Michael Brown '86 also passed along word about this competition through the EPA. Students, are you interested in putting together a team of PG and science majors to develop a project? Let me know and we'll help. Check out some of the past projects here.
People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability
EPA and its partners launched the P3 Award in 2003 to promote innovative thinking for moving the world toward sustainability. Through this national student design competition, college students gain new skills and knowledge as they research, develop, design, and implement scientific and technical solutions to environmental challenges.
WHAT IS P3? P3 is the next step beyond P2 -- pollution prevention -- and focuses on the three components of sustainability: People, Prosperity and the Planet.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD COMPETITION? The competition has two phases. Initially, student teams compete for $10,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. Then, in the following spring, all P3 grant recipients are invited to Washington, D.C. to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academies, advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the award winners. The final award decisions are made by EPA.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD? The P3 Award is given to the highest-rated student designs. The award includes additional funding up to $75,000 that gives the students an opportunity to further develop their designs for sustainability, implement their projects in the field, and move them to the marketplace.
WHAT CATEGORIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE P3 AWARD? EPA considers challenges from a wide range of categories, including agriculture, built environment, ecosystems, materials and chemicals, energy, information resources, and water. Challenges related to population growth and medical care, while important, are not included in this competition, other than the delivery or distribution systems of knowledge, goods, and supplies.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Institutions of higher education located in the U.S. are eligible to apply as the recipients of grants to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Collaboration and partnerships with colleges and universities outside the United States are permitted, but only U.S. institutions are eligible to apply.
HOW TO APPLY: Application procedures and materials can be found at: www.epa.gov/P3. Information about awards can also be found at this Web site.
APPLICATION REVIEW: A peer review panel evaluates all P3 applications based on problem definition; innovation and technical merit; connections to sustainability in terms of P3; measurable results, evaluation method, implementation strategy; and integration of the P3 Award competition as an educational tool. Final funding decisions are made by EPA.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Michael Brown '86
This morning I had a long talk with Michael Brown '86. He is EPA’s Associate Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, and has a long history in DC politics, starting from the time he graduated from UPS and took an internship in the White House during the Reagan Administration. From there he worked on the George Bush Sr. campaign and joined his press office when Bush was elected. During the Clinton Administration he took a position with Fleishman-Hillard, and helped set up their Seattle office. He returned to DC to take his current position in the EPA. You can find more about him on the EPA's website here.
Michael described his current position as one which is focused on helping to translate scientific knowledge to relevant audiences, such as Congress or the public. He describes his current job as one of the most "fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging" jobs he's ever held.
What advice did Michael have for our majors? If you are interested in politics, come out to DC and do an internship--see what it is like and if it is for you. He commented that the internal culture of the beltway is far different from what outsiders might discern from the media. His own career began not in science, but in student politics on campus, so you never know where your interests and energy can take you.
To that end, we talked about paid internships at the EPA in DC. Interested in going out to DC, getting some hands-on experience, working with an alum, and getting paid in the process? Let me know.
We hope to have Michael out to speak to our students, perhaps as soon as this fall. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much to him for taking the time to talk to me and offer to share his experiences with our department.
Finally, I'd like to put together a gathering of DC-area department alums and students sometime this fall. So if you are or will be in the DC area and we haven't already talked, do drop me an email.
Michael described his current position as one which is focused on helping to translate scientific knowledge to relevant audiences, such as Congress or the public. He describes his current job as one of the most "fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging" jobs he's ever held.
What advice did Michael have for our majors? If you are interested in politics, come out to DC and do an internship--see what it is like and if it is for you. He commented that the internal culture of the beltway is far different from what outsiders might discern from the media. His own career began not in science, but in student politics on campus, so you never know where your interests and energy can take you.
To that end, we talked about paid internships at the EPA in DC. Interested in going out to DC, getting some hands-on experience, working with an alum, and getting paid in the process? Let me know.
We hope to have Michael out to speak to our students, perhaps as soon as this fall. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much to him for taking the time to talk to me and offer to share his experiences with our department.
Finally, I'd like to put together a gathering of DC-area department alums and students sometime this fall. So if you are or will be in the DC area and we haven't already talked, do drop me an email.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Challenge
A couple of posts back we noted that Kathleen Perez '08 is the leader for the UPS team in this year's AIDS walk in Tacoma. Kathleen is looking for donations, and we've put out the call, but let us faculty put our money where our mouth is, no?
The Politics and Government Department will match each and every donation up to a total of $100.00. So if you all can gather up a hundred bucks, we'll put in that amount as well, once I finish shaking down all the department members.
Make a donation; send us an email or leave a post below and let us know you how much you chipped in, and we'll do our part.
The Politics and Government Department will match each and every donation up to a total of $100.00. So if you all can gather up a hundred bucks, we'll put in that amount as well, once I finish shaking down all the department members.
Make a donation; send us an email or leave a post below and let us know you how much you chipped in, and we'll do our part.
Kari Manlove '06
Kari sends along this note:
"I have moved to Seattle, at least until September, and have working a pt-time internship with the non-profit Global Partnerships. I'm working on their website for the Initiative for Global Development, at www.igdleaders.org. The non-profit supports microfinance institutions in Central America to help alleviate poverty. Yesterday I worked on country profiles, so the course on Central America's political economy (taught by Professor Share--ed.) came in pretty handy. I'm in the communications/marketing department, but I'm still happy about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with."
Sounds like a great first job. Congrats, Kari.
"I have moved to Seattle, at least until September, and have working a pt-time internship with the non-profit Global Partnerships. I'm working on their website for the Initiative for Global Development, at www.igdleaders.org. The non-profit supports microfinance institutions in Central America to help alleviate poverty. Yesterday I worked on country profiles, so the course on Central America's political economy (taught by Professor Share--ed.) came in pretty handy. I'm in the communications/marketing department, but I'm still happy about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with."
Sounds like a great first job. Congrats, Kari.
Some Resources
The American Political Science Association has put together some resources primarily related to graduate school, including professional and masters degrees. Take a look here.
One thing I noticed was the upcoming student policy conference sponsored by the Roosevelt Institution in DC in August. Recall that RI is connected to the Internationalist Magazine in Seattle, which is published by UPS alums. Interested students and alums might think about presenting at this event next year, as it is open to professionals, undergraduates and graduates alike.
One thing I noticed was the upcoming student policy conference sponsored by the Roosevelt Institution in DC in August. Recall that RI is connected to the Internationalist Magazine in Seattle, which is published by UPS alums. Interested students and alums might think about presenting at this event next year, as it is open to professionals, undergraduates and graduates alike.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Grads and Finances
A short piece on Vanguard's website about how recent graduates can work toward financial security. Read it here.
Historic Tacoma
Like many cities, Tacoma has gone through periods of growth and decline, during which there have been various attempts to tear down much of the historic fabric of the city. When times are tough, demolition is touted as a way to revitalize an area, leading to such mistakes as the parking garages on Pacific Avenue, which were hoped to keep shoppers and businesses in the downtown after Tacoma Mall opened. Numerous historic buildings were raised to construct these garages, which created pedestrian "dead zones" that the city is trying to rehabilitate--or tear down in turn.
When times are good, old buildings often stand in the way of major projects, and developers want to see older structures levelled in order to gain access to the land.
Fortunately, Tacoma has been able to preserve a good chunk of its historical buildings, and has experienced a real transformation of formerly derelict stock. UW Tacoma is forged from a number of previously abandoned industrial structures downtown, the old Union Station is now a federal courthouse, Albers Mill next to the Museum of Glass are apartments.
And now Historic Tacoma has come into being--a citizen organization dedicated to preserving the city's architecture. This is a positive development, as it means the city's Landmark Preservation Commission (which I served on for four years) will have a civic partner.
If you're interested in historic preservation or what's up with these issues in Tacoma, check out their site.
When times are good, old buildings often stand in the way of major projects, and developers want to see older structures levelled in order to gain access to the land.
Fortunately, Tacoma has been able to preserve a good chunk of its historical buildings, and has experienced a real transformation of formerly derelict stock. UW Tacoma is forged from a number of previously abandoned industrial structures downtown, the old Union Station is now a federal courthouse, Albers Mill next to the Museum of Glass are apartments.
And now Historic Tacoma has come into being--a citizen organization dedicated to preserving the city's architecture. This is a positive development, as it means the city's Landmark Preservation Commission (which I served on for four years) will have a civic partner.
If you're interested in historic preservation or what's up with these issues in Tacoma, check out their site.
Welcome, Professor Ross; Bon Voyage, Professor Bonura
This fall we welcome into our department Professor Andrew Ross, who will join us for one year as a visiting assistant professor. Professor Ross is trained in the fields of international relations and political theory, with his degrees from the University of Victoria, Warwick (UK) and Johns Hopkins. In addition to the introductory course in international relations, this fall Professor Ross will offer two upper division courses: War, Peace, and the Mass Media, and Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict. If you are interested in knowing more you can find the course descriptions here. Prior to joining us Professor Ross was teaching at the University of Oregon.
Professor Ross will be filling in for Professor Carlo Bonura, who will be away this year on sabbatical. And by "away" we mean really away. Professor Bonura will spend most of his time in Thailand, where he'll be continuing his research and writing on Islamic education in Southern Thailand. He'll also spend some time in Vietnam as part of a program UPS had this year with Vietnam National University in Hanoi that was funded by ACLS and the Asia Network. One of their professors, Nguyen Quy Thanh, spent several weeks on our campus learning about our teaching methods, and Professor Bonura will spend a month on their campus in return.
Professor Bonura promises updates and pictures from his sojourn, or I carry out my threat to turn his office into a departmental cigar lounge while he's away.
Professor Ross will be filling in for Professor Carlo Bonura, who will be away this year on sabbatical. And by "away" we mean really away. Professor Bonura will spend most of his time in Thailand, where he'll be continuing his research and writing on Islamic education in Southern Thailand. He'll also spend some time in Vietnam as part of a program UPS had this year with Vietnam National University in Hanoi that was funded by ACLS and the Asia Network. One of their professors, Nguyen Quy Thanh, spent several weeks on our campus learning about our teaching methods, and Professor Bonura will spend a month on their campus in return.
Professor Bonura promises updates and pictures from his sojourn, or I carry out my threat to turn his office into a departmental cigar lounge while he's away.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
AIDS Walk
This email comes from Kathleen Perez '08:
Hello all University of Puget Sound Politics and Government associates!
The Pierce County AIDS Walk is fast approaching (Saturday, September 9). As captain of the UPS team, I need your help!
If you follow this link, you can donate to the AIDS Foundation through me by clicking here.
Of, if you would like to JOIN THE UPS TEAM, we would love to have you! Click here.
Pierce County is facing the fastest rate of new HIV infections in Washington state. The Foundation is dedicated to preventing the spread of the virus, as well as assisting those living with HIV/AIDS financially and emotionally, while also offering their expertise in obtaining affordable and appropriate healthcare. Every dollar and every walker counts. We need your enthusiastic participation in this fight against AIDS. Unfortunately, the University of Puget Sound has not been as involved with the Walk in recent years as in the past; let's change that this year with the help of the P&G department!
Please seriously consider the above and forward this to all of your contacts,
Kathleen Perez
UPS Team Captain
PG Minor, class of 2008
Hello all University of Puget Sound Politics and Government associates!
The Pierce County AIDS Walk is fast approaching (Saturday, September 9). As captain of the UPS team, I need your help!
If you follow this link, you can donate to the AIDS Foundation through me by clicking here.
Of, if you would like to JOIN THE UPS TEAM, we would love to have you! Click here.
Pierce County is facing the fastest rate of new HIV infections in Washington state. The Foundation is dedicated to preventing the spread of the virus, as well as assisting those living with HIV/AIDS financially and emotionally, while also offering their expertise in obtaining affordable and appropriate healthcare. Every dollar and every walker counts. We need your enthusiastic participation in this fight against AIDS. Unfortunately, the University of Puget Sound has not been as involved with the Walk in recent years as in the past; let's change that this year with the help of the P&G department!
Please seriously consider the above and forward this to all of your contacts,
Kathleen Perez
UPS Team Captain
PG Minor, class of 2008
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Externalities
Someone at the Wall Street Journal is thinking what I'm thinking...
"Getting the Scoop On a Future Boss"
I'd love to see the creation of a social network for educators that allowed us each to have a space for publications, class material, blogs, links and the rest, all networked to other instructors so that we could see what others are doing and share our work and experiences. I wonder if in future we'll see these kinds of social networks built around professions or other primary identities, which could have multiple overlapping "tags," depending on how we define ourselves, with certain areas of the space visible only to some networks and not others. The problem as it stands now is that it is difficult to have multiple personae online--you are expected to have one delicious site, one blog, one webpage. But in reality the private and the public require very different fora. It will be interesting to see if this can all get aggregated and yet segmented at the same time.
"Getting the Scoop On a Future Boss"
I'd love to see the creation of a social network for educators that allowed us each to have a space for publications, class material, blogs, links and the rest, all networked to other instructors so that we could see what others are doing and share our work and experiences. I wonder if in future we'll see these kinds of social networks built around professions or other primary identities, which could have multiple overlapping "tags," depending on how we define ourselves, with certain areas of the space visible only to some networks and not others. The problem as it stands now is that it is difficult to have multiple personae online--you are expected to have one delicious site, one blog, one webpage. But in reality the private and the public require very different fora. It will be interesting to see if this can all get aggregated and yet segmented at the same time.
Design Good
Darrel Frost '04 passes along this interesting site:
http://design-altruism-project.org/
Design in the service of civic causes. There's an interesting post about designing posters for the 2000 election in Rwanda.
http://design-altruism-project.org/
Design in the service of civic causes. There's an interesting post about designing posters for the 2000 election in Rwanda.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Tag, You're It
I have installed tagging software so that I can organize the blog posts and link them out to our delicious site. It will take me a while to go back and tag earlier stuff (there's already over a hundred posts), but I'll slowly get it integrated.
And here's a good collection of education-related news.
And here's a good collection of education-related news.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Seattle Notes
A few days back I posted a note about a talk in Seattle on revitalizing their waterfront drawing on the experiences of Tacoma and Bremerton. The Seattle PI has a couple of pieces that build on that discussion; thanks to Derek at Exit133 for pointing them out--he's got them linked here.
ASK what you can do for Puget Sound
Yes, you knew it was coming. The whole point of this blog was to soften up the alums for the inevitable sales pitch. So here it is:
Would you join UPS' Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Network? (Sorry, I left the link off earlier)
ASK is an online database of UPS alums willing to share their wisdom and experiences with students and other alums. It's a great way for people to search by major or career interest and find others who can be of help. It would take just a few minutes for you to set up a profile.
If you've already done one, thank you, and would you check to update the material if necessary?
The signup process requires a login and password to get into the site:
login: career
password: goodluck (one word)
Thanks so much.
Would you join UPS' Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Network? (Sorry, I left the link off earlier)
ASK is an online database of UPS alums willing to share their wisdom and experiences with students and other alums. It's a great way for people to search by major or career interest and find others who can be of help. It would take just a few minutes for you to set up a profile.
If you've already done one, thank you, and would you check to update the material if necessary?
The signup process requires a login and password to get into the site:
login: career
password: goodluck (one word)
Thanks so much.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Pen Hack
Why not turn your cheap pen into a Mont Blanc without paying the MB pricetag? Modify an MB refill and put it in your Pilot G2. It's so crazy, it just might work...
Podcast my Degree
A piece in the Boston Globe about podcasting class lectures and whether this is will be an obstacle to learning.
Of course, there's another issue, which is whether it's a gimmick that will fade away. Reading this discussion reminds me of how people got excited about the ways in which they believed phonographs, film, radio, VCRs and the web would transform if not eliminate the very idea of the classroom.
The problem often seems to be that technological changes are jammed into old structures and narratives since that's what we know. Dramatic change can happen, but is more likely to emerge in ways and contexts we don't expect.
I would also note that it's much easier for a newspaper to write a story about a professor making mp3s than it is to write about something like tagging. The way the traditional media are set up doesn't really make it easy to talk about developments that are highly decentralized, open source, and ubiquitous. What's the story? Who's the protagonist?
Of course, there's another issue, which is whether it's a gimmick that will fade away. Reading this discussion reminds me of how people got excited about the ways in which they believed phonographs, film, radio, VCRs and the web would transform if not eliminate the very idea of the classroom.
The problem often seems to be that technological changes are jammed into old structures and narratives since that's what we know. Dramatic change can happen, but is more likely to emerge in ways and contexts we don't expect.
I would also note that it's much easier for a newspaper to write a story about a professor making mp3s than it is to write about something like tagging. The way the traditional media are set up doesn't really make it easy to talk about developments that are highly decentralized, open source, and ubiquitous. What's the story? Who's the protagonist?
Alum Profile: Andrea Tull '02
Note: Thanks to Andrea for the pictures--especially the first one (see below). Most alums would have deleted this image from their computer long ago, never mind sharing it online!
When did you graduate from UPS?
Graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts in Politics and Government, Cum Laude, and with Honors in Politics and Government.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Immediately after graduation in spring of 2002, I went to work as a field representative for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith's re-election campaign. Rep. Adam Smith, a moderate Democrat, represents the 9th District of Washington, which is encompasses South King County, including SeaTac (and the airport), Federal Way, parts of Pierce County like NE Tacoma, Puyallup, and Fife, and also North Thurston County with parts of Olympia and Lacey. Anyway, I worked as what I like to call a "grunt" campaign worker doing various Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities, including doorbelling, phone banking, volunteer recruitment, and assisting with fundraising events.
When Rep. Smith was re-elected I was promoted as Finance Director and did that for the 2004 election cycle (essentially the years 2003 and 2004). As Finance Director, I was responsible for all political fundraising for the Congressman, which included planning and traveling to events in California, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. I also managed the operating budget and did all of the financial bookkeeping and filed the FEC reports. After the 2004 election, I was offered a job in the Congressman's DC office as a Legislative Assistant (LA) handling a portfolio of policy issues including healthcare, labor, job training, Social Security, pensions, higher education, campaign finance reform, and women's health and reproductive issues. I moved out to DC in December 2005 and that is what I am currently doing. My responsibilities include tracking and researching legislation, facilitating meetings with constituents, lobbyists, and organizations, briefing the Congressman on upcoming votes, and developing legislative initiatives.
Aside from my "official" job, I have found time to take pleasure in extra curricular activities. I volunteer an hour every week reading to a 1st grader at a nearby low-income and under-served elementary school and I love it! Giving back to your community, through time or money, is a great thing and as a result, I feel more of a connection to my community here in DC. I have also taken up the game of tennis. I play in 2 two different tennis leagues - one in Northern Virginia and one in DC. During the spring and summer when the weather is nice, I play as many as 5 days a week. It is a great way for me to get exercise and meet some people outside of work.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I had always thought I wanted to attend law school and become a prosecutor or some sort of public attorney. However, I interned in Congressman Adam Smith's District Office in Tacoma during my junior year at UPS and really enjoyed being involved with public policy. I then went to DC and did a summer internship on Capitol Hill for the Congressman and realized that instead of going to law school right after college, I wanted a chance to work in the "real world" and put my degree to work. In some regards I feel that I lucked out with the right opportunities by meeting the "right" people at the "right" time. When I interned in Rep. Smith's DC office, his chief of staff was a UPS alum (class of '96) and we immediately had a bond. I credit this bond to my initial job working on the Congressman's campaign.
Funny thing is that since I have started working for the Congressman over 4 years ago, we have had a handful of UPS interns in both the District and DC offices and we currently employ UPS alumni (our current political director in Tacoma and our Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent in DC both graduated from UPS in 2004!)
I don't regret the decisions I have made in choosing my career path. Law school will always be there if I get bored or if I decide to fulfill my childhood dream of being a prosecutor. But in the meantime, my current job is exciting and I am learning a lot. I think that sometimes life has a way of changing course, by accident, and you realize that it is for the better.
For instance, I have grown to love healthcare policy and I am actually considering returning to school to get my Masters in Public Health and remaining in the healthcare field. I would have never thought that 4 years ago when I graduated college, but here I am and I cannot imagine my life any other way.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
Absolutely. I feel that my P&G courses at UPS definitely prepared me for my current job. It is my job to essentially read very complex papers and research policies and laws that are confusing and then consolidate that information into a concise and "reader-friendly" memo for my boss. I think back to all of my P&G courses when I cringed at the sheer volume of assigned reading and the 2-5 page papers that I thought were such a waste of time, but in the end...the pace of things in DC moves so fast that I have realized that if to be an effective policy analyst, you need to be able to express your opinion or argument in 1-2 pages or in a well-organized and thoughtfull 1-2 minute speech. It is funny because I joke sometimes that I get paid to do what I once did in school - read and write! Bottom line...the analytical reading and writing skills I developed at UPS through my P&G courses has made me successful in my current position.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I would recommend for current students not to choose their current course load based on what they think they want to do later in life. Certainly, some of your courses will be affected by that, but having a broad base and diversity of interests and skills are important in differentiating yourself in the workplace. So if you are majoring in P&G, but want to take a psychology course, do it and don't be concerned about it fitting into your "overall master plan" or how it will fit. Being fluent in one or more languages, having a double major, or even a minor can give you the competitive advantage. Studying abroad is a big regret of mine and I feel that I missed out on great learning opportunities by not traveling and studying in another country, so I would recommend all students to take at least a semester to do that.
I would also say never to underestimate the power of internships. I think often times students get turned away by them because many are unpaid, but those can be VERY valuable learning experiences and also GREAT networking opportunities. Make time to do an internship, even if it is part-time and only a few hours a week, during your summer or even during the school year. Internships are a great way to explore your interests and test out certain career paths.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Most importantly, follow your interests because working full-time can sometimes be a drag, especially if you are in a field of work that doesn't interest you. Doing something that you ENJOY will actually make working fun! I would also say not to be afraid to try something new - whether it is a class, an internship, or even a job. I thought I was going to go straight to law school and I took an internship and it has led to a very rewarding career path that I cannot possibly have imagined while I was in college.
Keep in mind that you don't have to STAY in the same career field your entire life. Heck! I still have interests of attending law school, but I also have a strong interest in becoming an elementary school teacher. Two very completely different career paths, but who says you can't try both?
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
When I was a student, I benefited from talking with UPS alumni about their career paths, how they got to where they are, etc. I met a handful of UPS alumni and set up informational interviews and it really helped and it was a great opportunity to learn of internships and jobs. Don't underestimate the power of networking...it could lead to your next job or internship! I would be happy to be a resource to current students if they have interests in working on a political campaign or working in public policy. I can be reached via email at: andreatull[at]hotmail.com
I have attached two pictures.
One is with Senator John Kerry, Presidential Candidate in 2004. I was dressed in a peanut costume and this is one of the more humiliating campaign experiences.
The other is me when I went on a ride-along with the SeaTac Firefighters.
Since I handle labor issues, I do outreach to the labor community, which means I got to get suited up and ride along with some firefighters.
When did you graduate from UPS?
Graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts in Politics and Government, Cum Laude, and with Honors in Politics and Government.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Immediately after graduation in spring of 2002, I went to work as a field representative for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith's re-election campaign. Rep. Adam Smith, a moderate Democrat, represents the 9th District of Washington, which is encompasses South King County, including SeaTac (and the airport), Federal Way, parts of Pierce County like NE Tacoma, Puyallup, and Fife, and also North Thurston County with parts of Olympia and Lacey. Anyway, I worked as what I like to call a "grunt" campaign worker doing various Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities, including doorbelling, phone banking, volunteer recruitment, and assisting with fundraising events.
When Rep. Smith was re-elected I was promoted as Finance Director and did that for the 2004 election cycle (essentially the years 2003 and 2004). As Finance Director, I was responsible for all political fundraising for the Congressman, which included planning and traveling to events in California, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. I also managed the operating budget and did all of the financial bookkeeping and filed the FEC reports. After the 2004 election, I was offered a job in the Congressman's DC office as a Legislative Assistant (LA) handling a portfolio of policy issues including healthcare, labor, job training, Social Security, pensions, higher education, campaign finance reform, and women's health and reproductive issues. I moved out to DC in December 2005 and that is what I am currently doing. My responsibilities include tracking and researching legislation, facilitating meetings with constituents, lobbyists, and organizations, briefing the Congressman on upcoming votes, and developing legislative initiatives.
Aside from my "official" job, I have found time to take pleasure in extra curricular activities. I volunteer an hour every week reading to a 1st grader at a nearby low-income and under-served elementary school and I love it! Giving back to your community, through time or money, is a great thing and as a result, I feel more of a connection to my community here in DC. I have also taken up the game of tennis. I play in 2 two different tennis leagues - one in Northern Virginia and one in DC. During the spring and summer when the weather is nice, I play as many as 5 days a week. It is a great way for me to get exercise and meet some people outside of work.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I had always thought I wanted to attend law school and become a prosecutor or some sort of public attorney. However, I interned in Congressman Adam Smith's District Office in Tacoma during my junior year at UPS and really enjoyed being involved with public policy. I then went to DC and did a summer internship on Capitol Hill for the Congressman and realized that instead of going to law school right after college, I wanted a chance to work in the "real world" and put my degree to work. In some regards I feel that I lucked out with the right opportunities by meeting the "right" people at the "right" time. When I interned in Rep. Smith's DC office, his chief of staff was a UPS alum (class of '96) and we immediately had a bond. I credit this bond to my initial job working on the Congressman's campaign.
Funny thing is that since I have started working for the Congressman over 4 years ago, we have had a handful of UPS interns in both the District and DC offices and we currently employ UPS alumni (our current political director in Tacoma and our Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent in DC both graduated from UPS in 2004!)
I don't regret the decisions I have made in choosing my career path. Law school will always be there if I get bored or if I decide to fulfill my childhood dream of being a prosecutor. But in the meantime, my current job is exciting and I am learning a lot. I think that sometimes life has a way of changing course, by accident, and you realize that it is for the better.
For instance, I have grown to love healthcare policy and I am actually considering returning to school to get my Masters in Public Health and remaining in the healthcare field. I would have never thought that 4 years ago when I graduated college, but here I am and I cannot imagine my life any other way.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
Absolutely. I feel that my P&G courses at UPS definitely prepared me for my current job. It is my job to essentially read very complex papers and research policies and laws that are confusing and then consolidate that information into a concise and "reader-friendly" memo for my boss. I think back to all of my P&G courses when I cringed at the sheer volume of assigned reading and the 2-5 page papers that I thought were such a waste of time, but in the end...the pace of things in DC moves so fast that I have realized that if to be an effective policy analyst, you need to be able to express your opinion or argument in 1-2 pages or in a well-organized and thoughtfull 1-2 minute speech. It is funny because I joke sometimes that I get paid to do what I once did in school - read and write! Bottom line...the analytical reading and writing skills I developed at UPS through my P&G courses has made me successful in my current position.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I would recommend for current students not to choose their current course load based on what they think they want to do later in life. Certainly, some of your courses will be affected by that, but having a broad base and diversity of interests and skills are important in differentiating yourself in the workplace. So if you are majoring in P&G, but want to take a psychology course, do it and don't be concerned about it fitting into your "overall master plan" or how it will fit. Being fluent in one or more languages, having a double major, or even a minor can give you the competitive advantage. Studying abroad is a big regret of mine and I feel that I missed out on great learning opportunities by not traveling and studying in another country, so I would recommend all students to take at least a semester to do that.
I would also say never to underestimate the power of internships. I think often times students get turned away by them because many are unpaid, but those can be VERY valuable learning experiences and also GREAT networking opportunities. Make time to do an internship, even if it is part-time and only a few hours a week, during your summer or even during the school year. Internships are a great way to explore your interests and test out certain career paths.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Most importantly, follow your interests because working full-time can sometimes be a drag, especially if you are in a field of work that doesn't interest you. Doing something that you ENJOY will actually make working fun! I would also say not to be afraid to try something new - whether it is a class, an internship, or even a job. I thought I was going to go straight to law school and I took an internship and it has led to a very rewarding career path that I cannot possibly have imagined while I was in college.
Keep in mind that you don't have to STAY in the same career field your entire life. Heck! I still have interests of attending law school, but I also have a strong interest in becoming an elementary school teacher. Two very completely different career paths, but who says you can't try both?
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
When I was a student, I benefited from talking with UPS alumni about their career paths, how they got to where they are, etc. I met a handful of UPS alumni and set up informational interviews and it really helped and it was a great opportunity to learn of internships and jobs. Don't underestimate the power of networking...it could lead to your next job or internship! I would be happy to be a resource to current students if they have interests in working on a political campaign or working in public policy. I can be reached via email at: andreatull[at]hotmail.com
I have attached two pictures.
One is with Senator John Kerry, Presidential Candidate in 2004. I was dressed in a peanut costume and this is one of the more humiliating campaign experiences.
The other is me when I went on a ride-along with the SeaTac Firefighters.
Since I handle labor issues, I do outreach to the labor community, which means I got to get suited up and ride along with some firefighters.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Virtual Home
I was having a conversation with one of our main tech people on campus and we were talking about the way in which media, information and software are becoming increasingly disaggregated. Rather than having software on your machine and files stored in subdirectories, more and more stuff is moving online and being sorted by tags.
Ironically, the one hold-out has been the traditional homepage, where people learned to use HTML or set up their own sites at a site for free or charge. A decade ago faculty building their own homepages was cutting edge. Now they are a burden to maintain, and you find fewer people willing to maintain them.
At the same time you have the counter-example of something like Myspace, which gives people a place to upload material, build links and connect to one another, but seems unsuitable for more professional use.
One potential solution is Google Pages or Microsoft's Office Live.
This might work well, allowing one to build a stripped-down and easy to maintain home page which they can then link out to a blog, photo and data storage site, Delicious links, and any other online presence one might have.
If you have tried these (or use an alternative solution), let me know.
Ironically, the one hold-out has been the traditional homepage, where people learned to use HTML or set up their own sites at a site for free or charge. A decade ago faculty building their own homepages was cutting edge. Now they are a burden to maintain, and you find fewer people willing to maintain them.
At the same time you have the counter-example of something like Myspace, which gives people a place to upload material, build links and connect to one another, but seems unsuitable for more professional use.
One potential solution is Google Pages or Microsoft's Office Live.
This might work well, allowing one to build a stripped-down and easy to maintain home page which they can then link out to a blog, photo and data storage site, Delicious links, and any other online presence one might have.
If you have tried these (or use an alternative solution), let me know.
From Arches
Some pieces in Arches to point out:
First, some time back I posted a picture I took at Jonee Winnick's recent wedding on campus. There's an article about her and her husband, Wayne, who was recently redeployed to Iraq. The piece is here.
Second, a letter by Candy Tingstad ’79 about Harry P. Cain, former mayor of Tacoma who publicly opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two. In an earlier post we mentioned the Cain Scholarship on campus that bares his name, which is open to students who intend to pursue a career in public service. Thanks to Mark Smith '61 for calling the letter to my attention, and to Candy Tingstad, daughter of Mayor Cain, for reminding us of this piece of local history and its connnection to our campus.
Third, a nice profile of T'wina Franklin; I had a chance to meet her husband and T'wina's wonderful mother at our department graduation function; here's a picture of T'wina and her mother, along with Professor Melissa Bass and myself.
Finally, I missed this piece on Cameron Dolcourt '04 in the last issue. Sorry, Cameron!
First, some time back I posted a picture I took at Jonee Winnick's recent wedding on campus. There's an article about her and her husband, Wayne, who was recently redeployed to Iraq. The piece is here.
Second, a letter by Candy Tingstad ’79 about Harry P. Cain, former mayor of Tacoma who publicly opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two. In an earlier post we mentioned the Cain Scholarship on campus that bares his name, which is open to students who intend to pursue a career in public service. Thanks to Mark Smith '61 for calling the letter to my attention, and to Candy Tingstad, daughter of Mayor Cain, for reminding us of this piece of local history and its connnection to our campus.
Third, a nice profile of T'wina Franklin; I had a chance to meet her husband and T'wina's wonderful mother at our department graduation function; here's a picture of T'wina and her mother, along with Professor Melissa Bass and myself.
Finally, I missed this piece on Cameron Dolcourt '04 in the last issue. Sorry, Cameron!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Smackdown
We've temporarily lost contact with Ali Wade '96, who up until recently was working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. However, Professor Sousa did uncover this disturbing clue.
Debra Dahlin '85
An email:
"For any of you who wondered what happened to me, Debra Dahlin, '85...
I just finished my second year teaching at the college level as an Instructor and loved every minute of it!
In addition, my husband, who is a professor of International Relations, travelled to Ukraine in August 2004 and adopted our most precious children, Max and Beau, now 6 and 4.5. They are the best job I ever had.
In between, I've done the typical, atypical liberal arts career (slightly stunted by the sexism in the South) working first the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and literally running into my mentor, Dave Balaam on the street (you are the greatest) as well, and Dr. Veseth on the metro. It amounted to a graduate degree in and of itself.
Then on to graduate school thinking I was headed into the Foreign Service and beefing up on my Public Administration skills. Thanks to Dr. Share for giving me the best foundation in comparative politics I could have asked for. Huntington is still relevant.
I then worked as a Public Affairs Director for a TV station and finally started teaching at the college level, first Warren Wilson College, then Winthrop University, and now around the kid's schedules.
That's all the news that's fit to print, I guess."
There's a piece on Debra's overseas adoption in their school paper--you can find it here.
"For any of you who wondered what happened to me, Debra Dahlin, '85...
I just finished my second year teaching at the college level as an Instructor and loved every minute of it!
In addition, my husband, who is a professor of International Relations, travelled to Ukraine in August 2004 and adopted our most precious children, Max and Beau, now 6 and 4.5. They are the best job I ever had.
In between, I've done the typical, atypical liberal arts career (slightly stunted by the sexism in the South) working first the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and literally running into my mentor, Dave Balaam on the street (you are the greatest) as well, and Dr. Veseth on the metro. It amounted to a graduate degree in and of itself.
Then on to graduate school thinking I was headed into the Foreign Service and beefing up on my Public Administration skills. Thanks to Dr. Share for giving me the best foundation in comparative politics I could have asked for. Huntington is still relevant.
I then worked as a Public Affairs Director for a TV station and finally started teaching at the college level, first Warren Wilson College, then Winthrop University, and now around the kid's schedules.
That's all the news that's fit to print, I guess."
There's a piece on Debra's overseas adoption in their school paper--you can find it here.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Feed your Tacomaness
So if you want to know about Tacoma, where do you go?
Well, we have already mentioned Exit133, run by Derek Young '96. Derek said his site traffic is growing about 20% a week (do I remember that right, Derek?) and in my opinion has become the go-to source for Tacoma comings and goings, especially urban development.
But Derek has company. Some other interesting Tacoma blogs:
KevinFreitas.Net: Kevin has excellent pictures of our lovely town
Tacomaness written by a student at UWT in the Urban Studies program
Thrice All American--a reference to Neko Case's ode to Tacoma
Personally, I find it hard to keep track of these sites, so fortunately Feed Tacoma does that for us. Visit that site and you'll find the main articles from several Tacoma blogs nicely indexed. A great resource.
P.S. An article in Monday's Tacoma Daily Index on Exit133.
Well, we have already mentioned Exit133, run by Derek Young '96. Derek said his site traffic is growing about 20% a week (do I remember that right, Derek?) and in my opinion has become the go-to source for Tacoma comings and goings, especially urban development.
But Derek has company. Some other interesting Tacoma blogs:
KevinFreitas.Net: Kevin has excellent pictures of our lovely town
Tacomaness written by a student at UWT in the Urban Studies program
Thrice All American--a reference to Neko Case's ode to Tacoma
Personally, I find it hard to keep track of these sites, so fortunately Feed Tacoma does that for us. Visit that site and you'll find the main articles from several Tacoma blogs nicely indexed. A great resource.
P.S. An article in Monday's Tacoma Daily Index on Exit133.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Mind the Gap
Speaking of gaps...
Some time back I wrote about Edward Tufte's quest to present quantitative data in a striking visual format. Gapminder takes his call to heart. Look in particular at the presentation "Has the World Become a Better Place?"
And if that's not enough, there's a great video of the founder of Gapminder, Professor Hans Rosling, speaking at the February 2006 Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference. He gets so amped up over what he's presenting that at one point the audience breaks out in spontaneous applause. The video's also pretty funny at the start where he pokes fun at the general level of knowledge about global heath. I'd suggest you watch the video first, then take a look at Gapminder itself.
"The problem is not ignorance, it's preconceived ideas..." Hans Rosling
Some time back I wrote about Edward Tufte's quest to present quantitative data in a striking visual format. Gapminder takes his call to heart. Look in particular at the presentation "Has the World Become a Better Place?"
And if that's not enough, there's a great video of the founder of Gapminder, Professor Hans Rosling, speaking at the February 2006 Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference. He gets so amped up over what he's presenting that at one point the audience breaks out in spontaneous applause. The video's also pretty funny at the start where he pokes fun at the general level of knowledge about global heath. I'd suggest you watch the video first, then take a look at Gapminder itself.
"The problem is not ignorance, it's preconceived ideas..." Hans Rosling
The Gender Gap
A piece in today's New York Times on the growing gap between women and men in terms of college graduation rates and grades. The article is here.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Seattle, Take Note
Katie Rose '05 forwarded the following. It's about time Seattle started learning from us!
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: July 5, 2006
Contact: Brad Kahn - 206-669-6422
Waterfronts for All
Learning from Bremerton and Tacoma
WHAT:
Seattle likes to think of itself as the vanguard: Coffee, philanthropy, microbrews, mixed-use development. Yet around Puget Sound, other communities have taken the lead in redeveloping marginal waterfronts into great public spaces. What can Seattle learn from Tacoma and Bremerton's efforts to convert their blighted waterfronts into vibrant public spaces?
WHO:
Cary Bozeman, Mayor of Bremerton
Su Dowie, Director of Planning and Operations, Foss Waterway Development Authority
Richard Conlin, Councilmember, City of Seattle
Hubert Locke, Former dean of the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs
John Rahaim, Director, Seattle Department of Planning and Development
Sally Bagshaw, Chair, Allied Arts Waterfront Committee
WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, 5-7:30pm
WHERE: Town Hall (8th and Seneca)
Mayor Bozeman and Su Dowie are available for media interviews on July 12.
BACKGROUND: Mayor Cary Bozeman was re-elected to a second four-year term starting January 1, 2006. As Mayor of Bremerton, he oversaw redevelopment of the city's waterfront. He has also served on the Bellevue City Council from 1976 to 1993 where he was elected to serve as Mayor for three terms.
Su Dowie has been with the Foss Waterway Development Authority since its inception in 1998. As Director of Planning & Operations she is responsible for key planning activities, including financial forecasting, use of public spaces, and land use, permitting and regulatory issues. Her passion is the successful redevelopment of Tacoma's waterfront.
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: July 5, 2006
Contact: Brad Kahn - 206-669-6422
Waterfronts for All
Learning from Bremerton and Tacoma
WHAT:
Seattle likes to think of itself as the vanguard: Coffee, philanthropy, microbrews, mixed-use development. Yet around Puget Sound, other communities have taken the lead in redeveloping marginal waterfronts into great public spaces. What can Seattle learn from Tacoma and Bremerton's efforts to convert their blighted waterfronts into vibrant public spaces?
WHO:
Cary Bozeman, Mayor of Bremerton
Su Dowie, Director of Planning and Operations, Foss Waterway Development Authority
Richard Conlin, Councilmember, City of Seattle
Hubert Locke, Former dean of the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs
John Rahaim, Director, Seattle Department of Planning and Development
Sally Bagshaw, Chair, Allied Arts Waterfront Committee
WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, 5-7:30pm
WHERE: Town Hall (8th and Seneca)
Mayor Bozeman and Su Dowie are available for media interviews on July 12.
BACKGROUND: Mayor Cary Bozeman was re-elected to a second four-year term starting January 1, 2006. As Mayor of Bremerton, he oversaw redevelopment of the city's waterfront. He has also served on the Bellevue City Council from 1976 to 1993 where he was elected to serve as Mayor for three terms.
Su Dowie has been with the Foss Waterway Development Authority since its inception in 1998. As Director of Planning & Operations she is responsible for key planning activities, including financial forecasting, use of public spaces, and land use, permitting and regulatory issues. Her passion is the successful redevelopment of Tacoma's waterfront.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
BS
I received an update from Todd Anthony '90. He's had a busy decade and a half since graduation, which included a move to Prague where he worked in sales and advertising for several years in the early nineties (in fact, he was there the same time I was doing my field research next door in Hungary). Later on he worked for several agencies creating ads for a range of clients, and now works for Yahoo and lives in San Francisco.
Todd has his own blog where he writes about "politics, advertising, Hollywood and..."
Well, you'll figure it out yourself. The link is here. And I like this.
Todd has his own blog where he writes about "politics, advertising, Hollywood and..."
Well, you'll figure it out yourself. The link is here. And I like this.
Shopping for Schools
A piece in the New York Times on how students are shopping for a college by visiting them through online video or customized DVDs first. Read the article here; it's rather funny. Though they are not mentioned by name, there are enough references to determine that the one school that takes a drubbing in the article is Beloit. I'm sure they're not crazy about that.
More generally, this relates back to the realization that the look and feel of a university's website is very important to students looking at colleges. This explains the ongoing revision and refinement of our own campus pages--an aesthetic arms race.
P.S. I received an email from the NYT journalist who wrote the piece: "How did you know we're headed to Tacoma next? Seriously, thanks for advancing the discussion. Is there any topic that's on more minds these days than the college selection and application process?"
More generally, this relates back to the realization that the look and feel of a university's website is very important to students looking at colleges. This explains the ongoing revision and refinement of our own campus pages--an aesthetic arms race.
P.S. I received an email from the NYT journalist who wrote the piece: "How did you know we're headed to Tacoma next? Seriously, thanks for advancing the discussion. Is there any topic that's on more minds these days than the college selection and application process?"
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Two New Tags
I've created two new tags on our Delicious site.
The first is an alum tag. Here I've just been making links to any web presence our alums might have. Are you online? Share the URL with us and we'll add it to the list.
The second is a faculty publication tag. Clay Loges '68 asked a while back who everyone was in the department these days. On our new website you'll find descriptions of each of us, but the faculty publication tag also refers you to anything we've written in the past. Again, this is just something I put together very quickly, so expect more.
Remember that with Delicious you can resort all the links by clicking on the tags at right.
The first is an alum tag. Here I've just been making links to any web presence our alums might have. Are you online? Share the URL with us and we'll add it to the list.
The second is a faculty publication tag. Clay Loges '68 asked a while back who everyone was in the department these days. On our new website you'll find descriptions of each of us, but the faculty publication tag also refers you to anything we've written in the past. Again, this is just something I put together very quickly, so expect more.
Remember that with Delicious you can resort all the links by clicking on the tags at right.
Boot Camp and Coming Home
Clay Fleener '96 sent along this very interesting article about a "boot camp" for liberal arts majors who want to get a quick immersion in business education. The program, called Bridge to Business, is four weeks in Toronto.
Clay writes "I wish I had taken more business classes and almost think they should be part of the core curriculum, but that’s just my opinion. I just received my MBA from Seattle U and have recently accepted a position with Boeing in supply chain management on the 787 program. It’s great international experience dealing with all of our overseas suppliers but a huge challenge just getting everyone on the same page. I hope to be down there for homecoming this year since it’s been 10 years already!"
Clay is happy to chat with anyone looking to business school or Boeing. Drop me a line if you want to get in touch with him.
And that raises the question of Homecoming. Will you be here? I'd love to host an informal gathering of PG alums, whether on campus or off. Drop me a note if you plan on coming and I'll try to set up a time if there are several of you with overlapping schedules. Otherwise, I'd be happy to get together with anyone for a meal or a drink.
Clay writes "I wish I had taken more business classes and almost think they should be part of the core curriculum, but that’s just my opinion. I just received my MBA from Seattle U and have recently accepted a position with Boeing in supply chain management on the 787 program. It’s great international experience dealing with all of our overseas suppliers but a huge challenge just getting everyone on the same page. I hope to be down there for homecoming this year since it’s been 10 years already!"
Clay is happy to chat with anyone looking to business school or Boeing. Drop me a line if you want to get in touch with him.
And that raises the question of Homecoming. Will you be here? I'd love to host an informal gathering of PG alums, whether on campus or off. Drop me a note if you plan on coming and I'll try to set up a time if there are several of you with overlapping schedules. Otherwise, I'd be happy to get together with anyone for a meal or a drink.
Website Revamp
We have done an extreme makeover of our department website. Please take a look at it when you have a chance and if you've got any thoughts let us know.
Trivia: The first picture at the top of our home page, showing the Supreme Court, is a stock image, but the other three I took over the past few years: Protestant paramilitary mural, Belfast; EU flag, Belgian Senate, Brussels; Israel-Lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra, Israel.
Trivia: The first picture at the top of our home page, showing the Supreme Court, is a stock image, but the other three I took over the past few years: Protestant paramilitary mural, Belfast; EU flag, Belgian Senate, Brussels; Israel-Lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra, Israel.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Faculty Work and Online Storage
Professor Haltom emailed me a copy of a paper he recently co-authored for the 2006 Law and Society Association Conference. I was not certain the best way to share this, however. In past we've uploaded such things to our website, but managing files that way gets awkward and cluttered.
So I have looked around at some different online storage systems. I've used Streamload in past, but didn't care much for the interface, and so I'm experimenting with box.net. I like the tagging function among other things. Right now we are using a free version, but if it proves useful we may opt for the full menu.
Anyone out there with personal preferences for online storage systems?
So, with that out of the way...
Michael McCann and William Haltom, "Not Something to Believe In:
Cause Lawyers in Contemporary Movies".
P.S. Professor Haltom submits the paper in part as proof that faculty do in fact work during the summer.
So I have looked around at some different online storage systems. I've used Streamload in past, but didn't care much for the interface, and so I'm experimenting with box.net. I like the tagging function among other things. Right now we are using a free version, but if it proves useful we may opt for the full menu.
Anyone out there with personal preferences for online storage systems?
So, with that out of the way...
Michael McCann and William Haltom, "Not Something to Believe In:
Cause Lawyers in Contemporary Movies".
P.S. Professor Haltom submits the paper in part as proof that faculty do in fact work during the summer.
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Fourth
Happy Independence Day to all readers of our blog, and current and former students wherever you may be. If you've not been in Tacoma over a July Fourth, it's pretty crazy, with one of the biggest shows in the country. Combined with all the fireworks bought on the Puyallup reservation and set off all over town, it makes for a colorful and noisy evening. Watch those fingers.
Tool of the Future?
There is an intriguing piece in Sunday's New York Times about digital pens, that allow you transmit written notes to electronic format, either as an image (like PDF) or as text using character recognition software. This kind of thing has been around for a while, but in past the method was to have people write directly into their PDAs and tablet PCs.
Digital pens eliminate that by allowing you to rely on pen and paper, and then upload your notes later. There are some bugs to be worked out, but it sounds promising, and something that could be quite user-friendly and affordable in future. Perhaps digital pens will become as commonplace as calculators and digital cameras, and could reduce the need to take a laptop with you everywhere.
I wonder about the use of laptops, combined with wifi, in the classroom. While I know that students don't always pay attention in class, and can just as easily be doodling as opposed to taking notes, laptops seem to create a kind of half-wall that directs the student away from the class. And with wifi, it's all too tempting to simply check email or chat online than listen and contribute. I know that laptop use is much more prevalent in law school and business school; maybe some of you out there have your own observations from experience.
Some argue that laptops in the classroom make for a much more productive class. This assumes that the laptops, however, are being directly integrated into the lesson plan, rather than simply servicing as a note-taking device for students.
The NYT article can be found here; more on the Logitech pen at Amazon.
Digital pens eliminate that by allowing you to rely on pen and paper, and then upload your notes later. There are some bugs to be worked out, but it sounds promising, and something that could be quite user-friendly and affordable in future. Perhaps digital pens will become as commonplace as calculators and digital cameras, and could reduce the need to take a laptop with you everywhere.
I wonder about the use of laptops, combined with wifi, in the classroom. While I know that students don't always pay attention in class, and can just as easily be doodling as opposed to taking notes, laptops seem to create a kind of half-wall that directs the student away from the class. And with wifi, it's all too tempting to simply check email or chat online than listen and contribute. I know that laptop use is much more prevalent in law school and business school; maybe some of you out there have your own observations from experience.
Some argue that laptops in the classroom make for a much more productive class. This assumes that the laptops, however, are being directly integrated into the lesson plan, rather than simply servicing as a note-taking device for students.
The NYT article can be found here; more on the Logitech pen at Amazon.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Boom
Video courtesy Kevin Freitas, another great local blog.
Just in time for the Fourth, this morning the Port of Tacoma blew up a 500 foot smokestack to make way for new development. Exit 133 has a nice picture of the detonator--the Port had a contest where the the winner got the push down the plunger (though in reality it was just a prop). More pics here and here.
It was loud--we could hear it from our house when it came down.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Looking for a Lost Alum
...lost to us, anyway. Zach Tyler '00, we have lost your email address. Last we heard you were working in Iraq (thanks for the postcards!) If you are reading this, or if another alum has a contact for him, would you please drop us a note? We'd like to say hi.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
In Lieu of a Friday Post
I will be out of town for much of tomorrow, so a Friday post is unlikely. I will be in Bellevue at the Advanced Placement Workshop at Interlake High School. During the summer there are workshops held around the country for high school teachers of the various advanced placement courses. The past few years have seen rapid growth in the comparative politics exam, which is one of the newest tests offered by AP. I have done some work for AP in this area, reviewing materials related to the exam.
Last year I joined the workshop for a short session on teaching methodology, and I offered to come back again this year. No compensation, just trying to do a good turn for other educators.
Last year I joined the workshop for a short session on teaching methodology, and I offered to come back again this year. No compensation, just trying to do a good turn for other educators.
Alum wins in Supreme Court
Previously we discussed the role that Charles Sipos '94 of Perkins Coie had played in the bringing the case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld before the Supreme Court. The news today is that they have won their case--news coverage here.
Schools Get Skewered
The Department of Education just released a draft report on the state of higher education in the US. Among other points it accuses higher education of being “risk-averse, frequently self-satisfied, and unduly expensive,” and having an “unseemly complacency about the future.” The report argues that academia "has yet to successfully confront the impact of globalization, rapidly evolving technologies, an increasingly diverse and aging population, and an evolving marketplace." In addition, the report criticizes the lack of comparable data on learning outcomes--how much students actually learn from one school to the next.
Needless to say, academic administrators are unhappy with the report, which they see as unfair. Read the report itself here; and some responses here.
Needless to say, academic administrators are unhappy with the report, which they see as unfair. Read the report itself here; and some responses here.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Alum Profile: Derek Young '96
Note: Derek mentions his website Exit 133 below. It's a great resource for what's developing in Tacoma, with an emphasis on real estate and urban planning. I read it every day (long before I realized he is one of our alums) and recommend it to anyone who wants to get a sense of how Tacoma is shaping up and where it might go in future.
When did you graduate from UPS?
1996
What have you been doing since graduation?
I have lived the corporate commuter lifestyle while becoming a proponent for all things good in Tacoma. I started working at REI’s corporate headquarters in Kent, Washington a few weeks after graduation. I have formed a few small companies to consolidate some side projects. I’ve run a few marathons and tend to ride my bike to work. I edit a website about Tacoma called Exit133.com. Generally speaking, I’ve stayed busy.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
There was no planning involved in my career path. I stumbled out of UPS planning on heading back to graduate school in Science & Technology Public Policy. At my first job interview with REI I told the recruiter that I would probably be with the company for two years, then I’d head to graduate school. They hired me anyway. What I found was a great company on the verge of many great years. While I’ve always worked in Information Technology, my job has morphed and changed over the years to keep things interesting. I started as an IT contract negotiator. Nearly ten years and five completely different job titles later, I’m still at REI. Currently I’m an IT Project Manager focusing on merchandising logistics.
I’ll be heading back to school to get a MBA this fall. After two years we’ll see which way my future is pointing.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
I absolutely believe that UPS gave me a unique opportunity to blend majors in a way that was interesting to me and beneficial to my career. Do I synthesize molecules, swab agar, or analyze the economic growth of a nation in my day job? No. And nobody has ever mentioned Fukuyama’s End of History or Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations in one of my meetings. However, I use my UPS Politics and Biology degrees nearly every day. UPS taught me how to put structure around what I think and how I display information. My science degree and TA experience taught me how to communicate to scientific and non-scientific minds. My politics degree taught me about how to interpret disparate data using paradigms and models. By combining the two, I now realize, UPS taught me to think in such a way that I can react and communicate in nearly any situation.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
Travel and/or study abroad for an extended period of time. You’ll discover that there are at least a few other perspectives out there. Plus, it allows your mind to wander.
Take advantage of every public speaking opportunity.
Network! Who you know will get you in the door. Your interview skills, amazing smile, resume, and grades will get you the job.
Take classes outside your major.
Learn another language.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Pursue your passions. You’ll be working for a long time. There’s no need to go into something you don’t really like. The same thing goes for graduate school. Don’t start into a program that takes eight years if you aren’t absolutely convinced that it’s what you want to do. You don’t want to be five or six years into a program only to discover you don’t actually like it.
Be flexible. Allow for opportunities.
If you don’t like your situation, change it.
Put life/work balance high on your priority list.
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
Wherever you go after graduation, get involved in the community. Check out the local theatre, farmers market, and museums. Get involved in community organizations. Volunteer with youth or in the local arts organizations. First, this is a networking opportunity to find passionate people. Second, you’ll find personal satisfaction. Become more than just your job.
If you’re passionate about Tacoma, I know of a website you should read…
When did you graduate from UPS?
1996
What have you been doing since graduation?
I have lived the corporate commuter lifestyle while becoming a proponent for all things good in Tacoma. I started working at REI’s corporate headquarters in Kent, Washington a few weeks after graduation. I have formed a few small companies to consolidate some side projects. I’ve run a few marathons and tend to ride my bike to work. I edit a website about Tacoma called Exit133.com. Generally speaking, I’ve stayed busy.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
There was no planning involved in my career path. I stumbled out of UPS planning on heading back to graduate school in Science & Technology Public Policy. At my first job interview with REI I told the recruiter that I would probably be with the company for two years, then I’d head to graduate school. They hired me anyway. What I found was a great company on the verge of many great years. While I’ve always worked in Information Technology, my job has morphed and changed over the years to keep things interesting. I started as an IT contract negotiator. Nearly ten years and five completely different job titles later, I’m still at REI. Currently I’m an IT Project Manager focusing on merchandising logistics.
I’ll be heading back to school to get a MBA this fall. After two years we’ll see which way my future is pointing.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
I absolutely believe that UPS gave me a unique opportunity to blend majors in a way that was interesting to me and beneficial to my career. Do I synthesize molecules, swab agar, or analyze the economic growth of a nation in my day job? No. And nobody has ever mentioned Fukuyama’s End of History or Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations in one of my meetings. However, I use my UPS Politics and Biology degrees nearly every day. UPS taught me how to put structure around what I think and how I display information. My science degree and TA experience taught me how to communicate to scientific and non-scientific minds. My politics degree taught me about how to interpret disparate data using paradigms and models. By combining the two, I now realize, UPS taught me to think in such a way that I can react and communicate in nearly any situation.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
Travel and/or study abroad for an extended period of time. You’ll discover that there are at least a few other perspectives out there. Plus, it allows your mind to wander.
Take advantage of every public speaking opportunity.
Network! Who you know will get you in the door. Your interview skills, amazing smile, resume, and grades will get you the job.
Take classes outside your major.
Learn another language.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Pursue your passions. You’ll be working for a long time. There’s no need to go into something you don’t really like. The same thing goes for graduate school. Don’t start into a program that takes eight years if you aren’t absolutely convinced that it’s what you want to do. You don’t want to be five or six years into a program only to discover you don’t actually like it.
Be flexible. Allow for opportunities.
If you don’t like your situation, change it.
Put life/work balance high on your priority list.
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
Wherever you go after graduation, get involved in the community. Check out the local theatre, farmers market, and museums. Get involved in community organizations. Volunteer with youth or in the local arts organizations. First, this is a networking opportunity to find passionate people. Second, you’ll find personal satisfaction. Become more than just your job.
If you’re passionate about Tacoma, I know of a website you should read…
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Out and About
I've only done pictures of campus so far, so here's one of the Museum of Glass downtown.
Ned Culhane '06
Freshly minted, Ned Culhane is spending the summer working at the Health and Psychophysiology Lab at Harvard University. He writes that he's "assigned to several studies that investigate the physiological responses to the challenge-threat paradigm. I would tell more but we are supposed to keep the exact details confidential." Ned plans to move to DC this fall and hopes to get a job on Capitol Hill or at the NIH.
Ned was a double major in PG and Psych, though we don't hold that against him.
Ned was a double major in PG and Psych, though we don't hold that against him.
Teach For America Feedback
There are a couple of interesting comments from alums on their experiences with Teach for America; you can find them at my earlier post on the subject here.
Bainbridge Graduate Institute
2002 saw the founding of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, which is accredited to offer an both an MBA in Sustainable Business and a Certificate in Sustainable Business. BGI looks like an interesting option for those looking for additional schooling with a business-environmental focus. Professor Sherman's work in the Environmental Studies minor on campus and his related community outreach may forge connections between our department and BGI in future; we'll keep you posted.
Read a piece from Business Week on green business practices which discusses BGI here.
Read a piece from Business Week on green business practices which discusses BGI here.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Cain Scholarship
There has been a change in the university's Cain Scholarship, which has resided in the School of Business and Leadership. While SBL will continue to administer the scholarship, it will now be opened up to all majors, with an emphasis placed on applicants who wish to pursue a career in public service.
Many thanks to Mark Smith '61 who was instrumental in making this happen.
And who was Harry Cain? A mayor of Tacoma and former US Senator. Read a short biography here.
Update: Mark Smith has a posted an interesting comment below with much more on Harry Cain's life and work.
Many thanks to Mark Smith '61 who was instrumental in making this happen.
And who was Harry Cain? A mayor of Tacoma and former US Senator. Read a short biography here.
Update: Mark Smith has a posted an interesting comment below with much more on Harry Cain's life and work.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Strategy and Benefits
Good piece in the Wall Street Journal for those entering the marketplace on making smart decisions about employer medical benefits, flexible spending accounts, and saving through a 401(k).
Gateway
It came to my attention from a local blog (run by an alum, but more on that later), that UPS has asked the city to vacate the remaining bit of 15th Avenue west of Alder--the street that runs between the student union and Kittridge Hall. They have requested this to construct a new entrance, which I assume means that the main gate of UPS would sit just at Alder. I know one concern of the university has been that its main "gateway" has not been all that clear or sits inside of campus itself, like Jones Circle, having been surrounded by subsequent development. The campus has certainly grown over time; a couple of good historical perspectives are here and here.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Book Reviews
Professor Weinberger has two interesting reviews of recent books:
The Cold War: A New History, John Lewis Gaddis (New York: The Penguin Press, 2005).
America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy, Francis Fukuyama (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006).
I've just started Fukuyama myself, and recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the differences and divisions among conservatives, neo-conservatives, realists and all those other terms bandied about in foreign policy. I find the historical overview of many of these ideas particularly fascinating.
The Cold War: A New History, John Lewis Gaddis (New York: The Penguin Press, 2005).
America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy, Francis Fukuyama (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006).
I've just started Fukuyama myself, and recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the differences and divisions among conservatives, neo-conservatives, realists and all those other terms bandied about in foreign policy. I find the historical overview of many of these ideas particularly fascinating.
Friday, June 23, 2006
The Dilemma of Delay
There's a nice piece in Inside Higher Ed on what the author calls Watson's Syndrome: a "continuing and persistant avoidance" of doing the actual task set before you. While the author confines his diagnosis to those in graduate school who never finish their dissertations, I have certainly seen it apply to students and in the business world as well. The article is tongue in cheek, but worth reading--and there are several comments from readers afflicted with this illness. The first step is to admit you have a problem...
OAR in the Lead
Our UPS alums at Ocean Adventure Racing NW are showing their true college spirit in their row across the Atlantic--they've got a lead ahead of the competition by over 100 miles. See for yourself: their boat is the James Robert Hansen.
BTW, they are looking for support to help ship their boat home once they make it to England, so if you've got a few bucks to spare you can donate here; and half the money goes to the American Lung Association.
BTW, they are looking for support to help ship their boat home once they make it to England, so if you've got a few bucks to spare you can donate here; and half the money goes to the American Lung Association.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Incognito alums
One of our alums is currently in law school and spending his summer working as a law clerk. He and some of his cohorts, scattered across the country, have set up a blog to document their disparate experiences.
Favorite post to date:
"I swear the entire federal government is run by people under 30."
Read about their adventures here.
Favorite post to date:
"I swear the entire federal government is run by people under 30."
Read about their adventures here.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Educators, study abroad
The Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays program has a series of summer programs available to primary, secondary and post-secondary teachers, administrators and librarians to such places as Australia, Argentina and Uruguay, India, China, Morocco, Mali, Hungary and Jordan, among others. Four to six weeks, and the vast majority of the tab paid for by Fulbright. If you're a teacher at any level, check it out:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/sapfacts.html
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/sapfacts.html
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Rachel Martin '96
I recently heard from Rachel Martin '96. She writes:
"I am a foreign correspondent with National Public Radio, currently based in Berlin but I have worked in and out of Afghanistan for the past three years. I am moving to DC for a few months to work at NPR HQ but will still be covering foreign affairs. I'd be pleased to correspond with any students interested in learning about the flexibility of a P&G degree and the places it can take you."
I know of several students/alums who are interested in journalism, so if you want to get in contact with Rachel drop me a note and I'll pass it along to her.
Here's a recent piece of hers on the World Cup and racism in Germany.
"I am a foreign correspondent with National Public Radio, currently based in Berlin but I have worked in and out of Afghanistan for the past three years. I am moving to DC for a few months to work at NPR HQ but will still be covering foreign affairs. I'd be pleased to correspond with any students interested in learning about the flexibility of a P&G degree and the places it can take you."
I know of several students/alums who are interested in journalism, so if you want to get in contact with Rachel drop me a note and I'll pass it along to her.
Here's a recent piece of hers on the World Cup and racism in Germany.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Chihuly in Wyatt Hall
Politics and Government has its offices in Wyatt Hall, one of the more recent buildings on campus (if I recall properly, before Wyatt there had been no major construction for several decades). As you enter Wyatt the main atrium has a collection of Dale Chihuly's glass works. Some love his work, others less so. I like it, personally--which is good, because it's all over Tacoma.
The Internationalist
This student magazine based in Seattle was originally founded by students at UPS. At graduation a couple of years back they took their project with them and have been spreading the word far and wide on college campuses across the US. They have also joined forces with the Roosevelt Institution, a national student think-tank.
Professor Weinberger in our department is one of their guest bloggers (though I don't know how he feels about how they have rendered him), and I serve on their board. An impressive publication, and another example of something I wouldn't have dared to do at their age--or, come to think of it, at my age. I guess that's why I'm an academic--the model profession for the risk-averse.
The Internationalist
Oh and students, why not intern there?
Professor Weinberger in our department is one of their guest bloggers (though I don't know how he feels about how they have rendered him), and I serve on their board. An impressive publication, and another example of something I wouldn't have dared to do at their age--or, come to think of it, at my age. I guess that's why I'm an academic--the model profession for the risk-averse.
The Internationalist
Oh and students, why not intern there?
Teach for America
We've had a number of grads do Teach for America and I've heard good things about the experience. It also reminds me that I wouldn't have undertaken such a challenge when I graduated from college, which makes it all the more impressive. There was an interesting piece about the program in the papers lately:
It's the strongest job market in years for new college graduates, with salaries and perks rising accordingly. But one of the country's hottest recruiters this spring promised low wages, exhausting labor and just a brief break before work begins.
Teach for America is surging in popularity. At sites around the country, the 17-year-old nonprofit has begun training about 2,400 recent graduates for two-year teaching stints in disadvantaged schools, nearly triple the figure in 2000.
Read the whole thing here.
Any Teach for America folks out there who can comment on their experiences?
It's the strongest job market in years for new college graduates, with salaries and perks rising accordingly. But one of the country's hottest recruiters this spring promised low wages, exhausting labor and just a brief break before work begins.
Teach for America is surging in popularity. At sites around the country, the 17-year-old nonprofit has begun training about 2,400 recent graduates for two-year teaching stints in disadvantaged schools, nearly triple the figure in 2000.
Read the whole thing here.
Any Teach for America folks out there who can comment on their experiences?
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Internship Opportunity
From Grant Lahmann, Pierce County Field Organizer, Washington State Democratic Coordinated Campaign:
I'm with the State Democrats' Coordinated Campaign here in Tacoma. It's
our responsibility to get every Democrat running for election in Pierce
County elected; starting with Senator Maria Cantwell, through
Congressional races like Darcy Burner against freshman Congressman
Reichert, to some very competitive legislative races such as Dawn Morrell
in the 25th legislative district.
We are looking for some bright and capable students who want to gain
valuable experience in the world of Campaigns and politics. Interns will
be integral in the daily operations of running the campaign here in Pierce
County, working closely with the State Coordinated Campaign staff and the
local campaigns...
Positions are also available across the state, so if you are not in Pierce County for the summer/fall there are other options for you. If you are interested, please contact Grant Lahmann at grant[at]wa-democrats[dot]org. We're located at 711 St Helens Ave in downtown Tacoma and we can be reached at 253-627-2156.
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!
I'm with the State Democrats' Coordinated Campaign here in Tacoma. It's
our responsibility to get every Democrat running for election in Pierce
County elected; starting with Senator Maria Cantwell, through
Congressional races like Darcy Burner against freshman Congressman
Reichert, to some very competitive legislative races such as Dawn Morrell
in the 25th legislative district.
We are looking for some bright and capable students who want to gain
valuable experience in the world of Campaigns and politics. Interns will
be integral in the daily operations of running the campaign here in Pierce
County, working closely with the State Coordinated Campaign staff and the
local campaigns...
Positions are also available across the state, so if you are not in Pierce County for the summer/fall there are other options for you. If you are interested, please contact Grant Lahmann at grant[at]wa-democrats[dot]org. We're located at 711 St Helens Ave in downtown Tacoma and we can be reached at 253-627-2156.
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Sound the Retreat
Yesterday the department held a retreat to take stock of what we're doing and what's ahead. Much was discussed, including Professor Dan Sherman's joining the department. Professor Sherman has been teaching in a position in Environmental Studies, and while his responsibilities to that program will not change, he will now have his official home in our department. We are lucky to have him join us; more about Professor Sherman and what he's been up to later. We also talked about such issues as internships, requirements for the major, and building linkages to our students and alums (like this blog). In the evening Professor Haltom and Sousa regaled us with stories from wilder and woolier times in the department, making the current faculty look positively staid by comparison. We were out on the Key Penninsula near Gig Harbor, with a rare day of nice weather (at least of late).
Getting down to business
Professors Bonura and Haltom enjoy the low tide
A break in the weather
Getting down to business
Professors Bonura and Haltom enjoy the low tide
A break in the weather
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Wiki Wonderland
An excellent discussion on Inside Higher Ed on the potential and pitfalls of Wikipedia.
Note to students: Professors look askance at papers that rely heavily on Wikipedia. Why? An anecdote may suffice. Last semester in PG 250 I had the students edit the article on social capital, which was the subject of the course. I told them they could make whatever changes they wished. I saw this as both a way to teach them about the trustworthiness of Wikipedia and also an experiment in "virtual trust"--would my students intentionally mess up an online entry that others rely on?
The answer: yes, they would. Several students deliberately posted observations about social capital that were patently false, while others cited themselves as authorities. And while most of these entries were later corrected by others, several are still there.
Many hands make light, but often unpredictable, work.
Note to students: Professors look askance at papers that rely heavily on Wikipedia. Why? An anecdote may suffice. Last semester in PG 250 I had the students edit the article on social capital, which was the subject of the course. I told them they could make whatever changes they wished. I saw this as both a way to teach them about the trustworthiness of Wikipedia and also an experiment in "virtual trust"--would my students intentionally mess up an online entry that others rely on?
The answer: yes, they would. Several students deliberately posted observations about social capital that were patently false, while others cited themselves as authorities. And while most of these entries were later corrected by others, several are still there.
Many hands make light, but often unpredictable, work.
Senate Site
I got an interesting email from Ric Cantrell '96, who is Assistant to Senate Majority Leadership in Utah. He writes:
And - while The People are responsible for their government, they tend to be fundamentally alienated from elected officials and the policy work of the legislature. I think that is dangerous. What if we could find a way to instruct, empower, invite, re-incorporate and re-engage the citizens of our state?
. . . The idea for a Senate Blog Site emerged from that pile of thought.
It's a really interesting site, even if you don't know or care about Utah politics (or local politics in general), and it points toward some new avenues in technology and democracy. I particularly like the tenor of the site--informal and even cheeky at times.
The Senate Site has been getting media and blog coverage, such as here and here. In April, Ric and his colleagues were invited to an "E-Democracy Forum" in D.C. to talk about the site. Here is one of their handouts if you want to know more.
Ric also tells me that they're on the lookout for interns--this strikes me as a tremendous opportunity to learn more about local government, new media, and the intersection of the two.
...while the reporters assigned to Capitol Hill are a sincere, bright dedicated group, they don't have time to fully understand all the issues legislators face. They don't always get the story right, or quote us in context. Retractions are almost worthless. Yet we are close to 100 percent dependent on traditional media to communicate with the citizens of the state. I wondered how to deal with that dynamic more effectively.
And - while The People are responsible for their government, they tend to be fundamentally alienated from elected officials and the policy work of the legislature. I think that is dangerous. What if we could find a way to instruct, empower, invite, re-incorporate and re-engage the citizens of our state?
. . . The idea for a Senate Blog Site emerged from that pile of thought.
It's a really interesting site, even if you don't know or care about Utah politics (or local politics in general), and it points toward some new avenues in technology and democracy. I particularly like the tenor of the site--informal and even cheeky at times.
The Senate Site has been getting media and blog coverage, such as here and here. In April, Ric and his colleagues were invited to an "E-Democracy Forum" in D.C. to talk about the site. Here is one of their handouts if you want to know more.
Ric also tells me that they're on the lookout for interns--this strikes me as a tremendous opportunity to learn more about local government, new media, and the intersection of the two.
Internship Opportunity
This email just came in:
I’m the campaign manager for Friends of Troy Kelley campaign. Troy is running for the Washington State House in the 28th Legislative District (Lakewood, UP, DuPont area). Full disclosure: Troy is married to Diane Kelley, professor in the UPS Foreign Languages Dept.
I would like to talk about the possibility of offering a for-credit internship with the UPS Politics & Government Department for any interested students. I’ve attached a draft Memo of Understanding, but I am open to alter the internship to meet your departmental standards. (Note: The department currently does not offer credit for internships toward the major, though general university credit is a possibility--Professor O'Neil)
Please check out Troy’s website at www.troykelley.com for any questions about our race; it’s a highly competitive district with strong candidates. It will definitely be a learning experience. Interns would have a tremendous opportunity to learn about applied politics and political communication in a highly energetic environment. I would love to talk you about the opportunity.
Please contact me at your convenience—by email or at 253.380.6781.
Ian Morrison
Campaign Manager
Troy Kelley for State Representative
28th Legislative District—Democrat
C: 253.380.6781
O: 800.831.8397
email: ian[at]troykelley.com
http://www.troykelley.com
I’m the campaign manager for Friends of Troy Kelley campaign. Troy is running for the Washington State House in the 28th Legislative District (Lakewood, UP, DuPont area). Full disclosure: Troy is married to Diane Kelley, professor in the UPS Foreign Languages Dept.
I would like to talk about the possibility of offering a for-credit internship with the UPS Politics & Government Department for any interested students. I’ve attached a draft Memo of Understanding, but I am open to alter the internship to meet your departmental standards. (Note: The department currently does not offer credit for internships toward the major, though general university credit is a possibility--Professor O'Neil)
Please check out Troy’s website at www.troykelley.com for any questions about our race; it’s a highly competitive district with strong candidates. It will definitely be a learning experience. Interns would have a tremendous opportunity to learn about applied politics and political communication in a highly energetic environment. I would love to talk you about the opportunity.
Please contact me at your convenience—by email or at 253.380.6781.
Ian Morrison
Campaign Manager
Troy Kelley for State Representative
28th Legislative District—Democrat
C: 253.380.6781
O: 800.831.8397
email: ian[at]troykelley.com
http://www.troykelley.com
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Emerald Isle
Jill Monnin '05 is currently pursuing her law degree at the University of Washington, and while she was too modest to provide all the details by email, I found the following on UW's website:
"The UW School of Law proudly announces the 2006 recipients of the William Sampson Fellow in Comparative Public Interest Law: Elisabeth Ahlquist, Jill Monnin, Rebecca Huffman, Cecelia Boudreau, and Patrice Kent. The 2006 Fellowship recipients were announced at a lunch attended by Andy Pike, Consul for Northern Ireland to the U.S. March 30, 2006 in Gates Hall.
The Sampson Fellow program, arranged by the law school's European Law Initiative (ELI), provides an externship opportunity for one UW law student to spend up to four months working in Europe at a human rights non-profit or NGO. Traditionally, Sampson Fellow's have worked with the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) in Dublin, Ireland."
You can read the whole thing here.
Jill tells me that she'll be interning at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway, doing legal research on UN peace treaties, and post-conflict codes to be implemented in Eastern Europe.
Galway, Ireland, in summer. Poor alum.
Congrats, Jill!
Any alum tips for places to see and things to do in Ireland? Being the political scientist I have taken and highly recommend the taxi tour of "The Troubles" up north...
Campus Snapshot
Regester Hall.
Seems these gargoyles often have cigarette butts balanced between their lips.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Hmm
I got this email today from the city's economic development council:
From: Grabinski-Young, Nancy
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 4:31 PM
Subject: unfinished basement needed for Japanese film
If you know of anyone who would let a film crew into their basement, please let me know asap. I assume it has to be fairly empty as well as unfinished.
Tacoma's growing economic niche--empty basements for Japanese film crews.
More Job Resources
The New York Times and Vault have teamed up to provide various articles on the job market, from internships to career options to interviewing. It looks promising:
http://nytimes.vault.com/
http://nytimes.vault.com/
Sunday, June 11, 2006
UPS Alums Row Across the Atlantic
From The News Tribune:
"Jordan Hanssen, Dylan LeValley, Greg Spooner and Brad Vickers, four former rowers from the University of Puget Sound, departed from the New York Harbor as one of four hulls competing in the first Ocean Fours Rowing Race on Saturday morning.
Representing OAR (Ocean Adventure Rowing) Northwest, the four local products will try and become the first Americans to row across the North Atlantic Ocean. The route they are taking to Falmouth, England spans 3,100 nautical miles."
Local products? Makes them sound like farm produce.
Follow their adventure here, and track their progress via GPS.
"Jordan Hanssen, Dylan LeValley, Greg Spooner and Brad Vickers, four former rowers from the University of Puget Sound, departed from the New York Harbor as one of four hulls competing in the first Ocean Fours Rowing Race on Saturday morning.
Representing OAR (Ocean Adventure Rowing) Northwest, the four local products will try and become the first Americans to row across the North Atlantic Ocean. The route they are taking to Falmouth, England spans 3,100 nautical miles."
Local products? Makes them sound like farm produce.
Follow their adventure here, and track their progress via GPS.
Virtual Privacy
Apropos of my earlier post on grads' online presence, there is an article in today's New York Times about students and recent grads finding that their web activity is being scrutinized. Employers are surfing the web and finding the Xanga, Livejournal, and MySpace sites where their applicants have often posted, let us say, questionable material about themselves. Even Facebook, which is accessible only to those with university email addresses, is being scrutinized using other students or recent grads who still have access to a university account. This is certainly true of UPS grads, whose email addresses convert to an "alum" account that retains an .edu domain, and so can continue to access ostensibly student-only sites. I recall the looks on my students' faces in one class where I mentioned that I had been looking at their Facebook pages.
What's the lesson of this?
What's the lesson of this?
- Secure any pages or sites that you don't want to share openly to make it more difficult to find. For example, blogs can be kept off of search engines.
- Remember that any time you link out to another website, traffic from your site to that other URL will leave a record at the other end. So if you think your posts are private, but in the process link to an external site, the owner of that site can see where visitors have come from and work their way backward. Similarly, others may link to your site without asking permission, effectively advertising what had been a private site.
- Remember that if you have a "handle" or nickname that you commonly use on the web, it is much easier to track your activities across a range of sites. Often these nicknames are part of an email address, making it even easier to match up information across discussion threads, websites, and other online activity.
- Assume that nothing on the web is private. Ask yourself whether anything you have posted is something you'll be asked to account for later. If it is, take it down.
- Google yourself regularly to see what can be found by using different key words. I found, for example, that there's now a blog called "Patrick O'Neil's Pointed Pen" which is all about politics and has nothing to do with me. Sooner or later, though, someone will assume I'm the author.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Virtual Grads
A number of our graduates have their own online presence. One is the website of Darrel Frost '04, former UPS student president. Darrel's been living in New York and working for the Kaufman Center in marketing and communications. His website is a visual treat; I especially like the collection of posters that Darrel designed in past for UPS events and his eclectic set of links. So Darrel, if UPS folks are in NY can you get us backstage passes?
Traffic
In the short time since we started this blog we've had nearly 900 hits from alums and students. A network in the making...
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Alum Profile: Jillian Blake, '02
When did you graduate from UPS?
2002
What have you been doing since graduation?
During 2002 immediately after graduation I worked on Senator Paul Wellstone's re-election campaign in Minnesota. Afterwards, I moved to Miami and to work as a project manager for a commercial real estate developer. I was initially hired for the job because it required me to deal with a lot of local elected officials for zoning purposes, but over time I moved more into the marketing side of the business. This prompted me to go back to school for my MBA at Emory University. I just finished my first year and am interning at Honeywell this summer in their marketing department.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I initially wanted to work for elected officials or on campaigns, but realized that I like the study of politics better than actually working in it. My move to Miami was pretty random, I was just looking for a new place to live and through a friend of a friend got a job in real estate. It turned out to be a great decision and gave me good experience in the for-profit business world. With this, I realized that I needed to learn basic business things like accounting, marketing, management, finance, etc in order to really succeed (Plus, I was tired of working and wanted to go back to school!).
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
I think that people are generally very interested in my undergrad choice and ask a lot of questions. It kind of has this mystique about it because a lot of people aren't really sure what it means or else enjoy poltics. Overall, I have found that most of what I learned helps me in conversations, networking, and to show people that I am generally educated about the world. What I learned about international politics and about other countries (particularly Latin America and the Middle East) have been the most helpful.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I think students should pick a major that they are passionate about, but then pair that with a minor in or take classes in business. A lot of employers have asked me what econ, marketing, accounting, finance classes I had taken in college and fortunately I took an econ and a statistics class. This was enough to get my by the interviews, but I wish that I had taken a few more general business classes for general knowledge.
Also, study abroad was the best learning experience, both about myself and academically, that I had. I strongly encourage everyone to go abroad for at least a semester.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
See above. Also, having a spanish minor has not only helped me a lot in business in Miami, but has helped me to differentiate myself to employers.
Would you like to contribute an alum profile? We would love to hear from you. There's a standard set of questions, so feel free to cut and paste those above into an email, provide as long or short of a set of answers as you would like, and send them along to poneil[at]ups[dot]edu. Pictures are also much appreciated!
2002
What have you been doing since graduation?
During 2002 immediately after graduation I worked on Senator Paul Wellstone's re-election campaign in Minnesota. Afterwards, I moved to Miami and to work as a project manager for a commercial real estate developer. I was initially hired for the job because it required me to deal with a lot of local elected officials for zoning purposes, but over time I moved more into the marketing side of the business. This prompted me to go back to school for my MBA at Emory University. I just finished my first year and am interning at Honeywell this summer in their marketing department.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I initially wanted to work for elected officials or on campaigns, but realized that I like the study of politics better than actually working in it. My move to Miami was pretty random, I was just looking for a new place to live and through a friend of a friend got a job in real estate. It turned out to be a great decision and gave me good experience in the for-profit business world. With this, I realized that I needed to learn basic business things like accounting, marketing, management, finance, etc in order to really succeed (Plus, I was tired of working and wanted to go back to school!).
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
I think that people are generally very interested in my undergrad choice and ask a lot of questions. It kind of has this mystique about it because a lot of people aren't really sure what it means or else enjoy poltics. Overall, I have found that most of what I learned helps me in conversations, networking, and to show people that I am generally educated about the world. What I learned about international politics and about other countries (particularly Latin America and the Middle East) have been the most helpful.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I think students should pick a major that they are passionate about, but then pair that with a minor in or take classes in business. A lot of employers have asked me what econ, marketing, accounting, finance classes I had taken in college and fortunately I took an econ and a statistics class. This was enough to get my by the interviews, but I wish that I had taken a few more general business classes for general knowledge.
Also, study abroad was the best learning experience, both about myself and academically, that I had. I strongly encourage everyone to go abroad for at least a semester.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
See above. Also, having a spanish minor has not only helped me a lot in business in Miami, but has helped me to differentiate myself to employers.
Would you like to contribute an alum profile? We would love to hear from you. There's a standard set of questions, so feel free to cut and paste those above into an email, provide as long or short of a set of answers as you would like, and send them along to poneil[at]ups[dot]edu. Pictures are also much appreciated!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Tacoma Florida
The News Tribune reports the following:
Richard Florida, the author and guru of turning around cities by appealing to what he calls the “creative class,” will return to
David Graybill, chamber president and CEO, said the response to
Graybill and Chamber Board President John Folsom have collected roughly two-thirds of the $150,000 in sponsor donations necessary to bring
The training will involve 25 to 30 diverse community leaders and potential leaders who will learn the metrics behind
If you’re interested in
One particularly good read there is a piece by Florida from The Atlantic on globalization and knowledge that challenges many of the arguments in Thomas Friedman’s most recent popular work, The World Is Flat.
Documentary Review:The Corporation
Professor Seth Weinberger has a review of the documentary The Corporation in the latest issue of the journal Political Communication. He has reprinted it on his blog, Security Dilemmas.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Campus Snapshot
Work on the new Science Center continues apace and will be open in fall, complete with a whale skeleton in the foyer (it's already up).
Carolyn Hern '00
Carolyn Hern '00 writes:
"If anyone needs advice on moving to Washington, DC to 'make good use' of your UPS degree in politics, feel free to send me an email. I have been working in on the Hill and on campaigns throughout the South since graduating in 2000. I'm currently the communications director for a Republican Congressman from North Carolina.
Looking forward to hearing from you!"
carolynehern[at]hotmail[dot]com
If you're in DC (as a student or alum), drop me (Professor O'Neil) a line or leave a comment on this post and let's see if we can't get folks together.
"If anyone needs advice on moving to Washington, DC to 'make good use' of your UPS degree in politics, feel free to send me an email. I have been working in on the Hill and on campaigns throughout the South since graduating in 2000. I'm currently the communications director for a Republican Congressman from North Carolina.
Looking forward to hearing from you!"
carolynehern[at]hotmail[dot]com
If you're in DC (as a student or alum), drop me (Professor O'Neil) a line or leave a comment on this post and let's see if we can't get folks together.
Monday, June 05, 2006
APSA?
Are any of our readers going to the American Political Science Association Conference? I know of at least one member of the department (Professor Haltom) and one alum who will be heading to Philadelphia in late August. If you are going to be there, or if you're an alum in the Philly area, let me know and I'll try to put you all in touch.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Consolidating Student Loans and Landing a Job
From today's Wall Street Journal. Many of their useful articles for students are archived (and available for free) at WSJ's College Journal.
A second interesting piece:
Grads, Take Note: Jobs Are Out There
By ERIN WHITE
As his college graduation approached last spring, Joseph Coster had yet to find a job. The double major in international relations and economics at Boston University had attended career fairs and searched job listings. But Mr. Coster had yet to secure the government-related, Washington, D.C., post he desired.
It is a predicament many college seniors find themselves in now. Even though the job market for college students is solid this year, plenty of seniors have yet to find something.
Career coaches advise students not to panic. The job market for graduating seniors has been steadily improving for several years, and is good this year, says Mary Schilling, director of the career center at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. "It's been creeping up the last couple of years but I feel more confident and more energized" about the job market this year, she says. Demand from consulting firms, banks, government agencies and educational organizations has been particularly strong...
Read the rest here.
Grads, Grab Loan Bargain
By KELLI B. GRANT
June 4, 2006
June 4, 2006
For new college graduates, it's a great month to dodge a financial bullet. Just get some paperwork in by June 30 and consolidate those student loans.
Miss the deadline, and student-loan rates will surge 1.84 percentage points July 1. New college grads had average student-loan debt of $19,202 in 2004, says the Education Department. So dillydallying could cost you thousands of dollars.
But if you consolidate before July 1, you can lock in a fixed rate based on the current rates on your loans. Currently, variable interest rates on so-called Stafford Loans are 4.7% if you're in the "in-school" or "grace" period, and can be consolidated at 4.75%. Loans already in repayment carry rates of 5.3%, and can be consolidated at 5.375%. PLUS loans are 6.1%, and can be consolidated at 6.125%.
To snag the lower rates, the lender must receive your paperwork by June 30...
Read the rest here.A second interesting piece:
Grads, Take Note: Jobs Are Out There
By ERIN WHITE
As his college graduation approached last spring, Joseph Coster had yet to find a job. The double major in international relations and economics at Boston University had attended career fairs and searched job listings. But Mr. Coster had yet to secure the government-related, Washington, D.C., post he desired.
It is a predicament many college seniors find themselves in now. Even though the job market for college students is solid this year, plenty of seniors have yet to find something.
Career coaches advise students not to panic. The job market for graduating seniors has been steadily improving for several years, and is good this year, says Mary Schilling, director of the career center at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. "It's been creeping up the last couple of years but I feel more confident and more energized" about the job market this year, she says. Demand from consulting firms, banks, government agencies and educational organizations has been particularly strong...
Read the rest here.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Comments are On: Say Hi
All:
I've turned on the comments for the blog after getting several requests to do so. I hope that for the time being the comments section can be a way for readers to add in their own two cents, provide input on any questions I might post, or otherwise say hello to all the other readers.
To that end, we would be happy to have people say hi to everyone else on the blog, so please leave a comment and introduce yourself.
I've turned on the comments for the blog after getting several requests to do so. I hope that for the time being the comments section can be a way for readers to add in their own two cents, provide input on any questions I might post, or otherwise say hello to all the other readers.
To that end, we would be happy to have people say hi to everyone else on the blog, so please leave a comment and introduce yourself.
The Social Life of Information
An interesting if somewhat breathless article in Fast Company on changing communications technologies (or "open social networks") and their impact on business and politics:
"In fact, it's hard to overstate the coming impact of these new network technologies on business: They hatch trends and build immense waves of interest in specific products. They serve giant, targeted audiences to advertisers. They edge out old media with the loving labor of amateurs. They effortlessly provide hyperdetailed data to marketers. If your customers are satisfied, networks can help build fanatical loyalty; if not, they'll amplify every complaint until you do something about it. They are fund-raising platforms. They unify activists of every stripe, transforming an atomized mass of individuals with few resources into an international movement able to put multinational corporations and governments on the defensive."
Read the rest here.
"In fact, it's hard to overstate the coming impact of these new network technologies on business: They hatch trends and build immense waves of interest in specific products. They serve giant, targeted audiences to advertisers. They edge out old media with the loving labor of amateurs. They effortlessly provide hyperdetailed data to marketers. If your customers are satisfied, networks can help build fanatical loyalty; if not, they'll amplify every complaint until you do something about it. They are fund-raising platforms. They unify activists of every stripe, transforming an atomized mass of individuals with few resources into an international movement able to put multinational corporations and governments on the defensive."
Read the rest here.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
A Real Discussion?
One of the positive things (if you can say that) from the problematic start up of the mailing list is that several people expressed a desire to have a real discussion list, where alums and current students could communicate back and forth. As it is set up now, the list is meant direct notices outward to subscribers, not facilitate discussion (though that wound up being the case temporarily anyway...). One possibility would be to create a separate discussion list for those who might like to communicate outside of this more narrow blog. Others have suggested turning on comments for this site so that people might post to the specific entries.
If you have specific ideas about the merits or drawbacks of any of these options, let me know.
If you have specific ideas about the merits or drawbacks of any of these options, let me know.
Road to Email Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
This week I sent out an email to many of our alums asking if they wanted to join the discussion list connected to this blog. The intention of the discussion list was to send out a weekly bulletin to let folks know what was on the blog, rather than inundating them with email.
Sadly, that's precisely what I did. An oversight on my part has led to a flurry of emails between alums, which was what I wanted to avoid, and made some folks understandably frustrated.
I hope this is resolved now. My apologies to everyone involved, and a reminder to please not reply to all those on my initial email.
p.s. Thanks to those of you who were patient with this process and expressed your support in spite of the initial difficulties.
Sadly, that's precisely what I did. An oversight on my part has led to a flurry of emails between alums, which was what I wanted to avoid, and made some folks understandably frustrated.
I hope this is resolved now. My apologies to everyone involved, and a reminder to please not reply to all those on my initial email.
p.s. Thanks to those of you who were patient with this process and expressed your support in spite of the initial difficulties.
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