Cameron Students posing for a picture on Campus

Social Sciences

Previous Events


Syria After Assad: Should America Pull Its Troops out?

Syria after Assad flyer

Please join us on March 25, 2025 for another addition to our Public Lecture Series in Political Science! This time we will hear from Dr. Joshua Landis, Sandra Mackey Chair and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies in the Boren College of International Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Landis publishes frequently in policy journals such as Foreign Affairs, Middle East Policy and Foreign Policy. His book: Syria at Independence, Nationalism, Leadership, and Failure of Republicanism will be published by the Arab Center for research and Policy studies this coming year, and he writes and manages “SyriaComment.com,” a newsletter on Syrian politics. He has written many scholarly articles and is a frequent analyst on TV, radio, and in print and has appeared many times on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He is also a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute in Washington DC. Dr. Landis has received three Fulbright Grants to support his research in Syria and won numerous prizes for his teaching. He is past President of the Syrian Studies Association and has consulted with many branches of the U.S. government. He has also lived over 15 years in the Middle East and 4 in Syria. He spent most summers in Syria before the uprising on 2011. Dr. Landis was educated at Swarthmore (BA), Harvard (MA), and Princeton (PhD).

Dr. Landis comes to us to share his presentation: “Syria After Assad: Should America Pull its Troops Out?” We are excited to hear his expertise and have an opportunity to learn about this topic!

This event will take place from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the Johnson Auditorium, Ross Hall 111. Students as well as the public are all welcome and light refreshments will be served. We are proud to say that this event is sponsored by the Dr. William L. and Barbara Scearce Endowed Lectureship in Political Science. 

Human Trafficking: What the Community and First Responders Need to Know


COMMUNITY TRAINING

The Cameron University Department of Social Sciences, in conjunction with The Red Cord and the Human Trafficking Training Center, will host a community workshop focusing on the problem of human trafficking on Monday, April 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Shepler Ballroom. Area residents will learn about human trafficking in the community and how to support law enforcement in their efforts. Learn more at https://www.cameron.edu/press-releases/cameron-university-invites-community-members-to-learn-efforts-against-human-trafficking.

CLEET TRAINING

CLEET training will be offered to law enforcement officers who are seeking continuing education on the topic of human trafficking. The two-day training is set for Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Shepler Ballroom.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) has approved each of the two sessions for eight hours of continuing education credit. Attendees may attend one or both sessions. There is no cost to attend.

Learn more at https://www.cameron.edu/press-releases/cameron-university-to-offer-free-cleet-training-to-counter-human-trafficking.

RSVP

The training sessions will be conducted by Dan Nash and Alison Phillips, co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. Attendees are asked to RSVP by contacting Phillips at alison@humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com.

11th Annual Cameron University High School Thesis Defense Competition

High School Teams from Lawton Public Schools participated in the Part II Final Round of the annual High School Thesis Defense Competition at Cameron University on November 15, 2024. Nine teams underwent an Oral Defense of their paper to two CU panels. The panels included Dr. W. Douglas Catterall, Dr. Edris Montalvo, Dr. Sarah Eppler Janda, and Professor Travis Childs. Dr. Lance Janda coordinated and hosted the event at CU and presented the students with their medals. All students gained confidence in their ability to succeed in college.

Four high school students sit across Professors Edris Montalvo and William Doug Catterall to defend their prepared thesis.

Three high school students sit across Professor Sarah Janda and Instructor Travis Childs to defend their prepared thesis.

Mock Trial

On November 14, 2024, the CJA and Law & Politics Club conducted a Mock Trial! Eddie Valdez, a local attorney who served 27 years as an Assistant District Attorney and who has been in private practice for 0 years, served as the judge. The case was a fictional civil suit alleging wrongful death. We are proud of our students for taking part in this learning opportunity!