Political Science Department
Contact Us:
- Dr. Michael Allison, Chair
- Political Science Department
- O'Hara Hall
- Scranton, PA 18510
- The University of Scranton
- Phone: 570.941.4392
- Fax: 570.941.6485
- michael.allison@scranton.edu
Emily Carey '26
Why did you choose Scranton?
I chose Scranton because of the academic programs offered here, the welcoming community atmosphere, and because the scholarship I received made it financially feasible.
What do you like about the political science or public policy and service major?
I really appreciate the relationships that I have been able to cultivate with other students and professors. The department feels very close-knit and professors genuinely take an interest in getting to know each and every student.
I also enjoy learning from each of their varied areas of expertise, and have found that the faculty are all great resources for learning about political science topics even beyond class content. I have found many unique educational opportunities through the department, such as completing research on asylum cases with Dr. Allison and completing a European Union simulation in Washington, DC, with Dr. Van Dyke.
What are your extracurricular activities?
I am a Student Government Senator for the Class of 2026. I am the Secretary of the College Democrats Club. I am an editor on the Esprit, the University's literary magazine. I am a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. I am on the Women's Club Rugby team.
I am in the University Honors Program and the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program, and with SJLA, I was in charge of planning of our annual charity Coffeehouse fundraiser and merchandise sale. I did a service trip to Kino Border Initiative through the center for Service and Social Justice.
I also am a note-taker through the Office of Student Support and Success. This semester, I have a fellowship for Congressman Matt Cartwright's congressional campaign. I am also a member of the Pre-Law Society and Philosophy Society.
Tell us about your internship experiences.
Over the summer, I interned with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office in New Brunswick, New Jersey. There, I worked alongside Assistant Prosecutors to prepare cases for trial, write Grand Jury Indictments, and observe court cases. I gained valuable insight into workings of the criminal justice system, came to understand the job of a prosecutor, and was familiarized with the New Jersey legal code and how litigation works.
This semester, I have the Fellowship with Congressman Matt Cartwright's re-election campaign. I am a Community Organizing Fellow, which means that I recruit volunteers for the campaign, complete campaign tasks such as phone-banking and door-to-door canvassing, and oversee canvass launches on weekends, organizing and managing up to a hundred volunteers in a day.
What research are you doing at Scranton?
I have done two semesters of research through the Faculty Student Research Program, I worked with Dr. Allison to do research on country conditions in El Salvador and Guatemala to compile information for expert witness testimony on immigration asylum cases.
My senior year, I will also be completing my own research for my Honors Program thesis, and it will likely be in the area of international policy.
How has the political science or public policy and service major prepared you for the real world?
My Public Policy & Service major, in conjunction with courses I have taken in other disciplines, has given me a well-rounded view of how the world works, specifically how government policy impacts people's lives. Public Policy allows me to connect ideas discussed in philosophy, religion, and even English courses with current events, and gives me context for how to interpret the world.
I have also used knowledge learned in courses in my internship experiences, especially in my campaign work, as I am able to intelligently engage in conversations about the real-world impact of government policies.