For many of our graduates, their background in Political Science has led them to exciting jobs in government or politics. For others, our major has been a gateway to careers in the law, national security, business, and education. Our best graduates have combined their Political Science major with concentrations in Pre-law, International Relations, European Studies, Urban Studies, Criminal Justice, or Business.

Click on the links below to see what some of our majors have done after graduation.

  2007 - 2008     2003 - 2006     2000 - 2002  
1990's 1980's 1970's

Examples of employers who have hired Canisius College political science graduates are the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the government of Erie County, New York.

Political science may also be the basis for graduate study, including law school. More than 85 percent of Canisius seniors who apply to law school are accepted by one or more of their top choices. Recent graduates have been accepted into the best law schools in the country, including Harvard, Columbia, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Duke. A few of our very best graduates have won Fulbright Scholarships for post-graduate study abroad.



2007-2008
Brian Behringer '08

MA program in international development
George Mason University

LaRae Simone Hicks '08
Management training program, M&T Bank
Co-Founder, Voters Organizing Inside Communities Encouraging Suffrage (VOICES)

Emily Denicola '07
Staffer, Erie County Democratic Committee

Steven Duggan '07
MPA program at George Washington University
Intern in Donald Rumsfeld’s office, Washington, DC

John Dyrcz '07
MA program in Political Science and Latin American studies
University of New Mexico

Jim Eiseman '07
Supervisor, Verizon Wireless, Hamburg, New York

Elise Garvey '07
Fulbright Scholarship to Ukraine
Research on human trafficking

Andrew Kowalewski '07
University at Buffalo Law School

Carolyn Millard '07
MBA, Canisius College
Largo Real Estate Advisors, Buffalo, NY

Rich Russell '07
Former intern at the U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
Aristotle International (political data/software company)

Beth Siena '07
Regents Law School, Law Review
Winner Blackstone Legal Fellowship, 2008
Clerkship with Federal District Judge William Skreteny, Buffalo NY



2003-2006
Erin Baker '06,
Executive Assistant, Congressman Tom Reynolds

Stacey Budzinski '06
George Washington University School of Law
Research Analyst, Chief Economist at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation(OPIV), Washington, DC
Attorney with Damon & Morey, Buffalo, NY

Juli Rick '06
MA Program in International Relations
Kings College, London, UK

Eric Soehnlein '06
Columbia University Law School

David Cardone '05
MBA, Canisius College
Deutsche Bank, New York, NY

Matthew Desabio '05
1st Lieutenant, US Army 10th Mountain Division

Victoria Kraft '05
MA in Security Policy Studies
The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs
Research Specialist, Customs and Border Protection (DHS), Washington, DC

Mark Rountree '05
Masters in Urban Planning, University at Buffalo
Planner, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning

Louis Bordonaro '04
Captain, US Army 82nd Airborne Division

Jason Cassata '04
University at Buffalo Law School
Former Special Agent, NASA, Office of Inspector General, Washington, DC
Special Agent, US Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Buffalo. NY
(fraud investigator)

Graham Genrich '04
Graduate, US Army Ranger School
1st Lieutenant, US Army 101st Airborne Division

Dan Moar '04
Georgetown Law School
Clerkships with Federal District Judges Elfvin & Skretny, Buffalo, NY
Attorney with Wilder & Linneball

Wendy Naus '04,
Lewis-Burke Associates,
Government Relations

Lucian Sikorskyj '04
Counter Terrorism Analyst
FBI Headquarters, Washington, DC

Mark Williams '04
University at Buffalo Law School
Attorney with Lewis and Lewis, Buffalo, NY

Jennifer Diagostino '03
MA, Political Science, Penn State University
Campaign Coordinator, Americans for Democratic Action
Working Families Win campaign 2008 (28th Congressional District)
Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Canisius College



2000-2002
Christopher Grant '02
Chief of Staff, Office of Erie County Executive
Buffalo, NY

Rev. James Kirkpatrick '02
Parochial Vicar (parish priest)
Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Hamburg NY

Damien A. LaManna '02
Interactive Director, Morgan and Company
(web-based advertising and marketing)

Anton Strgacic '02
MA in International Law University of Kent at Canterbury
Former Legislative Assistant, Member of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada
Stock Trader and Campaign Manager, 2008 House of Commons elections

Andrew P. Szalay '02
Legislative Assistant, Congressman Thomas Reynolds, Washington, DC

Clint Winters '02
Former Inspector, Customs and Border Protection (DHS)
Intelligence Analyst, FBI, Buffalo, NY

Andrew Krazmien '01
Teacher of American History and Government
Maryvale High School, Cheektowaga, New York

Robert Ortt '01
City Treasurer, North Tonawanda, New York

Samantha (Beadle) Rinkiewicz '00
MBA, Canisius College
Senior Commercial Underwriter, Silverton Bank, Atlanta, GA

Michael Mettille '00
Captain, United States Air Force (navigator, active duty and reserves)
University at Buffalo Law School

Brenda Nuernberger '00
MA, Political Science, University of Rochester
Ph.D. candidate, in Higher Education Administration
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, University at Buffalo



1990s
Shawn Considine '99
Enforcement Officer, Customs and Border Protection (DHS), Savannah, GA and
International Training Officer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Ben Krass '99
Fulbright Scholar in Spain on European Union regional policy
Boston College Law School
Attorney with Matthew F. Pawa, P.C., Boston (environmental law)

Jon Nichols '99
SUNY Buffalo Law School
Attorney with Harman, Claytor, Corrigan & Wellman
Richmond, VA

Matthew Watters '99
Dickinson School of Law, Penn State.
Captain, United States Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Iraq
Special Assistant to the US Attorney, Hawaii

John Schaller '97,
Political Director, The Lukens Group (direct mail consultants)

Steven Walters '97
Notre Dame Law School
Town Supervisor, Hamburg, New York

Salvatore Vicari '94
Captain, United States Army (Retired)
MBA, Niagara University
Revenue Officer, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (tax enforcement)

Carol Dudek '93
Associate Professor of Political Science, Hofstra University

A.J. Bellia '91
Professor of Law, Notre Dame Law School
Clerk for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia

Michael Kearns '91
South District Council Member, Buffalo Common Council



1980s
Anna Briatico '86
Deputy Director, US Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals

Frank Sedita '83
Assistant District Attorney, Erie County
Candidate for District Attorney in 2008

Thomas Ginter '80
Head of Human Relations Department, FBI, Buffalo Office

Robert Pecoraro '80
Colonel, United States Air Force



1970s
Robert A. Klump '79
Attorney, U.S. District Court, Buffalo
Associate Director, Raichle Pre-Law Center, Canisius College

Gerald Whelan '79
Judge, New York Supreme Court

Michael Piestruska '78
Judge, Erie County Court

Gregory Raab '77
Associate Professor Political Science, Jamestown Community College
President, Jamestown City Council

Larry Vilardo '77
Harvard Law School, editor Harvard Law Review
Founder law Firm Connors & Vilardo

Robert Makowski '75
Judge, New York Supreme Court