Dr. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, associate professor of political science in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of South Florida (USF), was recently awarded the Honorary Degree Leadership Excellence Award by the University for Business & Technology (UBT) in Pristina, Kosovo.

This award recognized McLauchlan "for outstanding dedication and commitment to promoting the rule of law, democracy building, and civic engagement, whose generosity through the years has made positive changes in the region of Southeast Europe and beyond.”

McLauchlan visited the appellate court in Tirana, Albania, during her Western Balkans visit. (Photo courtesy of Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan)

McLauchlan visited the appellate court in Tirana, Albania, during her Western Balkans visit. (Photo courtesy of Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan)

McLauchlan received this award during a political study visit to the Western Balkans, where she met with various government officials, organization leaders, and scholars to discuss academic collaboration and the future of shared research.

She shared that to have her work recognized in this way was very meaningful.

“It was a tremendous honor to be back in Kosovo and to be recognized for my work promoting the rule of law, democracy building, and civic engagement,” she said.

McLauchlan was previously a Fulbright Scholar in North Macedonia working with ethnic Albanians at universities established to provide higher education opportunities for them in their native language (in Skopje and Tetovo). She taught courses in ‘Democracy and Civil Society’ and ‘Constitutional Law,’ as well as conducted research about the implementation and impact of constitutional and legal reforms to protect minority rights.

“It was a humbling experience to be recognized in a place where so many sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom,” she said.

McLauchlan also underscored the importance of work in these areas, emphasizing the need for advancement and understanding across governments.

“Having a good government is essential and makes possible all other things that we as humans value. I agree with Aristotle that participating in the life of the polis, being an active citizen, and speaking and acting in the public arena is the highest good to which human beings can aspire,” she said.

“The theme/passion that runs throughout my career – from my time working in the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court, to my Fulbright Awards in North Macedonia and Moldova focused on strengthening the rule of law and promoting democracy, to my work at USF as the Founding Director of the Center for Civic Engagement – has been to improve civics education and to increase civic engagement and strengthen civic efficacy,” she explained.

Despite all the time spent working internationally, she notes that the work she’s most proud of is community-engaged work in Florida.

“My work as a Fellow with the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, training new civics teachers when the Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Education Act was first implemented, and working with the YMCA Youth In Government Program on establishing the USF St. Petersburg YMCA Civic Fellows Program, which is a statewide civics education program for selected high school students across the state to come to USF St. Pete for a Civics Institute in June, where they earn college credit for participating in university-level civics education, would be among my proudest accomplishments in this area,” she said.

Even with her busy schedule, McLauchlan still finds time to contribute to new causes, including her most recent work as a Fulbright Specialist in Moldova and in her position as the Frank E. Duckwall Professor of Florida Studies at USF, where she is focusing on studying GenZ political participation and engagement in Florida.