Meet our team of JMC Ambassadors! These current students have a range of experiences at MSU and JMC, and they are here to connect with prospective students to answer the questions you might have about being a part of our community.
Watch video interviews with six Madison ambassadors in our JMC Student Stories series on YouTube.
Ainsley
Majors: IR & PTCD
What I like most about my major: I enjoy discussing topics that invoke deep thought, collaboration, and debate. Questioning politics and the way we live our lives through careful examination of ancient philosophy is a privilege I am grateful to have. I also enjoy learning about how nations interact in both conflict and cooperation.
Field experience: I studied abroad in South Asia through JMC this past summer!
Allie
Major: PRC
Best advice for first-year students: Come in with an open mind and don't compare your journey with anyone else's! We all come from different backgrounds and perspectives, so give yourself a chance to grow and learn in whatever way you feel is best for you.
Field experience: This summer I studied abroad in Salvador Brazil for the Politics, Culture and Society course at the Federal University of Bahia.
Andrea
Majors: IR & SRP
Favorite first-year memory: Participating in the JMC Early Start program! Being able to come to MSU a week early helped me start strong as a freshman—I was less anxious and felt more prepared, and the program gave me a solid support system from the very beginning.
Post-grad plans: Either go to graduate school for human resources or pursue law school to focus on immigration.
Annalise
Major: PTCD
Favorite first-year memory: The huge South Neighborhood snowball fights outside Case Hall!
Post-grad plans: Take a gap year and continue serving others, whether working as a paralegal or serving with organizations such as Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, with the ultimate goal of attending law school.
Antrice
Major: SRP
Favorite class: MC 382: Civil Rights with Prof. Harrison. This class taught me a lot about the background players who had a huge effect on the movement and didn't get their recognition. It challenges me to think about how different groups are impacted by systems.
Post-grad plans: I will be working as a law clerk at Meyers Law PLLC.
Avery
Major: PRC
Favorite first-year memory: The JMC Research Showcase at the end of spring semester. It's so exciting to see everyone's unique interests and skills, and allows us to learn more about our peers.
Post-grad plans: Work with refugee populations, either domestically or abroad, in either the legal or nonprofit sector.
Beth
Major: PRC
Favorite first-year memory: When we visited the Capitol and the Michigan Supreme Court as part of the Early Start program!
Best advice for first-year students: Don't be afraid to ask for help! Go to your professor's office hours and get to know them, they're nicer than you think! Also, go to all events and join clubs! There's always free food or things they're giving out, so take advantage of it.
Brady
Major: SRP
Favorite first-year memory: Late night Taco Bell runs with my friends!
Field experience: I've completed internships with the 24th District Court in Allen Park, and with Senator Gary Peter's Office in Detroit.
Favorite class: MC202: "Rethinking WW2" with Prof. Pegler-Gordon was an awesome class because your research is set at your own pace.
Bralyn
Majors: PRC & PTCD
Field experience: This past summer, I had the privilege of interning at Miller Cohen P.L.C. in Detroit, Michigan! It is a labor and employment law firm focused on helping workers receive representation in matters involving their employers. It is an incredible firm where I have had the opportunity to work directly with Local 223 Utility Workers by helping them interpret their collective bargaining agreements!
Camryn
Major: PTCD
What I like most about my major: I love how passionate my professors are about what they're teaching. It makes class extremely enjoyable!
Favorite first-year memory: I loved getting together with the people living on my floor in Case Hall to watch movies in the lounge!
Cohen
Major: PASE
What I like most about my major: Learning about the importance of education in society and how it plays a role in our relationships with the government, economy, and world around us.
Favorite first-year memory: Watching MSU play during March Madness with 20 JMC students crowded in one dorm room!
Demetrius
Major: IR
Favorite class: MC 324B: Regional Cooperation in Subsaharan Africa with Prof. Elemo, because the topics discussed were expansive and gave me new perspectives.
Student orgs I'm involved with: The United Madison Multicultural Association, JMC Human Rights Lab, and the Residence Halls Association.
Donovan
Majors: IR & PRC
What I like most about my majors: My JMC majors prepare me to be a global citizen and policy strategist by making me fully understand the problems the world is facing on the international political stage and how they can be solved.
Field experience: I studied abroad in London and Belgium.
Elena
Major: IR
Favorite first-year memory: Going through formal recruitment and joining my sorority Alpha Xi Delta!
Favorite class: International Security with Prof. Brathwaite. This class opened my eyes to the significance of the military within society and international relations, and introduced me to many new ethical considerations.
Ellis
Majors: PRC & PTCD
Field experience: I completed an internship with Washtenaw My Brother's Keeper as a Research and Policy Fellow.
Favorite class: MC 202 with Prof. Fore gave me the opportunity to read great literature such as Soul of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois. It was amazing to have a professor who is so passionate and caring.
Jack
Majors: PRC & PTCD
What I like most about my majors: Comparing the foundational documents that established what politics is today with how modern politics affects the dynamics between government, its institutions, and the people they serve.
Field experience: I'm currently interning with the Office of Senator Sarah Anthony.
Jamemah
Major: SRP
Field experience: I was a legislative intern for the House of Representatives.
Favorite class: MC280: Intro to Social Theory with Prof. Rojo, who has made complex theoretical frameworks accessible and applicable to contemporary struggles around class, race, and power. I love the texts we've been reading!
John
Majors: IR & PTCD
Student orgs I'm involved with: I am a captain on the MSU Fencing team, in JMC Student Senate, Star Wars Club, Chess Club, and Photography Clubs, and a member of the Red Cedar Rowdies.
Post-grad plans: I am pursuing a career in international environmental protection and intelligence law and policy.
Jordan
Majors: PTCD & SRP
Field experience: I interned for Senator Sarah Anthony.
Favorite class: Dr. Harrison's MC 202 on the ideologies of the 20th century Black Civil Rights Movement. I focused my research on comparing visions of Black political-economic liberation by W.E.B. Du Bois and Huey P. Newton & The Black Panther Party.
Krisha
Majors: IR & PRC
Field experience: I interned abroad in Cape Town, South Africa at a law firm. I've also worked on several campaigns and am currently interning with Reproductive Freedom For All.
Favorite class: MC 231 with Prof. Goett. I loved the topics we discussed and that we focused on issues of diaspora and immigration that truly connected with me.
Leland
Majors: IR & PRC
Favorite class: MC 202 with Prof. Pegler-Gordon. It was a class on redefining cultures in WWII and I did my first large scale research paper. It was a great experience to write and learn from her expertise.
Favorite first-year memory: Going to Clemson to train 6 hours a day with the Michigan State Row Crew Club.
Melissa
Majors: IR & PRC
Field experience: I studied abroad over the summer in Sri Lanka and India through JMC’s Global Development in South Asia program. I also participated in MSU international engagement volunteering in Oaxaca/Huatulco, Mexico, and in South Africa for International Business.
Miah
Majors: IR & PTCD
Favorite first-year memory: When my JMC Professor sang Hamilton songs to my class we prepared for finals!
Favorite class: MC 111: Identity and Community with Prof. Fore helped preface my Madison career and how to grow from every conversation and reading.
Renna
Major: SRP
Field experience: I studied abroad in Sydney, Australia at the University of Sydney Business School, and I interned for a judge at the 6th District Court of Maryland.
Favorite class: MC 381 with Prof. Berg—she picks the most interesting texts and her classes are discussion based, so you’re always engaged.
Sammy
Majors: PTCD & SRP
Field experience: I studied abroad in London, England and Florence, Italy. I interned with MI State Rep Kristian Grant my freshman year, and I am currently Interning with Dr. Rashida Harrison for MI State Senate.
Post-grad plans: I hope to be working in public policy as a chief of staff or campaign manager. Many years down to the road I hope to run for public office.
Sofia
Major: PTCD
Favorite first-year memory: Studying for the MC 201 final with my friends at the end of fall semester and getting distracted every 5 minutes!
Favorite class: MC 271 with Professor Lorch! Especially the section of class where we read Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America'. It was so interesting to read about his concerns with the new democratic system.
Zion
Major: SRP
What I like most about my major: I like that I am learning about different policies and how they affect marginalized communities. The coursework, and especially my Social Policy class, helped me realize I want to be a civil rights attorney!
Field experience: I interned at the 36th District Court in downtown Detroit.