Dear President Maurie McInnis, Interim Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sampson, and Political Science Department Chair Huddy,

It has come to our attention that Ambassador Harsh Bhasin, who has been serving as a Visiting Professor at Stony Brook University since 2001, will not be getting his contract renewed by Stony Brook University starting Fall 2021. This news has disappointed many Political Science and International Relations students, not only current but also Alumni. For many students, Ambassador Bhasin has bridged the knowledge gap Stony Brook University Students have when it comes to a career in Internation Affairs and International Relations. As a career Diplomat, serving the Republic of India for over four decades, Ambassador Bhasin brings Stony Brook a much missing dimension in the Political Science department. That dimension is practical. As the only faculty member in the Political Science Department who has experienced a successful career in diplomacy, Ambassador Bhasin has helped teach, guide, and mentor students interested in building a career in diplomacy and international affairs. The fact that the College of Arts and Sciences and the Political Science Department is not renewing Ambassador Bhasin's contract speaks volumes about how they do not value one of its most accomplished professors. It also shows how little the College of Arts and Sciences and the Political Science Department values access to a practical and comprehensive education for their students.

The SUNY system prides itself on being a leader in globalized education, and Stony Brook University claims to be a proponent of diverse education and inclusive education. This is important, as New York is home to the United Nations Headquarter, and Stony Brook Univesity is only a stone's throw away from the UN. Thus, having a faculty member like Ambassador Bhasin is an asset to the mission of both Stony Brook University and the SUNY system as a whole.

Moreover, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Political Science Department's decision not to renew Ambassador Bhasin's contract speaks to the already limited representation of minorities in the Political Science department. For many South Asian-Americans, seeing Ambassador Bhasin, a career diplomat, teaching political science encourages them to step out of conventional societal norms' confines and pursue a degree in Social Science and Humanities. Therefore, we urge the College of Arts and Sciences and the Political Science Department to renew Ambassador Harsh Bhasin's contract. He is an indispensable asset to the University and an educator cherished by his students.