Jim Langevin continues to serve Rhode Island through education at URI, Brown
Congressman, Jim Langevin is expected to visit URI’s Political science classrooms. PHOTO CREDIT: pbn.com
The University of Rhode Island announced on Jan. 17 that former United States Representative James Langevin has been appointed as a visiting scholar in the department of political science.
Langevin announced his retirement last year after more than 20 years serving Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, where he was a senior member on both the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees.
His appointment to the position within the University is one that is met with excitement, according to Marc Hutchison, chair of URI’s political science department.
“To have Congressman Langevin after 20-plus years as a Congressman,” Hutchison said, “helping contribute to programming and working with students, and thinking about some of the bigger challenges that not only the United States, but the world is facing in the political realm — It’s really cool.”
Emily Lynch, a professor of political science at the University, shared a similar reaction upon hearing the news of Langevin’s appointment.
“I was elated,” Lynch said. “I think he could add so much to the University as a whole, and especially within the department. There are very few individuals who could do that, since he has worked as a Representative since 2000. I think that this will be very positive for the students.”
While Langevin’s arrival at URI is a very recent event, there are already numerous plans in place for him to begin engaging with students.
“We’re working with Congressman Langevin and his representatives to give guest lectures in a wide variety of courses in areas that he is interested in,” Hutchison said. “We’re also setting up different events, some smaller ones as well, such as talking about careers in public service in student forums, which we will be doing around the end of March. He just arrived here, so we’re like, ‘what can we do right away to have him engage with the community?’”
Among the most anticipated planned events of Langevin’s tenure as visiting scholar is a symposium that will focus on the topic of cybersecurity, an issue the congressman continues to be passionate about from his time in office.
“A topic like this means we are going to be able to connect not just within the political science department but also across campus in a couple different areas,” Hutchison said about the event, which will happen in April.
Lynch added that the symposium will bring more attention to the increasingly relevant issue of cybersecurity.
“It’s going to bring a wealth of knowledge onto campus,” Lynch said. “And maybe some ideas for future jobs for students to be thinking about that maybe they hadn’t yet considered, and also for the community to be thinking about some of these issues as well.”
She went on to mention that Langevin has also expressed interest in visiting classes, something both Lynch and Hutchison agree will provide amazing benefits for students, with one in particular being PSC 305: Politics in Rhode Island, a class that Lynch has been teaching for several years.
“I think he can help students in talking about and going over internships and other opportunities he may be aware of that are either here in Rhode Island or in Washington, D.C.,” Lynch said. “It seems like a win-win, right? But we’re so excited to have him here.”