JMC's new major for future social studies teachers
Recent updates news from Case Hall
In This Issue
Learn about JMC’s newest major, Public Affairs for Secondary Educators
Join JMC Prof. Emeritus M. Richard Zinman in Case Hall on Feb. 18
More college news
JMC programs that will bring new students to Case Hall
Alumni notes, including the recent announcement that JMC alumnus Wallace B. Jefferson is the next president of the American Law Institute
Public Affairs for Secondary Educators
JMC’s newest major, Public Affairs for Secondary Educators, is designed to prepare the next generation of social studies educators. It combines the college’s interdisciplinary approach to the study of public and international affairs with field experiences required for secondary teacher certification in Michigan.
Public Affairs for Secondary Education (PASE) majors earn both their bachelor’s degree and teaching certification in four years. The major includes JMC’s foundational public affairs courses, focused social sciences courses in geography and history, upper-level seminars to strengthen research and writing skills, comprehensive teacher education courses and student teaching placements in classroom settings.
M. Richard Zinman Scholar in Residence Event
Professor Emeritus M. Richard Zinman shaped generations of JMC students through his commitment to the enduring questions of political philosophy. His 46-year teaching career brought classical texts alive in ways that were both intellectually rigorous and personally transformative.
On Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. in Case Hall, JMC is honored to host the M. Richard Zinman Scholar in Residence lecture featuring Dr. Ariel Helfer, associate professor at Wayne State University. Dr. Helfer will explore the writings of Isocrates, a classical philosopher whose influence stretched from ancient Greece through the Renaissance but who remains largely absent from contemporary political philosophy.
Professor Zinman will join us for the lecture, and both he and Dr. Helfer will be available afterward to meet with attendees. Alumni, friends and supporters of the college are invited to attend.
The M. Richard Zinman Scholar in Residence program is funded through the M. Richard Zinman Professorship in Classical Political Philosophy. Contact JMC’s Assoc. Director of Development Joseph Agosta (agostaj@msu.edu) with questions.
More College News
In 2024, JMC student Colin Reese completed an internship abroad in Ireland, an experience that combined citizen science, policy research and community engagement. His work with Coastwatch in Dublin — from creating educational materials to organizing community conservation events — earned Reese recognition as a finalist for The Forum on Education Abroad’s Award for Academic Achievement Abroad.
Last fall, third-year international relations student Ashlin Stover was named MSU’s first Voyager Scholarship recipient. As part of the Voyager program, Stover attended the Obama Foundation Fall Summit in Chicago. She shared her reflections from the experience in a Student View on JMC’s website.
Hanaa Yoo graduated from MSU in December 2025 with a degree in Comparative Cultures & Politics and minors in Asian Pacific American Studies, Business and Korean. She represented JMC as its flag bearer at MSU’s December commencement ceremony, an honor based on extraordinary academic achievement and community contributions. Read about Yoo’s approach to building community on campus through advocacy and leadership on JMC’s website.
In October 2025, JMC hosted its first fall Career Exposure Program in Lansing. Learn more about some of the program’s alumni hosts in the YouTube video below:
JMC Programs for High School Students
JMC ACE: The James Madison College Academy for Civic Education is accepting applications from Michigan high school students interested in participating in the Summer 2026 program. Participants will spend two weeks (July 12-24) on MSU campus immersed in college-level seminars exploring American democracy. The completely free program includes accommodation, meals, travel stipends and co-curricular programming in Lansing and the surrounding region. Michigan residents entering their senior year of high school this fall are encouraged to apply. Applications close March 1. Contact Prof. Tobin Craig at JM.ace@msu.edu with questions.
PRIME Leadership Academy: Know an Ingham County high school student interested in law, public policy and international affairs? Help us spread the word about this year's PRIME Leadership Academy, hosted at JMC during Ingham County's spring break (March 30-April 3). Participants spend the week exploring MSU campus and getting an introduction to life at JMC. The program is free and open at all local high school students. Interested students can attend an info session on Feb. 16 and apply via Qualtrics. Contact Jahshua Smith (smithjah@msu.edu) with questions.
Junior Visit Days: High school juniors interested in applying to JMC are invited to attend our Junior Visit Days, hosted in Case Hall on March 20, April 17 and May 15. These events are designed specifically for high school juniors and provide a first introduction to the college. Interested students and families register via MSU Office of Admissions.
Connect with the JMC Alumni Board of Directors
Interested in connecting with the James Madison College Board of Directors and supporting alumni engagement initiatives? The Board of Directors invites JMC alums to share their information via Google Forms.
Alumni Notes
The American Law Institute has elected Wallace B. Jefferson (Urban ’85) as its next president. Jefferson served on the Supreme Court of Texas from 2001 to 2013 and was Chief Justice from 2004 until the end of his tenure. He made Texas history as the Court’s first African American Justice and Chief Justice. During his time on the bench, he led efforts to expand access to justice, supported reforms to juvenile justice, and oversaw the implementation of a statewide electronic filing system for Texas courts.
Marc Allen (PTCD ’09) is a Senior Staff Attorney with ACLU of Michigan. He began the role on Dec. 1 after nearly seven years in the Civil Rights Division of the Office of the General Counsel at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Candace Hill (Democracy ’90) has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who, a longstanding publisher of biographical directories featuring notable individuals in various fields. Hill is an attorney at Dell Technologies and has expertise in privacy/data compliance, litigation and technology law.
Angela Nurse (SRP ’08) is a tenured professor of sociology at the University of San Diego. Her scholarship and pedagogy explore the entanglement of social forces, such as ideologies and institutions, and individual behavior and preferences. She is particularly interested in how racialized and gendered corporal ideologies are managed, implicated, and created through individual daily dress practice.
Christien Oliver (SR ’05) will chair the 2026 Pursuit of Excellence Summit in Los Angeles in February. The event connects leaders in sport, business, technology and entertainment during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Joe Pinzl (PTCD ’12) is a Navy Chaplain currently deployed in the Arctic Circle with 2nd Battalion 6th Marines.
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