Duke University Political Science

Phil Lader to be awarded the 2011-2012 Distinguished Alumni Award

Philip Lader graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1966, served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1997-2001. He also served in President Clinton’s Cabinet as Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and previously was White House Deputy Chief of Staff. After graduating from Duke, Lader received his M.A. in History from the University of Michigan, completed graduate law studies at Pembroke College, Oxford University, and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School. . He was the West Professor of International Studies at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and was chairman of the Board of Visitors of Duke University's Sanford Institute of Public Policy. He is currently the non-executive Chairman of WPP Group, the worldwide advertising and communications firm, which includes J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam, Ogilvy & Mather, Grey Global, Burson-Marsteller and Hill & Knowlton. Lader is also a Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley. He serves on the Boards of Lloyd’s of London, RAND, and the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

MSNBC contributor Melissa Harris-Perry is the latest edition to MSNBC’s expanding weekend lineup. Her new program, set to air Saturdays and Sundays 10a-noon ET, will debut on MSNBC February 4th. The announcement was made by MSNBC President Phil Griffin. Chris Hayes will continue to lead off MSNBC’s weekend programming with his popular roundtable program ‘Up,’ which will begin airing from 8-10am ET on both Saturdays and Sundays. MSNBC anchor Alex Witt will expand MSNBC’s live news coverage into the afternoon, with “Weekends with Alex Witt” airing noon-3p ET on Saturdays and noon-2p ET on Sundays. “Meet the Press” will continue to air on MSNBC at 2pm ET on Sundays. 

Harris-Perry, a long-standing political analyst and contributor to MSNBC, is a frequent guest of “PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton, and also serves as occasional host of “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “The Last Word.” A highly accomplished author, scholar and speaker, Harris-Perry’s new program will continue MSNBC’s trend of bringing intelligent, informed voices to the cable channel’s weekend programming. 

“Melissa’s thoughtful analysis has been an incredible addition to our primetime programs and I’m thrilled to have her join our expanded weekend line-up,” said Griffin. “Alex Witt has led our weekend programming for many years, and will continue to be our chief weekend anchor as her program moves to the afternoon. Weekend mornings are a time when our audience wants intelligent political conversation, as the success of Chris Hayes has shown, in addition to coverage of all the headlines. As the political year gets underway, there’s no better time to build up our weekend coverage, which Alex has helmed so well for years.” 

"This is an extraordinary opportunity,” said Harris-Perry. “All I've ever wanted to be is a teacher. Phil Griffin and MSNBC are giving me the chance to have a much bigger classroom. I'm particularly excited to join the growing weekend lineup where we have a chance to take a longer and broader view of the week's political news."

Professor Allan Korberg wins lifetime achievement award

Professor Allan Kornberg has been awarded the Mildred A. Schwartz Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Politics section of the APSA. The award recognizes scholarship and leadership in bringing the study of Canadian Politics to the international political science community.

Professor Kornberg is Norb F. Schaefer Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Duke University. His research has concentrated on political parties, legislatures, and comparative political behavior. He is the author of Canadian Legislative Behavior: A Study of the 25th Parliament; co-author of Influence in Parliament: Canada; Citizen Politicians- Canada; Representative Democracy in the Canadian Provinces; Citizens and Community; and A Polity on the Edge: Canada and the Politics of Fragmentation; co-author and editor of Political Support in Canada; Legislatures in Developmental Perspective;  Minorities and the Canadian State; The Resurgence of Conservatism in Anglo-American Democracies; and has contributed chapters to a number of other books. His work has appeared in the American Political Science Review, the British Journal of Political Science, Canadian Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, the Journal of Politics, American Journal of Political Science, Political Quarterly, and other professional journals.  From 1993-1995, he served as the first Director of the Division of Social, Behavioral & Economic Research of the National Science Foundation. Professor Kornberg chaired the Department of Political Science at Duke from 1983-1992.

Professor Eldridge's Retirement

On Wednesday, April 28, 2010 the Political Science Department held a retirement reception for Professor Albert Eldridge.  It was during the reception that he was acknowledged for all his service to Duke University for the past 40 years.  As an administrator, he served as Associate Dean for Trinity College from 1979-1988, Assistant Provost and University Registrar from 1988-1994, and Political Science Director of Undergraduate Studies from 1998-2010.  He also won numerous teaching awards for his work in the classroom.  These awards included the Howard Johnson Distinguished Teaching Award, Trinity College Distinguished Teaching Award, and One of the Top Fifteen Outstanding Professors at Duke University.

Professor Eldridge's contribution to Duke has been outstanding since his arrival in 1970.  Although he will have officially retired from Duke in August 2010, we are happy to say that he will still be teaching for the department as Professor Emeritus.  Congratulations to Professor Eldridge and we all wish him a very long and happy retirement.

Give a Gift to Political Science

To augment our reputation as one of the best , most innovative departments in the country, we need the support of friends and alumni.  Projects or activities that discretionary gifts will be used to support include:

• The Vertical Integration Research Initiative, which is designed to provide Duke undergraduate with opportunities to engage in summer research projects involving teams of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates
• Undergraduate travel for research and presentation of original research at professional conferences
• Graduate student research and travel expenses for presentations of research at professional meetings
• Speakers of professional and public interest
• Scholarly awards to undergraduates
• Support for the Undergraduate Honor's Program

Donors may make a contribution to the Department of Political Science by following the link below and designating "Department of Political Science" under the "Additional/Other Designations" on Duke University's gift form.  Please click here