Political Science Grads Were Leaders in Student Organizations
Two outstanding Political Science majors鈥揵oth of whom brought their distinctive passions and intelligence to the program鈥攚ill graduate this fall. Rachel Steen came to Woodbury as a transfer student and immediately impressed her professors with her writing talent, which History Professor Dr. Doug Cremer describes as sharp, incisive, and analytical. 鈥淩achel is an effective self-learner,鈥� Dr. Cremer says, 鈥渁nd masters any topic she attempts.鈥� This was true for her final thesis, titled 鈥淭he Drive Behind the Divide: The Causes and Effects of Social Psychology in Affective Polarization.鈥� Her research identified topics that voters agree with policy-wise, but often disagree upon once a party affiliation is attached. 鈥淚 wanted to illustrate the psychology that takes place when voters become attached to a group identity,鈥� Rachel explains, and the harmful outcomes of such voting behavior.
Gayane Mikaelyan has been actively involved in student organizations since she entered Woodbury and the Political Science program as a first-year student. Since then, Dr. Cremer says, 鈥淕ayane鈥檚 work has steadily grown in-depth and quality, and she has become an impressive writer and thinker.鈥� Gayane鈥檚 final project is titled 鈥� The Effect of Media on Contemporary Politics.鈥� Both Rachel and Gayane were active in student organizations: Gayane is ASWU President and Rachel served as treasurer for the United Nations Association (UNA-USA) and as a CoLA senator during her senior year. Rachel plans to use her political science degree as a stepping stone to a law career. She鈥檒l use the next year to network, study for the LSAST, and develop her law school applications.
Congratulations Rachel and Gayane!
Last Updated on May 6, 2022.聽