Tess Darroch ’20 in Taiwan with Dr. Larus

UMW International Affairs Alum Tess Darroch ’20 is a Fulbright ETA in Penghu Islands of Taiwan. While in Taiwan, she met with Professor Emerita Dr. Larus in Taipei as pictured in March 2023 and spent the afternoon sightseeing together. It’s always wonderful to hear back from our former students!

Alum Simran Kaur-Colbert Appointed at Earlham College

Department alum Simran Kaur-Colbert, PH.D, has been appointed as the new Director of Student Engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Earlham College.

Alum Lydia Receives Prestigious Fellowship

Department alum Lydia Grossman just received a prestigious and very competitive Boren Fellowship to study in Morocco. Boren Fellows study critical languages to work in the federal govt, especially security positions. Lydia also studied abroad in Morocco while attending UMW. Click here to read her story!

Alum Sarah and the International Rescue Committee

UMW Alum Sarah Pietrowski has just accepted a position as a law clerk with the International Rescue Committee! Congratulations to this PSIA Alum on her new position.

Love from UMW to France

Happy Valentine’s day! Check out this story on IA alumni Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel ’19 on their journey from high school, to UMW, to France! They were in IPE together with Professor Gupta as well. 🙂

Alum Nicholas Co-Author of Forthcoming Book

Dr. Nicholas Jacobs, UMW Political Science alum and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Colby College, is the co-author with Sid Milkis of What Happened to the Vital Center: the Revolution in American Partisanship since 1960 forthcoming from Oxford UP.

Alumna Maggie Dwyer in Washington Post

Alumna Maggie Dwyer breaks down the recent coup in Burkina Faso for the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog, “Burkina Faso’s coup makers capitalized on wider grievances within the ranks”. Click here to read more!

Alum Named Finalist for Presidential Fellowship

Andrew Sharpe, who is finishing up his Masters in Public Policy at UVA, was recently selected as a finalist for the Presidential Fellowship. To learn more about the fellowship, click here. Congrats Andrew!!

Brianne Doura-Schawohl ’09 Named One of Top Lobbyist of 2021

Another month, another accolade for our remarkable alumni! In this case, we are referring to Brianne Doura-Schawohl who graduated from UMW in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Yesterday, Brianne was recognized by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics as one of the top lobbyists of 2021. Click here to read more and see entire list.

New Grad lands job as Research Assistant at CNA Corporation

Rachel McVicker ’21 has landed a job as Research Assistant in the China Indo-Pacific Division at CNA Corporation. Congrats Rachel!

Six Ways Mary Washington Prepared Us for Life in France

“Interested in moving abroad? I’m Maria, and my fiancé Jalen and I graduated from UMW in 2019 with double majors in French and International Affairs. Since then, we’ve taught English in France for an academic year and we’ve completed the first half of our French master’s degrees in Public Law (European Integration and Global Governance track) and in Management of Production, Logistics, and Procurement (Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management track) respectively. In our free time, we run a blog and YouTube channel about our experience in France with the goal of sharing transparent information about how we are able to live abroad. We would love to be a resource for fellow Eagles looking to work or study abroad after graduation, especially if living in France interests you. Feel free to check out our blog and YouTube channel, connect with us on LinkedIn, and let us know if there’s anything we can do to be a resource for you.” Click here to read more! 
🙋🏻‍♀️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-dubiel-905326177
🙋🏾‍♂️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalen-b-849980121

New Grad Earns Virginia Governor’s Fellowship

Just days before she donned her cap and gown and walked across the Commencement stage, Megan Weeks ’21 received word that she was among 25 rising college seniors and graduates nationwide selected for the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program. Weeks, who grew up in Henrico County, will return to the Richmond area this summer to merge the knowledge and skills she acquired at UMW with the hands-on experience she’ll gain working in the office of Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. Click here to read more!

Thomas Peterson ’19 on Teaching in Madrid During COVID

Three 2019 alums – Morton, (IA Major) Thomas Peterson and Cara Wissinger – are among several Mary Washington graduates who have moved to Madrid to teach after participating in UMW’s study abroad program with Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao during college. Learn about their experience by clicking here to read more!

Hannah Rothwell Awarded Fulbright Scholarship

International Affairs Alum Hannah Rothwell has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar in Uzbekistan, effective immediately. Rothwell is the PSIA department’s second Fulbright to Uzbekistan. Political Science Alum Shannon Maguire also was a Fulbright in Uzbekistan.

Kelsey Coates named Chief of Staff of the NEH

Political Science Alum Kelsey Coates has been named Chief of Staff for the National Endowment for the Humanities by the Biden Administration. Click here to read more!

Interview with Dr. Maggie Dwyer ’04

Maggie is currently a Lecturer in Africa and International Development at The University of Edinburgh. In this interview she talks about why she chose political science, her current career and research, and how she found her career path. Click here to learn more.

The U.S. Census and the 2020 Elections

On Tuesday 13 October 2020 at 12:30pm ET, Stacy Whitehouse discussed the US Census, the 2020 elections, and her work involving with both. Click here for a recording of the talk!! passcode: J&G.u^2e

Interview with Kevin Hughes ’13

Kevin is currently a Public Policy Manager at Facebook in Washington D.C. In this interview he talks about why he chose political science and how the department guided him to where he is today. Click here to learn more.

Interview with Rebecca Jacobi ’20

Rebecca Jacobi currently has an internship with the Feminist Majority Foundation as a Digital Organizer. In this interview she talks about why she chose international affairs and how the department guided her to where she is today. Click here to read more.

Interview with Paige McKinsey ’15

Paige is currently a Masters Program Student at George Washington University. In this interview she talks about why she chose international affairs and how the department guided her to where she is today. Click here to learn more.

Ambassador for Freedom

John Cotton Richmond (’93), was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to fight human trafficking in October 2018. “Under Richmond’s leadership, the TIP office helps coordinate U.S. inter-agency efforts at home and leads diplomatic efforts around the globe aimed at ending the enslavement of an estimated 24.9 million people.” Read more here.

John Cronin heads to the Virginia Governor’s office

John Cronin, who was named 2019’s Male Student-Athlete and UMW Alumni Award recipient, has the next two years of his life mapped out. After completing his bachelor’s degree in political science in May, Cronin was recognized yesterday by the Office of the Governor as a member of the second cohort of Virginia Management Fellows. click here to read more.

Stacey Feindt heads to the Virginia Governor’s office

Just days before graduation, the Fredericksburg native learned she was among the 28 rising college seniors and graduates from across the country selected for a coveted spot in the 2019 Governor’s Fellows Program. Click here to read more.

Chris Cassingham Named Virginia Governor’s Fellow

Spring 2018 – The Department congratulates Chris Cassingham on being named a Virginia Governor’s fellow.  Cassingham, who graduated in 2018 with a degree in Political science, was chosen from rising college seniors and graduates from around the country for one of the 23 coveted spots in the 2018 Governor’s Fellows Program. For more information, visit: http://www.umw.edu/news/2018/05/31/new-umw-grad-heads-to-virginia-governors-office/