New chair: Changes within political science department similar to 'musical chairs'
The political science department at Central Michigan University has undergone some changes in its faculty this summer.
Lawrence Sych is the deaprtment's new chair, Thomas Greitens is the NASPAA-accredited Master of Public Administration program director and Sharon Kukla-Acevedo is the internship program director. Edward Clayton serves as the Master of Arts program director.
Sych said the number of changes taking place within the department was simply a matter of "musical chairs," as all the faculty previously held different positions within the political science department.
Sych said after he was elected to department chair, other faculty switched positions within the department.
"There was a chair election; I was elected chair," Sych said. "I was serving as MPA director for the last six years, and the person who replaced me (as MPA Director, Greitens,) was previously the internship program director."
Sych said an announcement was sent to students earlier in the month about the changes because of the deaprtment's popularity in CMU's Global Campus. The ability for students to be informed of the changes was also a concern. Sych said one announcement would be more convenient and time-efficient than sending out individual emails.
"Rather than sending individual emails, it was suggested we put out an announcement so people, especially those in the global campus, would be alerted as to the change," Sych said.
He believes the change in staff will benefit the department by bringing in new ideas.
"With new people, you always get new ideas across the board," Sych said.
Sych said despite the change in staff, no drastic changes are in the works. He said the political science department has goals to continue to work on expanding its strengths as well as providing a good service.
"We are interested in moving our programs forward, (providing) good service and building on our strengths," Sych said. "We just want to continue that.”
He takes over for interim department chair Marcia Taylor, who filled the seat of political science professor Orlando Perez, the former department chair, during the spring semester.
