Update – The Fall 2026 Political Economy Days WILL be held on Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21!
Political Economy days is now held under the auspices of the Palomar Faculty Federation (PFF) and is organized by the Department of Economics, History, and Political Science.
Sessions will be held in-person at Palomar College San Marcos Campus, room MD-157, unless otherwise noted. All sessions will also be available virtually via Hy-Flex (Zoom).
To attend virtually, please register via this link! You will receive the Zoom link approximately 10 minutes prior to each registered session.
Please request disability related accommodations five days prior to the event or contact Professor Peter Bowman with any questions at pbowman@palomar.edu.
Mission
The purpose of Political Economy Days, now in its twenty-first year, is to broaden students’ exposure to political, economic and historical topics. Lectures on a variety of topics feature faculty from Palomar College, Mesa College, CSU San Marcos, UCSD, and other colleges and universities and all will be held on Zoom according to the posted schedule.
- See this page for information on using Zoom at Palomar College.
Contact Professors:
- Peter Bowman pbowman@palomar.edu ext. 2416
- Jennifer Herrera jherrera@palomar.edu ext. 2851
- Anastasia Zavodny azavodny@palomar.edu
- Mark Malebranche mmalebranche@palomar.edu
Or our Departmental ADA:
- Cynthia Cordova ccordova1@palomar.edu ext. 2666
Schedule of Events and Speakers
| Day | Time and Location | Presenter and Topic |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 8:30-9:30am MD 157 In-Person Only | North County Higher Education Alliance (NCHEA) Student Clubs Welcome Breakfast |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 9:35-11:00 am MD 157 and Zoom | Catherine Christensen Gwin, Associate Professor of History, Palomar College: “Before the Border Kept People Out: Women, Vice, and the Making of the Moral Border” |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 11:10-12:35 pm MD 157 and Zoom | Scott Greenwood, Professor of Political Science, CSU San Marcos: “MAGA and Reform UK: Identical Twins or Distant Cousins?” |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 12:45-2:10 pm MD 157 and Zoom | David Hollingsworth, Adjunct Professor of History, Palomar College: "Crucial Context: A Brief 20th Century History of Iran" |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 2:20-3:45 pm MD 157 and Zoom | Serenity E. Serda, Graduate Student in American History, CSU San Marcos: “The History of Christianity in America- The Conversation of God and State.” |
| Tuesday, October 20 | 2:20-3:45 pm Zoom Only | Anel Gonzalez, President, Council of Classified Employees, Palomar College:” Red Bandanas & Worker Power: Why Labor History Is Really About Your Future” |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 8:00- 9:25 a.m. MD-315 In-Person Only | Micheline Ghattas, Professor of ESL, Palomar College & Political Scientist, Université Antonine (UA), Hadath-Baabda, Lebanon: “Democracy in Plural Societies such as Lebanon’s” |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 9:35-11:00 am MD 157 and Zoom | David Lake. Distinguished Professor of Political Science, UCSD: "US Trade Policy Under Trump” |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 11:10-12:35 pm MD 157 and Zoom | Brandan Whearty, Professor of Speech Communication, Palomar College & Nicholas Thomas, Adjunct Professor of Speech Communication, Palomar College: “Debate - Resolved: The World should respect American exceptionalism.” |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 12:45- 2:10pm MD 157 and Zoom | Darel Engen, Professor & Department Chair of History, CSU San Marcos: "Travelers, Immigrants, and Civilization: Hospitality in The Odyssey from Homer to Nolan." |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 2:20- 3:45pm MD 157 and Zoom | David Mares, Professor of Political Science, UCSD: "The Strait of Hormuz and Energy: Stimulus for Renewables or Fossil Fuels?" |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 4:00-5:00pm In-Person Only | North County Higher Education Alliance (NCHEA) Student Clubs Closing Luncheon |