Kennesaw State professor receives national Distinguished Teaching Award

KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct 5, 2021) — KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct 4, 2021) — Kennesaw State University political science professor Charity Butcher has been recognized for her contributions to undergraduate and graduate teaching with the 2021 Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Butcher instructs undergraduate courses in international affairs along with teaching in the Master of Science in International Policy Management and Ph.D. in International Conflict Management programs. APSA’s announcement of the award states that “Charity Butcher is not only an outstanding educator and mentor but also seeks to enable others to excel as educators in political science.”

“I am honored to be recognized by my peers and the American Political Science Association,” Butcher said. “I have been so fortunate to be able to follow my passion for teaching and to have the opportunity to teach and mentor so many great students at Kennesaw State, including as the faculty advisor for the Model United Nations team. I look forward to continuing to see our students grow, learn and excel.”

Butcher’s research focuses on human rights, the role of terrorism in civil wars, and the importance of ethnicity and religion in international conflict. She has published several articles and three books, including her most recent book – co-written with KSU professor of Middle East politics Maia Hallward – that compares how secular and religious non-governmental organizations approach human rights.

The American Political Science Association praised Butcher not only for her commitment to teaching, but also her “strong track record of mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students.” She also serves as a mentor to her colleagues; for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Butcher shared her expertise in online instruction with faculty members who needed to adapt quickly to the online teaching format.

“Charity Butcher is an immensely talented and productive scholar and teacher,” said Kerwin Swint, director of Kennesaw State’s School of Government and International Affairs. “We are very proud of her accomplishments. She is an excellent representative for KSU and the School of Government and International Affairs.”

– Paul Floeckher