Negotiation Guidance Associates and the extended family of Bert & Phyllis Lamb are pleased to announce that Claire McMorris, a senior majoring in Political Science at Oregon State University, is the recipient of the 2017 Prize. Her submission is entitled “Corporate Oregon: A Narrative Study of Measure 97” Continue reading
Negotiation Guidance Associates and the extended family of Bert & Phyllis Lamb are pleased to announce that Quinn Massaroni, a senior majoring in Law & Politics at Bryant University, is the recipient of the 2016 Prize. Her submission is entitled “A United States Sustainable Energy Transition Based on Successful International Models.”
Quinn Massaroni with her faculty sponsor Dr. Richard Holtzman. Ms. Massaroni is a senior at Bryant University, Springfield RI.
The Selection Committee was favorably impressed by an excellent submission. The paper is well written, clearly presented, and creative. The Selection Committee commended the focus on the need for energy transition and climate change including its link to renewables
David Belcher and his faculty sponsor Ethan Schiener of U.C. Davis
Negotiation Guidance Associates and the extended family of Bert & Phyllis Lamb are pleased to announce that David Belcher, a junior in the Department of Political Science at UC-Davis, is the recipient of the 2015 Bert & Phyllis Lamb Prize in Political Science. Continue reading
BROWN UNIVERSITY: ANDREW STEINBERG, 2021
The 2021 recipient, Andrew Steinberg, is a Junior in the International and Public Affairs (IAPA) program at Brown University.
The International and Public Affairs program at Brown University is the Watson Institute’s multidisciplinary and globally-comparative undergraduate concentration. The concentration equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for engaged global citizenship at a time of rapid transformation and mounting societal challenges. The IAPA offers three tracks: Development, Policy & Governance, and Security. Across all three tracks, it is committed to engaging students in the classroom, enabling research opportunities with faculty and in the field, and supporting experiential work opportunities.
IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY: SANDRA CARRILLO RODRIGUEZ, 2020
The 2020 recipient, Sandra Carrillo Rodriguez graduated in the Spring of 2020 with a degree in Political Science from Idaho State University.
Idaho State University is a public research university that offers more than 280 programs. Offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Political Science, along with a Master’s of Public Administration degree, ISU’s Political Science department provides coursework in the fields of U.S. Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations, Public Law, Public Administration and Political Theory. We prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in civil society, address the future of our ever-changing political climate, and confront current issues such as human rights, climate change and socio-political and economic development. Students can access unique opportunities through internships and research to experience how the theoretical world interacts with the reality. The main campus is in Pocatello, Idaho with other campuses in Meridian, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, Idaho.
SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE: PAUL F. WEISSER, 2019
The 2019 recipient, Paul F Weisser, graduated in the spring of 2020 with a degree in Politics from Saint Vincent College.
The politics department at Saint Vincent College approaches the study of politics as both philosophical reflection and analytical art. From the study of ancient, modern and contemporary sources, students are led to examine critically the ideas and events that have influenced the formation of political principles, government organization, characteristics of citizenship and social policy. Along with philosophical grounding, the program seeks to provide the analytical competence to understand the contemporary political environment, to address effectively public policy issues, and to contribute intellectually and practically to the sociopolitical challenges of our times. In this way, the department contributes to Saint Vincent College’s mission as a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts institution of higher learning.
UNIVERSITY at ALBANY, SUNY: ZACHARIAH A. LEVITAN, 2018
The 2018 recipient, Zachariah A. Levitan, graduated from the University at Albany, SUNY in the spring of 2018 with a degree from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy.
Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany, SUNY has consistently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s premier schools of public affairs. The College offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level degree programs in public administration, public policy, international affairs, and political science. Talented students come to Rockefeller for the knowledge and tools to make a difference in the world. Rockefeller College prides itself on preparing dynamic leaders who will shape the public policies of the future. Students are able to benefit from academic and experiential learning opportunities in the New York Capital Region and beyond to develop a strong foundation for careers in the public, nonprofit and private sectors as well as careers in teaching and research. The University at Albany is the premier public research university in the Capital Region and offers more than 17,000 students the expansive opportunities of a large university in an environment designed to foster individual success.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: CLAIRE McMORRIS, 2017
The 2017 Lamb Prize Recipient, Claire McMorris, graduated in spring of 2017 with a degree in Political Science from Oregon State University.
Oregon State University is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Oregon. The main campus for OSU is in Corvallis, with other campuses in Bend, Newport, Portland, and online. The Political Science department at OSU offers coursework in four sub-fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Theory. As a Land Grant University, OSU offers students unique opportunities through internships, practical real-world work experience, and research with extension offices throughout the state. OSU is one of only two universities in the United States to have Sea, Space, and Sun Grant designations. The political science program at Oregon State is housed in the School of Public Policy. In addition to its undergraduate programs in economics, sociology, and political science, the School offers Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Public Policy.
BRYANT UNIVERSITY: QUINN MASSARONI, 2016
Quinn Massaroni received the 2016 Lamb Prize and graduated with a degree in Political Science and Legal Studies from Bryant University in Spring of 2016.
The Politics and Law program at Bryant University is an interdisciplinary program that brings together Political Science and Legal Studies in order to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the terrain of a world shaped by persistant change, shifting power and debates about critical questions regarding the role of government, the importance of human rights and peacekeeping as well as current issues such as climate change. Students in this major also will develop and master a set of critical skills. These include the ability to: (1) define or describe key concepts, specific facts, and critical issues of U.S. and global politics and law, and correctly apply this information to particular examples; (2) use conceptual models and theories to analyze political and legal events and decisions; (3) identify and discuss the methods used in political science and legal studies research; and (4) apply political and legal science methods in making convincing arguments supported by evidence and reasoning.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA –DAVIS: DAVID BELCHER, 2015
David Belcher was the first recipient of the Lamb Prize. He graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis in December 2015.
The University of California, Davis is a public research university and part of the University of California system. The university has over 36,000 total students and has numerous internationally recognized program across the university. The Department of Political Science offers a cutting-edge education on the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the undergraduate level, our department houses three majors: International Relations, Political Science, and Public Service, with a total of nearly 1500 majors. In addition to a solid liberal arts education, we offer opportunities for undergraduates to do internships in Sacramento and Washington, DC, and to do research in political science, whether independently through our senior honors thesis program or through working with professors. Our graduate program is highly ranked and respected, having been ranked 16th in the nation by the National Research Council and 17th by the most recent US News rankings of political science graduate programs.
by Berton Lee Lamb, II, Ph.D. Negotiation Guidance Associates
The Bert & Phyllis Lamb Prize in Political Science is presented by Negotiation Guidance Associates in memory of Berton Lee Lamb and Phyllis Jeanne Schultz Lamb.
Click Here to Read More About the Prize
Years ago, I enjoyed reading Herbert Spiro’s book entitled Politics as the Master Science. Spiro argued that the major, successful political institutions of our day are the result of the study of politics. One of the reasons I enjoyed Spiro’s book is because of the dinner table conversations in my home as I grew up. Our mother, Phyllis, especially engaged my sister and me in long conversations about successful policies and good governance. The interest in governance arose in the early part of our parents’ relationship and was one of the things they discussed throughout their lives. During our childhood, our father, Bert, focused on building his business. Our mother was also entrepreneurial, for a time owning an asphalt paving business. But at the same time they were absorbed in community affairs, such as whether or not to incorporate our small town. Both our parents were active in civic organizations. Continue reading
Good writing is important because the sponsors of the Bert & Phyllis Lamb Prize in Political Science want the findings or products developed by the winner of the prize to be useful and useable. Good writing helps ensure the usability of the winner’s work.
For the purpose of the Lamb Prize, good writing includes, but is not limited to: proper use of grammar; appropriate use of tone in an individual voice capable of specificity; conventions that are correct and communicative; logical organization and clarity; and articulation of interesting and important ideas.
Written submissions in support of an application or nomination must be typed and include sufficient references to demonstrate that the applicant or nominee understands the literature upon which the submission is based. Applicants or nominees may use any citation style. However, the citation style must be employed consistently within any one document and among all documents.
Innovation is about solving problems. Bert and Phyllis Lamb’s interest in innovation might be best described as a concern for efficiency and effectiveness.
Phyllis designed homes for individual clients and for sale. Bert built them. They looked for ideas, improvements, and cost benefit analyses that would make the construction process faster, easier, and less expensive. Later, when Bert was Superintendent of Parks and Golf Courses for the City of Palm Springs he pursued innovation in the same way: How could play on the city golf course be made faster, how could employee work schedules result in less “down time?” How could the City keep the workforce engaged and rewarded?
Herbert Spiro observed that “…the most awesome problems facing mankind can be solved, if they can be solved at all, only through politics.” (Politics as the Master Science, pg. 161) Thus, being innovative means identifying a problem that is amenable to politics.
With that in mind, what might count as an “innovation” for the Lamb Prize? Among many others, the list includes:
Engage with us! We want to read your good ideas!
The Bert & Phyllis Lamb Prize in Political Science 
