Students benefit, professor wins

Published in the CSUF Daily Titan newspaper on April 30.

Every summer, Cal State Fullerton and other CSU students participate in the Washington, D.C. Internship Program. The program places interns in political and government-related offices in the nation's capital.

The program is led by the media-savvy Professor Stephen Stambough. He has maintained an interest in politics his entire life that he is passing on to his students.

The 40-year-old CSUF political science teacher was recently awarded the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Award for outstanding service and contribution to student success.

"I'm honored to have won it as a result of my work with the Washington, D.C. [summer] Internship program," Stambough wrote in an e-mail. "The award is a very nice recognition of the work on this program, which has been a lot of fun and rewarding working with students."

Stambough's decision to become a political science teacher stems from his early interest in politics as a child, but earning teaching credentials was one of his two choices.

"It was either campaign work or teaching," Stambough said. "Campaign work is fun and something I still do a little bit, but I haven't for the last few years [and] the hours suck."

Through the years, Stambough has worked on many campaigns. He has even stared into the lens of a CNBC World television camera, while participating periodically as a guest expert discussing California and American political issues.

"From my childhood on, I volunteered on campaigns and then later served as an adviser to some candidates," Stambough said. "I've worked on races from city council to governor in five different states."

Stambough said appearing on television is "just kind of fun." He said the experience is like being in a different world, but it's part of what teachers should do.

"We should be working out in the community instead of [strictly] staying on campus," Stambough said. "That's part of what the [Washington, D.C.] Internship program philosophy is -- getting the students out and applying what they learn here into things that could be careers."

Former President Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Dole and former 1996 Republican vice-president candidate Jack Kemp are just a few big political names Stambough has had the opportunity to meet and briefly speak with.

In its third year, the Cal State D.C. Internship Program is available to all juniors, seniors and graduate students in the CSU system, according to CSUF's division of politics, administration and justice Web page.

"The students stay at the dorms at George Washington University," Stambough said. "I stay out there for half of the summer and another faculty member stays for the other half."

The other faculty member is criminal justice professor Stacy Mallicoat, Stambough said.

Phillip Gianos, the chair of the division of politics, administration and justice, nominated Stambough for the faculty award.

In his nomination memo, Gianos stated that Stambough, with the support of alumna Margaret McCarthy and the dean's office, was essential to the summer program by aiding in establishing, organizing and administering the internship program.

"[Stambough] brought to CSUF his experience with similar programs at North Dakota State University," Gianos wrote in the memo. "[Stambough] did the hard initial work of creating the program from scratch."

One look at Stambough's five-page curriculum vitae proves his work ethic is extraordinary.

He said learning the value of working hard is attributed to family influence. Born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Stambough moved frequently during his childhood because of his father's involvement in the military.

"After the military, my dad went into social work," Stambough said. "My first jobs were helping him out at the place he ran, which was a [United Service Organization]."

Stambough may dedicate much of his time to work and he may accomplish certain tasks like publishing books, journal articles and book reviews, but he said personal time is extremely important too. He has been married for 10 years and his hobbies include everything from baseball and movies to wine tasting.

At one point during his life of constant moving, his father was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. The family stayed long enough for Stambough to grow into a San Diego Chargers and San Diego Padres fan.

The faculty award Stambough will receive is one of six campus-wide awards distributed by the college of humanities and social sciences.

Each recipient will receive their award at a humanities and social sciences convocation in September. The first awards were dispersed in 2001, said Thomas Klammer, the dean of the college of humanities and social sciences.

"[The] winners of all but the distinguished faculty member award receive $1,000 and personalized plaques," Klammer wrote in an e-mail. "They [also] have their names inscribed on a permanent plaque in the dean's office."

Klammer said Stambough's award is important because it recognizes the tremendous contribution faculty make through services of all kinds, but especially through services that directly benefit students and enhances their education.

"[Stambough] is especially deserving of this award because of his leadership of the Washington, D.C. Internship program, which offers one of the most powerful educational experiences our students can have," Klammer wrote in an e-mail. "[The internship] opens up rewarding career options to those who are interested in pursuing work in government service, advocacy (lobbying) firms, non-profits, congressional and executive offices and federal agencies."

Stambough received his master's degree in political science from Iowa State University in 1991 and then received his doctorate in the same discipline from the University of California, Riverside in 1997. He arrived and began teaching at CSUF in 2003.

"[My] motivation comes from an interest in seeing people develop intellectually and develop careers in things they might have never thought possible," Stambough said. "That is why the [Washington, D.C.] Internship program is incredibly rewarding to do."

Stambough is the first person in his immediate family to attend college and his biggest challenge in life happened to be attending graduate school.

"I am [a] first-generation college [student] and anyone who has been in that situation knows that there is a learning curve about applications, financing and college life that is new to those without siblings or parents who have been to college," Stambough said. "My parents were really supportive."

Working through challenges helped Stambough develop a life philosophy.

"Keep your eye on the big picture and the details will work themselves out," he said.

As far as advice for political science students looking to transition into the teaching world, he said students should gain some experience in the political world through campaign work or internships and then bring those experiences into the classroom.

Students may find more information regarding the Washington, D.C. Internship program by visiting http://hss.fullerton.edu/polisci/wip/index.asp.