Jeffrey Pickering named University Distinguished Professor

By Abbigail Marshall

Division of Communications and Marketing

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Jeffrey Pickering, professor in the Department of Political Science, has received the lifetime distinction of University Distinguished Professor — Kansas State University's highest academic title.

Pickering's path in the field of political science began with a growing awareness of how global events shape both individual lives and entire nations and regions. As an undergraduate, his coursework and a study abroad semester sparked an interest in foreign policy and international affairs, which has since grown into a lasting passion for studying global dynamics.

"Visiting the Soviet Union during Glasnost was especially impactful for me," Pickering said. "Once my curiosity was piqued, I dove in and continued studying puzzles that interested me, allowing my research focus to evolve over time. I have been fortunate to study a wide variety of phenomena, from understanding how British policymakers adapted to the country's twentieth-century decline to why countries launch military interventions into foreign lands."

Throughout his time at K-State, he has consistently invested in the political science department and his classroom, earning honors such as the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award, the Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head, the Commerce Bank Undergraduate Teaching Award and the William Stamey Teaching Award. Pickering teaches courses at all levels for the department and also offers classes for K-State's interdisciplinary Security Studies program.

He has also made significant contributions to his field outside the university and has taken on leadership roles within prominent organizations. Pickering is heavily involved in the International Studies Association, or ISA, currently serving as co-editor-in-chief for the organization's flagship journal, "International Studies Quarterly." He has previously led two other ISA journals and has received two career achievement awards from the association. His current research work centers on global patterns of military intervention and coercive foreign policies.

"Over my thirty-year career at K-State, I have witnessed countless ways that our University Distinguished Professors impact both their disciplines and the university, and I am humbled to be selected to join such a storied group," Pickering said.

Read the collective announcement for the 2026 UDPs