Our History

SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Claude Welch has written a history of the Department of Political Science. 

In the UB Now article, "Welch writes a history of political science at UB" Gambini writes, "Welch’s 53 years at the university spanned, at the time of his 2017 retirement, the near entirety of the department’s existence. 'PSC at UB: 1960-2020' is his personal perspective of that department which, from its inception, achieved national recognition built on the reputations of gifted scholars.

He writes from experience informed not only by his teaching and research, but further enriched through his administrative roles, including associate vice president for academic affairs; acting dean of the colleges; dean of the division of undergraduate studies; and as chair of the Faculty Senate, where he also chaired several of its committees.

'This involvement exposed me to a broader universe of choice and constraints than most of my fellow academics,' says Welch, an expert in African politics, human rights and democratization following authoritarian rule."

The department was housed in a number of locations before its current residence on the fourth and fifth floors of Park Hall. Professor Claude Welch captured images of the earlier homes of the department; in several cases, actual residential houses!