Hume '98 Receives Jesuit Book Award

Robert Hume ’98 has been awarded a 2010 Alpha Sigma Nu Book Award for his recent contribution to the study of the impact court decisions have on federal agencies. Hume, an assistant professor of political science at Fordham University, was one of only four winners in the professional studies category, out of 42 entries from 16 Jesuit institutions.

The awards are given annually by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, and the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society.

“How Courts Impact Federal Administrative Behavior is a noteworthy study,” the panel of Alpha Sigma Nu judges said. “It is not only about appreciating the role of judicial language as it has actually affected the follow-up administrative behavior of U.S. governmental agencies, but it can also serve as a model for understanding the function of carefully written discourse. For legal scholars and politicians who are interested in the ‘art of the possible,’ and ordinary citizens who care about persuasive writing, this book might very well be considered required reading.”

Hume, who has been a professor at Fordham since 2005, specializes in constitutional law and judicial behavior and impact. He wrote How Courts Impact Federal Administrative Behavior because he wanted to discover how federal agencies respond when courts rule against them.

“There was very little written about this topic, even though it is so important,” he says. “Since courts are a primary check on the power of federal agencies, it is important to understand how effective court decisions are by gauging the agencies’ responses to the decisions.”

Hume is currently working on his second book that addresses the impact of state supreme courts on same-sex marriage policy.

“The award is tremendously meaningful because I am myself the product of a Jesuit education,” Hume said. “I am proud to be a Holy Cross graduate and I am even prouder to be recognized by the Jesuit Honor Society.”

His Holy Cross education has influenced Hume’s career as a political scientist and professor. He also holds a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Virginia.

“I have very fond memories of my Holy Cross professors,” he says. “I took three courses with [religious studies] Professor Frederick Murphy, a very effective seminar leader. I have consciously patterned my own seminars off his approach. I also found [political science] Professor Caren Dubnoff’s constitutional law classes to be so much fun. I try to teach my constitutional law classes in a similar manner to Professor Dubnoff’s by focusing on discussion rather than lecture.”

Hume also believes in the value of a liberal arts education, like the one found at Holy Cross.

“I encourage students to take courses that they want to take and not worry so much about what they should take,” he says. “There are so many good courses available and so many potential career paths that students should really cast a wide net and find out what interests them. I believe that people are most successful at their careers when they are doing what they love, and a liberal arts education provides students with so many opportunities to discover their passions.”