Prepared with Political Science

When Sammy Ambrosy (B.A. 2020) was deciding where to study politics and government, he was focused on schools located near state capitols. The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities stood out to him since the area is bursting with opportunities in state, city, and county governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations.

Compelling Courses

The University of Minnesota was appealing to him due to the unique opportunities with regard to the coursework and faculty. "I got to take a lot of really fantastic courses," he reflected. "I think it speaks to the deep catalog of coursework that's available that I would say that for every really cool course I got to take, there were probably half a dozen others that I'm sad I didn't get to take."

One course he is particularly glad to have taken and continues to stick with him is POL 3325: U.S. Campaigns and Elections with Professor Kathryn Pearson. Campaigns and elections were a particular interest of Sammy's, and it was a great experience to take a class he was passionate about with an instructor with so much knowledge on the subject. Having so many different faculty members so knowledgeable about their own specific areas of study is one part of the department that makes it special to Sammy.

Another favorite class of his was a graduate-level public affairs course co-taught by the late Vice President Walter Mondale and Professor Larry Jacobs. "That was a really cool opportunity, too, because that's something you couldn't get at any other university in the world," he said.

During his undergraduate career, Sammy also participated in the Minnesota Senate Internship Program with Professor Paul Soper. It was a critical experience where he learned what he wanted to do in his career, gained insight into how state government works, and built connections & career skills that continue to serve him.

Joining the Workforce

Following graduation, Sammy worked with middle schoolers for whom English was their second language, helping them with language and content courses, as well as extracurriculars. "That was a really rewarding experience," he reflected. "I wanted to find something where I'd have the greatest impact and do the most good, and so helping middle schoolers with Zoom school was a really formative experience in understanding what I wanted my career to look like."

After his term of service with AmeriCorps, he took on an administrative role with the broader organization. He became responsible for supporting members, helping with timesheets, and trainings. After a year and a half in that role, he began his current role as Executive Assistant with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.

As an executive assistant, Sammy wears a lot of hats, supporting both the person he works for as well as their section of the office. He is responsible for complex calendar management; tracking different priorities & deadlines; providing general support for administrative tasks; coordinating logistics for meetings, travel, & events; and special project management.

Prepared with Political Science

Being a political science student uniquely prepared Sammy for the working world, especially his current role, by helping him develop necessary organization and time management skills. Learning to juggle various essays, research projects, exams, and different classes helped him know how to manage different deadlines and priorities in the workforce.

Furthermore, political science was helpful in developing oral and written communications. In his current role, Sammy often serves as a liaison between people, internally and externally, so knowing how to effectively communicate with others is critical. The research skills he built through political science have also been helpful in his role, as he works on a lot of special projects for which he needs to conduct research to develop background knowledge.

The overall skills learned through the political science program, to Sammy, can be used in many ways, in many roles. He knows people who majored in political science who now hold jobs at complex technology companies, as well as in government and nonprofit organizations; there are more paths open for political science students than imaginable.

To students, Sammy advises seizing the different opportunities you have as a student, from classes and student organizations to internships and study abroad. "I didn't gain a full appreciation of it until I was out of school; the opportunities available to you as a student, as well as all of the freedom that you have to explore all of that." These opportunities can help you develop skills, explore interests, and foster curiosity. They help you learn what is available and what path you want to go down.