School of Social Science and Global Studies
School of Social Science and Global Studies
Alumni Profiles
Name: David Walley
Email: pdwalley@go.olemiss.edu
Graduation Year/Major: 2014/Political Science
Currently attending school: University of Mississippi
Job title or current school program: Law School (3L)
Why did you choose your Southern Miss major or graduate program?
I felt that both Southern Miss, and political science would prepare me for a career
in the legal field. Southern Miss has always been close to my heart, so it was a perfect
fit.
What did you enjoy most/find most useful about your classes in your major or graduate
program?
The staff prepared and assisted me in learning to analyze and work through complicated
issues. I feel like the tools I received from Southern Miss will help me for my entire
career. The professors were always willing to talk and help me with virtually any
problem I was attempting to work through.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I have been in Law School at Ole Miss. But I have also worked for the Speaker of the
House in the legislature in Jackson, as well as work for the District Attorney in
Hattiesburg's Circuit Court.
How has your degree/what you learned at Southern Miss been helpful to you?
My background has allowed me to see all sorts of legal issues from all different perspectives.
I feel like, because of Southern Miss, I am better equipped to handle and digest problems
as they arise.
What advice would you give students who are either getting a degree or considering
a degree in Economics, Paralegal/Legal Studies or Political Science?
Do it. The professors and curriculum will be helpful for the remainder of your career/life.
Name: Ambre Martocchio
Graduation Year: 2016/Economics
Where are you currently employed? Bisk Education
Job title? Business Data Analyst
Why did you choose your Southern Miss major or graduate program?
I enjoyed the program and the teachers, it was challenging but I felt like it was
applicable to the world around me. I also felt like the professors took interest in
me as an individual not just a student in the classroom.
What did you enjoy most/find most useful about your classes in your major or graduate
program?
I enjoyed the analytical skills that I got develop through our personal research.
I was always encouraged as a student to research and study things that I found interesting
and that allowed me to develop the analytical skills that I use in my profession now.
I also felt like my classes were about things that were constantly going on in the
world around me. That made it super easy for me to learn and enjoy learning.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I work in a data analyst role at an education technology company with a data scientist
to develop different models that help us better understand our daily business roles.
Currently we're building a predictive model for revenue to help more accurately budget
for the fiscal year. I have also started taking classes to become a professional scrum
master and I volunteer with my church every Wednesday at youth after school program
at The Dream Center of Tampa.
How has your degree/what you learned at Southern Miss been helpful to you?
Through the research we were encouraged to do in the economics program I discovered
that I loved doing data work and analysis and that led me to do internships that allowed
me to develop those skills and now I work in a world that that's all we do!
What advice would you give students who are either getting a degree or considering
a degree in Economics?
Economics is so much more then what people think it is, I was always drawn to people
like Thaler and Becker who used Economic principles in a way that was unconventional
because I believe that the skills an Economics major has are more then just finance
and stocks- don't discount what you can do with an Economics degree because I think
you'd be surprised.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of Economics in your life
or your time at Southern Miss?
I wish someone had encouraged me to take more math classes! They so would have come
in handy for me.
Name: Josh Darichuk
Graduation Year: BA-2013, MS-2016
What was your major? Political Science
Where are you currently employed or attending school? Florida State University
Job title or current school program? Political Science PhD
Why did you choose your Southern Miss major or graduate program?
Dr. Gibson's PS101 really captivated my attention and stimulated my early interest
in political science, while Dr. Steedman encouraged me to pursue graduate school after
completing my honors thesis under his guidance. Southern Miss showed me opportunities
I wasn't aware existed.
What did you enjoy most/find most useful about your classes in your major or graduate
program?
The professors are incredibly personable and show a high level of interest in seeing
their students succeed. Furthermore, I was never made to feel as if my perspective
was wrong or uninformed no matter how different a worldview I might share with them.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I have spent the last year embroiled in statistics training to become a better political
scientist and advance an academic career of my own.
How has your degree/what you learned at Southern Miss been helpful to you?
I've learned how important it is to be delivered in the pursuit of my goals, regardless
of the speed at which I attain them. After having no luck in my first round of PhD
applications, I spent two years getting my master's at USM and ended up getting into
a better program than I originally had hoped for.
What advice would you give students who are either getting a degree or considering
a degree in Economics, Paralegal/Legal Studies or Political Science?
Broaden your skill set and learn statistics now. Not all political science majors
go to law school, and there are plenty of jobs for us outside the legal realm. The
caveat is you need to be proficient in data science.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of Economics, Paralegal
Studies or Political Science in your life or your time at Southern Miss?
These professors were my role models for six years and have been instrumental in propelling
the academic careers of many a political science undergrad/master's student. The department
is underrated for their ability to unleash the potential of students.
Name: Bentley Anderson
Email: Bentley.g.anderson@gmail.com
What year did you graduate from Southern Miss? 2009
What was your major? Political Science
Where are you currently employed or attending school? Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
Job title or current school program? Director of Volunteer Recruitment
Why did you choose your Southern Miss major or graduate program?
I am fond of studying human nature as it relates to politics, systems of government,
how those systems works, and how human beings live in civilized society with each
other.
What did you enjoy most/find most useful about your classes in your major or graduate
program?
Critical thinking and taking ideas spanning thousands of years of human history and
applying them to today.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I served as senior page for the Mississippi Senate during the 2010 legislative session.
Once completed, I returned to Southern Miss, working as an admissions counselor till
2014. During that time, I completed a graduate program in political science, also
at Southern Miss. In pursuit of bigger things, I entered pharmaceutical sales. It
was interesting for a while, and I had many unique opportunities, but I learned I
do not enjoy that particular profession. Last summer, I became the Director of Volunteer
Recruitment for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. I travel the country recruiting and training
prospective volunteers so that they may be strong mentors for our undergraduate members.
How has your degree/what you learned at Southern Miss been helpful to you?
I've learned I'm a perpetual student. I don't want to stop learning. Though I'm unaware
what my ultimate career path is, I anticipate there will be more schooling in the
process. More practically speaking, everyday I interact with different personalities
of different peoples from different places. That's often a challenge. I believe my
education has prepared me to be more understanding of differences and to communicate
more effectively while helping others with whatever talent I have.
What advice would you give students who are either getting a degree or considering
a degree in Economics, Paralegal/Legal Studies or Political Science?
I originally had the assumption that law school was the only option. That's problematic
for folks who realize they may not actually want to be an attorney. I recommend being
open-minded to new experiences. There is so much to learn from all the courses, but
remember that more learning takes place after graduation.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of Economics, Paralegal
Studies or Political Science in your life or your time at Southern Miss?
Southern Miss was/is fortunate to have the faculty I had the privilege of experiencing
during my time as a student. I'm that strange kind of student whose memories of college
are more fondly attached to the classroom, research, and extracurriculars than they
ever could have been to how well the football team was doing. Educators may not ever
hear it enough, but I appreciate each and every one of you. You all sought higher
degrees for something you care about. I'm sure at that time dealing with challenging
students wasn't at the forefront of your desire to profess. Regardless, I'm glad you
did it, and I consider my time as a student as the best years of my life.
Name: J. Bryan Vonder Bruegge
Email: vonderbruegge@bellsouth.net
Graduation Year: 1995
What was your major? Political Science
Where are you currently employed or attending school? Sole Practitioner
Job title or current school program? Attorney
Why did you choose your Southern Miss major or graduate program?
I always planned to major in Criminal Justice or Political Science. Dr. Kate Greene
was the predominate reason I majored in Political Science.
What did you enjoy most/find most useful about your classes in your major or graduate
program?
Dr. Greene was an essential part of my undergraduate experience. Unequivocally, Dr.
Greene's classes were the most enjoyable and useful. As a professor, Dr. Greene was
essential to my development as a responsible and empathetic student and professional.
Dr. Greene held everyone to the same high standard. A standard that I hope both of
my children will be held to during their college education. Unfortunately, there were
not many professors during my tenure at USM who did show the dedication and high expectations
of Dr. Greene.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December of 1997.
For a little over four years, I served as a Program Coordinator for the South Mississippi
Child Advocacy Center. While in private practice, I have served as the Prosecutor
for the City of Long Beach, attorney for the Long Beach Port Commission, and on numerous
community non-profits benefiting both children and the Arts.
How has your degree/what you learned at Southern Miss been helpful to you?
What I learned in my Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties courses served as a knowledge
base far superior to others in my law school class. I was prepared to be pushed to
live up to my true potential and not expect to be treated as special or feel I was
entitled.
What advice would you give students who are either getting a degree or considering
a degree in Economics, Paralegal/Legal Studies or Political Science?
My advice would be for them to not take the easy road or courses. College should be
hard and you should not expect things to be handed to you. The professional world
does not operate in this manner. When you enter the job market, there are no drop
grades, retakes, or excuses. There exist 10 other people willing to do your job. As
a student, my advice would be, start challenging yourself while in your undergraduate
studies.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of Economics, Paralegal
Studies or Political Science in your life or your time at Southern Miss?
There are two things essential to my life about my time at USM. They were both professors.
Dr. Kate Greene and Dr. Donald Cabana were huge influences as to the professional,
father, and husband I became. They taught me, empathy and compassion do not mean being
weak, being given things you did not earn, or expecting to be allowed to slide by
with excuses. Instead, empathy and compassion are the expectation everyone should
be treated fairly and just. A part of this approach is to view issues and values through
the eyes of the other person. Now, ask yourself, is there a way to make this individual's
journey the same as other's. If this was your sister, brother, son, or daughter, what
would you want from or for them?