Capital’s Political Science Department has recently hired two new faculty members for the 2015-16 academic year. Spencer Tyce and Kirsten Hildonen have taken positions with the Political Science Department, helping fill the vacancies left by departing faculty adjunct Joseph Arena.
The search for new professors began when Arena left Capital’s Political Science Department after being hired by the State Department. Arena spent a little over a semester at Capital, as he began teaching classes last spring after Professor Brian Wallace retired three weeks into the semester.
Until Arena’s position could be filled, his classes were temporarily taught between professors Suzanne Marilley and Sean Walsh, current full-time faculty with the Political Science Department. The hiring of Tyce and Hildonen will allow Marilley and Walsh to return to focusing solely on their scheduled classes.
Tyce, a graduate of the Ohio State University, began teaching classes this week. Hildonen has been teaching classes since last week. She has taken on this position as she completes her dissertation at OSU on Eastern European History.
“[Arena’s] departure was just unfortunate timing for us. But I am absolutely delighted we were able to find such good people at such short notice,” Stephen Baker, head of the Political Science Department, said.
“I am really excited to teach upper division courses to smaller classes for students as engaged and excited about the courses as I am,” Hildonen said. Everyone here has been extremely welcoming and helpful since I began.”
Tyce and Hildenon in fact have worked together before through OSU’s graduate program. Hildenon is excited to work with Tyce again, only this time as colleagues as opposed to graduate students.
