Political Science

Alexa Noruk is the Director of Homeland Security at the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Prior to joining this committee in 2017, she worked as the Director of Government Relations for the National Emergency Management Association and in a number of instrumental roles for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She is an expert in the fields of Homeland Security, Emergency Management policy, Legislative Procedure, and Bill Drafting.

Drawing upon her current and past career experiences, Alexa Noruk discussed some of the most pressing homeland security issues of the day with McDaniel Political Science students, including domestic terrorism and violent extremism; the country’s national security and intelligence community; her own impressive professional background within both the legislative and the civil service side of government; and potential career paths for students interested in these fields.

Patrick Robbins is Deputy Program Manager and Senior All Source Intelligence Analyst at the Buffalo Group. Prior to joining this company in 2018, he has worked extensively with the government, the military, and the private sector in the field of intelligence. Patrick served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2010, including time in Iraq, and graduated with Honors from McDaniel College with a major in Political Science and International Studies in 2015.

In his talk, Patrick Robbins shared his veteran knowledge about the fields of intelligence and exploitation of conventional and unconventional weapons, including some of the most current issues in these areas and his own recent experiences in the field. He also discussed how the intelligence industry works and the different possible pathways that students can pursue to enter into this area of work.

Politics and poetry are two of Max Sweeney’s passions, and they found every opportunity to find a like-minded community on the Hill. Max studied abroad with a Jan Term in Greece, the birthplace of democracy; joined the Maryland Student Legislature; founded the Poetry Club; and invented new kinds of events for their fellow students through Green Terror Programs.

"The opportunities that McDaniel has given me have shown me that I am capable of doing the things I love," they say.

International student Olivia "Kaami" Effa developed her skills in intercultural communication during her time at McDaniel. A Global Fellow, she founded an International Perspectives club, studied abroad in South Korea, and participated in Model U.N. With internship experience at The Fund for American Studies, she’s prepared to head into a future working in research, nonprofits, and pursuing law school.

"Through my leadership positions, I was able to unite students on campus and educate them about cultures around the world," she says.