Getting Hooked on PoliticsReturn to Issue of April 14, 2008 Steven W. Hook, a faculty member in political science since 1996, has come a long way to realize he wanted to teach national and world politics to Kent State’s students.
Hook first worked as a journalist, reporting on local and state government, before entering graduate school to explore politics on the national and international levels. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1982 and with a master's degree in 1989 and doctorate in 1993 from the University of South Carolina. The most memorable moment in Hook’s teaching career was during the fall semester when a delegation from the Kent State Alumni Association came into his World Politics class with balloons, snacks and the good news that he had won the Distinguished Teaching Award. The awards were given as part of the 14th annual Celebrating College Teaching Conference, held last November. This recognition also marked the 40th anniversary of the Distinguished Teaching Award. Hook describes Kent State as a microcosm of American society, with a diverse range of students who are seeking to make the most of their potential and seeking to prepare for a secure life for themselves and their family. “The university offered me an opportunity to realize my own personal and professional goals, which are largely the same as those of my students,” Hook says. “I hope my students have the same opportunities to pursue their ambitions as I have at Kent State.” Hook currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including Introduction to World Politics, U.S. Foreign Policy, Comparative Foreign Policy and Foreign Policy Analysis. His favorite class is U.S. Foreign Policy, a significant topic for Kent State students who are entering political careers. “The United States is the most powerful country in the world, yet it is surprising how much our own government has to learn about managing its immense power,” says Hook, who has written two textbooks on the subject. “The consequences of our actions throughout the world are enormous and affect all Americans, including my students at Kent State.” Hook says that students need to make a connection with the ever-changing world around them today and realize that global politics affect their lives. “Students need to realize that global politics matter for their own lives, for the careers they will have, their ability to travel overseas and interact with foreign citizens and even to be secure in their own homes.” By Melody Wachowski Do you have other examples of those who put Excellence in Action at Kent State? Submit your story ideas to einside@kent.edu.
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