2019-2020
September 24, 2019 – Poli Sci “Meet and Greet”
PSA and the department continued our annual tradition of hosting a “meet and greet” for students interested in Political Science and faculty.
2018-2019
September 18, 2018 – Poli Sci “Meet and Greet”
PSA and the department again hosted an annual “meet and greet” for students interested in Political Science and faculty. The event was a huge success with over 40 attendees, and we look forward to continuing it next year.
March 26, 2019 – Induction and Graduation Ceremony
Our annual induction and graduation ceremony was another wonderful event. We again had a Chapter Activity Grant to fund the event, and we inducted a record 27 new members. Professor Emeritus John Ambler from the Department of Political Science gave the keynote address. We enjoyed a meal together and celebrated our new inductees and graduating seniors.
2017-2018
September 27, 2017 – Poli Sci “Meet and Greet”
PSA and the Department of Political Science hosted the annual “meet and greet” for students and faculty interested in Political Science. This annual event is more popular each year with nearly 50 attendees this year.
October 2017 - Candidate Town Hall
Pi Sigma Alpha co-sponsored (with Civic Duty Rice and the Center for Local Elections in American Politics) a Candidate Town Hall for the local trustee election for the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Students got to hear a variety of candidates speak about their platforms and learn about local Houston politics.
March 28, 2018 – Induction and Graduation Ceremony
Our annual Pi Sigma Alpha Induction and Graduation Ceremony was a huge success! Thanks to a Chapter Activity Grant from the national Pi Sigma Alpha office, we held a wonderful banquet with delicious catered food in Farnsworth Hall (RMC) to honor our chapter’s 18 new inductees and 9 graduating seniors. Tom McCasland, Director of the City of Houston Department of Housing and Community Development, was the keynote speaker and talked about his experiences working for city government and how the city worked through Hurricane Harvey.
2016-2017
September 21, 2016 – Poli Sci “Meet and Greet”
We welcomed Pi Sigma Alpha members and political science-interested students to the academic year with a “meet and greet” with the faculty of the Department of Political Science. Students and faculty mingled on the balcony of Herzstein Hall with food and drinks on a beautiful September afternoon.
October 2016 – Debate Watching Party
Several political and political science-related groups (including Pi Sigma Alpha) met for a pizza dinner and debate watching party.
November 8, 2016 – Election Watch Party
Pi Sigma Alpha worked with many other groups at the university to sponsor a university-wide Election Watch Party. The event was held in the RMC’s Grand Hall and several hundred students, faculty, and staff attended.
Various Dates – Informal Pizza Lunch Discussions
Pi Sigma Alpha members enjoyed lunch discussions with department faculty and visitors on topics including: The Importance of Methods to Political Science, the 2016 election, and mayoral politics in Houston.
March 27, 2017 – Induction and Graduation Ceremony
This year, we held a ceremony to induct our newest members and celebrate the graduation of our seniors. Thirteen students were inducted into the honor society at a lovely dinner held in the Farnsworth Room of the Rice Memorial Center. Former Mayor Annise Parker gave the keynote address and faculty and students celebrated with a catered dinner. The ceremony was generously supported by a Chapter Activity Grant awarded to the chapter by the national office of Pi Sigma Alpha.
2015-2016
Induction Ceremony - Rice’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha reinvigorated itself with its 2016 induction ceremony. Nineteen students and one faculty member were inducted into the honor society at a special ceremony where former Senator Wyche Fowler gave a keynote address and students and faculty socialized over an informal dinner. The chapter has elected a set of officers for the 2016-2017 academic year and is underway planning events and activities for the upcoming year.