Southern Polytechnic State University's Tom Rotnem, a professor in the social and international studies program, has received the 2001 McBrayer Award. The award is given annually for the Best Paper at the annual meeting of the Georgia Political Science Association (GSPA).

"I am very excited about this award and the recognition of my topic," said Rotnem. Rotnem's paper, "Market Reform and Social Welfare Outcomes in Post-Communist Russia: Impact Among Democratization," discusses the economic transition that Russia has experienced since the collapse of communism.

The McBrayer Award is named for James D. McBrayer, Jr., a professor of political science at Georgia State University who helped found the Georgia Political Science Association. Rotnem will receive a plaque at next year's GSPA meeting in Savannah.