Career Pathways in Political Science Event

Katharine Zamboni, Attorney-Advisor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Katharine (Kate) Zamboni is an attorney with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of General Counsel, in St. Petersburg, Florida. In her current role, Kate counsels the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office. She assists the agency, implement its statutory responsibilities to protect and conserve marine species under the Endangered Species Act, and to sustainably manage our nation’s fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  She is also an adjunct professor of law at Stetson University School of Law, where she teaches a course entitled Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy. Prior to joining NOAA’s Office of General Counsel, Kate was a government lawyer for Manatee County Government, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior.  In addition to her experience as a government lawyer, Kate was a policy analyst for the National Wildlife Federation and an associate at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, DC. Kate received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond in 1994, with a major in Political Science and a minor in Speech Communications. She received her Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law in 1999. She is also a certified Les Mills instructor for BodyPump™, BodyStep™ and LM Core™.

Jessica D. Aber, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

Jessica D. Aber was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) until January 20, 2025.  Ms. Aber was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on August 10, 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on October 5, 2021.  She led an office of over 300 criminal prosecutors, civil litigators, support staff, and contract personnel in Alexandria, Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk, Virginia.  Ms. Aber began her service to EDVA in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, taking on a variety of financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases.  Prior to joining EDVA, Ms. Aber was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP and clerked for then-United States Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Ms. Aber received her J.D. from William & Mary Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond with majors in Political Science and Criminal Justice.

Shuwen Lin, Law Student at Duke University School of Law

Shuwen Lin is a 2021 University of Richmond graduate who majored in Political Science and Economics. She expects to get her Juris Doctor degree at Duke University in 2025. At Duke Law, she served as the Vice President of Duke Law Health Law Society and is an active student worker for the Health Justice Clinic at Duke Law. Upon graduation, she will join Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, an international law firm, in their New York City office. She expects to practice in the area of corporate law with a focus on banking and finance. Shuwen was born and raised in China. Before attending Duke Law, she worked at a law firm, a think tank, and as a private tutor in China.

Donald Pollard, Legislative Director at the U.S. House of Representatives

Donald Pollard is the Legislative Director for Representative Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), where he leads efforts on a range of policy areas including financial services, commerce, telecommunications, judiciary, and defense. In this capacity, Donald plays a key role in shaping legislative strategy and advancing priorities for the Congresswoman's office.

Prior to joining Representative McClellan’s team, Donald served in the office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, where he held multiple positions, lastly serving as Policy Advisor. During his tenure, he was responsible for key portfolios such as commerce, appropriations, and judicial and criminal justice issues, helping to advance significant legislative initiatives.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Donald earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond in 2016 and a master’s degree in Public Administration from American University in 2019.

Byongho Lee, Higher Education Consulting Analyst

Byongho Lee is a 2018 University of Richmond Political Science alum. He recently obtained his Master of Education, Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University. He currently works as a Higher Education Consulting Analyst at Huron in Chicago, Illinois. His areas of interest include higher education policy, digital strategy, and career counseling.

Kevin Farrelly, Manager of Economic Competitiveness at Virginia Economic Development Partership 

Kevin Farrelly is a public policy professional with over 12 years of experience in Virginia and Washington, DC, spanning economic development, government relations, and politics. Currently, he serves as Manager of Economic Competitiveness at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the state authority that works to attract and grow businesses here in the Commonwealth. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Richmond, an MPP from the University of Virginia, and began his career as a Virginia Governor’s Fellow.

Virginia Sun, Master in City Planning Candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Virginia is an urbanist based in the Master in City Planning program at MIT. She researches and works on informal settlement assistance in Latin America at the intersection of anthropologically informed design and policy advocacy. Previously, she conducted informal settlement research in Istanbul, Turkey as a 2023-2024 Fulbright Scholar. She also worked as a civil servant at the U.S. Treasury Department's International Affairs team, where she shaped U.S. public policy on International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank funding to Caribbean countries. In this capacity, she served as the U.S. Treasury Representative to the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Richmond.

Sharon Lim (she/her), Director of Survivor Programming FreeFrom

Sharon Lim is the director of survivor programming at FreeFrom. She has been working towards creating a more equitable society since her work with incarcerated youth in Richmond, VA. Upon graduation from the University of Richmond, she returned to her hometown, Los Angeles, where she has been working alongside marginalized communities to demand equity and reclaim agency. At FreeFrom, she leads survivor programming, building community and capacity with survivors of gender-based violence. She is an expert in financial capacity building with survivors and has presented nationally to nonprofit organizations, coalitions, and government agencies. Sharon is a 2016 Political Science and American Studies alum, holds an MA in Political Science, and is pursuing an MS in Counseling. 

Jeffrey Lowe, Centralized Follow-Up Manager at the Viriginia League for Planned Parenthood

Jeffrey Lowe WC ’20 serves as the Centralized Follow-Up Manager at the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, where he leads a team of clinicians, RNs, and unlicensed staff to complete all patient notifications for the Greater Richmond Metro Area and Hampton Roads.

Jeffrey is dedicated to combating stigma and expanding access to gender-affirming care. With a thoughtful and strategic approach, he integrates mindfulness techniques into his work to create a workplace culture where his staff is able to tap into their own strengths and show up as their best self at work. Outside of his professional pursuits, Jeffrey enjoys visiting breweries, honing his culinary skills, and getting lost in a great book. 

Jeremy Adler, Senior Vice President at Upland Workshop based in New York City

Jeremy Adler is an accomplished communications strategist who has served in the top levels of politics and government and has experience working in the most high-profile media environments. For the past five years, he has been former Congresswoman Liz Cheney's most senior communications advisor. He began working closely with her as Communications Director for the House Republican Conference when Rep. Cheney served as Chair of the Conference, then continued with her as her Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications following her vote to impeach President Donald Trump and during her service on the House January 6th Select Committee. In this capacity, he developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy that positioned Rep. Cheney as a national defender of democracy and an acclaimed public servant, leading the New York Times to refer to her as "the most consequential rank-and-file member of Congress in modern times." In addition to the Times, Adler has been quoted by CNN, The Washington Post, Fox News, Axios, Bloomberg, and more. Prior to joining Rep. Cheney, Adler worked for House Speaker Paul Ryan and served as the top communications staffer on the Speaker's political team. He has also held communications roles on several political campaigns, including Marco Rubio's presidential campaign and two of Scott Brown's campaigns for U.S. Senate. Adler is a native of Sharon, MA and graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2015 with degrees in Political Science and Rhetoric and Communication Studies.  

Franklin Borre, Digital Strategist, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Franklin Borre is a 2022 graduate of the University of Richmond who double majored in political science and leadership studies. During his time at UR, Franklin developed an interest in working in politics by volunteering and interning with several political campaigns and organizations, including the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020. After graduating, he moved to Washington, DC to work for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where he is a member of their digital fundraising team.

Madeleine Burke, Senior Manager

Madeleine Burke is a Senior Manager at Narrative Strategies who develops written collateral, executes strategic communications campaigns, and briefs and pitches the media for her clients. Prior to joining Narrative, Madeleine interned for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation as a Security Affairs Intern in Berlin, Germany, with State Senator Tommy Norment, and the Personal Care Products Council. Madeleine graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration.

Isabelle Drayer, Government Affairs Associate, Vogel Group

Isabelle Drayer graduated from University of Richmond in 2022 majoring in Political Science and LALIS. After graduation, she spent a year on a Fulbright grant living and working in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. While in Spain, she interned with a Spanish NGO and helped with job placement for female refugees. After returning from Spain, she started working for the Vogel Group, a bipartisan government relations and lobbying firm based in DC. Her work centers on issues related to foreign direct investment, cybersecurity, and the clean energy space. 

Elijah Michel, Communications Associate, Center for Justice Innovation

Elijah Michel is a Class of 2023 graduate with a B.A. in Political Science. Originally specializing in poverty and social welfare studies, he now works in communications at the Center for Justice Innovation, a justice reform and community development non-profit in New York City. His day-to-day responsibilities include executing digital communications projects and supporting creative direction and events. Outside of work, he semi-professionally continues his love for dance, acting, and singing that he cultivated during his years at UR, and enjoys finally having money to spend on Beyoncé, clothes, and Chic-Fil-A.

 

Luis Parrales, Assistant Editor, the Dispatch

Luis Parrales is an assistant editor at The Dispatch. He is also a contributing editor at American Purpose and an MA in Liberal Arts candidate in the Graduate Institute at St. John’s College in Annapolis. 

Prior to joining The Dispatch, Luis worked at the American Enterprise Institute, first as an Academic Programs Senior Associate, and then as a Research Associate in Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies. In 2022 he received a travel grant from the Mercatus Center's Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange to write an essay comparing racial attitudes in the U.S. and Mexico. 

His writing has appeared in The Dispatch, American Purpose, Persuasion, and Public Discourse, and he is the former co-host of the podcast “Panorama: on politics, Latinos, and conservatism.” A Mexico City transplant, he graduated from the University of Richmond in 2018 and lives in Arlington, VA.

 

Carter Quinley,  International Affairs Specialist, US Department of Labor

Carter Quinley is an International Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking. Carter has more than 15 years’ experience with the counter-trafficking movement. She believes in harnessing the power of partnership, having worked with non-governmental, governmental, and multilateral organizations across Asia to address child and forced labour. Carter helped to develop Freedom Collaborative, a global online platform to connect the anti trafficking community and has also served as Strategic Partnerships Director at LIFT International, a non-profit organization providing access to justice for survivors of trafficking and child sexual exploitation. She previously taught as a part-time faculty member at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, and serves on the board of The Freedom Story, an organization preventing human trafficking through education.

Lauren Taflinger, Management and Program Analyst, US Department of Justice

Lauren Taflinger is a Management and Program Analyst at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ms. Taflinger Graduated from the University of Richmond in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Leadership Studies. She then completed her Certificate of Intelligence Studies with a concentration in Strategic Warning Analysis at the National Intelligence University and is currently completing her Master’s in Security Studies at Georgetown. After undergraduate, she completed the Honors Internship at the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center and has been with the FBI for 9 years. Ms. Taflinger has worked a variety of matters including translation and deployment, weapons of mass destruction, violence reduction, counter terrorism and drug cartels.

Lina Tori Jan, Afghanistan Policy Lead, Georgetown Institute For Women, Peace, and Security

Lina Tori Jan is a social entrepreneur, public speaker, and advocate for equality and human rights, with a focus on the rights of women, girls, and refugees. She currently leads the implementation of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security’s Afghanistan initiative, Onward for Afghan Women, elevating and supporting Afghan women leaders with opportunities to continue their advocacy on behalf of Afghan women and girls. Shaped by her experiences as an Afghan woman raised in Afghanistan, Lina has worked around the globe with companies, NGOs, and governments, assisting in their efforts to create a more just society. She also serves on the Board of RefugePoint, an international NGO that supports refugees in more than 30 countries, and as an Advisor to the Oxford Character Project, lending expertise in values-based leadership. Lina holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies and Political Science from the University of Richmond.

Maxwell Bernstein, Communications manager at Defi Education Fund

Max Bernstien serves as the DeFi Education Fund’s (DEF) communications manager and is responsible for the development and execution of all aspects of DeFi’s integrated communications strategy. Prior to joining the Fund, Max spent five years as an in-house communications consultant, serving clients in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Max has experience working with companies in finance and fintech, healthcare, and automotives, advising clients on issues such as pending legislation, DOJ investigations, and mergers and acquisitions. Max holds a B.A. in PPEL from the University of Richmond (‘17).

Emily Churchill, Senior Researcher at ORB International

Emily Churchill is a 2019 graduate of the University of Richmond who studied International Studies (now Global Studies), Spanish, and Women’s Studies. Emily’s research interests are focused on Latin America, public health, and conflict resolution. She currently works as a Senior Researcher at ORB International in Charlottesville, VA, a research agency that specializes in hard to reach populations, complex environments, and conflict affected areas in over 115 countries. She has been at ORB International for over a year

Kyungsun Lee, Program Manager, Guaranteed Income at Economic Security Project

Kyungsun Lee is a 2016 University of Richmond Political Science and Social Entrepreneurship alum. She recently obtained her Master of Social Work, Social and Economic development, and Policy Specialization from the Washington University of St. Louis. She currently works as Program Manager for Guaranteed Income at the Economic Security Project in St. Louis, Missouri. Her areas of interest include developing policies, ideas, and campaigns that promote equity, justice, and liberation.

Anna Lowenthal, Chief of Staff of the Office of Communications for the U.S. Surgeon General

Anna Lowenthal is a graduate from the class of 2019 who majored in Rhetoric and Communication Studies and Political Science. She has experience in political communications, speechwriting, operations, and engagement in the private and public sector. She worked as a press intern and fellow in the US House of Representatives and currently serves as the Chief of Staff for Communications in the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States under the Department of Health and Human Services.

Carter Quinley, International Affairs Specialist at U.S. Department of Labor

A 2011 graduate, Carter Quinley has over 10 years experience with the anti-human trafficking movement, having worked with non-governmental, governmental, and multilateral organizations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe to address child and forced labor. Carter helped to develop the Freedom Collaborative, an online platform bringing together stakeholders from around the world to end human trafficking. She also served as Strategic Partnerships Director at a non-profit organization in Thailand providing access to justice for survivors of trafficking and child sexual exploitation. She is a part-time faculty member at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, and serves on the board of The Freedom Story, an organization preventing human trafficking through education. She holds a Master of International Policy and Practice from George Washington University.

Ryan Rinn, Economic Development Businesses Services Manager at City of Richmond

Ryan Rinn graduated in 2004 from the University of Richmond where he studied Rhetoric and Communication Studies alongside Political Science. In 2012 he got his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has over ten years of experience in urban planning and community development and now works for the City of Richmond as the Economic Development Business Services Manager under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

Robert Ryan Jr., Consultant at Rock Health

Robert Ryan Jr. is a University of Richmond graduate from the class of 2019 who studied Political Science and Economics. His interests are healthcare innovation, digital health, and hospital strategy. Rock Health Advisory’s mission is to encourage companies to adopt cutting-edge digital technologies in health. As a consultant for Rock Health, Robert helps industry leaders build and scale up innovations that make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and equitable. He also has experience leading market research and customer engagements in medical and commercial strategy as well as hospital strategic planning.

Dr. Rachel Wildfeuer, Research Analyst at Center for Policy Research

Rachel Wildfeuer is a 2010 University of Richmond graduate who majored in Political Science and Sociology. She obtained her Doctor of Sociology at Temple University in 2022. At Temple, she worked on a FRPN-funded study on maltreatment attributed to fathers in the child welfare system as well as on a variety of other quantitative and qualitative projects related to father engagement, child maltreatment, family risk and protective factors, and child health disparities. Rachel has co-authored journal articles, reports, and presented both at academic conferences and in applied research settings. She joined theCenter for Policy Research as a Research Analyst in 2022.

Kevin Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Farmer’s Pride International

Kevin Wilson is a UR Political Science alum from the class of 2013. He is an experienced Executive Director in the non-profit organization management industry, focused on Innovation Development, International Relations, Social Entrepreneurship, Microfinance, and Community Organizing. In 2017, he obtained his Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations from American University. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Farmers Pride International, a division of Global Peace Let's Talk (GPLT), an international NGO promoting peacebuilding through agricultural activities and microfinancing.