John Ishiyama is University Distinguished Research Professor at the University of North Texas (UNT). He was the Past-President of the American Political Science Association (APSA) from 2021-2022. From 2012-2016 he was Editor-in-Chief for the American Political Science Review and was the founding editor-in-chief of the APSA’s Journal of Political Science Education serving in that role from 2004-2012. He was also one of the leaders in establishing the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference. He was PI and Director of the National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) site on Civil Conflict Management and Peace Science from 2010-2020. From 2002-2008 he was Director of the Ronald E. McNair Program at Truman State University, a US Department of Education funded program designed to prepare students from First-Generation College and/or students from underrepresented groups in higher education for graduate school.
His research interests include democratization and political parties in post conflict politics (with a focus on Russian, Eurasian, and Ethiopian politics) ethnic politics, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He has published extensively, producing nine (9) books and 180 journal articles and book chapters.
In addition to his service as APSA President, he was a Vice President of the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA), and has served on the APSA Executive Council, and the executive boards of the MPSA and Pi Sigma Alpha. He has received numerous awards national, state, and university awards. These include the APSA Frank J. Goodnow Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the APSA Political Science Education Section, the APSA Distinguished Teaching Award, the Quincy Wright Distinguished Scholar Award by the International Studies Association, and the APSA Heinz Eulau Award for best article published in an APSA journal. From the State of Texas he received the 2017 Minnie Stevens Piper Professorship (statewide award for professors for outstanding academic, scientific, and scholarly achievement and for dedication to the teaching profession). He has also been awarded several university wide awards for scholarly achievement, including the Eminent Faculty Award (the highest scholarly award from UNT), the Robert Toulouse Scholar Award (awarded annually to for outstanding Research/Scholarship), and the Faculty Leadership Award (the highest university award for service).
He has also received major grants from the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, the US Department of State, and the APSA.
