What have you been up to since you graduated? (Applying to/attending graduate school, working a job, etc.)

I graduated in Spring 2021 with a B.S. in Political Science. After graduation, I briefly worked for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as an intern in the department of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs before moving to Pittsburgh, PA to begin my Master of Science in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University. Before classes started, I got to attend the Hoover Institution’s Summer Policy Boot Camp at Stanford University – where I got to hear 20 public policy professionals speak about their areas of expertise and meet young professionals from around the world. In the coming weeks, I will begin working for US Senator Pat Toomey. 

How did your degree in social science help inform your path?

Getting a degree in political science allowed me to develop the research skills necessary to conduct sophisticated policy analysis, while providing me the flexibility to gain applied political experiences. Exploring this intersection of the theoretical and practical has been essential to my success thus far in my career. More specifically, the RIBC program helped refine my desire to work at a think tank, while the social science scholars program helped me develop my leadership skills. 

What is your favorite memory or spot on campus?

My favorite memory at Florida State was getting the opportunity to watch a football game in the President’s Box. An organization I was involved with had a ticket and asked me if I wanted to go, so it was completely unexpected and, consequently, that much more memorable. 

Source for featured image: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chastonpfingston