Autumn Modena
2015 Graduate Founder of RefuTea
Welcome to all alumni!
International relations majors are accomplishing incredible things in Michigan and all around the world. We love to hear from you! If you'd be interested in being featured in one of our spotlights, send an email to irdept@gvsu.edu with a picture and some or all of the following:
If you are looking to make contact with fellow alumni, check out the GVSU PLS and IR alumni Facebook group.
If you need a letter of recommendation, you'll find our letter of recommendation guidelines here, and faculty contact information here.
We look forward to hearing from you!
2015 Graduate Founder of RefuTea
Organizing Program Manager for the Western US, Swing Left
Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consultants, Detroit
Peace Corps Mongolia, now Teacher at Orcholon International School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2016 Graduate Working and Living in Brussels
Periodically, the Political Science Department is asked by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to invite a Political Science or International Relations alumnus to campus for the Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence program. The program provides a venue for departments to invite outstanding alumni back to campus to share their post-graduation experiences with the GVSU community. Through the program, our distinguished alumni have the opportunity to share their insights about what constitutes strong academic preparation for students.
Political Science and International Relations Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence:
James Spaanstra 2005
Edward Cardenas 2006
Bob Monaghan 2007
James Meernik 2010
Nerina Cevra 2012
Richard Damstra 2015
Tim Zeeb 2017
Alan Dunklow 2019
Political Science Professor
Foreign Service Office, U.S. Department of State
Corporate Executive and Nonprofit Leader
Human Rights Lawyer
Managing Director in Finance
The GVSU Political Science Department and the International Relations program congratulate Carly Stengel (IR) and Isabella Grunwaldt (PLS), winners of the Excellence-in-a-Discipline awards for their respective majors.
Apr 15, 2025
Eligibility is open to all students who major in political science or international relations.
Feb 26, 2025
IR Alum Jessica Geisler is starting her JD studies this fall at Wayne Law.
Sep 18, 2024
Aaron McGhee is the winner of the 2024 Zeeb Scholarship for Study Abroad
Jul 3, 2024
Sarah D. Pullins is the winner of the Outstanding Paper Award for Political Science and International Relations.
May 3, 2024