The 2003–2004 Congressional Fellows concluded their fellowships on July 22nd with an elegant reception in the U.S. Capitol. It was only fitting to celebrate the year's end in the Mansfield Room. As noted by Advisory Committee Chair Norm Ornstein, the former Senate Majority Leader benefited from the fellowship perhaps more than anyone during his 34 years in office. The quip was especially appreciated by older alumni who remembered Senator Michael Joseph Mansfield's service.

In a meeting of APSA's international committee in September 2003, APSA President Susanne Rudolph suggested the need for a “mutual de-parochialization” in our knowledge practices. She meant a closer interaction between American and non-American political scientists and a greater cross-fertilization of their substantive and methodological concerns. Margaret Levi, the President-elect of APSA, also emphasized the need for a greater internationalization of American political science, with special emphasis paid to the so-called international public realm.

The APSA Congressional Fellowship is quite a new program in the Middle East. Thanks to a recent partnership between the American Political Science Association and the Fulbright Commission researchers and journalists from different parts of the world have the chance to participate in the distinguished program. Given the fact that such programs are not well known outside the academic field, the Fulbright Commission in Cairo took the initiative to invite more people from different fields. As a journalist working for a leading newspaper in the Arab World, Al-Ahram, the experience of a 10-month focus on the U.S. Congress has thrilled me because the basic knowledge of the U.S. legislative body in the Arab world has been either inaccurate or insufficient.

The 100th APSA Annual Meeting in Chicago marked a momentous century of scholarship and teaching in political science. Program Co-Chairs Atul Kohli of Princeton University and Anne Norton of the University of Pennsylvania organized the meeting, working with a 53-person Program Committee named by President Susanne Hoeber Rudolph and also drawn from all of APSA's 35 organized sections. The 2004 conference drew 6,345 registered attendees and exhibitors who traveled from near and far to discuss the meeting's featured topic, Global Inequalities.

M. Margaret Conway has for over four decades dedicated her time and knowledge to the study of American politics, women in politics, and political behavior. As a leader in the field of women and politics, she has supported a new generation of women in the profession with sage advice and guidance. She has contributed her knowledge to several institutions, and has been honored for her exceptional teaching with the University of Florida's Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, as well as its Teaching Improvement Award.

Margaret Levi, the Jere L. Bacharach Professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, became the Association's 101st president on September 4th at the Association's Annual Business Meeting. Outgoing APSA President Susanne Rudolph of the University of Chicago presented Levi with the Association gavel, marking the second time in the Association's history that a standing woman president has passed the gavel to an incoming woman president. Joining Levi in guiding the Association are five new officers. Eight new members of the council will be elected in an all member electronic election during the month of October. Details on the results of the election will be available on the web and in the January issue of PS.

The Association honored 23 scholars for their career achieve ments and outstanding research at the Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, held as part of the Annual Meeting in Chicago. Hosted by 2004 Program Co-Chairs Atul Kohli and Anne Norton, the event began with a lun cheon for the winners, their guests, and committee members, and was followed by a ceremony pre sent ing 18 prizes. Complete citations on each award can be found in the Gazette section of this issue of PS.

Ten outstanding students from the 2004 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) participated at this year's Annual Meeting in Chicago. The students presented their research at the American Politics II Poster Session, with topics ranging from the effect of the mainstream media to post-September 11th anxiety. Students were accompanied at the meeting by former RBSI student Tehama Lopez, RBSI class of 2000 and now a doctoral student at the University of Chicago. This year's class of RBSI students and the research they presented at this year's meeting:

In an effort to assist graduate students to participate in the Annual Meeting, the Association awarded 58 Advanced Graduate Student Travel Grants for the 2004 meeting in Chicago, twice as many as last year. The names and institutional affiliations of the 2004 winners follow.

Nominations for 2005 APSA Dissertation, Book, and Career Awards are now being accepted. Awards will be presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.