Fifteen UCA students had the opportunity to participate in The Washington Center (TWC) Inside Washington Seminar in Washington DC on January 6-14, 2026.  The UCA students, who were instructed by Dr. Bailey Fairbanks from the UCA Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), joined a group of 300 participants from across the country who gathered in person for a unique insider’s view into the state of politics, policy, and diplomacy in the national capital.  The UCA students – Mary Kate Cain, Maritsa Rosas, Richard Ware, Katelyn Nees, Madelyn White, Alec Williams, Lillian Ward, Caroline Fortenberry, Mitchell Gray, Sydney Poe, Taylor Brewer, Corbin Williams, Connor Farmer, Catherine Brewer, and Taylor Aldana – benefited from financial support from the State of Arkansas and the TWC, as well as Student Experiential Learning Fund (SELF) grants funded by GPI Department alumni, faculty, and other contributors.

Throughout the week, keynote speakers and panel participants included representatives from the Brookings Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, NBC News, the Washington Post, the Cook Political Report, and the Cato Institute. In addition, the UCA students gained access to influential organizations and institutions across D.C., including meetings at the Pentagon, the European Union Delegation, and the American Securities Project.  Students were also given a private tour of the U.S. Capitol Building by Senator John Boozman’s staff and a one-on-one meeting with Senator Boozman to discuss issues impacting Arkansans each day.

“The Washington Center is committed to building access, equity, and opportunity for all learners as they chart their path from college to career,” said Kim Churches, TWC President.  “By inviting learners to D.C., we hope they can experience the power they have to shape policy and tackle the many challenges we face as a nation and in our own communities. Thanks to funding from Arkansas, our goal is to help even more students find their own role in protecting and preserving our democracy.”����TWC’s Inside Washington Seminar 2026 emphasized the pivotal moment in history by delving into the issues that matter most. Speakers and discussions examined topics such as the elections, healthcare, gun safety, and more. Hearing first-hand from the individuals who have shaped these critical issues gave students an unparalleled perspective on leadership and civic engagement.

Beginning in the summer and fall of 2026, some of the graduating students plan to continue their education in graduate school or law school, and many of them are pursuing internships and employment opportunities in government and public service.  Micah Castleberry (BS in Political Science & BPA in Public Administration) and Summer Charles (BA in Political Science) plan to attend law school.  Caleb Fergeson (BPA in Public Administration) plans to complete an internship with the Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services.����Caroline Fortenberry (BS in Political Science), Arely Pioquinto (BS in Political Science & BA in English), and Alec Williams (BS in Political Science & BPA in Public Administration) are planning to pursue JD degrees at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Bowen School of Law.  Mitchell Gray (BPA in Public Administration & BBA in Business Administration) and Ryan Webb (BS in Political Science) plan to pursue MBA degrees at UCA.

Also graduating in May 2026, Michael Phifer (BPA in Public Administration) plans to continue working as Executive Director of the non-profit organization Mission Machine, Inc. in Searcy.����Sydney Poe (BS in Political Science) plans to complete an internship with Senator Tom Cotton in Washington DC.����Evan Thomas (BS in Political Science & Philosophy) and Lillian Ward (BS in Political Science & BA in International Studies) plan to pursue JD degrees at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville.  Richard Ware (BS in Political Science & Philosophy) plans to begin a position as a State Personnel Specialist with the Arkansas Office of Personnel Management.����Madelyn White (BS in Political Science & Economics) has been accepted into the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Georgetown University.  ����ڴڱ�����Dz����¾������Dz���(BS in Political Science & Criminology) plans to work as an Elections Library Assistant & Legal Assistant for the State of Arkansas Secretary of State.����Other GPI students graduating from UCA in May 2026 were Jaden Elmore, Amie Fall, Benjamin Henry, Katelyn Nees, Maritsa Rosas, and Alexis Cantu Saavedra.

On February 18-21, 2026, twelve UCA MUN students and Dr. Mark Elrod travelled to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in the 66th Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference.  The UCA MUN students participated as delegates representing the countries of Burkina Faso and Ukraine.  Julien Mrad, a 2025 UCA graduate who majored in international studies and linguistics and a former secretary-general of the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN), was presented a best position paper award for his representation of Burkina Faso in the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Julien Mrad and four current UCA students (Hlib Shevchenko, Corbin Williams, Kyle Urban, and Omar Jarkas) served on the staff of a high school Model United Nations conference held at Conway High School on March 13-14, 2026.  Participating in the conference as delegates were more than 50 students from Conway High School, Little Central High School, Little Rock Catholic High School, and Maumelle Charter High School.

Nine UCA MUN members participated in the Ozark Regional Model Arab League (OZMAL) Conference at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri on April 10-11, 2026.  Delegations from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK), Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK), Drury University (Springfield, MO), and Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) also participated in the conference.  The UCA students represented the countries of Bahrain (Taylor Brewer, Lillian Ward, and Maritsa Rosas); Egypt (Waylon Matthews, Hlib Shevchenko, and Kyle Urban); and Saudi Arabia (Elizabeth Velasco-Moya, Cobin Williams, and Jasmine Strickland) in the Joint Defense Council, Political Affairs Council, and Environmental Affairs Council.  During the closing ceremony on April 11th, several of the students were recognized with awards, including Corbin Williams (Outstanding Delegate), Waylon Matthews (Distinguished Delegate), Elizabeth Velasco-Moya (Honorable Mention), Kyle Urban (Outstanding Delegate), and Maritsa Rosas (Distinguished Delegate).

Georgia Miller, Public Administration major and Political Science minor
“I had the opportunity to intern for The CALL, a local nonprofit that equips, educates, and trains current and future foster parents. I had the privilege of managing events, running social media accounts, and spreading awareness to the community that every child deserves a loving home. This organization has opened my eyes by shedding light on how much we take everything for granted. Working with this organization for over a year has allowed me to grow and develop my future career in the nonprofit sector.”

Mary Lyle, Political Science Major and Journalism Minor
“Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern at STOPDV, a nonprofit in Conway. While I was there, my main tasks included going to weekly court meetings and taking notes on cases related to domestic violence, organizing files, and working on longstanding projects related to outreach and reducing recidivism. Through my time at STOPDV, I learned how nonprofits function and the amount of dedication it takes to continuously fight for victims in the legal system. ”

Kylie McGraw, public administration major in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), was selected for the inaugural Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy at the   The Academy prepares the next generation of public leaders by bringing together students from colleges and universities in Arkansas to engage in academic discussions, practical training, and service-learning.  Students gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to become effective community leaders. The program culminates in the awarding of a Civic Arkansas Credential.

Kylie is a senior public administration major from Little Rock.  Kylie is serving as the President of the UCA Student Government Association (SGA) and the Secretary of the Public Administration (PA) Club in 2025-2026.  After graduation from UCA, Kylie will be pursuing a law degree and hopes one day to become an elected official and policymaker in her community.

Dr. Kim Hoffman, Director of the undergraduate public administration program and Director of the NextGen Service Corps program in the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI), commends McGraw’s leadership as SGA president and for representing UCA in the first cohort of the civic leadership academy.  According to Dr. Hoffman, “Kylie embodies the kind of student we have in the GPI Department who strives to make her community better, seeks opportunities to become more civically engaged, and aspires to be a future change agent and problem-solver.”