Michael Towle, Ph.D., has been a hallmark of Mount St. Mary’s Political Science Department for over three decades. This year, he is returning as interim department chair, following the transition of Amanda (Beal) Krause, Ph.D., to director of international programs. Over the years he has been chair for a total of 18 years and is stepping back into the role while the department makes changes for the future.
The Political Science Department, with five full-time professors, hopes to expand. Towle accepted the challenge and is working with his colleagues, compiling ideas for the department going forward. “I don’t consider myself a leader, but all the best ones are good listeners. They guide individual goals with the objectives of the group,” he commented.
The department is planning to hire a new professor and is in the process of deciding what specialization a new hire should have, a decision that will affect students for years. It’s a choice Towle is carefully considering. “Students want to see more geopolitical courses,” he mentioned, “but domestic subjects from public administration, national security, and political polarization are also on the table.”
He also hopes to encourage practical applications of classroom theory, around campus and beyond. For example, there have been many discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on campus, and the Mount has made great efforts to become a place where all are welcome. How the Mount continues to implement these ideals beyond discussion is a challenge that he wants his students to aid in.
In fact, polarization in politics and society is a special interest of Towle’s. He was the keynote speaker for the fall 2018 Ducharme Lecture, where he spoke on political polarization. He is also the advisor to the Discourse Society, a club where students debate a range of topics, from politics to pop culture. Towle’s aim is to provide a space where students have productive arguments that lead to healthy compromise and understanding.
Towle is ready and eager to continue contributing to political study at the Mount.