2019 alumni, Ryan Oberlag, is in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program at American University.
“Intent on a career in acting, I began my time with Missouri State as a theatre major, much to my mother’s chagrin. Eventually she would talk me out of this and to pursue my 2nd choice of political science since, as she said, “no matter which route I took, I would still be lying to people”. This change would eventually prove to be extremely beneficial as I followed my passion and found my place (as they used to say). I am forever grateful to everyone at the Political Science Department for preparing me for graduate school and the current fellowship I have.
With a track focused on international relations, I sought out every single course being offered by Dr. Leinweber. I still remember dressing up as a mad scientist and handing out my “radioactive” cupcakes to give a class presentation on the International Atomic Energy Agency. Her classes, along with Dr. Romano and Dr. Palacios, prepared me for the rigorous work and frequent discussion that is needed in graduate school. In those first days of graduate school I was nervous that I would not be as prepared as some of my cohorts who were coming from elite east coast schools. Fortunately, I proved myself wrong as I was able to draw on the experience and knowledge I had learned from the Political Science Department.
The payoffs received from these professors would expand beyond the classroom setting. In my first semester I was elected as the community development coordinator for American University’s School of International Service. In this position I was able to develop special events where I would be in contact with high profile people and organizations such as the embassy of Uzbekistan.
More recently I was given a fellowship with the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA). After participating in Model UN throughout my entire college career, I have been able to utilize the knowledge I learned from that hands-on experience into my fellowship. With UNA-NCA I help with the advocacy department where my duties include, but are not limited to, creating articles, assisting with ongoing projects, drafting policy memos, and meeting with congressional members to advocate for closer US-UN relations.
My time at Missouri State with the Political Science Department was able to bestow upon me the needed skills to become successful in my graduate career and the beginnings of my career in international relations. I am so lucky to have had the support I had from all my wonderful professors and can’t wait to advance further with the education I received from MSU.”