Scholarships and Funding in Political Science and Public Administration

Review our scholarships and funding opportunities for students in Political Science and Public Administration.

Scholarships

Barbara P. Greene Endowed Scholarship in Political Science

Established in 2004 by Sarah and Edward Cohen (daughter and son-in-law) and friends of Barbara Greene. Barbara was a professor and chair of the political science department prior to her death in 2001. Income from this endowment will support a scholarship for students enrolled in the political science department who have an interest in state and local government. One scholarship will be awarded. The application deadline is the spring semester.

Scholarship awarded to a CMU student majoring in political science, with an interest in state and local government.
Minimum GPA 3.00 on a 4.0 scale.
Preference is given first to MPA graduate students, followed by undergraduate seniors and juniors.
The award will be made only if highly qualified applicants apply.
Apply with a formal letter, a resume, and contact information for three references who will speak to your career interests in Political Science.

For additional information, contact Dr. Sharon Kukla-Acevedo at kukla1sa@cmich.edu.

Ballenger/Browne Capitol Internship Program Endowment

The William S. Ballenger III and Dr. William P. Browne Capitol Internship Program Endowment provides financial support to political science students completing internships within all branches of the state and federal government. The endowment provides students with a stipend for transportation and other expenses related to the internship activities. The endowment was established through private gifts from family and friends, including Ballenger and Bill Browne's wife, Linda. The endowment will continue to increase its support for internship stipends as future gifts are received through ongoing fundraising efforts by the college.

Ballenger served as the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at CMU from 2003-07. He is a former state representative and senator, director of the State Department of Licensing and Regulation, and a former state racing commissioner. He also served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in President Gerald R. Ford's administration.

Browne taught political science at CMU for more than 30 years until he passed away in 2005 after a 12-year battle with chronic myelogenous leukemia. He was instrumental in establishing the Master of Public Administration program and in placing political science students in internships throughout the country. The Ballenger-Browne endowment was designed to support and enhance the internship placement efforts that Browne helped to establish.

The scholarship is renewable for up to one year of full-time continuous enrollment. Part-time attendance or withdrawal from the university will result in the cancellation of the scholarship.
The recipient will be a student enrolled in the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service academic program or who has an interest in the study of political science.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.

Applicants should submit a statement of interest to Dr. Emma Powell at powel3ea@cmich.edu.

Edward H. Potthoff Scholarship in Local Government Administration

Applicants must be graduate students in a public administration curriculum. They need a demonstrated career interest in local government, a record of participation at that level, and directly relevant coursework. One scholarship will be awarded. The application deadline is in the spring semester. For additional information, contact Dr. Sharon Kukla-Acevedo at kukla1sa@cmich.edu.

The award will be made only if highly qualified applicants apply.

Apply with a formal letter, a resume, and contact information for three references who will speak to your career interests in Public Administration.

Leslie and Leonard Lieberman Social Science Scholarship

Scholarship awarded annually to an anthropology, social work, sociology or family studies major. The scholarship was established in memory of Leslie and Leonard Lieberman, former Central Michigan University faculty members.

Scholarship requirements:

Junior or senior standing
Anthropology, social work, sociology or family studies major
Minimum 3.4 GPA
Recipients are chosen on the basis of excellence in academic performance and writing skills as demonstrated in an essay describing career goals.

For more information, email Jamie Fockler at fockl1jm@cmich.edu.

Maxine Berman Academic Achievement Award

Established in 2018 by Dr. David Jesuit and friends of Maxine Berman, the Maxine Berman Academic Achievement Award recognizes the academic accomplishments and promise of a student enrolled in one or both of the seminar courses taught by the Griffin Chair (PSC 300/301). Berman was an American politician who served on the Michigan House of Representatives between 1983 and 1996. She served as the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University from 2009-2013. She died at the age of 71 on March 2, 2018, of lung cancer, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

For more information, please contact Andrea LaFontaine at lafon1am@cmich.edu.

Berman Award Website

Ronald George Khoury and Andy Leavitt Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2022 by Ron Khoury '89 and Andy Leavitt '08, partners at Khoury Johnson Leavitt lobby firm in Lansing. Mr. Khoury and Mr. Leavitt were both first-generation college students and established the Khoury and Leavitt Annual Scholarship to benefit first-generation, political science majors, with financial need and value the opportunity to meet with the scholarship recipient.

This is a non-renewable annual scholarship for a sophomore, junior, or senior maintaining a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 with preference given toward first-generation college students.

Qualified recipients must have a declared Political Science major.
Qualified recipients must demonstrate financial need.
Qualified recipients must be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior.
Qualified recipients must maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Recipients must submit a brief personal narrative describing their intent to be active in non-school related activities related to politics/government.
Preference given to first-generation college students.

For more information, email the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service, SPSJPS@cmich.edu.

ShoSum Courage Scholarship

What challenges or adversity have you faced in your life that has given you the courage to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector?

This scholarship is sponsored by ShoSum Athletic Wear. The scholarship is open to all signed Public and Nonprofit Administration majors and Nonprofit Leadership & Service minors. Please email a 500 - 1000 word essay and a cover letter to Dr. Emma Powell at powel3ea@cmich.edu.

Deadline: January 14th, 2024.

Study and Service Worldwide (SASW) Award

The scholarship was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formerly named Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and to support international endeavors by students majoring in sociology, anthropology or social work (SASW).

For more information, email Jamie Fockler at fockl1jm@cmich.edu.

Graduate assistantships

Each year the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service awards a limited number of assistantships to MPA students. This primary form of financial assistance for graduate students provides tuition remission, a stipend, and funding to cover the cost of mandatory university fees. They work 20 hours per week for the department assisting in faculty research and teaching activities. For additional information, please email SPSJPS@cmich.edu.

Study abroad grant

An international experience is an invaluable part of a student's education and will provide an international perspective which cannot be fully recreated within the classroom. To promote international study, the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service has created a small fund to assist students with costs related to study abroad.

Award Amount: Awards are limited to no more than $100 and are dependent upon the amount of funding available.

Study Abroad Grant Application

Student travel grant

Central Michigan University’s School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service considers undergraduate and graduate students’ research to be a vital part of their education. This Student Travel Grant is to assist and encourage student presentations at Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology and Social Work professional conferences.