In This Issue

• A message from JMC’s Career Services and Field Experience offices

• Recent college news

• Giving spotlight

• Alumni volunteer updates

• Alumni notes

Message from the College

The message below is shared from JMC’s Career Services and Field Experience offices:

For several years, JMC’s Career Exposure Program has taken students to cities across the country to meet with alumni, explore career paths and build professional connections. These trips are possible because of Madisonians who open their doors and share their experiences with our students.
In May, more than 20 JMC alumni connected with students in Chicago, hosting them at organizations that included Google, United Airlines, Uber and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Their willingness to show current students the pathways they’ve followed and the opportunities they’ve created was truly remarkable.

We are excited to expand our career programming this year with a Michigan-centered approach. This week, we launched JMC’s first Career Exposure Program focused on Lansing. During MSU Fall Break (Oct. 20-21), students visited organizations including the Michigan Legislature, Governor Whitmer’s Executive Office, Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance, TechSmith, MSUFCU and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, among others.

The Lansing program is the first of two in-state initiatives designed to make career exposure at JMC more accessible. In the spring, we’ll take students to Detroit for a second in-state program that’s designed keep costs low while maximizing access. Any Detroit-based alumni interested in getting involved can reach out to us at JM.Career@msu.edu.

Thank you for continuing to invest in the next generation of Madisonians.

Go Green!

Karissa Chabot-Purchase (PTCD, ’06)
Assistant Director, Career Services Network

Dr. Lauren Michalak (PTCD & History, ’08)
Field Experience Coordinator

Recent College News

New PTCD Professor: This fall, JMC welcomed Orlando Hawkins as an Assistant Professor of Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy. Read a Q&A with Prof. Hawkins, where he shares more about his areas of specialization and path to JMC.

Voyager Scholarship: Third-year JMC student Ashlin Stover (IR) was named MSU’s first Voyager Scholarship recipient in September. Created by the Obamas and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, the scholarship program supports students who demonstrate a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities and an expansive view of what’s possible through public service.

Murray Scholar: JMC has named Dr. Chris Conner as the 2025-26 Stephen O. Murray Scholar in Residence. An assistant professor of sociology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Conner's research explores criminology, social movements, technology, gender and sexuality, with a focus on how large-scale technological shifts transform human interaction. The Murray scholar program honors the legacy of JMC alumnus Stephen Murray (’72), who passed away in 2019.

Marshall Scholarship Nominees: Four of MSU’s 2025 Marshall Scholarship nominees are Madisonians. William Castanier (IR & Arabic), George (Truman) Forbes (CCP & Environmental Studies and Sustainability ’24), Isabelle Radakovich (IR, PTCD & French) and Colin Reese (CCP and Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science).

Rhodes Scholarship Nominee: In addition to her Marshall Scholarship nomination, Radakovich is one of four MSU nominees for the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship.

Beta Kappa Mu: JMC alumna Siham Abdallah-Hassan (PTCD ’23) has founded Beta Kappa Mu, MSU’s first Muslim sorority for women, centered on fostering community and encouraging public service.

SFSC Update: Earlier this year, we shared the story behind Spartan Food Security Council, a JMC-led student organization that works to address food insecurity among college students. Their advocacy helped lead to a $500,000 state-funded grant program that will address student hunger on Michigan campuses.

JMC Fall Visit Days: Know of a high school student interested in James Madison College? Invite them to Fall Visit Days at Case Hall. These events (which feature Madison alumni) are an opportunity for prospective students to learn more about the college. Spaces available at the Oct. 31 and Nov. 21 events.

Giving Spotlight

JMC senior Ella Schuler (CCP & SRP) participated in the “Politics, Culture and Society in Brazil” education abroad program in Summer 2024. Schuler was a recipient of the Rall-Lowery Scholarship for Education Abroad in Brazil, an award established by Dr. Barbara R. Lowrey (B.A. Political Science ’63, Ph.D. Economics ’70).

Ella Schuler had spent two years studying comparative cultures and politics in Case Hall. But her understanding of inequality, cultural norms and political systems took on different meaning during six weeks in Salvador, Brazil.

“It’s different learning about things in the classroom here than actually being in another country and exploring them firsthand,” explained Schuler.

The academic structure of the program reinforced that experiential learning. Professors from Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) led units on Brazilian politics and culture, paired with field trips that helped connect theory to practice. A visit to an elementary school revealed educational infrastructure firsthand. A visit to a terreiro — a house of worship led by a mãe de santo (mother of saint) — offered direct engagement with Afro-Brazilian cultural preservation through dance and traditional food. Conversations with students at UFBA provided peer perspectives on contemporary Brazilian society.

“I think it really helped me have a better understanding about other cultures and the importance of understanding them and embracing them,” said Schuler.

She was one of 12 Madison students who traveled to Salvador in Summer 2024, many of whom navigated international travel alone for the first time. 

That autonomy shaped the learning experience in unexpected ways. By the end of six weeks, students had developed some conversational Portuguese, formed friendships with Brazilian peers and gained confidence operating in an unfamiliar environment.

“It really did help me grow a lot as a person and grow in my confidence in myself and my ability to make my way through the world,” Schuler reflected.

Donate to the Rall-Lowery Scholarship for Education Abroad in Brazil:

Interested in learning more about how you can support James Madison and invest in our future leaders. Contact Joseph Agosta at agostaj@msu.edu.

Call for Nominations: Alumni Awards

James Madison College's Alumni Board of Directors (JMCABOD) is currently seeking nominations for its two annual awards that honor distinguished alumni and friends of the college. The Distinguished Alumni and Honorary Alumni awards celebrate individuals who have significantly contributed to the college. Nominations are due Dec. 15.

Connect with the JMC Alumni Association

Interested in connecting with the James Madison College Alumni Association and supporting alumni engagement initiatives? The Board of Directors invites JMC alums to share their information via Google Forms.

Alumni Volunteer Opportunities

The James Madison College Alumni Board of Directors (JMCABOD) is accepting applications for up to four open Board seats to serve a three-year term. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the college's strategic direction and support the success of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

If you are passionate about advancing JMC’s mission and want to play an active role in shaping its future, we encourage you to apply!

Applications are being accepted until November 10th.

Complete this Google Form to apply.

Alumni Notes

Mercedes Alonzo (IR ’93) worked with a dedicated team of volunteers and the Honduran National Police to distribute more than 1,000 toys to communities in Honduras.

Bill Beekman (JMCD ’89), MSU Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, joined MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz on the MSU Today podcast to discuss the MSU 2030 Strategic Plan.

Darwin Bostwick (SRP ’24) started a new position as the Economic Development Taskforce Specialist with the Immigrant & Refugee Resource Collaborative.

David Criss (PTCD ’16) is a Ph.D. candidate in Economics and Urban Sustainability at Wayne State University, graduating this year.

Jesus Hernandez (SRP ’23) is working at SpartanNash as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator. Hernandez assists in recruiting and special projects to optimize talent acquisition operations.

Conner Holguin (SRP ’25) is the new Executive Director at The Village Lansing, a non-profit that combats gun violence in Lansing.

Ryan Longo (SRP ’25) is working with Michigan Virtual as a Data Analyst to support online educators across Michigan. Longo also volunteers by providing free breakdancing lessons to youth at All of The Above Hip Hop Academy in Lansing.

Norma Normington (IR, PE '94), creator and host of online wine education show Just the Sip of Wine, partnered with the S.E.T. Educational Fund for its annual wine tasting fundraiser in September. The event raised nearly $18,000 for the organization, which provides scholarships to Michigan residents attending Michigan colleges.

Lauryn Purches (IR ’22) started a new role as a legal analyst for Sixth Street in San Francisco, CA.

Mitchell Rivard (SPR ’11) traveled to Vietnam on a bipartisan congressional delegation. Rivard was able to see international non-profits like CARE, Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc., use U.S. support to reduce poverty and end human trafficking.

Adrianna Roth (SRP ’23) is a second-year law student at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Roth is also the president of the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) and is currently working at a plaintiff side worker’s compensation law firm.

Lorenzo Santavicca (IR ’18) started a new role working with Google DeepMind, focusing on data compliance for generative AI, including Gemini. Santavicca is also a board member with the Silicon Valley Spartans.

Veronica Van Loon Miller (CCP ’14) developed a new approach to organizational change management and launched a department for it at an international company.

Sean Watkins (CCP ’12) has joined The Center of Cultural Power as the Campaigns Manager.

Jillian Winn (PTCD ’04) is the new Director of the Lansing Regional SmartZone at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

Charly Ying (IR ’24) has worked at the Department of State, started law school at MSU and is retaining a research position with MSU Fisheries and Wildlife.

Allison Youatt Schnable (SR & PTCD ’03) is an associate professor in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She was chosen as the President-Elect of the International Society for Third-Sector Research, a global scholarly organization dedicated to the study of civil society, philanthropy and the non-profit sector.

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