Parami faculty member Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe named 2026 APSA Contingent Faculty Award Winner

Parami faculty member Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe has been named among the 2026 Contingent Faculty Award winners for Excellence in Scholarship, Teaching, or Leadership in the Profession, presented by the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe, a faculty member at Parami University, has received the 2026 Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Teaching, or Leadership by Contingent Faculty from the American Political Science Association (APSA). She is one of three recipients of this year's award, which recognizes significant contributions to political science by scholars working outside tenure-track positions.

The award committee recognized Dr. Mineshima-Lowe for her approach to teaching political science through Parami's fully online liberal arts curriculum, as well as her contributions to teaching and learning beyond the classroom.

Teaching students in Myanmar, where access to education can be affected by interrupted schooling, unreliable electricity, and limited internet connectivity, Dr. Mineshima-Lowe has developed teaching practices that respond to these challenges. Her approach includes breaking writing assignments into stages, offering different forms of assessment such as podcasts, policy briefs, and simulations, and using participation tools that encourage more students to contribute to discussions.

Her professional contributions extend beyond Parami. She serves on the APSA Educate Advisory Board, co-chairs the 2026 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, and supports faculty development across Myanmar and the wider Global Higher Education Alliance network. Her research interests include democratic transitions, governance, liberal arts education, citizen activism, and democratic engagement.

The award highlights the importance of inclusive teaching practices that respond to students' circumstances while encouraging them to think critically about politics, power, and civic participation.

Parami University congratulates Dr. Mineshima-Lowe on this recognition and celebrates her contributions to teaching, scholarship, and the broader political science community.