Award-Winning Political Science Alumni Share Advice for Undergrads

Eight University of Cincinnati political science students in the last 11 years have received the prestigious Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence award, highlighting the importance of leadership, service and academic achievements in this McMicken College of Arts & Sciences department. 

In light of their achievements as undergraduates, they offer advice for current students and new alumni.

Hannah Randolph, 2016

Randolph earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs (out of the Department of Political Science) and economics, along with a minor in mathematics, Asian Studies and Spanish. The Honors student was a member of student government, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha and was nominated for Truman, Marshall, Schwartzman and Fulbright awards. After graduation she will attend American University to earn her doctorate in economics. 

Amara Agomuo, 2014

Agomuo graduated from UC in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. The Honors student was a Darwin T. Turner Scholar, a Cincinnatus scholarship recipient and a recipient of UC’s 2014 Marian Spencer Diversity Ambassador Award. She currently works as a production assistant for Shift, the online, live-streaming video network run by by MSNBC. 

Advice for students: My advice for any student interested in majoring in polisci is to think broadly. Politics plays a role in everything: how we allocate money for resources, who gets what job, who fixes our roads, our education system, our economic stability and political climate.

William McIlwain IV, 2013

Mcllwain graduated from UC in 2013 with bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and French and a certificate in Middle Eastern Studies. He was a William J. Clinton Scholar,a Gilman International Scholar, a Taft Research Scholar, a peer ambassador for UC International, a Randel Graduate Fellowship Scholar and the former director of international student affairs for UC’s student government. He currently works as a foreign service officer at at the U.S. Department of State.

Advice for students: The best advice that I can give any student is try to gain as much international experience as possible. If you have "international" in your degree title potential employers will expect just that --international experience.

David Watkins, 2012 

Watkins graduated from UC in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs, a minor in economics, and certificates in security studies, Arabic Language and Culture and Middle Eastern Studies. As an undergrad, he interned at the Moroccan Center For Contemporary Studies and Research, U.S State Department, and the Hamilton County Republican Party. He also served as co-chairman of the UC College Republicans. Watkins currently works as a senior advisor for study abroad at Butler University. 

Advice for students: Begin with the end in mind. Political Science is a degree that can lead in many different directions. In many ways, that is a good thing, but if you don’t know where you want to go, you may end up graduating without a clear path forward. For example, most students who get a degree in mechanical engineering become mechanical engineers. Most students who get a degree in education become teachers. However, with political science, and many other liberal arts degrees, most students probably don’t become political scientists. They go on to become lawyers, lobbyists, teachers, government workers, business leaders, journalists, etc. Begin with the end in mind—how will you use your political science degree?

Taiwo Adeoye, 2011

Adeoye graduated from UC in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and (out of political science) a certificate in international human rights. The Darwin T. Turner Scholar participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She was also a fellow at StartingBloc Los Angeles Institute, which prepares leaders to make change in the world. She was a member of Sigma Phi Women’s Honorary and the Lambda Society Women’s Honorary. She is currently a development analyst for the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Community and Economic Development. 

Advice for students: My advice for any student interested in majoring in political science is to have passion for the topicality, and reach out to PS faculty/staff (make use of professor office hours, develop relationships with them, and have them mentor you if and when they can).

Paul Kruchoski, 2010 

Kruchoski graduated from UC in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a certificate in international human rights. As an undergrad, he studied cello at CCM, served as president of UC’s Model United Nations Team and planned the 2008 Peace or Hunger Conference. He received the Outstanding Undergraduate Male Senior award from the College of Arts & Sciences. After graduation, he continued his position as a foreign affairs officer through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs in Washington, D.C., where he explores human rights issues.

Advice for students: Get out and practice the skills you are learning and spend time studying some of the other social sciences.

Jerry Tsai, 2008

Tsai graduated from UC in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in business. As a undergraduate, he was the Presidential Fellow for the Center of the Study of the Presidency, UC’s student body president, president of Sigma Sigma Honorary and a member of Metro Spirit and Leadership Honorary. After graduation, he began his first teaching assignment with Teach for America in Las Vegas. Along with fellow UC alumni, he founded and now serves as vice president of Acceptd, an innovative startup focused on connected talented artists with program and opportunities around the world. 

Advice for students: Be sure to take advantage of all aspects of being an active student. That means learning as much as possible in class and building relationships with your classmates and professors, as well as, taking what you learn in class and applying to activities and opportunities outside of the classroom in the UC and greater Cincinnati community.

Joyce Kasee, 2007

Kasee graduated from UC in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs and an international human rights certificate. As an undergraduate, she was the vice president of the UC senior class, president of the Political Science Student Association, director of Students Taking Action Now, a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and an MTV “Rock the Vote” ambassador. She is now a Senior Program Officer at the United States Institute of Peace.