Alumni - Matt Summers
Visits Oneonta

Matt Summers, class of 2005, returned to campus in early September to talk to students in Prof. Richard Barberio’s U.S. Congress course about his ongoing experiences as a member of Sen. John Kerry’s staff.  Summers, a political science major and alumnus of the Washington Semester internship program, spoke to the class about the politics of life on Capitol Hill and the role of congressional staff. 

Recent news from former PolySci Majors in the ‘Real World’

Among many of our former majors, those whom we have heard from lately are the following: (The first four reports below were published in recent editions of Reflections: The SUNY Oneonta Alumni magazine.)

Jack Smith '92 went to Harvard Law, served in the D.A.’s office in NYC and now has the exciting position with the newly established International Criminal Court (ICC) based in the Hague, Netherlands.

Chris Grill went on to get a PhD at SUNY Albany after graduating back in ’87 and had his book The Public Side of Representation published in 2007.

Tracy Crumb (now Boris) '94, is now Legal Counsel for St. Elizabeth Medical Center and working for the law firm of Gale and Dancks. Previously she was an Assistant District Attorney in Orange County. She is also the mother of 3, an EMT, and member of the Holland Patent school board among other activities.

Heather Patton (now Harrison) '96 after St John’s Univ law school is doing labor and employment law with the firm of Farrell Fritz.

John Cofresi '01 was very active in the POLS Club and constructed a web page
for the club. Now he is practicing law at with the firm of Cullen and Dykman LLP

Courtney Kirker '06 finished law school in summer of '08

Katarzyna (Kasia) Lewandowski '07 finished her last year at John Jay (graduate) school of public administration and has since then organized and conducted tours in Eastern Europe.

Esther Spindler '07 Peace corps “it looks like I will be off to Guatemala in the end of April to work as a Rural Home Preventive Health volunteer for two years! . . . while I have had a great experience working in local politics in NYC, I have ... decided to pursue a life in international humanitarian work . . .I still foresee a return to graduate school after this experience...

Mike Eicher graduated way back in 1983. He has been employed as a as special agent with the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service since 1986 as a part of the U.S. Foreign Service. He described his career as "great", noting that he traveled throughout much of the world, and had had frequent opportunities to apply what I initially learned classes back in the early 80s.

Kathryn Burkhardt '08 is in her second year at the law school, University of Buffalo

Matthew Granato '06 has decided to pursue a career in political communications has been accepted to graduate programs at American University and Syracuse University. He plans to attend Syracuse with equal emphasis on writing and reporting public affairs.

Lauren Sakuma is working on an MA in International Studies at the American University of Paris. She will be interning for Heartland Alliance to work with child soldiers in Burundi, the topic of her thesis. She is also getting married in Paris soon!

Jerome J. Slote started the MPA program at Binghamton in 2008

Bob Assante started teaching English and History, at Adelphi Academy, a private school in Brooklyn, and advising their UN program in 2008. He started on February 25 and taught 10th and 12th grade. He is planning to undertake a Master's in political science and then go on for a PhD.

James Genovese ’04 is the Executive Director for the Stark County (OH) Republican Party

Vinnie Vernuccio, former Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management at the Department of Labor under President George W. Bush, is now running for Congress against John Dingell.

Chuck Pizzolo ‘07 is finishing his last year of law school at Hofstra.

Jason Gardner ‘07 is finishing his last year of law school at Hofstra.

Robert Nydam ‘04 graduated law school at Chapman Law School and is now work for a county’s Disability Services.

Dale Losee ‘06 is finishing up his MPA this year at Binghamton.

Charlie Greco ‘08 works for Congressman Arcuri in his Oneonta office.