Gifts to the Political Science Development Fund provide critical resources to respond to student needs, attract world-class faculty, and provide innovative opportunities to enable our students to compete in the global marketplace.  The department uses this fund for a variety of purposes, including inviting guest speakers, organizing social gatherings for students and alumni, and supporting students in high-impact learning experiences. Donate to the Political Science Development Fund >>

Watch the video below from Diversity & Inclusivity Director Dr. Abby Cordova to see how support from the Development fund supports diversity and inclusivity efforts in the department.

Watch the video below to see how support from this fund allowed newly-minted PhD Dr. Jaclyn Johnson collect data on mutinies for her dissertation.

Watch the video below to see how support from this fund has advanced the work of PhD student Eteri Tsintsadze-Maass.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate.

Named in honor of Todd LaMarr Daugherty, this scholarship is awarded to full-time students who are pursuing a degree in political science and who, in the opinion of the chair-appointed scholarship committee, have demonstrated potential for academic excellence through past performance.

Watch the video below to see how the Daughetry Award recently supported undergraduate student Kendall Hitch’s work in China and Mexico.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Daugherty Scholarship Fund” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation."

This Award honors Prof. Amry Vandenbosch, who chaired the Political Science department from 1935 to 1958, retired from active service in 1965, and passed away in 1990.  Decided by a chair-appointed committee, this award is presented to undergraduate student(s) who submit essay, video projects, or other scholarly work that best exhibits the importance of constitutional rights and liberties in a democratic society.

Watch the video below to see how the Vandenbosch fund supported academic opportunities for Outstanding Senior Award winner Brianna Vollman.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Vandenbosch Award” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation.”

This fund recognizes research and service that are critical to our mission at UK.  The department uses these funds in two primary ways.  First, these funds support research into causes that help support the Commonwealth and beyond, including studies on terrorism and warfare, inequality, elite and mass political behavior, women’s rights, and leadership.  Second, this award recognizes graduating seniors who best exemplify the qualities associated with service to the University of Kentucky.  In particular, the awards committee typically takes into account original research, academic excellence, political and governmental engagement, leadership, and service.

Watch the video below to see how these funds supported undergraduate Gammon Fain’s research and presentation at a professional conference.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Crum Bequest” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation.”

This fund is named in honor of S. Sidney and Margaret L. Ulmer.  Recruited as department chair in 1963, Dr. Ulmer was a renowned scholar in judicial behavior and built the Political Science into a leading department focused on quantitative research on political behavior.  These funds are awarded to graduate students in the subfield of Public Law and Judicial Behavior.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Ulmer Scholarship” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation.”

Established by an anonymous donor, this fund is awarded to full-time students in the Department of Political Science who are seeking their doctoral degree and are in need of funds for research and/or travel related to their degree.

Watch the video below to see PhD Candidate Greg Saxton explain how this fund will support his fieldwork in Argentina.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Doctoral Research Fund” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation.”

Named in honor of David and Michelle Schwarte, this fund is administered by a committee of the college of Arts and Science appointed by the dean of the college.  The scholarship is awarded annually to students who are Political Science majors with a minimum of 3.5 GPA, are sophomore levels or higher, and take a minimum of three credit hours of Writing courses per year.

Watch the video below to see recent graduate Willow Kreutzer explain how support from this fund helped her find success in our program.

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Schwarte Scholarship” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation.”

Established by Alum and former Kentucky Attorney General Chris Gorman, this fund supports pre-law students in the Political Science department.  With a preference towards students from Kentucky, this fund supports students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing a legal career and are admitted to the Political Science department or the University’s Bachelor to Law Undergraduate Education (UK BLUE) program.

This is a new fund that will begin in 2018.  We look forward to sharing exciting stories about how this fund helped students in the near future!

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Gorman Pre-law Scholarship” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation."

Established by an anonymous donor, this fund memorializes Malcolm E. Jewell, who was a Professor of Political Science for 36 years (1958-1994).  These funds are used to support annual scholarship(s) for undergraduate students pursuing BA degrees in Political Science.  Selected by a committee appointed by the dean of Arts and Sciences, awarded students must be Political Science majors, have demonstrated financial need, and show academic merit.  While all students have the opportunity to compete for this scholarship, preference is given to students whose academic plan takes advantage of the department’s internship program and contribute to the Department’s goal of promoting diversity and inclusivity.

This is a new fund that will begin in 2018.  We look forward to sharing exciting stories about how this fund helped students in the near future!

Interested in donating to this fund?  Click here to donate and type “PS Jewell Scholarship” under “Additional Instructions About My Donation."