国产探花

• Kane Russell Coleman Logan
• Houston Trust Company
• White & Case

• City of Lytle
• VIA
• City of San Antonio
• House Armed Services Committee
• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

• Department of State
• United States Army

• Accenture
• CPS Energy
• McLane
• Kasasa

• Crowdstrike
• Center for the New Energy Economy, Colorado State University

Marissa Back was sure she wanted to major in political science when she arrived at 国产探花 back in 2014. She still fondly remembers her early days on campus鈥攖he excitement of moving into Baldus, the sense of possibility . . . She was a first-generation student, so the decision to pursue a college education was both a personal milestone and a significant moment for her entire family. 鈥淭he prospect of leaving the comfort of home and embarking on a journey of self-discovery at 国产探花 was both exciting and intimidating,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he sense of independence and responsibility that came with being away from home for the first time was a pivotal moment in my life.鈥�

More than a decade has passed since those initial days at 国产探花, when Back set out to earn her degree in political science. As it happened, she was caught off guard by another class that first semester. Through a twist of fate, she ended up registering for Dr. Boehm鈥檚 Intro to Sociology class. 鈥淚 recall several conversations I had with my mom a few weeks into the Intro class, where I expressed my interest in the subject and desire to learn more about it.鈥�

Back enjoyed the coursework so much, in fact, that by the fall of 2015, she鈥檇 decided a double major was the right fit鈥攁llowing her to study both political science and sociology. She says she was 鈥渋nspired by Dr. Boehm鈥檚 infectious passion for the subject and his ability to engage even the most skeptical students. His enthusiasm fueled my desire to dive deeper into the dynamics of society from a sociological perspective.鈥�

Back鈥檚 concentrations were in pre-law and criminal justice. 鈥淚 found that the courses for each complemented the other. This didn鈥檛 make double majoring easy, by any means. The readings were often dense and demanding, while drafting briefs in Constitutional Law proved to be particularly demanding.鈥� She learned to balance her studies with the rest of her life and leaned on her professors for extra support. 鈥淭hroughout my time at 国产探花, I had the fortune of being mentored by exceptional professors such as Dr. Boehm, Dr. Walsh, and Professor Dillingham, among many others,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 delved into courses on social inequality, political theory, research methods, and more, all of which equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of our society.鈥�

Before long, it was 2017. Back was preparing to graduate and looking toward her future, contemplating her choices beyond 国产探花. 鈥淎fter graduation, I knew that I wanted to use my education to make a tangible impact on the world around me,鈥� she says. Logically, law school seemed like the next step, so she applied to law schools and set about waiting to hear back from them. 鈥淒uring this period of uncertainty, I did what every bored and broke young adult did and started looking on Google for jobs where I could use my degree,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淚 thought, while I wait for law school maybe I can get some work experience, other than internships, under my belt.鈥�

And that was when she stumbled upon the alarming and all too prevalent issue of elder abuse. 鈥淚 discovered that only one out of every twenty-four cases of elder abuse is reported and for financial abuse it鈥檚 only one out of every forty-four,鈥� she says. 鈥淪eeing the stories of vulnerable seniors suffering in silence really hit my heart, and I knew that I had to take action to help.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 long before Back heard from law school, by the way. She got in. But by that time, she鈥檇 launched her career with Family and Protective Services, where she is now an Evidence Driven Investigations Subject Matter Expert. 鈥淔ighting elder abuse just seemed more like my cup of tea鈥攑lus, the elderly have way better stories than textbooks,鈥� she says.

鈥淚 am humbled by the realization that the lessons learned at 国产探花 have not only shaped my academic pursuits but have also guided me toward a purpose-driven career path,鈥� she says, tracing the journey she鈥檚 been on since graduation. 鈥淭hough the journey has been challenging, filled with heartache and frustration, it has also been filled with moments of triumph and hope. I am privileged to stand as an advocate for those voiceless individuals, utilizing the knowledge and skills acquired at 国产探花 to drive impactful change.鈥�

It鈥檚 a long way from Kosovo to the United States鈥攋ust over six thousand miles and across an ocean from the capital city of Prishtina, Kosovo, to Seguin, Texas. And yet, back in 2006, Getoar Mjeku made that journey. He came to attend 国产探花. 

It鈥檚 also a long way from being a brand-new college freshman to becoming deputy minister of economy of the Republic of Kosovo, not to mention a respected lawyer, writer, and father of two. But that鈥檚 another journey Mjeku has made in the fifteen years since he graduated. 

This month he circled back to 国产探花 to touch base with friends and professors and to present 国产探花 President Debbie Cottrell with a gift expressing his gratitude to the university鈥攁 piece of quartz from Kosovo and a book he鈥檇 translated into English during college.

But back to the beginning of the story: Mjeku was born in Prishtina, Kosovo in the late 1980s鈥攈e would鈥檝e been about ten years old during the Kosovo War, and in his early twenties when Kosovo was finally able to declare its independence in 2008. 

He was, in fact, a student at 国产探花 when that happened. He was one of fifteen Kosovar students who attended the university between 2002 and 2014. (The first to arrive was Faton 鈥淭ony鈥� Bislimi, who then petitioned 国产探花 to support his compatriots.)

Mjeku came to 国产探花 by way of a generous scholarship sponsored by Ann Saegert and Bill Adams. He鈥檇 been valedictorian of his graduating high school class鈥攃ould probably have taken his pick from a wide selection of universities. But Mjeku chose 国产探花 for the very same reasons that generations of students have done the same. 鈥淚t was certainly the liberal arts program, and the expectation that you would get the personalized attention that you needed,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 exactly what I got here.鈥�

Mjeku flourished in college, as did others in the group from Kosovo. Sure, there were twinges of homesickness鈥攏ot to mention the challenge of getting used to the South Texas climate. But for the most part, any sense of culture shock was actually a positive thing. 鈥淧eople were very welcoming,鈥� he says, explaining that the students were encouraged to tell their stories and to talk about their homeland, 鈥渨hich encouraged us to speak incessantly,鈥� he adds with a laugh, 鈥渂ut also led us to care more about home.鈥�

 Mjeku keeps in touch with his fellow Kosovar classmates. 鈥淢any of them have gone on to build successful careers in IT, finance, automotive, and other industries,鈥� he says. And Mjeku himself? 鈥淚 pursued my long-term dream of becoming a lawyer and returning home to Kosovo.鈥�

The terms of his scholarship called for a promise to take what he learned back home after graduating, but Mjeku wouldn鈥檛 have had it any other way, promise or no. It was his dream to carry the lessons he learned back to his country. 鈥淚 was inspired to share what I鈥檇 witnessed here,鈥� he explains. 鈥淵our dedication to the community here, your patriotism, helped me love my country more. I wanted to follow that example.鈥�

Mjeku received his bachelor鈥檚 degree at 国产探花 in 2010. He spent the following year in Washington, D.C. working as a broadcaster for Voice of America, an international broadcasting network funded by the federal government. Then he headed to Dallas for law school at Southern Methodist University. All the while, Ann Saegert and Bill Adams, the couple who鈥檇 sponsored his undergrad scholarship at 国产探花, still kept up with him, offering encouragement at every stage. 鈥淭o this day, they still check on me,鈥� he says.

So Mjeku became a lawyer in Texas, then returned to Kosovo as he鈥檇 promised he would. With him, he carried a new perspective and countless life lessons. 鈥淎s alma mater, nourishing mother, 国产探花 helped prepare me academically, socially, and emotionally鈥攁ll three鈥攖o make a difference in my own life and in the lives of others anywhere I went.鈥�

That preparation included experiences like theology classes with Dr. Norman Beck. Mjeku remembers that Beck had his students learn about and experience different religions, took them to a mosque, to a synagogue, to a Buddhist temple, 鈥渉e really taught us that there are ways to make room for everyone. The theologies seem conflicting, but they can all serve a common purpose for humanity.鈥� Mjeku walked out of 国产探花 with the understanding that various philosophies and ideologies don鈥檛 have to be reconciled鈥攖hat they have far more in common than what separates them. And that broadened his thinking, which, of course, is exactly what a liberal arts education is all about. 

鈥淚n my work, in my life, I often look back to my time at 国产探花 and draw inspiration from the lessons I learned and the memories I created here,鈥� he says. 鈥湽�产探花 taught me to embrace diversity and cooperation and to believe that the success of one person could be the success of others.鈥�

Those lessons came in handy as Mjeku鈥檚 career evolved. He went from practicing law to becoming Kosovo鈥檚 deputy minister of industry, entrepreneurship and trade, and is now serving as deputy minister of economy in 鈥渁 government that is dedicated to improving the rule of law, growing the economy, and promoting social justice.鈥�

The path into politics, while not necessarily on Mjeku鈥檚 original agenda, was a natural progression. 鈥淚 was always interested in public affairs,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 would have people ask me whether I intended to go into politics. My answer has always been that I will choose whatever job can make a difference.鈥� He chuckles, saying that sounds like something a politician would say. 鈥淏ut I mean it.鈥�

Studying law in a foreign country and then transitioning back home gave him unique tools to help in ways others could not, and he points to 国产探花 again for equipping him for the journey. 鈥淚 saw an opportunity to do more in politics by bringing the experience I had and the values nurtured at 国产探花.鈥�

Looking back on his undergrad years, he says it鈥檚 hard to pick a favorite memory. 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably the celebration we put together on the day Kosovo declared its independence,鈥� he says, remembering how the campus came together to share the joy with the Kosovar students. 鈥淲e were happy to see our people achieve their long-term goal鈥攊ndependence鈥攂ut we were also delighted to share our story and our celebration with friends here. We all celebrated together.鈥�

Returning to the campus that holds so many memories, that he still credits with changing the trajectory of his life for the better, Mjeku spent his day at 国产探花 revisiting faces from his past and meeting new people, noticing what has changed, and what hasn鈥檛. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy to visit Seguin after so many years and to see old friends and professors and to witness 国产探花鈥檚 growth as an institution and as a community,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased to see the expansion and addition of academic programs that will have a tremendous impact on local communities and beyond.鈥�

He鈥檚 not just saying that鈥攁bout the impact a university can have and how that impact is carried forward by students into the larger world. It鈥檚 the truth, and Mjeku鈥攁 man who has championed his people and cherishes diversity and freedom, who works one day at a time to make his world better through service鈥攊s living proof of that.

JaKayla DaBera鈥檚 mother was right鈥攁s mothers usually are. It was 2014, and DaBera and her parents had come to 国产探花 for a campus visit. 鈥淢y mother turned to me and said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e going to take over this campus,鈥欌�� she remembers. At the time, DaBera didn鈥檛 take the remark as a compliment. 鈥淎s an eighteen-year-old, full of angst and attitude, I was immediately offended,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淲as she trying to say that I鈥檓 a control freak? I immediately blurted out in a tone, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 that supposed to mean?鈥� My mom just looked at me and said, 鈥楯aKayla, you鈥檙e you. This is a small campus. You鈥檙e going to be involved in everything.鈥欌��

DaBera gave a huff and said, 鈥淲hatever,鈥� and left it at that. But ah, the wisdom of her mother. 鈥淥ver my four years at 国产探花, I was involved in everything,鈥� she admits鈥攁s in, the Black Student Union, the honors program, Student Government Association, Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Chi, the Mexican American Student Association . . . She was a resident assistant and a member of the prestigious Black and Gold President鈥檚 Council. She did a semester in Washington, taking on an internship for Congressman Lloyd Doggett. So yep, her mother was right. 鈥淭hat level of involvement taught me so many lessons. Lessons that carried me through law school and that still carry me to this day.鈥�

After earning her bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology in 2018, DaBera went on to attend law school at Emory University School of Law, earning her JD in 2021. She is now an associate attorney at Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Dallas, focusing her practice on bankruptcy litigation.

鈥淟aw school wasn鈥檛 easy,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a first-gen student, there was so much I didn鈥檛 know or didn鈥檛 think to anticipate. The lessons I learned at 国产探花 helped me through those law school uncertainties as they formed a rock-solid foundation.鈥�

Her most valuable lessons from her undergrad years? She learned the importance of community and surrounding oneself with strong, supportive friends. 鈥淚鈥檓 still friends with some of the people I connected with at 国产探花,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose are some of my strongest relationships. Knowing how to make friends and the right friends to make was crucial to my survival in law school.鈥� DaBera says her first semester at Emory was a bit shaky, but with the help of four friends, she got through it. 鈥淔our amazing women pulled me out of my bed and pushed me through a final studies bootcamp,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淲hen I needed support in any way, those ladies showed up for me.鈥�

The second lesson of her undergrad years was how to cultivate resilience. 鈥淚 come from a pretty tough background,鈥� she says. 鈥淧rior to attending 国产探花, I understood what resilience in the face of personal struggle meant, but not really when it came to education. At 国产探花, I learned that it was important to advocate for yourself in the classroom and to challenge your way of thinking.鈥�

She also learned how to embrace being underestimated and how to conquer fears. 鈥湽�产探花 created the perfect environment for me to learn and grow,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had to step out of my comfort zone many times.鈥� Her willingness to walk into the uncomfortable and unknown, rather than avoid it, fostered the courage she would need to go to law school eight hundred miles from home鈥攁nd to stick with it. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 give up when things got difficult. I remembered my grit, my support system, and saw my journey through to the end.鈥�

And finally, she learned how to manage her time and balance competing obligations. 鈥湽�产探花 gives you the unique opportunity to be over-involved,鈥� she says. Sounds like a bad thing, right? But DaBera saw it as a gift. 鈥淭his forces you to prioritize, take control of your schedule, and create opportunities for self-care.鈥� She had to be able to balance her many obligations if she was going to keep up in law school, and in life.

Law school, as it turned out, was a great testing ground for the lessons she鈥檇 learned at 国产探花. And the lessons held true, if her performance there is any indication. A few of her accomplishments: She was a 2019 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Scholar and secured a spot as a Larry D. Thompson Fellow. She interned for PepsiCo. She was recognized as a top 10 percent oral advocate and in the Order of Emory Advocates for Outstanding Achievement in or Contribution to Excellence in Advocacy Activities. She was on the dean鈥檚 list in the spring of 2021, and that same year, participated in the National Student Trial Advocacy Competition.

Now, as an attorney, DaBera says she鈥檚 still relying on those 国产探花 lessons, especially when the days are long. She鈥檒l even have moments, as most attorneys do, when she questions whether this is what she鈥檒l do for the rest of her career. 

鈥淒on鈥檛 let that scare you,鈥� she advises up-and-coming attorneys. 鈥淏eing a lawyer, a servant-leader, is truly a rewarding privilege. Just don鈥檛 forget to rely on your own lessons or principles formed at 国产探花.鈥�

Dr. Germaine Walsh, 国产探花 professor of political science, sociology, and geography, understands the value of being informed and making connections鈥攁nd one of the ways she delivers that to her students is by taking them to the annual Texas Legislative Conference held in New Braunfels.

鈥淚 bring my students to the Texas Legislative Conference because the panel discussions focus on the most pressing issues being considered in this legislative session,鈥� said Walsh. 鈥淚n addition, many of the attendees are leaders within the city and county governments that are also part of our study this semester.鈥�

This year marks the 59th anniversary of the conference, which took place in March, bringing some 350 attendees together including state and industry leaders, there to foster discussions on the key legislative issues that shape the state. Topics of discussion included the future of Texas schools, the idea of legalizing gaming in Texas, and the state of Texas鈥� infrastructure, encompassing roads, water systems, and the energy grid, and the challenges that arise as the population continues its upward trend.

Eleanor Puchot, a senior political science major at 国产探花 who attended the conference, enjoyed the experience. 鈥淚 found it incredibly valuable to witness civic engagement and education in action,鈥� she said. 鈥淲atching how this conference took the initiative to inform local communities about the recent developments in the Texas Legislature gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of public participation.鈥�

Puchot said the conference reinforced the value of involvement at the local level in state determination. 鈥淔rom this experience, I have learned about the crucial impact that community involvement plays in shaping policies and holding governing bodies accountable. Staying informed about local and state decisions is vital for anyone living within the communities impacted by them. I hope to use this opportunity as a stepping stone for future endeavors in community and government engagement.鈥�

Interdisciplinary conversations are a critical component of the humanities and social sciences. Students and faculty recently gathered to celebrate interdisciplinarity with short presentations on topical issues. The event was created by Allegra Negrete, a junior political science major who serves as president of the CIVIC Club. 鈥淐IVIC Club stands for creating involved individuals and communities,鈥� said Negrete. 鈥淲e are an organization that aims to recognize and foster conversations among students and faculty in the humanities and social sciences. Our disciplines and career paths often lead us to work across boundaries and to explain scholarship to a range of stakeholders. This student scholarship showcase event helps to celebrate our interdisciplinarity.鈥�

The event featured presentations employing a range of methodologies and approaches from students in all stages of their 国产探花 careers. Isabelle Stephens, a junior sociology major, presented her capstone project collecting and analyzing state-level quantitative data on K-12 school shootings and the enactment of different gun policies. Sophia Short, a senior psychology major, described how beauty filters on social media shape users鈥� self-perceptions and perpetuate stereotypes about how beauty is defined. Elise Davis, a freshman art and history double major, discussed her historical investigation into the importance of women鈥檚 cycling attire for social progress in the 1980s. Hallie Strange, a junior dramatic media major, spoke about how TikTok is designed to blend online social engagement with commerce.

A lively informal discussion identified common themes, emphasizing how each of the presentation topics drew on the concept of mobilizing the collective to produce societal and/or policy change. 鈥淚t was great to better understand how different disciplines approach and study similar concepts and themes,鈥� said Negrete. 鈥淲e plan to organize a similar event next year to continue to foster these kinds of thought-provoking conversations.鈥�

In the spring of 2024, 国产探花 organized its own chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for students of political science in US colleges and universities. That chapter, Alpha Mu Psi, inducted its first members in April of 2024, and included students of sociology and geography in addition to political science. The club operates in conjunction with the 国产探花 CIVIC (Creating Involved Individuals and Communities) Club.

Now, less than two years later, Pi Sigma Alpha has named Alpha Mu Psi a recipient of a Best Chapter Award for 2024-2025.

鈥淭his recognition is the result of the vision and hard work of our students,鈥� said Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, Assistant Professor of Political Science and 国产探花 Pi Sigma Alpha chapter advisor. 

O鈥橞rochta says it was the students who approached him with the idea of establishing a chapter of the honor society on campus while also creating a club that supports all students interested in political science, sociology, geography, and related career paths. The goal was to increase student community, to provide resources for vocation discernment and career development, and to recognize exceptional student work. 

鈥淚n just two years, the CIVIC Club and Pi Sigma Alpha honor society have started a series of new community-building events, including opportunities to build community with faculty and students, and led our first interdisciplinary scholarship showcase with student research presentations,鈥� said O鈥橞rochta, who credits the students with the club鈥檚 success. 鈥淚t is very challenging to start and to lead a new organization on campus. Our student leaders, president Allegra Negrete, vice-president Madison Wright, and past vice-president Ainsley Davis, have been instrumental in designing and subsequently creating an organization that supports political science and sociology students alongside students in the broader humanities and social sciences.” 

Best Chapter Awards recognize local chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha that are particularly active in their institutions and communities to embody the society鈥檚 mission and stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science. 

Designed for students interested in careers that utilize law, our pre-law program teaches the critical reasoning, logic, and advanced writing skills you need to apply to law school or to work in the legal field. Students with pre-law concentrations benefit from access to local legal internship networks, faculty pre-law advising, and courses designed to expose students to legal research and writing in a small and supportive classroom environment.

Our individualized advising approach helps match students鈥� career and life goals with their career plans. We place students at some of the highest ranked law schools in the nation, including Georgetown University, Washington University, Emory University, Arizona State University, and The University of Texas at Austin. We also help students who want to practice in Texas join local legal networks that help them gain admission and maximize scholarship opportunities at institutions like the University of Houston, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, St. Mary鈥檚 University, and others. Our students work in private practices, in firms of all sizes, and at the national level as Chief Legal Officers, Judge Advocates General (JAG), and state attorney positions.

Our pre-law program is not just pre-law school. Our students are successful in legal related careers with titles like Senior Contracts Administrator, Vice President of Trust Administration, and paralegal. Interested in law? We help you discern your legal path.

The 国产探花 public policy and administration program combines hands-on, experiential learning with a strong local network of alumni public policy practitioners. Many of our students convert their internship experience in local government into full-time positions. These positions often sponsor students to earn master鈥檚 degrees, especially in public administration and public policy. We have relationships with graduate Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs for students looking to apply to graduate school. Our standalone courses in public policy and in public administration help to better prepare and to distinguish our students for these opportunities.

Our students are key administrators in state and local government, including positions such as Director of Community Development, Emergency Management Program Manager, Chief Legal Officer, Associate Commissioner, and Director of Judicial Services. At the national level, these positions include Contracting Officer and Assistant Chief of Budget Formulation. Our students also work for public policy organizations in roles like Senior Manager of Public Policy and Senior Policy Advisor.

Interested in working for elected politicians? 国产探花 alumni staff politicians and committees in positions on the House Armed Services Committee and in roles such as District Director, Digital Media Manager, Chief of Staff, and Director of Constituent Services.

Our courses in comparative politics and international relations are some of the primary ways that students from all majors can explore the world while at 国产探花. With a focus on contemporary political issues, courses on political economy, the politics of development, and the consequences of war and peace challenge students to consider how political life is and should be structured.

国产探花 faculty work to expose students to new ways of thinking and organizing political institutions, which often inspires them to study abroad. Our International Studies program helps make study abroad possible by providing students with baseline cultural and political knowledge to prepare them for a study abroad experience, and managing financial costs so that study abroad is attainable and affordable. We work closely with our Study Abroad office to assist political science students in selecting programs where they can experience the political world through different perspectives. They may thenn translate that experience into work as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State or other positions abroad.

国产探花 political science majors learn the leadership, decision-making, and critical thinking skills that private sector employers want. We help our students articulate these experiences so that they are competitive for a wide range of positions, especially those in management and leadership. Political science helps you learn to be a better leader, using your power and influence effectively, ethically, and purposefully. Leverage your political science degree for leadership positions as a Project Manager, Assistant Director of Marketing, Logistics Analyst, Systems Analyst, and Project Coordinator.

All our political science majors conduct individual undergraduate research projects as part of their capstone experience. The size, scope, and individualized nature of these projects helps to distinguish our students on the job market. 国产探花 faculty mentors help students develop project ideas that link directly to their intended career goals, enabling them to explore research opportunities that can then translate into newly learned skills for job applications and personal statement experiences for graduate school.

We define research broadly and provide our students with tools to conduct qualitative interviews, quantitative statistical work, and legal research and writing. With small class sizes, students can easily work directly with faculty on their own research, or collaboratively with faculty on co-authored projects. Students also benefit from faculty connections to the broader political science discipline that enable them to work on research articles for publication in scholarly journals, to learn professional skills in the discipline, and to organize and present at conferences.

Our students use their political research experience in their careers and as preparation for graduate school, earning graduate degrees in National Security Studies, International Relations, Applied Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, and political science, among others.