Margo Ellis, Opinion Editor–

Around a corner and down a short hallway on the third floor of Knapp Hall, a comfortably-sized office sits filled to the brim with books and miscellaneous memorabilia. Photos neatly secured in wooden frames gaze downward onto shelves spilling over with books, like bundles of paper and ink in a miniature library. 

This office belongs to Dr. Andrew Katz, who will be retiring from his position in the Department of Politics and Public Affairs (PPA) this coming May. Originally from New York City, he came to Denison in 1993, following short stints teaching at other higher education institutions in central Ohio. 

In the 32 years since, Katz has become both the Chair of the PPA department and the Director of the Lugar Program in Politics and Public Service. 

“When you’re starting out your career, you tend to wonder about where you’re going to fit in, what you’re going to do, that sort of thing,” he said. “Then, when you have tenure and you’re an academic, you realize, ‘Oh, this is where I’m going to be.’ You feel a sense of investment.” 

This “sense of investment” has led Katz to his current position and given him many opportunities to directly serve the Denison community. Soon after he received tenure in 1999, Katz served on a committee to update the general education requirements, marking the beginning of decades of support for students. 

Mims ‘25, a PPA major and Spanish minor, said that despite only having taken two classes with Katz during her time at Denison, she feels that his guidance has been instrumental in her academic success. 

“He is extremely supportive,” she said. “Not only does he expect the best from his students, he also knows that we have a lot we can achieve.” 

She also attributes a lot of the growth in the department to Katz’s guidance. 

“I think [the PPA Department] wouldn’t be where it is if it weren’t for him,” Mims said. “There’s no way his efforts will be forgotten or missed.”

After his retirement in May, Katz plans to spend time with his wife, Susannah, write (“of the non-scholarly sort”) and play music— guitar and piano. 

“I’m going to do everything I do now except grade and go to meetings,” he said. “My family is very skeptical about that.” 

He wants to continue to interact with former students, and he enjoys hearing from them.

“It’s always a thrill when I get an email from somebody.”

Josh Thomas ‘26, a PPA and journalism double major, said Katz has been an important part of his time at Denison, and not just as his academic advisor. 

“He’s helped me navigate this time of change that happens with college,” said Thomas. “As I go from wanting to be a lawyer to not wanting to be a lawyer at all, I’m happy to know that he’s looking to stay in contact with those of us that he can, and I plan on doing so.”

Over his past 30 years at Denison, Katz said that some things have changed, and some haven’t. The students, for instance, have become much more academically oriented and increasingly diverse. Katz has always thoroughly enjoyed getting to know students all throughout his professional journey, viewing it as the greatest privilege of his career. 

Throughout Katz’s career, people tend to react similarly when they learn about his profession. 

“They’ll ask me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ And I say, ‘Well, I’m a college professor who teaches international politics.’ And they’ll comment, ‘It must be a really interesting time now.’ It’s always an interesting time in international politics,” he smiled, nodding.

When asked about his perspective on current political events, Katz admitted that he’s not sure where the world is headed from here. Despite his thoughts that it’s “always interesting” to study politics, no matter current events, Katz believes that society may no longer be headed in an upward direction. 

“I always felt [that] the worst is not likely to happen,” he said. “And every now and then, more recently, I wonder, and I worry.” 

In his opinion, college students should be optimistic about their futures rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of current society.

“We’re not experiencing the worst of it, so be engaged and try to make the world reflect best your beliefs, whatever they are. Don’t give up.”

Editor’s Note: The professor spotlight is a recurring feature. Email [email protected] if you would like to suggest a professor to be featured.