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School of Social Science and Global Studies

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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?