On Wednesday, February 12, Discourse in Democracy hosted the department’s annual Alumni Night. A panel of alumni shared their post-graduation experiences with an audience of more than 30 students, faculty, and staff. The alumni discussed their careers and advised attendees on several topics of professional interest, including developing relationships with faculty members, engaging with internships, and getting involved on campus.
The panel consisted of four alumni:
- Xavier Milan (BPA 2024), Assistant City Administrator for the city of Martindale;
- Joa Brown (BA Political Science 2024), a legislative analyst intern for the Texas Legislative Study Group;
- Olivia Miller (BA Anthropology 2023), Legislative Director for the Texas House of Representatives;
- Tanya Manchack-Elders (BS Criminal Justice 2001, MA Legal Studies 2024), a paralegal with the Hays County District Attorney’s Office.
A question-and-answer session and informal conversations between the students and alumni over refreshments and pizza followed the presentations. Students who attended the event were given department swag which included t-shirts, hats, and beanies. Both Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) and Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, tabled the event.
Amanda Traywick, a political science graduate student said, “I enjoyed getting to know the panelists and undergraduate students that came to the event! It was a great opportunity to ask how they got started in their careers and any tips or tricks they learned along the way. I appreciated the range of jobs that the panelists had, from municipal governments, county offices, and supporting state Congress members. It was fun to meet everyone and spend time with our professors.”
