Careers in Politics, Policy and International Relations
Today's college graduates are likely to have five careers. Political science majors are well prepared to face this changing world of employment. Many employers look to majors in political science because of their skills in comparative and critical reasoning, analysis and writing. As a result, political science majors are ideally suited to working not only within traditional employment opportunities such as government offices and agencies, educational institutions, think-tanks, non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations, media sources and law offices but also in a wide range of other, new areas.
Salem State political science majors include civic leaders such as Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll ’88 and Massachusetts State Senator Joan Lovely.
See the American Political Science Association website for a comprehensive guide to careers in political science, and read about how some of our most recent alumni are succeeding in the field:
Brice Bambara ‘11
I work for the Political and Civil Society Advocacy Department at the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva. I help civil society and community-based organizations build their capacity in advocating for more resources to be invested in health by governments, the private sector and foundations. In the past, I have worked for the “Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire” in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and for the Global Fund in different capacities—including on specific portfolios such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali. I have a master’s degree in international relations and political science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Brandi Brook '17
After graduating from Salem State, I attended the Massachusetts School of Law. I received CALI awards in both torts and civil procedure. The CALI award is given to the student with the highest grade in a class. I was also a “Writing and Legal Advocacy Competition” finalist.
In law school, I worked as a paralegal, utilizing my legal studies while completing my degree. I graduated with my juris doctor in the top three of my class. Since passing the bar, I have been working as a domestic relations attorney in Salem.
Errin Douglas '18
I am a first generation American from the island of Trinidad & Tobago, but was born and raised in Dorchester, MA. After graduating, I worked for the Massachusetts Democratic Coordinated Campaign, where I helped elect State Representative Liz Miranda (Suffolk-05) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). I served as the community engagement coordinator/staff assistant in the office of Congresswoman Pressley in Washington, DC. Subsequently, I worked for Boston Public Schools as the chief of staff to the Division of Equity, Strategy & Opportunity Gaps.
I now serve as the chief operating officer for the Davis System LLC, a political consulting firm I started with my fiancé. The Davis System LLC, in partnership with the Berry Institute of Politics, taught SSU’s first ever "How to Run for Office'' course during Spring 2022 with 10 students.
Allan Rodriguez ‘17
After graduating from Salem State University, I joined the staff of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. During my service in the senator’s office, I progressed from staff assistant to press assistant and deputy press secretary.
In November 2021, I received a presidential appointment to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration as the deputy press secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I currently play a pivotal role in communicating the department's wide-ranging and ongoing efforts to strengthen rural America, support the nation’s producers, combat the climate crisis, bolster nutrition security, and much more.