Alumni

Welcome Alumni!

Welcome to all alumni! 

International relations majors are accomplishing incredible things in Michigan and all around the world. We love to hear from you! If you'd be interested in being featured in one of our spotlights, send an email to [email protected] with a picture and some or all of the following:

  • Name, major(s), minor(s) (optional), and year of graduation from GVSU:
  • Describe your accomplishment (education, work, voluntarism, etc.), and optionally, anything you did previously (just a couple of sentences or as much as a page):
  • Anything you’d like to mention about how your classes, professors or activities at GVSU prepared you for your current path (optional): 

If you are looking to make contact with fellow alumni, check out the GVSU PLS and IR alumni Facebook group.

If you need a letter of recommendation, you'll find our letter of recommendation guidelines here, and faculty contact information here. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Spotlights

Jordan (Crandell) Baah Sackey Spotlight

Jordan (Crandell) Baah Sackey

Program Manager for Jobs for the Future (JFF). 

Clair (Radyko) Scheiderer Spotlight

Clair (Radyko) Scheiderer

Attorney for Freedom House Represents Asylum Seekers

Aing-On Thammarattananon Spotlight

Aing-On Thammarattananon

Assistant to Political Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in D.C.

Amanda (Miralrio) Murray Spotlight

Amanda (Miralrio) Murray

Senior Advisor to the Director of OFAC  

Laura Carlson Spotlight

Laura Carlson

2012 IR Graduate is Research Projects Manager at Feeding America, Gulf Coast

View More Spotlights

Distinguished Alumni

Periodically, the Political Science Department is asked by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to invite a Political Science or International Relations alumnus to campus for the Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence program. The program provides a venue for departments to invite outstanding alumni back to campus to share their post-graduation experiences with the GVSU community.  Through the program, our distinguished alumni have the opportunity to share their insights about what constitutes strong academic preparation for students.

Political Science and International Relations Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence:
James Spaanstra 2005
Edward Cardenas 2006
Bob Monaghan 2007
James Meernik 2010
Nerina Cevra 2012
Richard Damstra 2015
Tim Zeeb 2017
Alan Dunklow 2019

Distinguished Alumni

James Meernik Spotlight

James Meernik

Political Science Professor

Nerina Cevra Spotlight

Nerina Cevra

Human Rights Lawyer

James Spaanstra Spotlight

James Spaanstra

Energy and Natural Resources Attorney

Edward Cardenas Spotlight

Edward Cardenas

Media and Communications Expert

Alan Dunklow Spotlight

Alan Dunklow

Assistant Attorney General for Maryland

View More Distinguished Alumni

News

Robach attends the National Conference of the World Affairs Council as a Student Scholar

Robach attends the National Conference of the World Affairs Council as a Student Scholar

Olivia Robach (PLS and IR double major) earned a scholarship to join student scholars from around the US to attend the annual conference of the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC in November 2025.

Dec 3, 2025

Ozinga Starting Law School at Case Western

Ozinga Starting Law School at Case Western

IR alum Kyla Ozinga is starting law school at Case Western

Sep 16, 2025

IR and PLS Alumni Starting Law School

IR and PLS Alumni Starting Law School

PLS, IR and Human Rights alum Taylor Bessinger is attending the University of Illinois College of Law

Sep 12, 2025

Salam Attending Harvard Law

Salam Attending Harvard Law

IR alum Shireen Salam is attending Harvard Law School.

Sep 9, 2025

Diven Honored with Award

Diven Honored with Award

Professor Polly Diven received the 2025 Hillman-Orr Award from the World Affairs Council of West Michigan.

Jun 23, 2025

View More News

Events

Vote in Kirkhof

October 30, 2026 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Cast your ballot right on campus with the Allendale Township Satellite Clerk's Office in the Kirkhof Center. Eligible voters can register to vote, update their voter registration, request an absentee...

Election Day Celebration

November 3, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Join GVSU Votes!, President Mantella, the Laker Marching Band, the NAACP, and members of the NPHC for an Election Day Celebration and Stroll to the Polls!

Humans in the Lead: Community AI Summit (INT 100/201 Approved)

November 5, 2026 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Humans in the Lead: Community AI Summit Building Trustworthy and Sustainable AI The community AI summit brings together the community, public officials, business leaders, policymakers, community...

Global Community Day (INT 100/201 Approved)

November 5, 2026 3:00 PM - 5:00 AM

Join the Area and Global Studies programs as we cap off Global Horizons Week with a celebration and showcase of cultural diversity at GVSU. If you are interested in learning more about our minor programs...

DEM 101: Post-Election Reflection with the GVSU Center for Civil Discourse

November 11, 2026 6:00 PM

Join the GVSU Center for Civil Discourse for a guided conversation reflecting on the election, its outcomes, and what comes next. Engage in respectful dialogue, share perspectives, and explore how...

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Page last modified October 25, 2019