The Department of Political Science mourns the passing of Dr. Emmanuel O. Anise, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and African Studies, and it invites interested parties to take part in a memorial commemoration of his life on Saturday, 12 November. Details are available in the published obituary (reprinted here); please RSVP for the memorial via http://anisememorial.cocodot.com.

OBITUARY

Dr. Emmanuel Oladunjoye (Ladun) Anise went home to be with his ancestors on Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

Born in Igede-Ekiti Nigeria, Dr. Anise considered himself  “just the son of a poor farmer,” but he was so much more.  The son of the late Michael and Dorcas Anise, he was also a brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, educator, mentor, and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt).

Dr. Anise dedicated his life to education and teaching, knowing from his own personal life story that education changes lives and shapes destinies. As a small town farmer’s son who did not begin regular schooling until about the age of 15, Dr. Anise overcame unthinkable odds and won an international scholarship for undergraduate studies in the United States.  Dr. Anise earned his Bachelor of Arts from Albion College, and a Masters and PhD in Political Science from Syracuse University. With exceptional tenacity, drive and determination, Dr. Anise finished his undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies within 8 years.  Thereafter continued toward his doctorate in Economics at Pitt.

Dr. Anise was a deep and independent thinker, often describing himself as “a philosopher.” He always thought he would change the world, and with Dr. Anise’s vision for education, which extended far beyond himself, he did.  As a tenured Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Pitt, he spent over 38 years sharing himself, his wisdom, his knowledge and principled beliefs with students, faculty, and staff and the wider Pittsburgh community.  Dr. Anise educated countless individuals. He believed that an education made a person richer than bags of gold ever could, and he continued until the time of his passing to provide resources and opportunity for education to his family, extended family, and friends in the United States, Nigeria and other parts of the world.  

Dr. Anise’s legacy is helping others through education, and his vision will continue to be passed on to future generations by his surviving son Olabode (Vangie); daughters Olabomi (Dan Wise), Ayodola and Ayodope; nephew Ayodele (Sharon) grandchildren Olatunde, Olajiire, Oludayo, Mayowa, and Morayo; grandniece Feyisayo.  He is also survived by his brother Olufemi and other cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.

A celebration of his life will be held on November 12, 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Club, Ballroom A (123 University Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) at 11:30am.  To RSVP please go to http://anisememorial.cocodot.com.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Dr. Emmanuel O. Anise Scholarship Fund, 505 Boulevard Park East, Mobile, AL 36609, which will continue Dr. Anise’s legacy of enabling students to achieve academic success in higher education.

Basak Ural: (August 2011): tenure track, Comparative Politics - Europe, TOBB University (University of Economics and Technology) Ankara, Turkey

Lena Surzhko-Harned: (expected December 2011): tenure track, Comparative Politics - Europe, Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA

William S. Dietrich II bequeathes $125 million gift to School of Arts & Sciences

Dr. William S. Dietrich II, who earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh, has died at the age of 73. Dr. Dietrich was successful in business as well as political science - he expanded his father's lumber company into Dietrich Industries, an internationally reknowned supplier of steel framing materials to the construction industry. In September it was announced he generously included the University of Pittsburgh in his will with a bequest of $125 million dollars, earmarked toward the largest of Pitt's academic divisions, which will thenceforward be known as the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in honor of his father. Dr. Dietrich was the author of two books, including In the Shadow of the Rising Sun: The Political Roots of American Economic Decline (Penn State University Press, 1991), about the rise of Japan as a global economic power. At the time of his passing, he was working on his third book, American Recessional, on the rising influence of China.

The Democracy Promotion Project

Two faculty members - Steven E. Finkel, department Chair and Daniel Wallace Professor of Political Science and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, Associate Professor of Political Science - served as Principal Investigators (along with former Pitt political scientist Mitchell A. Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University) on this project designed to answer the question "Does democracy promotion work?" This study analyzed the impact of U.S. Agency for International Development democracy assistance on democracy building world-wide between 1990 and 2003. More information on this project, including downloadable versions of the final report and a Powerpoint presentation, as well as the study data sets (in 2006) can be found at the Democracy Promotion Project website.