The University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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“Words are a lawyer’s tools,” says Stacy Slotnick ’05 (Legal Studies/History), a New York-based entertainment attorney and public relations specialist. “Fortunately, my passion is writing, and as a result, I never tire of drafting proposals, contracts, talking points, press releases, or pithy social media entries to highlight a client's accomplishments.” 

Following this passion has led Slotnick to a varied and successful legal career.

PhD student Michael Kowal has been awarded a Dissertation Research Grant from the UMass Amherst Graduate School to support his research on the causality of corporate ties on political activity within Fortune 500 companies.

Michael Fox '11 (Political Science) remembers the first time he heard about Root Capital; it was during his senior year at UMass. Having recently added an economics minor, Fox recognized Root Capital as a place where his interest in finance and political ideals could be married.

“Political Science is a field for people who want to make a difference, and the value fades away if you don’t figure out the impact you want to make,” said Fox.

Political Science Assistant Professors Kevin L. Young and Bruce Desmarais have received a $77,658 grant from the Russell Sage Foundation to study "the Revolving Door in Financial Regulation: Elite Networks and the Consequences of Unequal Access on Policymaking."

As a first generation college student, and the oldest sibling in her family, Amanda Aziz ’15 (political science) has given her two younger brothers big shoes to fill.

Chris Peterson ‘09 (Legal Studies) graduated from UMass Amherst in the “teeth of the recession,” and applied to 63 jobs. He heard back from one: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Admissions Office, who needed someone to help coordinate their blogs and social media strategy.

“I had never been to MIT before my interview, and I got lost on the byzantine campus and ended up 30 minutes late.  Luckily, they hired me anyway,” Peterson said.

At this week’s World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda, Distinguished Professor Jane Fountain (political science and public policy) received a Vision Award on behalf of the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government.

The Council received the award for the Future of Government Smart Toolbox, a report published in June that addresses myriad ways technology can help governments improve services, security, transparency and innovation.

Jonathan Tabb ‘11, Presidential Management Fellow in the Department of the Treasury, is quick to point out the key to his success at UMass: being proactive.

“Education is an active journey, not a passive one, and you must take charge to get the most out of it,” Tabb said.

Kevin Young, Assistant Professor of Political Science, was an invited panelist and presenter at the United Nations roundtable discussion, “Global Financial Reform: How might the 2014 International Conference on Financing for Development strengthen reform momentum?” October 21-24, 2014. The event, which was organized by the Financing for Development Office of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and an NGO, Bread for the World, was designed to prepare UN delegations on the costs and benefits of different financial reform proposals as well as their political dimensions.

Professor Emeritus Gerard Braunthal, born Dec. 27, 1923 in Gera, Germany, died peacefully Oct. 26, 2014, with his sons at his side, in Amherst Mass.  Jewish refugees from the Nazis, his family came to the U.S. in 1936.  He joined the political science faculty at the University of Massachusetts in September, 1954, was appointed full Professor of Political Science in 1967.  He taught comparative government, U.S. foreign policy, and international organization and law.  His special focus in the discipline was the German political system.  He retired in 1988 as Prof.

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