Political Science Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2020

Kevin Ssonko

Major: political science
Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
Employer: FW Cook
Job title: consultant

Job Responsibilities

Perform comparative analysis of executive and director pay, equity incentives and stock plans, financial performance, incentive plan practices and design and other specialized topics.

Draft and revise client reports, including designing charts and tables, summarizing findings and formulating recommendations for client.
Collaborate with project teams on creative and strategic brainstorming to address client issues.
Participate in client calls and meetings; help facilitate client relationship and interactions.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson put me in a space where I could really take advantage of my intellectual curiosity and study a variety of different subjects. I was also highly encouraged to be involved in a lot of different clubs and extra curriculars which really allowed me to find myself.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I hope to work in the corporate world and learn how to combine my passion for social justice with my interest in business.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Graduating from MANdatory is one of the most important things I have done at Dickinson, as well as becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, and The Order of Scroll and Key.

Internship Experience

I interned both at Columbia University after my sophomore year as a community outreach intern working with high school students and local community initiatives, as well as at the U.S. Department of Transportation after my junior year working as a program analyst working with budget sheets and helping to structure department wide policy.

Nicole Fondots

Majors: policy management, political science
Hometown: Westford, Massachusetts
Employer: Gunster Strategies Worldwide
Job title: public relations and communications consultant

Job Responsibilities

As a consultant at Gunster Strategies in Washington, D.C., I assist in the day to day account management for clients including oversight of creative materials, digital tactics and grassroots efforts.

Internship Experience

Office of Congresswoman Tsongas (Summer 2018 - Massachusetts)
LRT Sports (Fall 2018 - Remote)
Gunster Strategies Worldwide / 1st Tuesday Campaigns (Spring 2019 & Summer 2019 - Washington, D.C.)

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

When choosing a college, I prioritized Dickinson because of its global focus across all its courses. With international studies engrained in all my courses, I have been able to apply a range of lenses in my career.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

Moving forward in my career, I am excited to develop my experience and expertise in the world of international relations and public affairs. Having the opportunity to work on national and international campaigns across a range of sectors allows me to apply the interdisciplinary scope, which was offered at Dickinson.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Dickinson goes above and beyond to ensure that all students have the opportunity to study off-campus. After studying abroad in Bologna, Italy during the fall semester of junior year, I had the opportunity to spend the spring semester in Washington, D.C. My semester in D.C. was pivotal to my college experience and to my career development. Not only was I able to expand upon my global studies at my firm, I was able to develop my network with Dickinson alumni in the area and securely choose the career path that I wished to pursue.

Mary Smith

Major: political science
Hometown: Carlisle, Pa.
Employer: U.S. Army
Job title: ordnance officer
Commissioned: 2nd lieutenant

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Prepared me to approach problems holistically.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am excited to take what I learned in ROTC and apply it to my Army officer job.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Participating in Track and Field

Wrutoe Bonwin

Major: political science
Hometown: Lynn, Massachusetts
Employer: Americorps
Job title: City Year Boston

Job Responsibilities

Aiding within Boston Public Schools as a form of structure and guidance for K-12 students.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson has given me the education and credentials to find my way through a changing world and build my own career path.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

Figuring out adulthood, my career and heading back home to Boston what feels like four years later.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Being on the track and field team and just being involved with athletics on different levels.

Internship Experience

Eastern Bank Fraud Department.

Caitlin Gugliotta

Majors: law & policy, political science
Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
Graduate School: University of Maryland Carey School of Law
Field of study: J.D. in law

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson has prepared me for law school by requiring me to take classes where the professors expect a lot from their students. I have perfected my time management skills in order to complete all my work and balance extracurriculars. Dickinson has also helped me see issues with our society that I want to continue to work towards fixing.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I'm excited to learn how to advocate for people both in a courtroom and outside of one.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Being a part of Dickinson Women's Soccer was a huge part of my experience, especially our NCAA run this year. Studying abroad in Copenhagen and getting firsthand experience that really has spurred much of my current interest and career goals.

Internship Experience

I interned at a local law office the summer after my sophomore year. It is called Kenneth Vercammen and Associates, P.C. and it is located in Edison, N.J. I worked as a law clerk responding to phone calls, filing documents, attending court sessions, and other office work.

Alette Kligman

Majors: educational studies, political science
Hometown: Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Employer: Zeta Charter Schools
Job title: resident teacher
Graduate School: Relay Graduate School of Education
Field of Study: teaching

Job responsibilities

I'll be teaching early elementary school students while completing a master's at Relay Graduate School of Education.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Coordinating Dickinson's tutoring program at Cumberland County Prison, teaching GED classes for the Dickinson Bridge Program and doing research on sustainable development in Costa Rica have all shaped who I am today. I am beyond grateful to have had opportunities to learn from and grow alongside a diversity of hard-working community members in such a wide array of settings.

Is there any other information you would like us to know?

For the past three years, I have worked on-campus at the Career Center. My supervisor there, Tam Heberlig, has been an incredibly encouraging, supportive mentor. She taught me what it means to be a Dickinsonian who goes the extra mile.

Internship Experience

I interned with the LGBT Center of Central PA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, Breakthrough Collaborative of Greater Philadelphia and the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cumberland County. While I learned a lot from each of these opportunities, my experience teaching summer school at the Breakthrough Collaborative of Greater Philadelphia was the most helpful in determining education as a future career path.

Lindsey Keller

Major: political science
Hometown: Waldorf, Maryland
Employer: United States Senate, Office of Senator Martha McSally

Job Responsibilities

Constituent Services, legislative work.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson has given me the opportunity to meet and work with people from all walks of life and people from all over the world. Also, Dickinson holds its students to a standard that is unmatched, and I feel very prepared to enter the workforce knowing I have the skills to succeed.

Internship Experience

I interned at the USAWC and the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. At the War College, I worked with Professor MaryBeth Ulrich on her project examining the role of the military in the global erosion of democracy. While at the Cato Institute I was an intern in their Defense and Foreign Policy team. I conducted research, assisted writing and performed congressional outreach for various projects including Policy Analysis’ of the War in Afghanistan, Nuclear Balance and Arms Control and the Defense Budget. And assisted the development team during numerous outreach and advancement events.

Ilana Gruber

Major: political science
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Employer: Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability (PAR)
Job title: policy and education associate

Job Responsibilities

   • Assisting the PAR Policy Team to determine policy impact and to draft communications on policy issues.
   • Assisting the PAR Policy Team to prepare advocacy materials.
   • Publishing the PAR weekly news digest.
   • Keeping the PAR website current concerning policy initiatives.
   • Providing administrative and policy support to PAR committees and workgroups.
   • Coordinating and supporting regular PAR policy meetings among internal staff and external contractors.
   • Helping to coordinate PAR advocacy events, rallies, Hill Days and PAC events.
   • Assisting to coordinate PAR education and training initiatives.
   • Assisting the PAR Policy Team with research projects.
   • Assisting the PAR Team with PAR conferences.
   • Coordinating continuing education approval and certificates for PAR conference.
   • Monitoring various state and federal news outlets for items related to PAR advocacy efforts.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson taught me how to do research and write well. I also learned to think more holistically in my Sustainable Community Development class.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

Starting my career.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Winning a first-year seminar award for a research paper freshman year. I also loved getting to know my professors and building good relationships with them.

Internship Experience

Camp Hill Borough Parks and Recreation Intern in Camp Hill, Pa. I assisted the recreation director in facilitating summer programs, social media, customer service and special events.

Noa Seligsohn

Major: political science
Hometown: Merion Station, Pennsylvania
Employer: FTI Consulting
Job title: strategic communications intern

Job Responsibilities

My responsibilities include helping to support the implementation of strategic communications programs for a variety of clients. Specifically in the corporate reputation team, I will help draft communications materials (writing press releases and briefing documents), assist with corporate communications and investor relations engagements.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson has given me several opportunities to pursue my academic interests both inside and outside of the classroom. Various education and leadership positions on campus taught me how to think globally and have made me a more open-minded person.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am anticipating applying my liberal arts education to my internship at FTI Consulting. Specifically, I am looking forward to applying my critical thinking and communication skills to solve complex challenges in smart and creative ways.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Some of the defining moments of my Dickinson experience include studying abroad in Bologna, Italy, working as a peer advisor in the Center for Advising, Internships and Lifelong Career Development and building meaningful relationships with my professors.

Internship Experience

In the spring of my junior year, I interned at the U.S. Army War College in the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute in Carlisle, Pa. I conducted independent research for programs to secure international peace and stability in developing countries post-conflict and presented my findings in a formal briefing to a panel of U.S. Army War College personnel. The summer of my junior year, I interned at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, D.C. I assisted various research AFPC fellows in researching the political and economic obstacles facing the Middle East.

Sarah Ursini

Major: political science, women's, gender & sexuality studies
Hometown: West Simsbury, Connecticut
Graduate School: Boston College Law School
Field of Study: criminal defense and civil rights Law

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

I definitely have good connections to my professors, and I've learned a lot about how to conduct research, which will be important in my career as an attorney.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am really excited to study law at Boston College next year and continue my studies.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Being a member of and holding two executive positions for Pi Beta Phi was the most important part of my Dickinson experience. I was going to transfer and becoming a member stopped that. The experiences I had there, the growth I experienced, the connections I made with my sisters and alumni, and the friendships I have because of it mean so much to me. I also really liked being a tour guide, Michelle Fisher is one of my favorite staff members. I also think the research I did and my conference presentations were huge moments for me academically and personally.

Internship Experience

I coordinated volunteer schedules for the Connecticut Democratic Party during the 2018 midterms.

Jack Ward

Majors: economics, political science
Hometown: Duxbury, Massachusetts
Graduate School: Northeastern University D'Amore-McKim School of Business
Field of Study: accounting

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

I think that the liberal arts education at Dickinson has prepared me well for life after graduation. Learning through a diverse distribution of coursework and engagement has enabled me to develop analytical and critical thinking skills that will help me accomplish my future endeavors.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I most anticipate applying the lessons I've learned at Dickinson to solve real world problems. I also look forward to engaging with Dickinson alumni and becoming a resource for Dickinson students.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Two moments that stand out to me are: being part of the 2018 Men's Lacrosse Centennial Championship team and gaining a global perspective during my study abroad experience in Bologna, Italy.

Externship Experience

During my time at Dickinson, I was fortunate enough to take part in the Career Center's Externship program. Through this program I was able to spend three winter breaks exploring career opportunities at JP Morgan in New York City, UBS in Baltimore and LevelUp in Boston.

Patrick Moore

Major: political science
Hometown: Wilton, Connecticut
Graduate School: Georgetown University
Field of Study: American government

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson's professors have helped me become a better writer and thinker. I felt that the professors in my major were professional and accessible. Being able to take classes in the liberal arts, I feel, will help me as I go to graduate school.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am looking forward to working in the same field of political science.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

The travel opportunities, whether for service trips or study abroad were great learning experiences. I also enjoyed being able to participate in Division III athletics during my first two years at Dickinson. Lastly, the close relationship I was able to cultivate with professors made for a good classroom experience.

Ethan Thomas

Majors: political science, history
Hometown: Millburn, New Jersey
Employer: Burson Cohn and Wolfe
Job title: public affairs and crisis intern

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

To be honest, making money.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Too many to count, all of my time spent with friends.

Internship Experience

Sports Illustrated

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Published April 29, 2020

Political Science Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2020

Kevin Ssonko

Nicole Fondots

Mary Smith

Wrutoe Bonwin

Caitlin Gugliotta

Alette Kligman

Lindsey Keller

Ilana Gruber

Noa Seligsohn

Sarah Ursini

Jack Ward

Patrick Moore

Ethan Thomas

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