Focus on a Graduating Senior

Ebony Fripp (2016, Political Science) 

The History & Political Science Department at Daemen College emphasizes disciplinary training and transferable skills that bridges the theory of classroom learning with real-world practice and professional preparation.  Our senior thesis capstone project provides an opportunity for students to gain practical research skills and substantive knowledge of topics which connect to their personal aspirations and employment interests. Here we feature one of our seniors, Ebony Fripp.  

Ebony Fripp (2016, Political Science) 

In the Spring of 2015, Political Science major, Ebony Fripp, took part in the City of Buffalo Urban Fellows Internship program. Ebony writes:

During my time here I was able to participate in, and attend, many city wide events, and more importantly, the meetings preparing for these events. I had the chance to be in on the deep planning of affairs like the Mayor’s Black History Event, the Mayor’s Day of Service and Clean Sweeps Kickoff. Going out and “pounding the pavement” with Clean Sweeps allowed me to have direct interaction with city residents. Cities all across America look to Buffalo to replicate a similar program in their own city because of its successful track record. To be a small part of that success was incredible. Although I am not a Buffalo native, I consider Buffalo to be my home and I was honored to be a part of the shift towards a better Buffalo.

The Urban Fellows internship provided me with the opportunity to practice proper etiquette in a work environment. I was able to sit in on meetings with the director of our office while he met with potential partners. I gained the ability to take whatever is thrown at me and work through it in effective and creative ways and was challenged to put what I observed to practice when we had meetings of our own. To add to this, we were assigned writing tasks, such as, writing proposals for different events and programs happening in our office.

Being selected to be an Urban Fellow intern was an opportunity that I definitely do not take for granted. I learned so much being inside of the Mayor’s 311 Call and Resolution Center and have met so many amazing people along the way. Being given the opportunity to work hands on with the planning and execution of different events conducted by the office allowed me to gain transferable skills that I can take out into the work place and use to grow and further my career as a potential public sector worker.

In the Fall of 2015, Ebony successfully defended her senior thesis entitled, “Operation Clean Up Albany”: An Explanatory Case Study on Corruption and Public Ethics Reform within New York State Government. Her thesis, "examined high profile political corruption cases from 2005 to the present, a 10-year time frame, as well as past and present public ethics reforms that have and are being implemented in New York State." The central question explored was why ethics reform is lacking despite the high levels of political corruption and public awareness of public ethics violations in New York State. Ebony's topic was both timely and significant, focusing on the importance of public trust to effective democratic governance. In examining the New York case, she identified the role of the state's political culture, economic inequality, and low levels of trust in reformers as important factors impeding meaningful reform. Ebony's finished thesis is one of two finalists for the annual Department's Best Thesis Award.

Ebony is considering graduate programs in public administration and policy with the goal of employment in the public sector where she can put her political science major and the skills she acquired through classroom and experiential learning opportunities at Daemen College to work. We look forward to future updates from Ebony as she continues to serve her community and to advocate for ethical governance.

Guest Blog - McKenzie Higgins (2009, Political Science)

Sometimes in our college experience we learn as much or even more from the challenges that we face than we do the from the easy successes.  In this guest blog, McKenzie Higgins (2009, Political Science) reflects on her experience with the senior capstone project. As she writes in her essay, the thesis requirement presents a new level of challenge that can sometimes snare even the best of students. McKenzie does a beautiful job explaining how she initially viewed that one "low" grade on her transcript as "black mark" that she longed to erase. She knew the end product of the research project did not reflect her true ability; and so McKenzie chose to learn from the experience, to turn her disappointment into motivation to do better. Having worked hard to amass a stellar record in her four years at Daemen College, she went forth, armed with more than just a piece of paper declaring she had completed a college degree -- McKenzie left Daemen College with the knowledge she had gained through her coursework, including that less than perfect thesis experience. And she carried with her one more thing -- outstanding letters of reference, rich with details of her accomplishments, her abilities, and her potential not yet realized. For you see, students are so much more than any one entry on a transcript and confronting a challenge is a healthy and expected part of the learning experience. Academic growth occurs when we are challenged -- and when we learn to challenge ourselves. McKenzie was neither the first nor the last student to be disappointed by an undergraduate thesis grade. Whether thesis proves to be a relatively easy successes or a significant challenge, what really matters is the question McKenzie invites you to ask: what will you take from your experience? 

McKenzie Higgins (2009, Political Science) 

Opportunity Knocks Twice

     Capstone requirements… projects, papers, and the dreaded thesis. All of these things make a student’s skin crawl. The weight on a student’s future and the magnitude of research, writing, effort, and understanding required cannot be underestimated. It truly makes for a test of will and wit.

      I fancied myself a stellar writer as a student at Daemen. I sailed through Comp 101 and made easy work of my “writing intensive” classes – even Art History 285. I felt like I had a good handle on the technical aspect as well as the substantive research and time required. I was flying high until… thesis. It was a harsh reality check. I managed to make my way through the process with the lowest grade of my entire Daemen Career (I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.74). I wasn’t proud of it. My product was awful, and at the end, I would have given anything for a do-over. But, as so often said, “opportunity knocks only once.” I lived with that black mark on my transcript and it definitely shaped my future decisions. Knowing I had that poor writing sample to my credit, PhD programs looked to be far out of reach. What could I do with my Political Science degree now that I cannot pursue my dream of being a college professor? I did what the other half does with a Political Science degree – I put my efforts into law school applications and made my way to Auburn Hills, Michigan to enroll at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

      I then spent the next three years relearning everything I ever thought I knew about school, relearning everything I ever thought I knew about how to write. I spent hours upon hours writing about things that didn’t mean all that much to me intellectually… premises liability, Michigan’s open and obvious danger doctrine, the infamous law school hypothetical: “Jimmy Ate a Sandwich, So what?” This isn’t to say I didn’t gain anything from law school or that it wasn’t an amazing experience – because it was. But there was always this nagging inner-academic that longed for the ability to re-do a thesis, to conduct that independent research and have people listen to me – and to do it RIGHT.  At the end of three years learning about torts, contracts, property, criminal law, tax and trying my hand at litigation skills, I thought I was ready to leave school behind once and for all. But, I still couldn’t get past that nagging desire to write. And mere weeks before I was ready to walk across the stage with my Juris Doctor degree, I discovered that the Juris Doctor degree is not the end of the road. There’s another law degree – the LL.M. or “Masters of Laws.”

      The LL.M. is a highly specialized degree, focusing in a very narrowly tailored area of law – usually taxation or corporate business. Those fields meant nothing to me. But then, someone told me that you can create your own LL.M. That’s it! An LL.M. in Criminal Law. So, I took up the lengthy application process and finished out my final few weeks of law school. Everyone looked at me like I was absolutely nuts. Trust me, three years of law school takes its toll, so it is completely understandable why someone would question my sanity and my desire to continue.

      I was a long-shot to gain admission into this prestigious program. Only 2-7% of attorneys in America ever achieve an LL.M. But alas, I was offered a spot and here I sit at my desk almost two years later after that acceptance, after handing in my LL.M. thesis. Yes, I said it. Thesis. I got my second chance at perfection. For approximately 17-18 weeks, I fully engaged in the art and science of researching my topic. It became the first thing I thought of when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I thought about before I went to sleep. I kept notepads all over my apartment because prolific thoughts are not contained to when you’re sitting at your computer or in a library. I just handed that thesis in and I am truly proud of what I’ve accomplished. Having another degree to add to my resume is surely something to be proud of. But, what I’m more proud of is the ability to say that opportunity can knock twice and that just because the first time you may not have the most amazing result, it is not the end.   
      Tenacity is key. Winston Churchill put it so simply:  “Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.'' The end of your Daemen journey is not your end of opportunity. If something hasn’t gone right in your Daemen academics, it isn’t the end of the world, and it isn’t the end of opportunity. Seek it out. Take a chance. Be bold. Be brave. And never, never miss the opportunity that might knock twice.

McKenzie M. Higgins, Esq.

Bachelor of Arts, Daemen College 2009

Juris Doctor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School 2012

Legum Magistra (Master of Laws), Thomas M. Cooley Law School 2014

*Admitted to Practice in New York State and in the Federal Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan.

McKenzie Higgins (2009, Political Science)
2014 Daemen Ride for Roswell Team Captain 

To date, McKenzie is the only graduate of the History & Political Science Department to earn both a J.D. and a graduate law degree (LL.M).  Her Master's thesis, which she successfully defended in March, 2014, is entitled, "Total Inclusion: Opening Therapeutic Justice Courts to Medical Marijuana Patients in Michigan."  In addition to working as a practicing attorney, McKenzie plans to continue her scholarly research and writing.  

Alumni Updates

Check out what some of our recent graduates are up to these days! 

Sarah (2013, Political Science)

Sarah Rodman (2013, Political Science) is currently a J.D. candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Law.  While at Daemen, Sarah was active in multiple campus activities (including the Pre-Law Student Association and its Annual Moot Court experience) and organized "Raise Your Voice," a musical performance to raise awareness and fight bullying. Sarah also completed an internship with the American Bar Association through the Washington Internship Institute (in 2011) and wrote her senior thesis on the crises of judicial vacancies in the U.S. district courts. Sarah is now a Summer Associate at the Law Offices of William Matar, P.C. in Buffalo, NY. 

Victoria (2011, Political Science) 

Victoria Velazquez (2011, Political Science) is currently a J.D. candidate at the Charlotte School of Law and recently completed an externship at the 6th Circuit's Public Defenders Office. While at Daemen, Victoria served in the Army National Guard and wrote her thesis on the issues facing veterans returning from the Iraq War. 

Wade (2013, Political Science) at the 2013 Academic Festival.

Wade Pietrocarlo (2013, Political Science) is currently a J.D. Candidate at the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Wade writes that his experiences at Daemen helped to prepare him for the rigors of law school: 

"My classes in judicial process, criminal law and constitutional law were immensely beneficial in preparing me for law school...having that knowledge base and foundation put me slightly ahead of other 1L law students....Our senior thesis, although unappreciated and dreaded at first, came to be an invaluable learning exercise. As a lawyer...the preponderance of your time is spent writing...Moot Court was also vital for me as I will be on the Baltimore Law Moot Court team. This transition was greatly assisted by my 3 years serving as counsel on Daemen's Mock Trial team."

Wade offers the following advice for those considering law school:

"Become an avid reader and writer. 90% percent of my time is dedicated to reading and briefing cases, and to writing and forming arguments based on my reading and research. Attending law school is essentially a full time job, so do not apply unless you are ready to commit to it entirely. However, I do still have time on the weekends to go out, grab a drink, watch a sports game or hang out with friends." 

Wade's interests are primarily focused on healthcare law and tax law, with working as hospital in-house counsel or in medical risk-management among his possible long-term career goals. While at Daemen, Wade wrote a senior thesis on medical malpractice reform in New York State.

Banquet

Students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the History & Political Science Department celebrated the end of the 2013-14 academic year with a banquet in Alumni Lounge on Saturday, May 3.

 
A group of 40 students, alumni, faculty, and guests attended the banquet and heard comments from guest speaker Ms. Darcy Fargo (class of '02). Fargo explained how she had put her education as a History & Government major to work in a career in journalism and public relations.

Think creatively, Fargo urged the students in attendance, about how your skills and knowledge might be applied in a variety of careers. She advised students to consider areas beyond education and law, two leading career choices for students who major in History and Political Science. (You can find Darcy Fargo's guest blog post from earlier this year HERE.)

Guest Speaker Darcy Fargo ('02)

Students and faculty continued to socialize after dinner

In addition to students and faculty from the department, we were honored to have in attendance guest speaker Darcy Fargo (History & Government major, class of '02); Dr. Michael Brogan, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Caroline Buerk (History & Government major, class of '59 and Daemen College Trustee); Patricia Smith (Director of Leadership Giving at Daemen); Raymond Graf (History & Govenrment-Adolescent Education major, class of '03); Justin Johnston (History & Government major, class of '08 & Director of Annual Giving at Daemen); and Eric Behm (History & Government major, class of '11).

Front row (L-R): Jordan Sieracki, Zahra Nayyeri, Carla Hernandez, Caitlin Schuler, & Jessica Mark; Middle Row: Emily Kraft, Caitlyn Ebert, Shervon Weeks, and Jessica Todd; Back Row: Amy Grimes and Nicholas Paveljack

Emily Kraft, Amy Grimes, and Tyler Vanice

Francois Acosta, Dr. Joseph Sankoh, and Arthur Cruz

T is for Thesis: Some of the students in this year's Thesis Research class: Front: Tyler Vanice (History), Middle: Chris Butler (History), Back fro: Jordan Sieracki (History & Political Science), Shevon Weeks (History), and Jessica Todd (History)

Darcy Fargo with classmate Ray Graf

Left to right: Caitlin Schuler, Jessica Mark, Nicholas Paveljack, Zahra Nayyeri, and Carla Hernandez

  

Jessica Todd, Shevon Weeks, and Caitlyn Ebert

 

Jordan Sieracki, Emily Kraft, and Jessica Todd

Carla Hernandez, Zahra Nayyeri, Troy Hamlin, Shevon Weeks, Caitlyn Ebert, Jessica Todd

Special thanks to Dr. Angela Diaz and Dr. Aakriti Tandon for planning the banquet.

Photos courtesy of Angela Diaz, Penny Messinger, Zahra Nayyeri, and Aakriti Tandon.

More Spring 2014 Student Internships

Check out where our History & Political Science Majors are Interning this Spring!

The History and Political Science Department encourages our students to connect theory and practice by pursuing internship opportunities as a pathway toward individual career goals.

Cassandra Sakelos (Political Science, 2014)

Cassandra Sakelos, a Political Science major, is interning at the Office of Child and Family Services in the Native American Services Department.  Cassie chose her internship placement, in part, because of her aspirations to become a lawyer dedicated to the protection of the rights and interests of under-represented minorities and groups.

Cassie writes: "I chose this placement because I wanted to engage in policy review....What initially interested me was that I'd be dealing with both Native American law and state law.  I was intrigued by the Native American judicial system and had done an independent study [focused on the representation of Native American legal interests and rights within the U.S. legal system].

In the Fall 2013 semester, Cassie successfully defended her Senior Thesis Research Project which examined issues of state political capacity in dealing with international drug cartels, utilizing Mexico as a case study. Cassie will graduate in May and is preparing to apply to law school. 

Kadeem Johnson, a Political Science major and General Business Minor in interning with the Buffalo Urban Fellows Program: "I began my internship this February, working in downtown Buffalo at City Hall in the Office of Citizens Services. I and five other interns were assigned to assist with Mayor Bryron Brown's "State of the City" speech where citizens were updated on the City's major progress in infrastructure, crime deterrence, education and job creation. Currently, we are working on two programs being implemented immediately: the National Day of Service on April 1st, followed by the "Beautify Buffalo" initiative, both of which relate to my personal interest in city planning.  I've found this position to be a great opportunity and a unique placement that could not have been obtained without the assistance of the Daemen faculty and [Office of Career Services]." 

Kadeem also successfully defended his Senior Thesis Research Project last semester.  His project examined the challenges facing the modern Republican Party in light of changing demographics and party polarization. 

Kadeem Johnson (Political Science, 2014) stands on the steps of Buffalo's City Hall Building

To Learn more about internship opportunities, please contact your faculty advisor in the History & Political Science Department or visit the Career Services Office at Daemen College. 

Lieutenant Sean McCarthy--Alumni Profile

Lieutenant Sean McCarthy in Marine Corps flight school

Sean McCarthy graduated from Daemen College in 2011 with a degree in History & Government. Currently, he is a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and is finishing up pilot training. We invited Sean to write a guest blog about his experiences in the History & Political Science Department. Sean also explains how his education has helped him to prepare for a career in the Marine Corps.  

Lieutenant Sean McCarthy:  

While enrolled at Daemen College, I attended Officer Candidates School over the summer with the goal of commissioning as an officer in the Marine Corps upon graduation. My first stop as a Second Lieutenant was The Basic School, where my classmates and I learned basic infantry tactics and general officership. After TBS, I began flight school, and as of today I’m about to finish primary flight training followed hopefully by advanced helicopter flight training. 

So, how did my time at Daemen prepare me for being a Marine or a pilot? My education built a strong foundation with which I was able to adapt and thrive in my military training. I left the History & Political Science Department at Daemen a well-rounded student. This ended up becoming a strength of mine, as my post collegiate training has been based on an extremely wide and rapidly changing range of topics. I credit my education with giving me the initial skill set to quickly adjust to these ever evolving challenges. 

My senior thesis evaluated what effects a deployment to Afghanistan had on returning veterans. Because my professors gave me the latitude to investigate a topic I was passionate about, the thesis didn’t become just another assignment. I was able to fully involve myself in the process, and by doing so I gained the self-confidence and reliance that comes with completing a project of this size. They guided me through the project without holding my hand, allowing me to grow professionally in addition to furthering my knowledge on the topic.

The most significant thing I learned from my professors at Daemen, particularly in the History & Political Science Department, was dedication. They went above and beyond from what I expected from a teacher to help me reach my goals. I truly believe that each one of my professors came to work to develop students, and not show up to simply collect a pay check. They understand that leadership positions are about service. Whether you’re a professor, a manager, or a military officer your job is to serve those working for you, especially if you expect them to do the same.

Student Feature: Research Project

From Left to Right: James Stumpf (Political Science), Amy Grimes (History & Government-Adolescent Education), Caitlyn Ebert (History), Diarra Ndiaye (Political Science), Kadeem Johnson (Political Science), Bonnie Humpherys (Political Science), Amber Zielinski (Political Science), Arthur Cruz (Political Science) Cassandra Sakelos (Political Science), and Fuad Abdul (Political Science).
 Not pictured, Eli Cobti (Political Science)

Eleven students who are completing coursework in the History & Political Science Department are currently working on their senior thesis research projects.  The research project is a program requirement and also fulfills Daemen's requirement for a Research and Presentation course. This dedicated group of students are working on a broad range of topics that will make original contributions to the disciplines of History and Political Science.  This year's thesis class includes nine Political Science majors, one History & Government-Adolescent Education major, and one History major. 

The Political Science students are researching topics ranging from the impact of fiscal stress on local municipalities to international terrorism. Two Political Science majors, Fuad and Cassandra (Cassie), are respectively engaging in theory-building and testing by exploring the strategic and ideological motivations for state-sponsored terrorism and the impact of democratization and political party influence on the political capacity of the Mexican government to effectively deal with drug cartels. Diarra's research question explores the transformation of religious practices into a problem of child exploitation in the urban centers of the African nation of Senegal. Amber's senior project applies principles of public policy making and agenda-denial to explore corporate the influence on U.S. policy's non-response to global climate-change. Arthur's paper evaluates the politics of immigration policy reform in the U.S. from 1986, with an emphasis on Mexican immigration in particular. James surveyed and interviewed local officials in order to assess the causes and impact of fiscal stress on local municipalities in Erie County. Eli is examining the connection between corporate influence and the public funding of sports stadiums. Bonnie employs content and discourse analysis to to examine how President Obama is deliberately crafting a public narrative of his own multi-racial identity. Kadeem is engaging with political party theory to evaluate the Republican Party's outreach to racial minorities to enhance electoral competitiveness at the national level.

Two of our seniors are researching historical topics. Amy, a History & Government-Adolescent Education major, is using archival resources to research the creation of a regional branch of the Progressive Education Association (PEA) and the role of Adelle Land in its formation and mission. Caitlyn, a History major, is writing her thesis on the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform (WONPR) and the role of this group in advocating for repeal.

Oral Presentations of the final research project are scheduled for November 26 and December 3, 2013, between 4:00 and 7:00 pm.  This year's thesis class is taught by Dr. Lisa Parshall and Dr. Penny Messinger.  Presentations are open to the public and all members of the Daemen community, so come and join us!