Successful Graduates

Coe political science graduates have gone on to successful careers in government, law, business, journalism, teaching, and in many other fields of private and public service. Here are some examples of what Coe political science graduates are doing now:

• Samer Abbas

  Samer Abbas (political science and teacher education) attended Washington Term fall 1995, and presented papers at the Midwest Political Science Students Convention in both 1996 and 1997. He is now working with the General Accounting Office and conducting program evaluations for Congress.
• Nicole Brock (political science, Spanish) became an AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer upon graduating from Coe. She is now a Program Associate for Indiana Youth Institute in Indianapolis, IN.
• Charles Fromm (political science and English) J.D., New York University Law School, Senior Counsel with International Business Services, Washington, D.C.
• Brandon Kendhammer (French and political science) spent a semester studying in Cameroon which led to a successful honors thesis. He also presented papers at the Midwest Political Science Students Convention in 2002 and 2003.  He is now studying for a Ph.D. in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His article, "DuBois the Pan-Africanist and the Development of African Nationalism," appeared in the January 2007 issue of Ethnic and Racial Studies.
• Stephanie Kroger (political science and English) worked for a national women's political group while participating in the Washington Term program. As a student at Columbia University Law School, she worked for a summer in India. She is currently a partner in the Austin, Texas, office of Mayor, Day, Caldwell, and Keeton.
• Claire Rasmussen (political science and philosophy) spent her junior year studying at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Washington, and is now Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of Delaware.
• Janet Box Steffensmeier (political science and mathematics) received a graduate fellowship at the University of Texas for her honors thesis on federal welfare programs. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Texas and currently holds the Vernal Riffe Endowed Chair in political science at Ohio State University.
• Lisa Thomas (history and political science) is Director of Public Safety for the city of North Olmstead, Ohio. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in urban studies at Cleveland State University.
• Vaughn Vance (political science) graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and also earned a M.A. in public administration. While participating in the Washington Term at Coe, he was located in the White House. He was a Truman Scholar and also worked for the district offices of Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. Vaughn is now the chief liaison officer for the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice.
• Sarah Whitaker (political science and classical studies) was one of four floor assistants who worked for Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole to coordinate the legislative work of the senators in the majority in Washington D.C. Sarah worked in Senator Dole's office as an intern during Washington Term after having been active in his 1988 Presidential Campaign in Iowa. She is now Senior Director of Government Relations for the National Retailers Federation.
• Andrea Ziffer (political science and German studies) was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Program grant in the spring of 2008. The grant will allow her to work in Germany as an English teacher assistant to help prepare lesson plans. Read the press release here.