George Fox University | Academics | Departments | Political Science | Majors' Activities

Political Science Majors' Activities

The political science major at George Fox University requires that students do an internship, and we encourage students to apply for external programs, grants, and activities. Professors work with students to find internships and programs tailored to their specific interests. Many students spend a semester studying abroad at a Council of Christian Colleges and Universites (CCCU) program. Below are a few examples of internships and programs that political science majors have done, are doing, or will do.

Summer 2008

Jordan Schatz is doing an intership with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

Alex Palm is doing an internship in Israel/Palestine entitled "Israel and Palestine: An Applied Workshop in Politics and Conflict Resolution" through George Mason University's Center for Global Education.

Kaisa Kincaid is interning for the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C. 

Spring 2008

Two PSCI majors had essays published in Kalos, George Fox University’s undergraduate academic journal.  The essays are by Daniel R. Bennett “A Disputable and Dubious Decision: Examining the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jurisprudence in Locke v. Davey” and Chase Tedrow “The Myth of Marbury: The Difference of Case and Question.”  Only seven academic essays were accepted for publication.

John Griffin, Janna McKee, Rachel Perrell and Ben Anderson were members of the debate team which competed well in the OICF (Oregon Independent College Foundation) Ethics Bowl in March at Lewis & Clark College. All are PSCI majors with the exception of Ben who is an interdisciplinary major with a concentration in PSCI.

Janna McKee completed an internship with Medical Teams International.

Chase Tedrow completed an internship with the Oregon Right to Life.

Fall 2007

Tommy Beyea was a Mark O. Hatfield intern for Senator Gordon Smith in his Washington, D.C., office.

Deanne Kastine worked as an intern for the Republican Governors Association in Washington, D.C.

Summer 2007

Kaisa Kincaid interned in Washington, D.C., for Congress member Greg Walden, Second District Oregon.

Daniel Bennett received a Richter Scholar's grant to study the political philosopher John Rawls.

Ryan Farley was a Mark O. Hatfield intern for Senator Gordon Smith in his Washington, D.C., office.

Spring 2007

Amanda Charloux attended the Republican League's Dorchester in March.

Daniel Bennett spent the semester at the CCCU's American Studies program in Washington, D.C. He interned with the Center for American Progress's Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative.

Fall 2006

Thomas Edwards was a White House intern in Washington, D.C.

Brianna Fredericks was a Mark O. Hatfield intern for Senator Gordon Smith in his Washington, D.C., office.

Amanda Stone participated in an Intercollegiate Studies Institute colloquium entitled "Totalitarianism: The Great Terror and the Gulag." The seminar was held in Richmond, Virginia.

Summer 2006

Daniel Bennett participated in an all-expense paid week long Institute for Humane Studies seminar "Exploring Liberty: Freedom and the Pioneer Spirit" at Princeton University.

Amanda Stone interned for an attorney in Sacramento, California.

Yoshie Matsunami interned for Representative Hiroko Nakano.

Brandon Wilson interned for the Oregon Senate's Republican Office.

Spring 2006

Kristen Rhoades interned with the Marion County District Attorney.

Deanne Kastine attended the Republican League's Dorchester in March. She also interned for Jason Atkinson's gubernatorial campaign.

Travis Shafer was rewarded for his excellence as the Outstanding Political Science Major for 2006.

Fall 2005

Travis Shafer served as the GFU Student Body President for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Summer 2005

Madeline Herman interned this summer with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Blakely Spillar interned with Project Vote Smart.

Travis Shafer was a Mark O. Hatfield intern for Senator Gordon Smith in his Washington, D.C., office.

Spring 2005

Samuel Greene and Paul Southwick were awarded for their excellence as the Outstanding Political Science majors for 2005.

Ryan Pace interned for Greg Smith, Assistant Majority Leader, Oregon House of Representatives.

Kenan Butler had an internship for Kim Thatcher, Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Sarah Grabner was an intern for Yamhill County Crime Victim Services.

Fall 2004

Matt Smith was an intern with the O'Donnell and Clark law firm.

Brianna Fredericks interned with the national organization Bush Victory 2004. She was responsible for Bush efforts at 7 colleges and universities in Oregon.

Michelle Forbes was an intern for Suzanne Gallagher, Republican candidate for Oregon House of Representatives.

Arial Wilcox was elected president of the College Republicans chapter at George Fox University.

Samuel Greene received the Hazel Steinfeldt Peace Studies Scholarship.

Ryan Pace attended the Christian College and University Consortium program in Spain.

Robbie Bletscher interned for Bush/Cheney of Oregon.

Matthew Smith and Rockelle Smith interned for the Bush/Cheney Steering Committee of Yamhill County.

Summer 2004

Paul Southwick was awarded a prestigious Witherspoon Fellowship. For information on this wonderful Washington, D.C., based program (which comes with free housing and a stipend), visit The Family Research Council

Travis Shafer interned in Washington, D.C., for Congress member Greg Walden, Second District Oregon.

Samuel Greene was accepted for an internship with the U.S. Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua, Political Section.

Paul Southwick received a Richter Scholar's grant to compare abortion policies in America, England, and Spain. The grant provided a generous stipend and covers expenses for a trip to Spain to do field research.

Spring 2004

Matt Smith was an intern for Jason Meshell, candidate in the republican primary for Oregon's First Congressional District.

Brianna Fredericks interned for Lars Larson, political talk show host.

Paul Southwick spent the semester at CCCU's Oxford program.

Samuel Greene was also at CCCU's Oxford program for the semester.

Luke Welbourn and Nicholas McIntyre interned with Goli Ameri, candidate in the Republican primary, First Congressional District of Oregon.

Daniel Cabe was an intern for Phil Yount, candidate for the Republican nomination for Oregon House District 35.

Fall 2003

Carrie Pattison won the 2002-2003 Lawrence Skene Memorial Peace Studies contest for her essay "America at War: Alarming Trends."

Nicholas McIntyre interned with Goli Ameri, candidate in the Republican primary, First Congressional District of Oregon.

Rachel Sparks spent the semester at CCCU's Oxford program.

Kaisa Carlson worked as an intern at the Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management.

Paul Southwick and Travis Shafer helped found and lead a College Republicans chapter at George Fox University. As their first activity they raised over $250 for Iraqi children.

Brianna Fredericks was appointed Communications Director for the Oregon College Republicans.

The Pi Sigma Alpha chapter at George Fox co-sponsored a political science internship seminar and a meeting with a representative from the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Summer 2003

Samuel Greene received a Richter Scholar's grant to study education reform in Italy. The grant provided a generous stipend and covered expenses for a trip to Italy to do field research.

Paul Southwick was an intern at the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Sparks received a Richter Scholar's grant to study Louisa McCord, an important antebellum political economist. She focused on her pro-slavery arguments. The grant provided a generous stipend and covered expenses associated with her research.

Susanne Cordner received a Richter Scholar's grant to study church-state relations in early 20th century Oregon. The grant provided a generous stipend and covered expenses associated with her research.

Sarah Grabner interned at the Yamhill County District Attorney's office.

Rachel Sparks interned at the Washington County Clerk's office in Cowlitz.

Spring 2003

Caitlin Lacy spent the semester at the CCCU's American Studies program in Washington, D.C. She completed an internship at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Carrie Pattison interned with the Yamhill County Peer Court through the McMinnville Police Department.

Stephanie Steinhorst was an intern for Representative Patti Smith in the Oregon State Legislature.

Political Science majors started a George Fox University chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for political science.

Fall 2002

Carrie Pattison participated in the CCCU's Middle East Program in Cairo, Egypt.

Summer 2002

Marilee Jolin completed an internship at World Vision in Seattle, Washington.