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

Tim Zeeb Spotlight

Tim Zeeb

2002 Graduate Becomes Managing Director at Conway MacKenzie

Austin Saycocie Spotlight

Austin Saycocie

Graduate of Johns Hopkins School of International Studies, US Foreign Service, now posted to Laos

Laura Carlson Spotlight

Laura Carlson

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

Lizzie Heyboer Spotlight

Lizzie Heyboer

Organizing Program Manager for the Western US, Swing Left

Paul Bratt Spotlight

Paul Bratt

2013 Graduate Now Judicial Clerk in U.S. District Court

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

Richard Damstra Spotlight

Richard Damstra

Foreign Service Office, U.S. Department of State

Edward Cardenas Spotlight

Edward Cardenas

Media and Communications Expert

Tim Zeeb Spotlight

Tim Zeeb

Managing Director in Finance

Robert Monaghan Spotlight

Robert Monaghan

Corporate Executive and Nonprofit Leader

Nerina Cevra Spotlight

Nerina Cevra

Human Rights Lawyer

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

View More News

Events

Drop in days of service

December 5, 2025 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Drop-in Days of Service are on-campus opportunities for students to "drop in" and complete service projects for service hours. At these days of service, students will learn more about different...

Fulbright US Student Program - Virtual Information Session

January 15, 2026 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Are you interested in teaching English abroad? Are you curious about studying for a Master's degree abroad? The Fulbright program might be for you! Join me to learn more! For more Information...

Philippine Culture Night

January 31, 2026 5:00 PM

Philippine Culture Night 2026: Tide by Tides

Real Talk: Social Sciences Edition

February 10, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Gain inside information on career paths, resumes, interviewing, networking, and other career-related concepts that you can start using TODAY as a student by rotating between stations led by GVSU alumni...

GVSU Faculty Fulbright Scholar Panel and Information Session (Friday, Feb. 13, 2026)

February 13, 2026 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Are you preparing for an upcoming sabbatical or other form of leave? Intrigued by the idea of a Fulbright Scholar or Fulbright Specialist award and eager to learn more? Join this Fulbright Scholar...

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Page last modified October 25, 2019