(From left to right): Professor Jeffrey Koch honors outstanding seniors in political science, Ethan Moyer and Reese Dammers. Photo credit: Professor Hanna Brant
Political Science and International Relations News
The SUNY Geneseo Department of Political Science and International Relations honored its outstanding students at this year’s 47th awards ceremony, celebrating academic excellence, service, leadership, and the vibrant intellectual community that defines the department. Faculty and students gathered to recognize the achievements of majors who have distinguished themselves both inside and outside the classroom.
The ceremony recognized Outstanding Seniors, a set of awards that highlight students who have excelled academically while contributing meaningfully to the department’s mission. In Political Science, Ethan Moyer and Reese Dammers were honored for their sustained excellence and service. In International Relations, Charles Tracy and Marcus Perretta received the outstanding senior award, reflecting their outstanding scholarship and contributions to the broader Geneseo community.
Service to the department was a recurring theme throughout the ceremony, most notably in the presentation of the Edward Janosik Award. This year’s recipients, Alyssa Dawson and Victoria Coppola, were recognized for their transformative impact on community engagement. Dawson was celebrated for reviving the Model United Nations program, bringing new energy and opportunities for experiential learning. Coppola, the department’s communications intern, was honored for elevating the department’s visibility and outreach through her work.
The ceremony also highlighted interdisciplinary achievement through the Robert Goeckel and Rose Bechem-Alent Award, which recognizes a student who excels in Political Science or International Relations while also majoring in a foreign language. This year’s honoree, Brian Kenny, was commended for his academic distinction and his commitment to global learning.
Among juniors, two scholarships underscored the department’s investment in emerging leaders. The Ambassador Apartments Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding junior majoring in International Relations who demonstrates academic merit, citizenship, and service, was presented to Aziliz Brumley. The Jesse Rodgers Award in Political Science, recognizes an exceptional junior majoring in Political Science and was awarded to: Chelsea Livingstone, Lea Mancarella, Jake Held, and Alyssa Dawson. Faculty highlighted the nominees’ academic achievements and their potential to shape the future of the department.
Integrative and applied learning was also celebrated through the Outstanding Internship Award, given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional performance in an internship placement. This year’s recipient, Chloe Callahan, was selected for her professionalism, initiative, and the impact of her work in the field.
During the ceremony, the Kenneth Deutsch Alumni Award in Legal Studies, was presented to Claire Jourd’heuil, who plans to attend law school in the coming year. Faculty recognized her academic excellence and her commitment to pursuing a career in the legal profession.
The ceremony also celebrated the department’s honor society inductees, recognizing students whose academic distinction places them among the most accomplished students in the department. The 2025–2026 cohort of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, included Devyn Balfe, Victoria Coppola, Samantha Koepele, Chelsea Livingstone, and Charles Tracy—students recognized for their academic excellence and leadership within the discipline. In addition, the department celebrated its 2025–2026 inductees into Sigma Iota Rho, the national honor society for international relations: Marcus Perretta and Charles Tracy. Their achievements reflect a deep commitment to global studies and the interdisciplinary rigor that defines the major.
Taken together, the awards reflected the department’s pride in its students and its commitment to fostering rigorous scholarship, ethical leadership, and engaged citizenship. The honorees represent the next generation of scholars, public servants, and global thinkers—individuals whose achievements already reflect the values at the heart of SUNY Geneseo’s mission.
To keep up with department events, follow us on Instagram @geneseopolisci and @mun.geneseo
Article edited by Karleen West, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations
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