 Masha Kharchik
In the spring of 2023, I received an acceptance letter from the CSULB Department of Political Science, and it was a game changer. I always knew that I wanted to do global research and pursue a master’s degree and our department has made this possible. Without the support of the department, it would have been impossible for me as an international student to study in the USA. Here I have already completed 5 classes in Global Studies & LPP. The class design and approach of each professor are unique, which makes the program interdisciplinary. I want to highlight my work as a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Goldstein, Dr. Wright, and Dr. DeWitt, which has given me extremely valuable professional experience. Research is an important part of our POSC department too. Since I am doing my research on food security, it was important for me to participate in the food security committee at the inaugural CSULB MUN conference organized by Dr. Yildiz & the MUN Club; I was proud to represent the department with a report on food security at the CSUF Royce International Affairs Symposium, and was happy to join my colleagues for a Western Political Science 2024 in Vancouver where I presented a paper about biopolitics. I hope that completing our program will lead me to the next step in academia.
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 Aesha Mahmoud
In 2018 I began my undergraduate career at CSULB, passionate about politics and its ties to local and global communities. After a tumultuous few semesters amid the global pandemic, I decided to pursue the master’s program at CSULB after graduating in 2021 with a BA in Political Science. The support and sense of community around me in the department made me realize the unique space we have right here on campus where I can be challenged to build on my knowledge and grow intellectually. As I move through the MA program, I plan on delving deeper into the topics that interest me while inserting my perspective of living and growing up in Cairo, Egypt during the Arab Spring. This experience has made me passionate about political and social movements, comparative politics, and the role U.S. politics plays in the global system. Beyond the MA program I hope to work as a community college instructor to be able to instill a sense of global citizenship for Southern California youth, allowing them to gain a wider perspective of their role in their communities and in the world. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a graduate assistant while in the MA program helping me prepare for that role in the future. I also hope to be involved in advocacy and community organizing as I am interested in the on-the-ground work necessary to progress the field beyond its place in academia.
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 Jacqueline “Jac” Rouillard
Over the years, the strain and polarization of the public became ever more apparent, so I decided to start studying Political Science and become civically engaged in hopes of understanding what I saw and felt was happening. During my undergraduate career at UC Irvine, where I was a transfer student from El Camino College, I took courses that further sparked my interest in American institutions and how the overall structure and time management of the people within them can affect elite political behavior and, thus, public opinion, social movements, and elections. Pursuing a master’s degree at CSULB was a natural next step in my academic career since I had heard great things about the program. The M.A. program has provided me with community and a more profound knowledge of my areas of interest in the field. Beyond the program, I plan to continue to pursue my areas of interest and apply the knowledge gained within my academic and professional career in higher education. I am thankful for the opportunities and mentorship provided by the political science department and faculty at CSULB.
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Graduate students (POSC 600) having an outdoors meeting with Dr. Charles Mahoney.