May 2020
Congratulations to this year's Social Science Scholars Program graduates! These students have worked extremely hard to earn their undergraduate degrees, and despite the challenges and setbacks of the current COVID-19 crisis, are going to continue accomplishing amazing things and changing the world. Join us in celebrating these outstanding Scholars!
Brett Binkowski
Brett will be graduating with a degree in History and Global and International Studies. After graduating, he will be joining Teach For America and accepted a position in Kansas City.
"At MSU in particular, I most enjoyed helping to found the Social Science Discussion Forum (a registered student organization that allows students to debate and present research among peers) alongside a few other Social Science Scholars," reflects Brett.
Charlie Booher
Charlie will be graduating with a dual degree in Public Policy and Fisheries & Wildlife and will be heading to the University of Montana in fall to earn his Master's degree.
Grant Burton
Grant is graduating with a degree in both Psychology and Forestry.
"The mindset Dr. Waller and Jenn Arbogast imparted on me in those early days is one that has benefitted me in my non-social science major, benefits me through this quarantine, and will continue to benefit me the rest of my life. The value of this program and the opportunities it offers are beyond calculation, and I am forever proud and grateful to have been a part of it."
Jackie Kosmas
Jackie will be graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. In the fall, she will be attending the Masters of Arts of Social Sciences Program with a concentration in Psychology at the University of Chicago.
Najma Muhammad
Najma is graduating with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning. In the Fall, she will stay in East Lansing to complete a Master's degree at Michigan State.
"My favorite part about being in the Scholars program was the support from Dr. Waller, Jenn, and my cohort," says Najma.
Haley Nash
Haley is graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Leadership Organizations. This fall, she will be joining MSU's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations to earn her Master's degree, and will additionally be working as a research assistant.
"My favorite part of being in the scholars program was the opportunity to be part of a small community at MSU and the unique experience of publishing my own research," says Haley.
Allie Pail
Allie is graduating with a degree in History and Comparative Culture and Politics. She will be heading to the University of Oxford in the Fall to being working toward a Master's Degree in Refugees and Forced Migration Studies.
"My favorite part of being in the Scholars Program is the sense of community between everyone involved with the program," says Allie.
Astley Siwela
Astley will be graduating with a degree in Political Science and Economics.
"I would be amiss if I said that being part of the Social Science Scholars Program wasn’t the defining feature of my years here at the university. In no other environment have I had my ideas and prejudices about the world challenged and have been inculcated into thinking a lot more meaningfully and critically about things," says Astley.