Alumni Updates And Careers
Rebekah Bakewicz ('07) has been hired as part of the administratvie support team of ACDI/VOCA (www.acdivoca.org) in Washington, DC. This private, nonprofit organization promotes broad-based economic growth and the development of civil society in emerging democracies and developing countries. (updated 7/2008)
Matt Bakko ('07) will be attending Washington University in St. Louis in the Fall of 2012 to pursue a Masters in Social Work. He served in the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan as a Health Promotion Specialist, doing direct health education, health program assessments, grass-roots organizing and NGO capacity building work. (updated 4/2011)
Eric Berg ('91), tenured and promoted to associate professor of Philosophy at MacMurry College in Jacksonville, IL in March 2011. In 2007, he was presented the Dewey E. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Berg holds a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from MSUM, an MA in Theology and Doctrine from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Kansas. He won the prestigious annual award in just his second year of teaching at the college. He currently resides in Springfield, IL with his wife, Christy, and their two cats, Isabelle and Grendel.
Nicole Bergeron Paczkowski ('01) has served as the Fargo Moorhead Chamber of Commerce's Professional Development Coordinator for the past five and a half years. In her position, she plans, coordinates and supports the Chamber's professional development programs, such as Breakfast Buzz and Chamber Cafe. She also serves as staff coordinator for the Chamber's Business Training and Young Professional Network committees. Paczkowski is the current chair of the Minnesota State University Moorhead 's President's Advisory Council, part of the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation Work Force Council, charter member of the North Dakota Young Professionals Network, a community review panel member at the United Way of Cass-Clay and a Junior Achievement volunteer. (updated 3/2008)
Nick Boushee ('09) is pursuing his Master's Degree in Political Science at the University of California Riverside Mr. Boushee is looking forward to continuing on in the UCR Ph.D. program. (updated 6/2010)
Brian Card ('06) has been accepted to the University of Toledo's School of Law for Fall 2006.
Lawrence T. Collins ('64) graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1968, Juris Doctor. He currently serves as an Active Retired Judge for the Appellate and District Courts of Minnesota and a Minnesota Supreme Court Referee. Before his retirement, The Honorable Lawrence Collins served as a District Court Judge of Minnesota for the 3rd Judicial District and the Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota.
Trisha Dewar ('08) is attending Harvard Law School. In May 2010 she took time out from her busy schedule to present the commencement address at Moorhead's MN State Community Technical College graduation ceremony. In Fall 2010, Trisha will be working as a legal intern at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom (one of the top law firms in the U.S.) (updated 6/2010)
Katherine Dolney ('09) is attending the Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies in the Netherlands where she will be attending classes on the Political Culture of Islam and the European Union. (updated 6/2010)
Heather Ehrichs ('03) completed a Master's Degree in Women's Studies at Lankaster U.K., lived in Dublin Ireland for a time and has been teaching in Dublin. She is currently applying for Ph.D. programs. (updated 11/2009)
Nicole Elkin ('06) is a Peace Corp volunteer living in Armenia. She works as a health teacher at a local school and assists with English classes. In addition, she helps another volunteer with tourism promotion and teaches some civil rights classes at a local college. (updated 09/2008)
Corey Elmer ('94) was recently named a shareholder in the Vogel Law Firm's Fargo and Moorhead offices. His areas of concentration include business and real estate transactions, including the formation of business entities, the buying and selling of businesses, and corporate law. He is also a graduate of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Corey serves on the board of directors of the MSUM Alumni Foundation and is a 2003 recipient of MSUM's Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He lives in Moorhead with his wife, Brenda Piotter Elmer (94) and their sons. (update 10/2009)
Dwight Fettig ('88) has joined the Washington DC based lobbying firm Porterfield, Lowenthal & Fettig as a partner. (updated 4/2010)
Brian Gramer ('95) received MSUM's 2007 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Gramer began his career in radio sales, later working in marketing and sales for several national corporations, including Michelin Tire And McLeaod USA. He became an entrepreneur with the mission of creating high paying jobs in the Fargo-Moorhead area. He started his first company, AnyCollege.com, an international niches search engine helping high school students find colleges at the beginning of their research process, which became profitable after its first year in 2001. The next year, he founded Vtrenz, another Fargo company focused on creating marketing automation technologies utilizing Internet technologies, which currently works with more than 300 companies around the world. It was acquired in 2007 by Silverpop in Altanta, GA, a corporation with nearly 300 employees. Silverpop has pledged to grow the Fargo campus and keep jobs in the FM area for years to come. Today Gramer is chairman of the board for Anycollege.com and Regional Vice-President of Strategy for Vtrenz. He has also served on the Moorhead City Council and received the FM Chamber Choice Award for Entrepreneurial Business of the Year and Business of the Year.
Jason Gray ('97) is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Frisco, TX (updated 4/2006)
Ashley Griffin ('09) is working at the Washington DC office of Representative Earl Pomeroy (ND) as an intern during Fall 2009.
Rachel Gunderson('96) After graduation, Rachel went directly to Law School at William Mitchell. During her 3rd year at law school she got a job as a law clerk with the City Attorney's in St. Paul and has been there ever since. She served as a prosecutor for 6 years and then switched to the civil division two years ago. She now represents the department that does licensing and zoning. Her primary duties are to enforce actions on licensed establishment and drafting ordinances. Part of her duties include working with the city council and mayor to provide policy advice and decisions. "I feel like my job is half law and half politics." (updated 11/2006)
LeAnn Hager, ('92) graduated from MSUM with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Political Science. After graduation, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal. Later, she earned her MA in International Development Studies at George Washington University in Washington D.C. She currently lives in Palestine where she works with Catholic Relief Services. (updated 2/2009)
Ben Hanson ('09) looks forward to working on the upcoming MN Governor's campaign. (updated 6/2009)
Jim Hardwick, ('84) was elected to the board of directors of the international fraternity Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. He is vice president of student life at Carroll College. He lives in Helena, MT with his wife and their daughter. (updated 2/16/09)
Elizabeth Holmes ('92) is an attorney with Karam & Associates in Bloomington, MN.
Rebecca Johnson ('07) is in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs studying International Development with a major in Human Security. She is doing research at the Ford Institute for Human Security. There she is working on a project funded by the Canadian government which looks at IDP and refugees camps, in Africa, the abduction of children from these camps, and under what circumstances abductions or recruitment of children into the armed forces takes place. (updated 3/2008)
James Jones ('75) retired after 15 years with HCA, the largest healthcare provider in the world. He plans to start teaching at one of the five universities in Charleston, S.C. He and his wife Salle live in Ridgeville, S.C.
Shauna Kapsner ('95) "After graduating from MSU I completed my Masters in Political Science at Ohio University (Athens campus). My specialization is International Relations. I returned to MN to get married and we decided to stay near friends and family. I have since been employed with K-tel International, yes - THAT K-Tel (of late-night album advertising fame.... along with the infamous Vegimatic & Hooked On Classics). I license music to other music labels and to various Hollywood types for TV & films. I have indeed used my degree. I did some adjunct teaching at SCSU for fun. It was a strange facination and pleasure to revisit the basics. With each lecture prep, memories of Drs. Conteh, Flint, Baumann, Alger & Danielson came flooding back. Teaching was a wonderful experience I plan on repeating in the future. This last spring Brent and I had a baby girl, Morgan. I'm back at K-tel, but teaching will wait." (updated 8/2002)
John Knight ('96) sent the following after attending the Fall 2006 Political Science Alumni Reunion in Minneapolis, "Professors, Thank you for taking the time to see many of us in the Twin Cities a few weeks ago at the Pol Sci Alum event in Edina. I had a great time! ....Jill and I feel very fortunate to have graduated from a school like Moorhead - great value/price with a proud academic standard. It has served me well! I come across Moorhead graduates all the time."
Carla Kocher ('88) "Completed a Master of Public Administration Degree, Cum Laude, from Western Michigan University in 1992. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Midland Area Agency on Aging, which serves eight counties in south-central Nebraska. Also serve as a Director, Hastings Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Director, YWCA of Adams County Board of Directors, Member, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Board of Parish Education." (updated 6/2002)
Dave Ladd ('89) has been appointed by Minnesota State Governor Tim Pawlenty to the Board of Directors for the Center for Rural Policy and Development. The Center is a not-for-profit policy research organization dedicated to the study of economic, demographics and cultural factors that affect rural Minnesota. (updated 10/2009)
Jennifer Lindstand ('09) is attending Creighton University Law School in Omaha NE. (updated June 2010)
Gary Love ('93) attended MSUM "under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Conteh" as a student from Portsmouth University in England. After completing his BA with honors in Political Science and an MSc in Information Systems, he moved to Canada and spent 14 years working in the technology and consulting arena prior to starting his current job as the Risk Officer for the United Nations in New York City. Gary's family (Kathlena and Jessica-Jane age 9 ) split their time between Toronto, Canada and New York. (updated June 2010)
Bradley Lundeen ('80) "I just moved to Phoenix, Arizona after living in Hudson, Wisconsin. I've lived in Hudson since I graduated from law school. I've taken a new position with the law firm of Bell O'Connor & Cambell in downtown Phoenix. My practice involves bad faith litigation and general insurance defense issues. I am studying to take the Arizona bar examination this summer. I am already licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Steven Marquart ('76) graduated from UND Law School in 1979. Upon graduations, he served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Paul Benson US District Court in Fargo for two years. He then practiced law with the Cahill & Marquart firm in Moorhead for 23 years. In November 2004, he was elected as a District Judge in Fargo, taking office in January 2005, and where he continues to serve. He and his wife, Cindy, have been married since 1975 and have three children. They were blessed with their first grandchild in May 2007. (updated 3/3008)
Kama Maxey ('93) "I graduated from Moorhead State with a BA in Political Science and minor in Women Studies. I am currently working as a global online product quality consultant at West Group/Thomson Legal and Regulatory Services. Currently, I work with our partner company in Austrailia to add Australian legal documents to Westlaw (an online legal research site). I also have spent some time volunteering for the local Community Action Council. My favorite hobbies are traveling and learning." (updated 8/2002)
Stephanie McCleary ('00 is in her second year of teaching with St. Paul Public Schools. This year she is teaching 7th grade American History at Farnsworth/Cleaveland Aerospace pre K-8 magnet school. (updated 4/2009)
Jason McDonald ('93) "Since graduating in '93 I married another MSU alum, Pamela Wittman who graduated the same year with a mass comm. degree. After bouncing around California we have settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been working for five years now in software quality assurance management with such companies as Sony, Visa, Macromedia and presently FileNET. It's amazing how the study of Marx, Aristotle, and Machiavelli prepares one for a career in software development." (updated 6/2002)
Cynthia Miller ('92) "I live in Inver Grove Heights MN with my husband Sean, son Gus (age 2) and daughter Susanna (born 10/08). I teach communication courses part-time at Cardinal Stritch University," (updated 4/2009)
Justin Moen ('10) Will be attending the University of Georgia starting Fall 2010 pursuing a Master's Degree in International Studies. (updated 6/2010)
Steph Montgomery-Loder ('00) "After graduating from MSU, I entered the Master's International Program at Illinois State University's Stevenson Center for Applied Community and Economic Development - a program in partnership with the US Peace Corps. My graduate studies focused heavily on non-profit management, economic/community development and microcredit and included community fellowships with the Central Illinois Continuum of Care and the YWCA of McLean County. In the Peace Corps, I served as a cooperative and small business development volunteer in Togo, West Africa, working primarily with women's cooperatives, tontines (women's savings groups) and a microcredit organization in Guerin Kouka, a mid-sized town near the Ghanan border. I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin shortly after returning to the states, and completed a graduate fellowship with the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee. Currently, I serve as grants administrator for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, where I am able to apply my passion for our mission to raise approximately $1.3 million annually for reproductive health care services, community education programs and advocacy work. I also serve as Board President for the Milwaukee Peace Corps Association and as a member at large/program committee chair for the Planned Parenthood Development Officer's Council, a national professional association for Planned Parenthood development officers. I live with my husband, Joe, and three cats in Milwaukee." (updated 3/2008)
Katie Mueller ('91) is a senior health care adviser for the governor of South Dakota. She lives in Pierre, S.D. with her husband, Mike. (updated 9/2008)
Mark Mullenbach ('88) "After graduating with a B.A. degree in political science from MSU in May 1988, I started a M.S. program in political science at Illinois State University in September 1988. I obtained the M.S. degree in December 1989, and started working for Congressman Timothy Penny (D-MN) in Washington D.C. in January 1990 (after interning in his office between September and December 1989). I worked as a legislative assistant (foreign/defense policy) for Rep. Penny until January 1995. I started the doctoral program at the University of Arizona in Tucson in August 1995, and obtained a PhD in political science in December 2001. I started a tenure-track job at the University of Central Arkansas in August 2001. I teach U.S. government & politics, international relations, and comparative politics courses, and I am also coordinator of the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) program. I married Jody McMullen in Tucson, AZ in November 1998.
Kevin J. Napper ('81) is a partner in Carlton Fields Law Firm in Tampa FL. He leads the firm's white collar crime and government investigations practice group. Napper was recently elected president of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Federal Bar Association. (updated 1/2010)
Noah Nelson ('09) plans to continue his studies in political science and earn his master's degree.
Justin Norris ('10) Will be attending the University of Georgia starting Fall 2010 pursuing a Master's Degree in Political Science. (updated 6/2010)
Steven Nyhus ('96) is an attorney with Flaherty and Hood, P.A. and lives in Eagan MN with his wife, Dana. (updated 4/2010)
Troy Olson ('09) continued his studies at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University, England immediately after graduation. He will be attending Law School at St. Thomas College in St. Paul starting in Fall 2010 (updated 6/2010)
Brian O'Shea ('06) has been accepted into George Washington University's Master's Program in Political Management. (updated 5/2006)
Ashley Peters ('07) is living in Maple Grove, MN and working as a personal banker. She is planning on getting married in October 2008.
Brianne Peterson Heidbreder ('01) Brianna is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University. She earned her B.A. from Minnesota State University Moorhead, M.A. from Kansas State University and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Heidbreder's teaching and research interests fall within the areas of state and local politics and policy, as well as public management. She has published on the topics of Education and Social Welfare policy, and has a forthcoming article that explores leadership perceptions in municipalities.. Dr. Heidbreder's current research focuses on the policy process in state governments. Namely, she studies the role that governors have as agenda-setters, as well as the impact of interest group behaviors on state policy making. In September 2009, she presented her paper "Gender and the Gubernatiorial Agenda" at the 2009 American Political Science Association National Conference in Toronto. (updated 9/2009)
Geoff Peterson ('92) "I graduated with a double major in political science and psychology in 1992. I completed my MA in political science at the University of Iowa in 1993 and successfully defended my dissertation in the summer of 1998. I spent two years teaching in the political science program at South Oklahoma State University before accepting a position in the political science department at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2000. More information on my website at www.uwec.edu/petersgd." (updated 6/2002)
Kristine Peterson ('95) is an attorney in Cold Springs MN. "I made a career change in March 2009. I am officially a small business owner. I began my own solo practice law firm....I hope to develop a practice that primarily involves criminal defense and family law...My law firm, Peterson Law Firm, LLC, is located at 22 Third Avenue South, Suite 113, Cold Springs MN 56320, 320-685-4010, Kris@coldspringlaw.com." (updated 4/2009)
Becky Philipp has been employed with Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) for the past 8 years as Human Resources and Information Technology Manager. AURI State headquarters is located in Crookston, MN. Becky and her husband, Mike, reside in Thief River Falls, MN. Prior to working with AURI, she was employed with the USDA-Farm Service Agency for 9 years. (updated 3/2008)
Brenda Piotter Elmer ('94) was appointed to the Minnesota Judicial Selection Commission. She is the northwest Minnesota representative to U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and lives in Moorhead with her husband, Corey Elmer ('94).
Michael Redlinger ('01) is the city manager of the City of Moorhead
(http://www.cityofmoorhead.com/city_hall/leadership_manager.asp) and serves on the MSUM Alumni Foundation Board. He received the MSUM Outstanding Young Alumni Award September 2008. Michael was a key player in Moorhead's recent successful flood battle. (updated
4/2009)
Wendy Reiner ('94) is the Enforcement Supervisor in the Minneapolis Area Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It is the federal agency that enforces the federal statutes prohibiting discrimination in employment. In 2003, she married another MSUM Polical Science alum, Steve Gelinske. They live in south Minneapolis with their three cats and one dog. "I'd love to hear from my classmates. My email address is wendy.reiner@gmail.com" (updated 3/2006)
Jennifer Ridgeway ('93) is employed as a Master's Health Services Research Analyst at Mayo Clinic doing research on the delivery of health care. Previously she was employed as a Regional Analyst, South Central and Southeastern Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, with the State of Minnesota. (updated 4/2011)
Evan Rinquist ('86) is a professor at Indiana University and Director of Ph.D. Programs in Public Affairs and Public Policy (http://www.indiana.edu/~spea/faculty/ringquist-evanj.shtml). (updated 3/2010)
Alexandra Robertson ('10) will be attending the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis MN starting Fall 2010. (updated 6/2010)
Justin Roesler (03) is enrolled at University of North Dakota Law School. (updated 8/2008)
Julie Sorum Schock ('91) "I am living and working in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and have been here for nearly 8 years. I am married to Kevin (a native Texan) and have a 4 month old son named Keegan. I work part-time for Sabre, the company behind Travelocity and GetThere." (updated 8/2002)
Cory Schumacher ('08) is currently serving in the military in Kosovo. In a recent email to Dr. Conteh he wrote, " Your classes dealing with Human Rights and International Conflict Resolution have helped me greatly. To talk about such things in class was interesting, but to see some of the real life situations first hand is a big eye opener. As you know, Kosovo is a war torn country and I help deal with each side on a daily basis." (updated 6/2010)
Amy Schutt ('10) will be attending the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis MN starting Fall 2010. (updated 6/2010)
Justin Schwegel ('07) is attending Georgetown University Law School. He was accepted into their Global Law Scholars program, an honors program with an international focus for multilingual students. Before starting Law School he working as a Peace Core Health Educator in Dongal Tursma, Guinea (a remote section of Guinea). He wrote grants for the organization, vaccinated babies and educated children in the mountain village about hygiene and disease prevention. His group was evacuated after 23 months of service due to political violence. He spent some time traveling in North Africa and Western Europe, then returned to the U.S. and taught French at Backus High School, Pine River. He spent the summer of 2010 in Chimbote, Peru working as a community volunteer with Los Amigos Del Padre Juan. He returned to the U.S. in the fall to begin studying for his J.D. at Georgetown. (updated 1/2011)
Aaron Shreve ('06) finished his Masters Degree program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. He is currently in the Ph.D. program in International Relations at the University of California Davis. (updated 10/2009)
Matthew Sommerfeld ('07 minor) has been accepted at George Mason University for fall 2011. He will be focusing on American Politics and Comparative Politics while pursing his Ph.D. Matt served in the Ukraine in the Peace Corps. He taught English in Crimea and speaks Russian. (updated 4/2011)
Jodi Sorenson ('96) works for Polaris as a project leader in engineering. She completed the MBA program through the New York Institute of Technology in 2008. She and her husband, Ryan, live in Roseau. (updated 10/2009)
George Soule ('76 Pol Sci Major) was awarded the MSUM Distinguished Alumni Award at the October 7, 2005 award dinner. George graduated with a double major Economics and Political Science. He obtained his law degree from Harvard University in 1979 and is currently a partner with Bowman and Brooke in Minneapolis, MN. George's accomplishments include: Chair of the Minnesota Judicial Review Committee; named "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine in 2000; named one of Minnesota's Top "Super Lawyers" by Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine from 2001-2004; and currently serves as president of the Minnesota Native American Bar Association. For more information check the Bowman-Brooke website at www.bowman-brooke.com/Bio/GeorgeSoule.asp. (updated 9/2005)
Daniel Steensland ('89) majored in both Political Science and Mass Communication at MSUM. He is employed as a Reporting Analyst for Target Financial Services (Target Corporation) in Minneapolis MN. He is the recipient of the 2008 TFS Brand Champion Award. He and his wife, Annette, live in Maple Grove MN with their teenage son. (updated 2/2009)
Janel Stelton-Holtmeier ('03')"I'm in my second year of my master's program here at the University of Colorado at Boulder...I'm still working toward that MA in Journalism, emphasizing political coverage... and interning at the Denver Post as well...I was prompted to write by an experience I had here at CU. Part of the Master's program at the School of Journalism is the requirement to take classes outside the SJMC related to the field being focused on. ...Thank you for providing me with such a fantastic undergraduate program....The class I am taking is a graduate level seminar course. All of the students, except myself, are doctoral students in the political science department, some in their last term before dissertation. I went in fully expecting to play catch-up on some of the things presented. Instead, I am finding myself in the minority understanding many of the concepts, from game theory to rational choice - topics which Dr. Baumann introduced early on in his Senior Seminar class....So, thank you. I am now amazed by the education that I received from all of you." (updated 2/8/2008)
Kevin Stewart ('83) is the emergency care coordinator for the North Dakota Safety Council. He has 23 years of experience as a first responder and emergency medical technician, and is an instructor and trainer. He lives in Bismarck, N.D., with his wife, Kim, and their children. (updated 10/2009)
Nell Streitz ('09) will be attending the University of Minnesota in Fall 2009 working on her master's degree in Political Science (updated 6/2009)
Kessinnee Suvannikom ('09) will be attending Hamline University La
Jeanine Yutani ('99) worked in publicity/public relations in Hollywood until 2005. She then returned to graduate school and received an M.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Southern California in '07. Her thesis was titled "Marriage Migration in China and Japan through a Feminist Lens". She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California and expects to graduate in '12. She is focusing on East Asia, gender, migration, and foreign policy. While