Jennifer is a fervent individual whose dedication to learn, develop, and entertain new and diverse perspectives renders her as a marque example of what it means to not only be a top scholar, but also an individual who’s ready to embark on the journey of the post-undergraduate life. Political science has had a major impact on Jennifer's life. “A political science major introduces students to multiple understandings and perspectives on the world and helps them to clarify their own perspective,” she says.
The ability to think critically, adequately communicate one’s views, and develop an open mind are some of the many proficiencies Jennifer believes the major is responsible for, saying, “those are skills that are valuable, regardless of where you go in life.” In addition, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of the environment that the department promotes: “The Department of Political Science creates an atmosphere that encourages students to express their opinions and perspectives.”
A participant of the Model United Nations/United Nations Student Association, as well as a recipient of the Merner, the Wolfsberg, and the FLAS fellowship scholarships, declaring Jennifer as one of the U of M’s top undergraduate scholars would be an understatement. Jennifer has also had extraordinary experiences beyond campus as an intern at the Bureau of International Organization Affairs in Washington D.C. and as part of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. On top of that, she studied abroad in London during May 2013, and is currently studying international relations from the Russian perspective abroad in Moscow for fall 2015. There, she’s interning at the Russian International Affairs Council, where she is learning about the work and research that’s happening within the Russian international affairs community.
Due to the breadth of options within the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), Jennifer is able to use her political science degree to study not only international relations and government, but also global studies and Russian. “CLA has allowed me to combine multiple interests into my own unique academic experience,” she says, and she also notes the benefit of having a classroom experience with a “creation of a space in which discussion and debate can take place.”
When she’s not in the classroom, Jennifer is working in the CLA First Year Experience program and in CLA Student Services developing an interest in mentoring and advising. When asked what’s next following graduation, Jennifer says, “Graduate school is something I may consider in the future, but right now, I am looking to enter the working world, preferably in an area related to government, international organization affairs, or international relations.”
