Political Science Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances

Coming from a small high school, Rosado sought a campus where he could make a significant impact and enhance the college experience for others. The liberal arts and sciences education at Gettysburg opened doors to a wide range of subjects, fueling his enthusiasm for learning and enriching his undergraduate journey. Rosado has held leadership positions across various organizations, including serving as president of the Gettysburg College Republicans, vice chairman of Gettysburg Young Americans for Freedom, and treasurer of the Finance and Investment Club. His dedication to student representation and public service is evident in his roles as a student senator and a fellow at the Fielding Center for Presidential Leadership. Some of his favorite memories include participating in Delta Gamma’s “Anchor Splash” fundraiser and enjoying cuisine from around the world at the International Food Fest. “Gettysburgians pride themselves on reciprocity, a notion that the community you support will return the favor out of admiration, loyalty, and respect,” Rosado said. “Servitude drives the engine of Gettysburg College and allows those involved to create new relationships and memories that define their undergraduate careers.” Rosado’s tentative postgraduate plans include pursuing work at a think tank in Washington, D.C., or volunteering for a congressional campaign in New York before attending law school.

“When I first applied to colleges in high school, I was torn between Gettysburg College and several other large state schools,” Marks said. “As much as I was attracted to the hustle and bustle of life in a big city, what made me fall in love with Gettysburg College was the sense of community I felt from the very moment I set foot on this beautiful campus.” The Gettysburg community empowered Marks to be the best leader she could be, filling impactful roles as a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, peer learning associate in the Mathematics Department, vice president of Pi Sigma Alpha honor society, student coordinator in OSAGL, and a member of the Order of Omega. These experiences combined with her education as a political science major and education and peace and justice studies minor have broadened Marks’ understanding of the world and given her a global perspective as she seeks to improve the lives of others. Following graduation, she plans on working at a university for a few years before pursuing a master’s degree in higher education.

A political science and economics double major, Labruna instantly knew Gettysburg was the right school for him the moment he stepped on campus. The small class sizes allowed him to develop personal relationships with professors and the College’s distinctive co-curricular programming helped catapult his professional development and career preparedness. As part of the Eisenhower Institute, Labruna took part in a summer fellowship program in Washington, D.C., and traveled to Germany to study labor relations in Europe. He also helped launch Gettysburg’s E-Sports Club with support from Student Senate. “Being a Gettysburgian means you have to take the opportunities given to you and run with them,” Labruna said. “You have the support and encouragement of the faculty and other students, but when push comes to shove, you have to be the one who seizes the moment, and Gettysburg really prepares you for those moments.” Following graduation, Labruna will pursue a master’s in political management at George Washington University before seeking a career in politics.

As a student worker in the Athletics Department and writer for The Gettysburgian, Herr has seen his share of exciting moments at Gettysburg. “Working as the announcer at the men's basketball playoff game versus Franklin & Marshall this past season was an incredible experience,” said Herr. “Seeing the student crowd get behind the team on every play was electrifying, and being a part of generating that enthusiasm on the microphone was a special feeling.” Herr served as the sports editor for the school newspaper for two years and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa last fall. The political science and German studies double major was also team captain of the ultimate Frisbee team and has his sights set on working in policy research after getting his law degree.

 “To me, being a Gettysburgian means taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you,” said Chaga, a political science and public policy double major. “As a transfer student, I sought to get involved on campus in order to make up for the lost time. However, I found that I was hardly even keeping track of the time. Being involved in clubs, sports, study abroad, academic extracurriculars, and things that brought me joy, I discovered that being at Gettysburg meant being in the moment.” Chaga, who traveled to Rwanda and learned Swahili, wants to combine her passion for learning languages with her dual degrees to pursue a career in foreign service or work in the linguistics department of an intelligence agency after graduation.

 “I am most proud of my role as Student Senate president,” said Zamora, a political science major and Spanish minor. “This role has allowed me to address a plurality of student concerns with administration and gave me a lot of networking opportunities as well. Specifically, I had the chance to represent the school at a White House conference with Vice President Kamala Harris.” Through her various activities on campus, such as Mock Trial, Honor Commission, and the Student Senate, Zamora has developed leadership and advocacy skills that will prepare her for a career in constitutional or criminal law after graduation. “Being a Gettysburgian means going above and beyond in order to ‘Do Great Work.’ I find that Gettysburgians are incredibly involved on and off campus, and that they are devoted to everything that they do.”

 “My favorite memory has to be taking the First-Year Walk to hear the Gettysburg Address. It was a very warm and fitting welcome to both the town and the campus,” said Dudley. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, the international affairs and political science double major participated in several Eisenhower Institute programs and studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, two of the main reasons he decided to attend Gettysburg. After graduation, Dudley hopes to launch a career in international affairs and security. “Being a Gettysburgian means to be someone who is willing to be a loyal member of their community that does great not because they have to, but because they want to.”

 “I founded the Gettysburg College Climbing Club, which now boasts 15 members, most of which only started climbing this year,” said Schultz, a political science major and environmental studies and writing minor. “I hope that my work in the climbing community will leave a legacy and the community will continue to flourish.” Schultz worked as an outdoor facilitator for the Garthwait Leadership Center and credits the organization and staff for helping him develop tools to be successful in project management, public speaking, facilitation, and other skills that will aid him as he pursues a career in outdoor education. “At Gettysburg I was able to further my career goals in my own profession on campus as an outdoor facilitator. This job allowed me to learn more about group facilitation and leadership as well as learn more skills to help me in my outdoor adventures.”

 “I am most proud of being part of the Eisenhower Institute Undergraduate Fellowship program. Being surrounded by seven other intelligent and hard-working seniors who had such a passion and drive for the topic was an incredible experience,” said Boyer, who is a triple major in political science, Spanish, and international and global studies. “Being able to take our knowledge to Paris and hold amazing discussions and presentations has given me such a sense of fulfillment that I am on the right career track.” Boyer served as section leader of the color guard in the Bullets Marching Band and held several officer roles in her sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma. She studied abroad in Argentina, participated in EI programs Inside Civil Rights and Inside Washington, and was a member of Model United Nations all four years.

“Gettysburg is a historic place marked by a major war, but the school provides an atmosphere of growth centered in an open-minded attitude and culture. My time here has taught me so much and that has happened because I have been willing to listen to new ideas and go out of my comfort zone,” said Ritchie, a political science and public policy double major and economics minor. Ritchie was captain of the field hockey team, served on the executive board for Alpha Omicron Pi for two years, and worked in the athletics equipment room. Following graduation, Ritchie will pursue a law degree at the University of Richmond School of Law.

“I've really enjoyed all of the friends I have made during my time here. I've been involved in so many incredible clubs and taken advantage of so many opportunities, and they all have helped me grow so much as a person,” said Staub. A political science and Italian studies double major and religious studies minor, Staub wrote for The Gettysburgian and served as an Admissions tour guide, an intern in Annual Giving, and as a Peer Learning Associate in the Italian Studies Department. She studied abroad in Rome where she interned at the Euro-Gulf Information Centre. After graduation, Staub will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue a Ph.D. in political science. “Being a Gettysburgian means taking advantage of opportunities and being dedicated to growing both within and outside of academics.”

 “The accomplishment that I am most proud of is winning Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the Centennial Conference,” Giordano, a four-year member of the track and field team. “It represents not only my achievements academically, but all the hard work I put on the track.” A double major in public policy and political science and religious studies minor, Giordano worked in Campus Recreation and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After graduation, he plans to attend law school at Florida State University. “I learned to be my own biggest advocate through my time at Gettysburg. It endowed me with the confidence that I am capable of great things.”

 “The accomplishment that I am most proud of is helping establish the E-Sports Program here,” said Gill, a political science major and history minor. “With the help of the Student Senate we were able to secure funding for six top-notch gaming computers to get the club going.” Gill served as president and house manager of Sigma Nu and vice president of the Class of 2023. He also completed a summer internship with Congressman Matt Cartwright and was a prominent figure helping drive Gettysburg’s robust campus recreation programming. After graduation, Gill will serve as the college and career advisor for the Pennsylvania College Advising Corps at Shippensburg Area High School. “The most important skill that I learned throughout my time here was how to work with so many different kinds of people. Gettysburg cultivated me as a leader and I’m super grateful for all the opportunities I had.”

“I am most proud of being the parliamentarian of Student Senate,” said Browning, who majored in political science and minored in writing and theatre arts. “While in office, the Policy Committee passed almost 30 amendments to the constitution to improve efficiency, membership, and representation. We often worked in tandem with the Inclusion Committee to pass amendments that make Senate more accessible for everyone on campus. … I feel that my work with Senate is lasting and impactful to the entire campus and I am extremely proud to have been a part of it.” After graduation, Browning hopes to work part time as a legislative assistant or something similar and part time in a theater doing production or management.

Capriglione’s proudest moment while at Gettysburg College was being named captain of the men’s lacrosse team. “It just showed that if you are able to put your mind into something and fully commit to it you can do anything you want. I never played much or started, but I was able to see how my peers respected me as a person and a player on and off the field,” he said. “Hard work pays off.” Capriglione double majored in political science and public policy and minored in economics. After graduation, he plans to work as a paralegal for a couple of years, then potentially attend law school. “I want to help people that other people do not want to help. Everyone deserves respect and a common decency to help when they are in need,” he added.

“Being a Gettysburgian means that your education does not happen in a bubble,” said Dalgleish, a political science major and Spanish minor. “The global events have a strong impact on what and how we learn, and in turn, Gettysburgians use their education to make an impact on global events. Gettysburgians don’t wait to work toward the world they believe in. It starts while they are on campus.” Dalgleish was involved with College Democrats for four years, earning the title of president. After she graduates, she will be the campaign manager for a statehouse candidate outside of Philadelphia. “I am grateful for the opportunity to build a community out of a campaign and empower people to get involved in the electoral process,” she added.

“Being a Gettysburgian is working to better yourself and your community. Every day, I’m inspired by peers who are double majors, club presidents, or volunteers who are always trying to learn more and do more to make the world a better, more sustainable, safer, kinder, and smarter world than how we met it,” said DeJacimo. The political science major and writing minor says her proudest moment is writing an article for The Gettysburgian titled, “College Shows Progress on Sustainability, Advocates Want More Campus Engagement,” which prompted the creation of the Sustainability Committee on campus. “It was my first big piece that made me fall in love with investigative journalism and the positive impact it can have on my community,” she said. DeJacimo plans to be a political journalist in Washington, D.C., or possibly even abroad after graduation.

“My First-Year Seminar class, Waging Peace: Religion and the World’s Peacemakers, opened me to an entirely new world of experiences,” said Halpin, who double majored in religious studies and political science and minored in music. “My professor, Prof. [Megan Adamson] Sijapati, helped me discover the Center For Public Service (CPS), where I have now worked for three years. Working there has informed my ideas of what I want to do for a career and fundamentally impacted how I think about the world. Similarly, taking this class exposed me to new cultures and belief systems, which encouraged me to pursue studying abroad. On [Get Acquainted Day], I had said I had no interest in studying abroad, and now I have studied abroad in Morocco, interned in Jordan, and will be heading to work in Palestine after graduation.” With a grant from CPS, Halpin will be working with a nongovernmental organization in Palestine to support its social justice-based summer camp.

“The most pivotal moment I experienced at Gettysburg was my First-Year Seminar, called Sex and the Supreme Court,” said Traczek. “This class opened my eyes to how frequently sex and gender-based violence occurs, and it motivated me to get involved with organizations on campus such as Students Against Sexual Assault. I also met Prof. [Anne] Douds through the course, who quickly became my mentor.” A political science and public policy double major with minors in German studies and peace and justice studies, Traczek enjoyed the explorative nature of the liberal arts and sciences. “I think the best thing a college student can do is have their perspectives challenged, and liberal arts education allows for that to occur in a respectful environment,” she said. After graduation, Traczek hopes to combine her love for learning languages with her political science and public policy interests by joining the Foreign Service.

“Being a Gettysburgian means contributing to something bigger than my own experiences on campus and in the community,” Weynand said. “Instead of keeping my head down and focusing on my own life, I sought out new experiences and opportunities to become involved in something much bigger. Gettysburg encourages these pathways and strives to produce individuals—Gettysburgians—that will continue this type of work and this vision.” Weynand double majored in political science and public policy and also earned minors in economics and peace and justice studies. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and earn her Juris Doctor degree. After, she hopes to practice law and pursue work that will continue to directly impact the lives of individuals.