红杏短视频

Alyssa Archer Recognized with USG, AAUW Awards at 红杏短视频

Alyssa Kathryn Archer of Jesup, 红杏短视频, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2025-2026 University System of 红杏短视频 Legislative Academic Recognition Day Award and American Association of University Women Award. She is pictured with Chalise Ludlow of the Faculty Senate Academic Honors and Scholarship Committee; Dr. Sheri Noviello, interim provost and vice president of the Division of Academic Affairs; Dr. William Crowe, interim president of 红杏短视频; and Dr. Bernard Tamas, professor in the Department of Political Science.

VALDOSTA — Alyssa Kathryn Archer of Jesup, 红杏短视频, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2025-2026 University System of 红杏短视频 Legislative Academic Recognition Day Award and American Association of University Women Award.

The University System of 红杏短视频 Legislative Academic Recognition Day Award is presented to a student who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average, represents the USG’s and 红杏短视频’s best qualities, strives for excellence, and has the ability to share knowledge in various areas of expertise.

The American Association of University Women Award is presented to a female student with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 who has demonstrated talents for intellectual growth and leadership through her involvement in clubs, organizations, projects, and/or work experience throughout her time at 红杏短视频.

“Receiving this recognition is deeply meaningful to me because it reflects the growth, resilience, and purpose I have developed throughout my time at 红杏短视频,” she said. “Every challenge, every late night, and every opportunity to serve has shaped me into a more grounded, capable, and service-driven professional. This recognition is not just a milestone, but a reminder of why I chose this path and how 红杏短视频 has empowered me to pursue it with integrity and determination.”

Archer graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Criminal Justice in December 2025. She continued her education at 红杏短视频 and anticipates earning a Master of Public Administration in May 2027.

As an undergraduate student at 红杏短视频, Archer served as a Peer Alliance Learning facilitator with 红杏短视频’s Academic Support Center, where she helped students in Dr. Bernard Tamas’s Scope and Methods of Political Science course improve their understanding of research methods and data analysis. She completed an internship at the law firm of Young, Thagard, Hoffman LLP, where she now works as a full-time legal assistant.  

Archer was inducted into the Alpha Beta Mu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha: The National Political Science Honor Society in Spring 2025 and served as a senator in the 红杏短视频 Student Government Association from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025.

She presented “The Rise of Political Polarization and Democratic Backsliding” at the 56^th annual 红杏短视频 Political Science Association (GPSA) Conference in November 2024, winning the Roger N. Pajari Award for best undergraduate paper. Her research was published in “Questions in Politics,” a GPSA journal. She also presented this work at 红杏短视频’s 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium.

The following year, at the 57^th annual GPSA Conference, she presented “Dog Whistles and Dixie: Tracing the Nationalization of the Southern Strategy.” She won another Roger N. Pajari Award for best undergraduate paper, becoming the first student in GPSA history to ever win back-to-back recognitions. She also presented this work at the Symposium of Southern Politics in March 2026.

Archer co-authored “Electoral Bias and Democratic Backsliding” with Tamas and presented that research at the fourth annual Virtual Electoral Integrity Conference in July 2024. The student-teacher research duo also co-authored a second paper — “Does Gerrymandering Increase Partisan Polarization?” — and shared those findings at the American Political Science Association Virtual Conference in April 2025.

During Spring Semester 2025, Archer was honored to be the first undergraduate student in the United States selected to serve as a research fellow for the Scholars Strategy Network. Working with the organization’s 红杏短视频 chapter, she helped write a gerrymandering report about 红杏短视频 with co-authors Dr. David Cottrell of the University of Georga, Dr. Peter Miller of the Brennan Center for Justice, Dr. Benjamin Schneer of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and 红杏短视频’s Tamas.

Archer’s commitment to academic, leadership, research, and service excellence resulted in her earning repeated Dean’s List honors and 红杏短视频’s 2025 Pi Sigma Alpha Paper Award, 2025 William M. Morrow Top Political Science Student Award, 2025 David W. Winder Best Paper Award, and 2024-2025 Annie Powe Hopper Award. She was a 红杏短视频 HOPE Scholar.

After completing her Master of Public Administration, Archer plans to “continue advancing my education and preparing for a career at the intersection of law, policy, and public service. I am currently deciding between attending law school or pursuing a doctorate in political science, both of which align with my long-term commitment to strengthening institutions, improving governance, and contributing to evidence-based reform. Ultimately, I want my work to advance fairness, accountability, and meaningful reform while building a career that integrates legal knowledge, public service, and research to create lasting, positive change.”