Department Update: Political Science

A group of nine students and their faculty advisor stand in a row behind a table smiling at the camera. Behind them is a shelf holding several tall trophies.
Teaching Assistant Professor Kristin Trenholm (third from right in front) stands with a group of Epsilon Xi members at the Pi Sigma Alpha National Research Conference at American University in February. (Photo courtesy of the Political Science Department)

For the fourth time in its history, UW-Milwaukee’s Epsilon Xi chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society, has been awarded a Best Chapter Award for 2025-2026 by the national organization of Pi Sigma Alpha.

In addition, Epsilon Xi chapter advisor Kristen Trenholm, a teaching assistant professor of political science at UWM, won a National Advisor of the Year award.

“These awards are intended to recognize local chapters that are particularly active in their institutions and communities and embody our society’s mission to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science. Professor Trenholm-Horowitz serves as faculty advisor to the chapter and should be recognized for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to the students who are members of the chapter,” Tanya B. Schwarz, executive director of Pi Sigma Alpha, wrote while announcing the honors.

A group of five students in professional dress stand in a line on the steps of a white building with three banks of windows. Two white pillars in the background have vertical banners, one reading School of and the other reading Public.

The Epsilon Xi chapter was among five other chapters of similar size recognized out of 830 chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha across the country. Epsilon Xi also received Best Chapter awards in 2015, 2019, and 2020. This year, the national organization cited the UW-Milwaukee chapter’s many activities fostering students’ professional development as one of the main reasons for its award.

For example, last school year, Epsilon Xi members participated in Student Involvement’s Student Training and Recognizing Success (STARS) Development Program and Epsilon Xi President Ellyn Blakeman won Student Organization Leader of the Year at the Student Excellence Awards.

Epsilon Xi’s national award includes a cash prize of $500 for the chapter, as well as an additional $200 to the advisor for their service. In addition, winners will be featured in the American Political Science Association’s magazine, Political Science Today.

“The Department of Political Science is extremely proud of this student organization and the community Professor Trenholm built around these students,” said Political Science Professor Sara Benesh, who is also the director of Curriculum & Governance in the College of Letters & Science. “We are always excited to see them in their Pi Sigma Alpha office and at the many events they schedule throughout the semester.”

Students may apply to join the Epsilon Xi chapter on the UWM Political Science website.