Political Science Department and Pre-Law Program Engage Alumni to Mentor Students

October 25, 2022

A Hawks in Flight Feature

The political science department and pre-law program are creating numerous opportunities this semester for students to connect with alumni, for alumni to engage with the college and share their expertise with students, and for students to engage in meaningful intellectual inquiry and career exploration.

Already this fall, the collaboration has organized:

A law school prep session and introduction to Hartwick Mock Trial Club, featuring Chris DiDonna ‘11, Otsego County first assistant district attorney and Hartwick College adjunct professor.
A legal career lunch and open house, featuring Justice Troy Johnstone ’16. Troy also gave a talk about his experience running for, winning, and serving as Liberty, NY, Town Justice.
A presentation by Otsego County Court Attorney Mark Oursler, who spoke about the role of Otsego County Court in New York’s Unified Court System. Joining him was Cara Dugan ’22, paralegal in the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office. The pair also participated in a legal career lunch and open house.
A Constitution Day celebration, featuring judicial politics expert Professor Wendy L. Martinek of SUNY Binghamton, who spoke about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.
A political science and pre-law alumni event during True Blue Weekend.
An information session on the New York State Senate Assistant Program, featuring former New York State Senator James Seward ’73.
A guest lecture by Alexis Epstein ’18, who discussed her work in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office.

This week, Lt. Colonel and Professor Geoffrey Corn ’83, chair of criminal justice law and director of the Center on Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech, is returning to Hartwick on Thursday and Friday, October 27 and 28, to engage with students in multiple classes and a variety of settings. His visit culminates in a community-wide address – War Crimes in the Conflict in Ukraine – on October 28 at 3:30 p.m. in Shineman Chapel House.

“The Political Science Department was especially excited to gear our events this year toward alumni engagement,” says Professor of Political Science and Pre-Law Advisor Matt Chick. “Our alums often offer the clearest vision for how the intellectual engagement in the classroom connects to every experience outside of it.”

There is more to come. On Tuesday November 8, Lisa Bailey Vavonese ’03, director of research-practice strategies at the Center for Court Innovation in New York City will join us on campus as a guest speaker and participant in a legal career lunch and open house. She will discuss her work, which focuses on elevating public defense and the role of the Center for Court Innovation.