Lives in: Austin, TX 

Majors: Political Science, Film and Television Studies 

Why political science? “Growing up I was fascinated by history and government, so studying political science made sense. On the film side, I have always been intrigued by storytelling. What interested me most was screenwriting. I did not choose my majors thinking what would be the best training to be a journalist, but in retrospect both majors have served me well in my career. I’ve covered government the entire time I’ve been a reporter, and my education in film helps me develop stories narratively.” 

Current position: Investigative Reporter for the Texas Tribune 

What work looks like: “I investigate power in the second-largest U.S. state. Often, this involves exposing government corruption, waste, incompetence, and other failures by those in charge. I travel around Texas and follow the stories wherever they need chasing. Recently, I spent 18 months investigating what went wrong during the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting. Our team’s work was awarded the Collier Prize and was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.” 

What he loves about it: “Journalism is one of the very few professions where you get to meaningfully interact with people from all walks of life. I’ve interviewed homeless people, billionaires, criminals, victims, teachers, janitors, soldiers, activists, undecided voters in suburbia, professional athletes, farmers, small-town mayors, members of Congress, and everyone in between. You get such an appreciation for the richness and diversity of this country. Each story is an opportunity for adventure.” 

What he gained from a liberal arts education: “A well-rounded liberal arts education is the best preparation for a career in journalism. Reporting demands that you learn a lot about a given subject quickly, plus you need to make a compelling case for why people should give interviews to you, especially vulnerable sources who may face consequences for doing so. There is no singular major or academic program that is ideal for aspiring journalists. Rather, the best preparation is a broad-based education focused on developing skills including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem solving, creativity, research, and communication. I use all those skills every day as a reporter.” 

Lives in: Denver, CO 

Major/minor: Political science major, history minor 

Why political science? “When I got to college, I knew that politics was something I was interested in, and by the time I was a second year I realized there were potential career paths that I would excel in after school.” 

Current position: Managing Partner, Civic Centered Consulting & Media 

What work looks like: “I wear many hats in this job, but most of what I am hired to do involves strategic consulting and planning for political campaigns and the media creation and deployment required to get the candidates’ messages out.” 

What he loves about it: “It is the opposite of a 9-5 job, which I enjoy because it means every day is a little different from the last. I also get to utilize creativity and strategic planning to tell stories of people who can help impact the world, which is very rewarding.” 

How a liberal arts education prepared him for his career: “It taught me critical thinking, research, storytelling, and how to use the collaborative process to bring something from the idea phase to reality. Being a strategic planner and media consultant requires a lot of communication skills and understanding the mechanics of language and how people actually interact with each other. My liberal arts education has been an incredible asset for me throughout my career. During my time at UVM I was able to explore different areas of interest that laid a solid foundation for my future learning. I think it’s important, particularly for students, to understand there is no perfect combination of classes or courses you can take in university to build your future. You have to explore what you are passionate about and think about what skills would be useful later on. Because of this program, I was able to purse my interests in history, English, and political science— all of which play out in real time now as a career political operative.”  

Lives in: Ciudad Juárez, Mexico 

Majors: Political Science and History 

Why political science? “I wanted a better understanding of why and how the world functions the way it does.” 

Current position: Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Foreign Service 

What work looks like: “U.S. Diplomats work in all corners of the world to protect Americans and American interests overseas. This includes promoting peace, advancing economic development, strengthening international relations, and providing help during crises and disasters.” 

What she loves about it: “Every few years I get to live and work in a completely different part of the world while at the same time serving my country. So far, I’ve worked in Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, and Iraq—and now, Mexico!”  

What she gained from a liberal arts education: “Most importantly, I gained critical thinking skills! I would not be an American diplomat today if I did not have the critical thinking skills I developed during my time at UVM. Receiving knowledge is an important aspect of higher education, but I believe critical thinking is the most important skill a student can learn. Persuasive writing comes in second. The future holds untold opportunities for each of us, and we don’t know what we don’t know. A well-rounded education provides the skills and experience needed to adapt to new situations, further personal and professional growth, and ensure better judgment.” 

Lives in: Sudbury, MA 

Major: Political science 

Why political science? “I started as a molecular genetics major but wanted to pursue something mission driven. After traveling internationally to less developed countries, I became fascinated by how governing mechanisms impact citizens' quality of life, regardless of available scientific advancements.” 

Current position: Senior Program Manager, Therapeutics Research and Infectious Disease Epidemiology (TIDE) at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School 

What work looks like: “I work to implement the Sentinel System for the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We run analyses on large databases of health insurance claims data to assess the safety of marketed pharmaceuticals when safety concerns arise from adverse event reports, citizen petitions, published literature, or media coverage. In my role, I help oversee the group implementing epidemiological studies on behalf of the FDA.” 

What she loves about it: “I love the real-world impact of my work. Because we serve as a key tool for the FDA to respond to public health threats, we're often asked to study emerging topics of public health concern, such as contributing to the COVID-19 response or studying potential implications of the emerging broad use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic.” 

How a liberal arts education prepared her for her career: “I learned critical thinking, which is the key skill I use every day. It's easy for solutions or job candidates to sound good on paper, but learning to question everything more deeply has been instrumental to my success as a leader. Additionally, the perspective I gained on systems of governance helps me think through effective organizational structures for our internal teams, which are constantly evolving as we adapt to the FDA's changing priorities. Overall, a liberal arts education has been critical to my career. Following my bachelor's degree, I earned a science-based Master of Public Health in epidemiology. Having both a liberal arts and science-based educational foundation has helped me be more intentional and effective throughout my career.”