Dr. Reynold D. Agnes, a former FEU alumnus, has been appointed president of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA), a professional organization of political scientists, educators, and researchers. Agnes served as the inaugural representative of PPSA’s National Capital Region cluster and helped sustain the organization’s lecture caravans despite the pandemic. The PPSA’s mission is to promote political science in the country and the region, and its vision is to be the leading institution for knowledge production and dissemination for the political science community and the public.
“The PPSA is composed of professionals, scholars, and groups from different universities, so the best approach is to consult with them and reconcile our positions toward the common good,” said Agnes, who believes consultative leadership is key to the association’s continued relevance.
Agnes currently serves as a tenured faculty member at FEU’s Institute of Arts and Sciences, where he continues to emphasize the real-world value of political education.
“As teachers, we are accountable to ourselves as much as we are accountable to our students and the community. Political education is indeed necessary nowadays,” he said. “Public service requires self-effacement.”
Whether in faculty meetings, student consultations, or national academic circles, Dr. Reynold Agnes has built a reputation as someone others can count on.
“I am a member of the PPSA. While I know a lot of people in PPSA, and Dr. Agnes was the one who included me in one of the recent activities,” shared Wayne Winter Uyseco, a fellow faculty member at FEU. Agnes’s ability to bring others in, whether contributing to an event or collaborating on ideas, speaks to his openness and reliability. “He also throws out a lot of ideas to improve workflow,” Uyseco added. “He is very approachable and easy to get along with. He can start a conversation with anybody.”
The trust extends to academic mentorship. Uyseco recalled how a conversation with Agnes about his dissertation led to pivotal insights and data. “Given his connections and experience, he easily helps others without thinking twice,” he said.
For student leaders like Jared Izek Mallillin, newly elected president of the FEU Political Science Society, Agnes is both a guide and a model of what a political science educator should be. “Through his unwavering support and deep commitment to our growth, he challenges us to think critically, dream boldly, and confidently pursue our ambitions.”
As one who has served the PPSA in various capacities and contributed consistently to its growth, Dr. Agnes’s presidential election is a well-deserved natural progression. Across roles, titles, and generations, he remains a steady, inspiring presence at the heart of the political science community.
