Chika Umeadi (BA, ’10, political science) is a project manager at Google where he helps drive key strategies with a variety of teams and stakeholders. In hindsight, the political science major and informatics minor believes, in many ways, the connections he made outside of the classroom provided a unique foundation for his life and career. ...

Matthew DiCianni (BA, ’07, history and political science) is a labor and employment attorney at the law firm Cozen O’Connor where he has taken on cases of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to small family businesses. Now a U.S. citizenship case has become his proudest achievement...

Nisha Chittal (BA, ’09, political science) graduated from Illinois at a time when social media was just finding its footing. She quickly realized social media could be a powerful tool for networking. Using social media, Chittal made connections at the crossroads of politics and journalism and has never looked back. Today she is the chief of staff at...

CRISTINA VALDEZ PINEDA (’15) graduated from Illinois with a double major in Political Science and Communication. She now works at Ernst & Young (EY) as a Senior Economic Consultant in their Transfer Pricing practice. Valdez Pineda helps ensure that large corporations which engage in cross-border transactions are following international laws and regulations, and that their transactions are...

AMBER MCREYNOLDS (‘01) always had an interest in politics and government. With both of her grandmothers having served as election judges and her father’s career as both a lawyer and a judge, it’s no wonder McReynolds graduated with a double major in Political Science and Speech Communications. It wasn’t until she worked for a nonprofit nonpartisan youth voter education organization during the...

JESUS MAGANA (‘13) was not always sure of his career path.  However, while attending Illinois as a Political Science student, Magaña was the Civic Engagement Intern with the University YMCA on Wright Street. This allowed him to help develop and coordinate a mentorship program that paired high school sophomores with current college students. Through this internship, Magaña developed an...

JENINE SALEH (‘15) majored in both Political Science and Global Studies, receiving highest distinction honors during graduation. Saleh originally decided to study Political Science and Global Studies because she wanted to work with survivors of persecution, as both of her parents faced displacement from their home countries. While at Illinois, Saleh was active in the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor...

Quite a few graduates from the Political Science department at the University of Illinois might someday end up on the east coast, but far fewer will have had a journey similar to RESHMA SAUJANI (BA ’97). Saujani majored in both political science and communications and went on to receive her MPP from Harvard and her law degree from Yale. Saujani’s passion for public service led her to run for the...

MICHAEL ALLENSWORTH (BA ‘14) attended the University of Illinois originally majoring in MCB on the Pre-Med track but soon realized it was not for him. Allensworth always had a passion for politics, and after taking a few introduction classes in Political Science, it solidified his decision to change his major to Political Science. While at Illinois, Allensworth built an impressive resume,...

While studying Political Science at Illinois, AMANDA BRADY ZIFFRA (BA ’08) was President of the Women's Lacrosse Team and spent time studying abroad in both Greece and Curaçao. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Amanda went straight to law school to pursue a joint-degree JD/MBA program with Chicago-Kent College of Law and Stuart School of Business. Upon graduation, Amanda began work at a...