).