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

Ellyanne Rosenthal Spotlight

Ellyanne Rosenthal

Global Mobility Partner - Europe

Andrew Light Spotlight

Andrew Light

2016 Graduate Pursues Graduate Study at University of Michigan

Jasmine (Tolbert) Caldwell Spotlight

Jasmine (Tolbert) Caldwell

2006 Graduate Technical Expert at the Social Security Administration in Chicago

Amy Bush Spotlight

Amy Bush

Senior Program Assistant for the Committee on Human Rights

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

Edward Cardenas Spotlight

Edward Cardenas

Media and Communications Expert

Nerina Cevra Spotlight

Nerina Cevra

Human Rights Lawyer

James Meernik Spotlight

James Meernik

Political Science Professor

Tim Zeeb Spotlight

Tim Zeeb

Managing Director in Finance

Alan Dunklow Spotlight

Alan Dunklow

Assistant Attorney General for Maryland

View More Distinguished Alumni

News

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

Avabella Madison awarded the Batchelder Political Science Scholarship

Avabella Madison awarded the Batchelder Political Science Scholarship

The Political Science Department is pleased to recognize Avabella Madison as our Batchelder Scholar for the 2025-2026 academic year.

May 13, 2025

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Events

Global Laker Story Slam INT 100/201 APPROVED

November 12, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

GVSU students & alumni who studied abroad or are international will be sharing their stories from around the globe! Are YOU a GVSU student or alumni who participated in a study abroad?...

Love is a Battle: James Baldwin's Patriotism featuring Nicholas Buccola

November 12, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM

What does it mean to love a country when it does not necessarily love you back? Join the Political Science Department as Professor Nicholas Buccola discusses the role love plays in James Baldwin's...

Diwali Celebration - Indian Student Association

November 15, 2025 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Indian Student Association invites you to their annual Diwali Celebration! Join us for prayer, performances, dinner, and dancing.

Thinking Globally: Cultural Meanings of Food (Approved INT 100/201)

November 17, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join us for a cultural conversation exploring food, language, and cultural identity. We'll dive into the cultural history behind various international dishes, discovering how culture, language,...

Fellowships Information Session: Planning to apply for the Gilman? Exploring Fulbright? Interested in the NSF Goldwater for students planning on graduate research in STEM? Curious about fellowship opportunities generally?

November 20, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Welcome! Join us to explore the world of nationally competitive fellowships. Planning to apply for the Gilman to help defray the cost of GVSU undergraduate study abroad? Exploring Fulbright or another...

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Page last modified October 25, 2019