Santa Clara University

Political Science Peer Advisors 2009-10

Incoming Political Science majors are paired up with an upperclass Peer Advisor in addition to their assigned faculty advisor.  In partnership with the faculty, trained Peer Advisors will work with assigned students throughout their first academic year, and help to answer academic and social questions commonly encountered.  Freshmen and transfer students are contacted by their Peer Advisors prior to their arrival on campus.

Additionally, Peer Advisors staff drop-in hours in the department office (A&S 230) to answer questions about Core and major requirements and degree progress.  Peer Advisor hours for Fall 2009 are:

Monday:  Jenna 11:00am-12:00pm; Divya 2:00pm-4:00pm
Tuesday: Marina 11:30am-1:30pm; Kevin 1:30pm-3:30pm
Wednesday: Monique 9:40am-11:40am; Amber 11:40am-1:40pm; Bridgette 1:40pm-3:40pm
Thursday: Kimberly 10:00am-12:00pm; Casandra 12:00pm-2:00pm; Jaison 2:00pm-4:00pm
Friday: Jack 11:45am-1:45pm; Megan 2:30pm-4:30pm

The Political Science Peer Advisors for 2009-10 are:

	Divya Malik is a senior from Fremont, California.  She is pursuing a double major in Psychology and Political science with an emphasis in Pre-law, and a double minor in History and Women & Gender Studies.  In her sophomore year, she was employed in an immigration law firm where she worked on compiling visas for employees in corporations.  She attended the Washington Semester Program as a junior, and was in the Public Law forum.  There she held an internship in D.C. Law Students in Court, a non profit organization that represents low income clients in landlord-tenant cases. Divya currently works for Maitri, a non profit organization that assists women of South Asian descent in domestic violence cases. Her other involvements include writing for the Santa Clara Newspaper and volunteering with the Multicultural Center.  After graduation, Divya plans to attend Law school.
	Casandra Parada is a senior majoring in Political Science with minors in Urban Education and Spanish. A San Francisco native, she hopes to pursue a career in Education, working for an inner-city district in either SF or San Jose. She interned as student policy assistant for Dr. David Lopez, one of two Latino members on the CA State Board of Education during her sophomore year. Last summer she also worked for Upward Bound, a federally funded program serving students from the East Side Union High School District in San Jose. There she was a Residential Advisor for participating students during UB's annual summer residential. She is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and Kappa Delta Pi, the political science and teaching honors societies respectively. Upon graduating, she plans on continuing her passion for education and politics by enrolling in the Credential and Masters of Education program at SCU's School of Education, Counseling Psychology, and Pastoral Ministries.
	Jack Mahoney is a senior pursuing a double degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. Originally from Wayland, Massachusetts, Jack has been interested in politics since he was in elementary school. At Santa Clara he is the Co-Chairman of the Santa Clara University College Democrats, involved in SCCAP programs, an officer of Model United Nations and has worked for the Santa Clara Ambassadors since a freshman giving tours to prospective students. The summer after his freshman year, he started an internship with the Presidential campaign of then-Senator Barack Obama in Concord, New Hampshire. He returned to SCU in January to start his sophomore year after being asked to work full time for the campaign through the end of the New Hampshire primary. He has studied abroad twice now through Santa Clara, once during the Summer of 2008 through the SCU London program - where he had an opportunity to intern with a member of the British Parliament - and again through the International Honors Program's Cities in the 21st Century in Brazil, South Africa and Vietnam during the winter and spring quarters of his junior year. He's excited to be a Political Science Peer Advisor, and when not a student Jack enjoys skiing in Tahoe, reading biographies, sipping a cup of rooibos tea, watching the Boston Red Sox and travelling the world.
	Kevin Schmitt is a senior Political Science and Religious Studies double major from Martinez, CA. He is the Club Liaison for, and former Vice President of, the Political Science Students Association (PSSA) and a member of the Political Science Honors Society. Outside of the Department, he has been an Assistant Poetry Editor for the Santa Clara Review. For two summers, he was an intern at a district office of Congressman George Miller (CA-07). He volunteered as a poll technician in the 2008 general election and worked as a Summer Organizer with Organizing for America in 2009. He participated in the Washington Semester Program in Fall 2008, studying public law in the nation's capital for several months and interning at U.S. PIRG. He plans on attending law school and practice constitutional law in the future. In his spare time (when there is any), he enjoys music - both playing and listening - video games, reading, and whatever else is interesting at the moment.
	Jenna Torosian is a senior from Fresno, California, double-majoring in Political Science and History and minoring in Italian. In Fall 2008, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy through Syracuse University. During her time there, she had an internship with a local Florentine leather shop, and assisted in the production and sale of leather goods. On campus, Jenna is on the equestrian team and is involved in the Political Science Student Association, Core Christian Fellowship, and the SCU Equestrian Club. She is interested in Russian and Eurasian Affairs, and plans to pursue a Master’s Degree after graduation.
	Megan Williams is a senior at Santa Clara University. She transferred from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY after her freshman year, and entered Santa Clara as a sophomore. She was an English major at Hartwick, and Santa Clara’s great Political Science department is a big reason why she chose to come out to sunny California! She is now a Political Science Major with a minor in AIMES (Arabic, Islamic, and Middle-Eastern Studies). She traveled abroad to London, England during the fall of her junior year through Santa Clara’s London program. During her time in London, she interned for a Member of Parliament (and got to work IN parliament!). This year she is a first-year Community Facilitator in Dunne (3rd Floor).  She hails from Hatfield, Massachusetts where she lives with her parents, brother and sister, and dog.
	Monique Teixeira is a senior majoring in Political Science and Religious Studies with a minor in German. She became interested in politics when she was a junior in high school and served as a Congressional Page for a year. In the summer of her freshman year, she worked for the Office of the Governor of California, then in the summer of her sophomore year she interned at the Santa Clara Public Defenders Office. She spent a semester of her junior year at an American University program in Washington, D.C., Cairo, and Amman, and she wrote her thesis on the politics behind the veiling of women. Then she studied in Freiburg, Germany, where she spent the summer working at the Institute for the International Education of Students. Monique has participated in the Model United Nations club at Santa Clara and is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. She loves playing basketball and traveling. After graduation, Monique plans to attend graduate school in Germany.
	Amber D'Ercole is a senior majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law. Originally from Saratoga, California, she attended Sonoma  State University for her freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Santa Clara University. She has absolutely loved the transition and shows her newly found Bronco spirit by participating as an athlete member of the Santa Clara University Cheerleading Team, where you can find her on the sidelines of every Bronco basketball game! With interests in corporate and criminal law, Amber is currently interning with the Santa Clara County Public Defenders Office working under the Juvenile Division. After graduation, Amber plans to attend a local law school with the hopes of working in the Bay Area community she was raised in and loves.
	Bridgette McMahon is a senior Political Science major and Communication minor. She is returning to Santa Clara after a year abroad, where she first spent time in London with the SCU Program, and then travelled to Washington, D.C., for Washington Semester. While participating in Washington Semester, Bridgette had an internship at Running Start, a non-profit organization devoted to engaging young women in the political process and inspiring them to one day run for political office. While on campus, she is heavily involved in department events, including the PSSA, Puffins, and the Fireside Chats. Yippee for Croquet with the Professors!
	Kimberly Aagaard is a sophomore majoring in Political Science (emphases in Pre-Law and Public Sector) and is originally from Auburn, California. She also plans to double-major in Spanish, as well as minor in both Economics and International Studies. She is excited to take advantage of the different travel opportunities at Santa Clara, such as studying abroad in Spain and also participating in the Washington Semester Program. Kimberly is also a member of the Women's Club Ultimate Frisbee Team, and loves music, movies, and playing tennis.
	Marina Gilmore is a junior Political Science major and History minor. Hailing from San Francisco, she was drawn to the political world from an early age by the issues and topics surrounding her hometown. She interned in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for the summer of 2009, where she perfected her photocopying skills, gained incredible insight into trial process and fell in love with the chaos and challenge of the criminal justice system. Marina has participated with Team in Training, is an active member of the Zeta Epsilon chapter of Delta Gamma, and enjoys baking, running, reading, and traveling.
	Jaison Mathew is a senior currently working towards and Political Science and Philosophy double-degree, and will be applying to Law School in the upcoming year. He studied "abroad" via the Washington Semester Program, where he participated in the Public Law program. He is currently working for the "Newsom for California" campaign. He hails from Sunnyvale, California (which is about ten minutes from campus) and loves SCU.