Curious what James Madison College students do after graduation? From law school and graduate study to public service, journalism, consulting, humanitarian work and international fellowships, members of JMC's Class of 2026 are taking their next steps in communities around the world.
Before they begin their next chapters, we asked a few graduates to share their summer and fall plans, and the JMC experiences that shaped their time at Michigan State.
Learn more about career outcomes at James Madison College.
Samuel Wright
My major: International Relations
This fall: I am attending MSU College of Law on a full tuition scholarship.
Favorite JMC experience: My summer study abroad in Brussels where we were able to visit several international institutions like NATO headquarters and the International Criminal Court.
Tatum Fettig
My majors: Comparative Cultures & Politics and Public Relations
This summer: I will be working as a full-time Communications Strategist at Bellwether Public Relations in Lansing, Michigan.
Favorite JMC experience: Meeting some of my best friends in Case Hall during my freshman year.
Emilio Perez Ibarguen
My majors: Social Relations & Policy and Journalism
This summer: I’ll be reporting on breaking news for POLITICO in Washington, D.C. After that, I’m hoping to stick around D.C. for a long-term gig reporting on Capitol Hill.
Favorite JMC experience: Delivering my senior seminar presentation on the relationship between gambling and the American Dream and getting to watch my peers present on the research that they’d been working on all semester.
Arielle Gearring
My major: Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy
This summer: I will be wrapping up my internship with Acuitas LLC., a government relations firm in Lansing. Then I will be participating in JMC’s Global Development in Asia program in June. After that, I will be returning home to Chicago where I plan to work while preparing to apply for graduate school.
Favorite JMC experience: The Madison Diversity Leadership Program. I had my first international experience in India, was able to discover my passion for global development studies and make some of my greatest friends!
David Rabinkov
My majors: International Relations, Russian Language and Comparative Cultures & Politics
This fall: I’ll be going to Azerbaijan as a Fulbright Award recipient. During my grant period, which will last approximately 9 months, I will work as an English Teaching Assistant and I also plan to pursue research and community engagement opportunities.
Favorite JMC experience: Visiting Northern India on the Madison Diversity Leadership Program. This program opened my eyes to the power of participatory research, the importance of unconventional styles of leadership and the unlimited potential applications of my education. This was the single most impactful experience of my life, personally, professionally and academically.
Ethan Czaja
My major: International Relations
This fall: I will be starting an M.A. in Eurasian, Russian, & East European Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Favorite JMC experience: Building relationships with my cohort. Smaller classes mean you actually know your classmates and professors, and JMC creates a community, all within a larger university that has its own traditions to enjoy.
Tabitha Garza
My major: Comparative Cultures & Politics
This summer: I am in the role of Campaign Manager to Re-Elect State Representative Angela Witwer (HD-76).
Favorite JMC experience: The Comparative Republicanism in Florence study abroad!
Rachael Lee
My majors: International Relations and Spanish
This summer: I am interning with Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organization. I will be supporting the operations team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Favorite JMC experience: Being a leader in the JMC Human Rights Data Science Lab and growing my skills in open-source research and data visualization to investigate human rights abuses around the world.
Meghan Valade
My majors: Social Relations & Policy
This summer: I am working full time at Magna International, a tier one automotive supplier. I am currently working full time in their government affairs division, with a focus on Economic Development and Legal Compliance. This role has helped bridge the connection between my studies in James Madison and my goals of working in some form of business law. I am currently studying for the LSAT and plan to apply to law school this fall.
Favorite JMC experience: I truly loved all four years of my experience in James Madison College. I feel blessed to learn from such brilliant professors and peers. My favorite experience was my entire semester in my Senior Seminar, taught by Prof. Sykes. I loved having the opportunity to present my research to my classmates, and the conversations in that classroom always felt electric.
Thea Walerski
My major: Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy and Secondary Education
This summer: I will be wrapping up teaching at Holt High School and traveling to Italy! In July, I will be working with high school students for the JMC Academy for Civic Education program! I am grateful that I will be directly involved in our wonderful community again.
Favorite JMC experience: There is simply too much to rave about, but I will always cherish all the relationships that I have been able to build during my time at JMC. The JMC community is full of ambition, strength and creativity, and it has been truly an honor to be part of it.
Abby Nellis
My major: International Relations
This summer: I am working as a Trade and Customs Consultant at KPMG in Denver.
Favorite JMC experience: A tie between my senior seminar with Professor Elemo and pursuing research on the South China Sea’s semiconductor trade.
Izzy Radakovich
Majors: International Relations, Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy and French
This fall: I will be starting my M.A. in International Relations at the University of Oxford.
Favorite JMC experience: So hard to pick just one! My study abroad to Sciences Po Lille in France was phenomenal, but since that wasn’t technically at JMC, I’ll go with honors options/independent studies in general. I was able to read some incredible books with some amazing professors, ranging from Cormac McCarthy to Martin Heidegger to Mary Kaldor.
Related Video: Official post-graduation career outcomes data for the Class of 2026 will be available in 2027. In the meantime, you can learn more about what the Class of 2025 has been up to in the video below: