ENACT at Augustana University in South Dakota: State and Local Politics (Government 301)
ENACT Resources and Networks Making a Difference
In early February, ENACT Faculty Fellow Prof. Emily Wanless of Augustana University in
South Dakota welcomed ENACT Your Vote Campus Student Engagement Fellow Yoni Kahn ’24 and ENACT Student Delegate Clay Napurano ’24 via Zoom to her course “State and Local Politics” (Government 301).
Kahn and Napurano shared reflections on their experiences as students in ENACT Director Melissa Stimell’s “Advocacy for Policy Change” course at Brandeis University, and offered advice to Prof. Wanless’ students on their first day of their class.
"Impostor syndrome is real, but can be overcome."
"My students were thrilled to learn about all of the resources at their disposal from ENACT,” said Wanless. “And as they look ahead to meeting with legislators and community leaders it was reassuring to hear from ENACT alumni that impostor syndrome is real, but can be overcome."
Two weeks later Prof. Wanless’ students were meeting with legislators, advocates, and (pictured) South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden at the South Dakota State Capitol Building in Pierre
In her ENACT course, Wanless provides an introduction to state and local governments. Students discuss and analyze the structure of sub-national governments, comparing the rules, procedures, actors, and outcomes found across the 50 states and countless localities, and focus on public policy, specifically political diffusion, policymaking, and political advocacy.
Students work in teams of three or four, matched with one or more sponsoring legislators and community organizations, on an important policy issue in South Dakota.
"The most powerful course I've been privileged enough to teach."
Wanless’ students in South Dakota take advantage of ENACT’s online network for co-learning across ENACT campuses enabling Augustana students to compare the dynamics of policy making around the issues they are addressing in South Dakota with those being examined in ENACT courses in other states.
"Without ENACT, there's no way I could offer as impactful a course for my students,” said Wanless. “Through ENACT support I'm able to get my students to our state capitol three and a half hours away, I am able to provide resources and connections to help them gain confidence in their ability to advocate successfully, and I have access to colleagues across the country to bounce ideas off of. The net result is the most powerful course I've been privileged enough to teach."