Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has been elected National President of Pi Sigma Alpha, the 700-chapter National Political Science Honor Society. The organization recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in political science through scholarships, best paper awards and research conferences. Nine students from the Mary Washington chapter of the honor society have received national recognition in the best papers competition, and six of those winners were recognized for papers prepared in Farnsworth’s research methods class or for departmental honors projects completed under his direction. No other university in the country has had as many political science students win national writing awards from Pi Sigma Alpha as has Mary Washington.

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was in considerable demand as a political analyst during the Medicaid expansion standoff in the Virginia General Assembly and the federal corruption trial of former Governor Bob McDonnell. His commentary on Virginia politics appeared in more than 100 media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on WAMU, Washington’s national public radio affiliate, and on MSNBC’s program “Now with Alex Wagner.”