Hear From Our Alumni

Ajay Gill (PS 2020) – In my very first semester (Fall 2016) I came in as a History major. But then I took PS 1100 Introduction to American Politics, and my educational path changed overnight when I declared a Political Science major and History minor. A lot of my friends majored in STEM fields, so they asked me why I picked Political Science. I explained that a PS degree doesn’t just help you work in government, but it teaches you how to read and how to formulate arguments well. I graduated in December 2020 into a pandemic world and a crippling job market, but thanks to the support of my PS mentors and political science honors society community, I was admitted to a pre-masters program for the NYU Tandon School of Engineering where I will develop skills in the cyber field which will allow me to pursue an MS in cybersecurity.

Christina Walker (IR 2020) – My time in the Political Science Department at OU was indispensable for my career trajectory. As a freshman, I started working with professors on research which quickly blossomed into multiple collaborations, independent research projects, grants, conference travel, and eventually, publications. The amount of experience I gained and the support from professors was invaluable. With these experiences and support from the department, starting a Ph.D program right out of my undergraduate would not have been possible.

Maria Boersma (PA 2019) – I owe so much of my postgraduate success to my time at OU. The first student organization I joined on campus was Model United Nations. Through this, I earned invaluable skills such as research, public speaking, and policy crafting that I use every day. Thanks to my professor, Joe Rozell, I was able to intern at the Oakland County Elections Division for nearly two years where I furthered my knowledge of the Michigan elections process and gained practical working experience. That experience ended up being the primary reason I was hired for my current position. While I was finishing up my last semester at OU, I was hired to be the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer for the City of North Muskegon. One year later, in December of 2020, I was appointed to be their City Clerk. I never imagined I would be this far in my career at such a young age. The Political Science Department at Oakland University made it possible.

Caroline Wolber (IR & PA 2018) – The IR program’s focus on writing and critical thinking perfectly prepared me for a career in non-profit communications. The small class size allowed me to really connect with my professors, and I worked closely with Dr. Laura Landolt to conduct and secure grant funding for an international research project. I was even connected to my current position (which is my dream job!) through my OU network.

John Boutin (IR 2017) – I was a double major at OU, IR and an independent major in Religious Studies. After studying US foreign policy at OU, I realized I was not called to be a US Army chaplain after all. I am grateful for all of the excellent courses I took in the Political Science Department which, combined with my Religious Studies courses, helped set me on my new path towards becoming a professor of political theology.