USD Political Science and International Relations

Cheers to all of our incredible seniors 🎓

Thank you all for the passion and hard work you brought to our department over the years. We are proud of all you have accomplished and cannot wait to see what comes next. Wishing you every success in your next chapter! Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎉🍾

Meet our next Senior Spotlight: Tanner Blackington 💙

As a Political Science major, Tanner brought a positive mindset and genuine kindness to our department community. He never limited himself when it came to new opportunities and always approached challenges with confidence and an open mind.

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, Tanner, and excited to see what’s ahead for you. Congratulations! 🎉🎓

Meet our next Senior Spotlight: Aastha Saha, whose impact on our department will be felt long after graduation 💙

For the past four years, Aastha has been a familiar and dependable presence in the Political Science office, always ready to support both students and faculty with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Whether it was helping behind the scenes or stepping up whenever something needed to get done, Aastha approached everything with care, professionalism, and determination.

We’re incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done, Aastha. Your presence in the office will truly be missed, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things ahead for you. Congratulations! 🎉🎓

Congratulations to our graduating seniors who were recognized at this year’s 2026 Undergraduate Honors Convocation! The Department is proud to celebrate Ashley, Ethan, Drew, Salome, and Maddie, who received Academic Excellence Awards for outstanding achievement in Political Science and International Relations. We commend your dedication to academic excellence, and can’t wait to celebrate you at graduation! 🎓👏

Meet our next Senior Spotlight: Karin Bishay, who truly made her mark in her own way 💙

As a Political Science major, Karin made the most of her time here by approaching every opportunity with a thoughtful perspective, always willing to grow and challenge herself along the way.

We also want to wish Karin a big congratulations for getting into law school! With a strong foundation behind her, we know she’s ready to take on the new challenge!

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, Karin. Congratulations! 🎉🎓

We loved connecting with our new majors during our PSIR Ice Cream Social! 🍦We look forward to seeing you at all of our future events. Remember to stay connected with the department through our newsletter 🍨❣️

Shining light to our next Senior Spotlight… Sam D’Antonio!

As a Political Science/International Relations student, he brought thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose to everything he did. From his time in the SYE program, traveling to Florence and forming lasting friendships,Sam made the most of every opportunity.

He’s especially grateful for mentors like Dr. Miura and Dr. Shelby, who supported him along the way and helped shape his academic journey. Next up, Sam plans to return home to coach wrestling while applying to graduate programs and continuing his path forward.

We’re so proud of all he’s accomplished. Congratulations, can’t wait to see where you go next! 🎉🎓

If you need to take a summer class, consider registering for POLS 444: Law and Popular Culture! Even though online registration for summer courses has ended, you can still register for this class through the Torero Hub. We highly encourage any student that is interested to register for this class, as you won’t want to miss out! Visit the Torero Hub in UC 126 for more information 📚💙

Keeping the momentum going with our next Senior Spotlight… Isabella Sevilla! 💙

If you’ve been to any of the guest speaker lectures with the Alexander Hamilton Society, you can thank Isabella for their great success! As a Political Science major, Isabella brought her own perspective and energy into everything she did. She approached her time here with curiosity and intention, and never afraid to take on what came her way. Her journey reflects growth, confidence, and a clear sense of who she is and where she’s headed.

We’re so proud of all she’s accomplished and can’t wait to see what she does next. Congratulations, Isabella can’t wait to see where you go next! 🎉🎓

Happy National Student Employment Week! 💙

We are so grateful for our amazing student assistants who help keep the Political Science and History offices running smoothly every day. Huge thank you to Aastha, Michelle, Catalina and Carolina for your hard work, reliability, and positive energy. Our EA and faculty would be lost without you. We truly appreciate all that you do! 🌟🤩