Everyone has a story about that one class that changed their life. Maybe it was the way the instructor taught the class – giving good constructive feedback, for example, or inspiring you to go beyond what you thought you were capable of. Maybe the course content inspired you to change something about yourself or challenged you in another way. This is my story about the class that changed my life.

It should be no surprise that the class that changed me was in my major, political science. That class was Dr. Cox’s POL 235. The course title, “How Wars End: Civil Wars and International Responses,” sounds like it would immediately strike boredom in the hearts of any non-political science or international relations major, but this class was far from boring.

POL 235 is seminar-based, which means that while there are lectures (that you are expected to attend), most of your work will come from your own research. This isn’t to say you’re on your own; others in the course will do all they can to support you. Dr. Cox presents most of the theory behind your study. You’re then expected to take the concepts presented in class and apply them to a case study. This gives you a sense of “getting it.” You’re showing the class that you have learned from the theory and can recognize its applications in your respective case.

Furthermore, when essays are returned to you, they’re covered with carefully crafted and commending comments. Throughout the course, I felt empowered to adapt my work and use the words of encouragement Dr. Cox provided me to continue to improve. I struggle with academic confidence (which is a bold thing for an Oxbridge kid to say), but there’s nothing quite like knowing you’ve got it right. Iteration is the key to perfection, after all.

Dr. Cox is also a phenomenal instructor with hands-on experience in peace and conflict research. Before his time at Jewell, he worked with the humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse to aid and support those affected by the end of Sudan’s second civil war in 2006. He is not merely presenting theory – he’s had boots on the ground and knows how rough war can be.

Before taking this course, I was considering the “standard” political science graduate program. I wanted to go to law school to become a corporate lawyer, argue a case, make money and repeat steps two through four. After taking this course, I’ve realized that money isn’t everything. I’ve been inspired to take the course content and make it my own. I want to use what I learned in this class to lift the downtrodden. I want to challenge the status quo of war, helping to bring it to an end. 

In all aspects of the course, one message stood out: war is devastating. It devastates all the militant actors. It destroys civilian well-being. Quite frankly, war destroys my hope in humanity.

But Dr. Cox’s other message – that war is not the default, and there is a way out – stood out more.

The course inspired me to change my career path. Even more, it poured into me as a person, enabling me to build confidence in my own work, to research complicated cases and to analyze complex situations. How Wars End is not easy. As any political science major will tell you, no course taught by Dr. Cox is. But the work is well worth the undertaking.

Dr. Holiman

Dr. Alan Holiman, department chair of the political science department, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Arkansas, a master of arts in political science from Ohio State University, a second M.A. degree in Russian and east European studies and doctorate in political science from the University of Kansas. Holiman especially enjoys discussing, and debating, comparative and American politics. Having lived and studied in the Soviet Union, Holiman has gained first­hand experience analyzing the similarities and differences between states, especially Russia and other post­-communist states.

“Alas, no new subject has captured my fascination lately. I track what I track and follow what I follow and these are more than enough,” he said, when asked whether any specific topic had recently grabbed his attention.

However, his recent foray into Russian politics has brought him to a “wonderful read” called, “”Vsya kremlevskaya rat,” which translates to “All the Kremlin’s Men” by Mikhail Zygar, news director for TV-­Rain in Moscow,” which details the rise and transformation of Vladimir Putin.

Dr. Gary Armstrong

Dr. Gary Armstrong has extended his role at William Jewell College beyond his own department. His titles include: professor of political science, director of the international relations major and associate dean of the core curriculum. While his administrative work does occupy some of his time, his classes still see his passion for political science. Armstrong came to Jewell after receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate from Georgetown University, where he now spends his summers teaching. While he primarily teaches political science courses, Dr. Armstrong instructs the CTI capstone course “Birth By Any Means” for William Jewell seniors and has also found interest in teaching “Preparation for Marriage” with his wife. His educational interests include American foreign and security policies, international relations theory, international conflict and war ethics and international political economy.

When asked if any new topic had recently captured his attention, Dr. Armstrong reflected on a course called “Intro to World Politics.”

“’Intro to World Politics’ has changed,” he said. “That’s been a lot of fun. Students get to try to connect politics to fundamental notions of human happiness. Of course, the students get to involve patterns and charts to create a hypothesis. However, I really don’t care too much about the statistical process in this case. I care about their ability to create an interesting hypothesis.”

Dr. Rien Staal

Dr. Staal, professor of political science, received his bachelor of arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He then received his Master of Arts and a doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley. His specialties include politics and literature, political philosophy and American political thought. While his work at Jewell occupies much of his time, Staal has found time to write several political and theological texts, including “The Forgotten Story of Post­Modernity,” “The Irony of Modern Conservatism” and “A Viable Russian Federalism.”

Dr. Fletcher D. Cox

Dr. Fletcher D. Cox, the most recent addition to the political science department, is an assistant professor of political science and he received his B.S. from William Jewell College. After graduation, he received his masters of theological studies from Harvard University, which he followed with his doctorate from the University of Denver alongside work with the Sié Chéou­Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy. As a Jewell graduate, Dr. Cox has the experience of teaching at the same school where he first studied and is spending his first year back at his alma mater “focused on designing new courses for the department.” His special interests keep him focused on comparative politics and international political economy.

“In in addition to teaching, I am working on three research projects that will produce multiple publications over the next few years,” said Cox.

Cox graduated from Jewell in 2003, and during his time at the College, he participated in a summer program at the Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems of Georgetown University. During his time in this program, he studied comparative economic systems and the transformation of American politics. Cox received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Jewell. Additionally, he minored in religion. From 2003 to 2004, Cox taught African history, English and literature and HIV/AIDS education at the Bonjoge AIC Boys School in Kaimosi, Kenya. He also developed agriculture projects to subsidize students’ school fees. While working in Kenya, Cox’s goal was to aid students in their performance on a national standardized test, which could lead to acceptance into a university.

“It is very high pressure, especially where I was working, as overcoming poverty is difficult and one student gaining access to college education is very valuable to an entire family- even village,” said Cox.

Furthering his study of religion and global conflict, Cox attended Harvard University and obtained his Masters in Theological Study with a concentration in religion and international affairs in 2006. Later that year, Cox traveled to Kurmak, Sudan where he was a program manager for Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. This organization was aiming to create “peace dividends” after the peace agreement between North and South Sudan.

“Many Sudanese refugees were living in Ethiopia for almost 20 years, and with the peace agreement, returning to their home areas to find absolutely no infrastructure,” said Cox.

Due to of this lack of infrastructure, Cox and his group worked with organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Children’s Fund to fund and run rehabilitation projects. These projects included the rehabilitation and running of the county’s only hospital, the building of wells and schools and a large-scale farming operation.

“We were operating under the assumptions that development would lead to stability and reduce the likelihood of further conflict,” said Cox.

Cox continued to work in Sudan until 2008.

This year, Cox became of Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies at the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 2015.  Cox also has a book that is under review in addition to four manuscripts that are in preparation. He has given presentations at several conferences on conflict in Kenya and peacebuilding, as well as on other topics.

This semester Cox is teaching “How Wars End,” “Introduction to International Political Economy” and two sections of the Oxbridge course “Introduction to Political Economy.”  Next semester he will be teaching only the two sections of said Oxbridge course.