Our graduates are employed in all sorts of interesting and, above all, challenging jobs. They are employed in urban affairs and planning, in journalism, financial management, government, including external affairs, and in teaching in colleges and universities in Canada and abroad. They are also engaged in teaching English as a second language in South Korea and Japan. In addition, they are employed in non-governmental organizations as policy analysts, working for a diverse range of organizations including interest groups, think-tanks, and even banks and large firms. Others are employed in management recruitment, insurance management, business-government consulting, communications consulting and even in consulting on security especially on terrorism. Still others are self-employed in small but profitable businesses and at least two of these businesses are located right here in Lennoxville.
Think of the vast range of possibilities! It even surprises us. For example, a vice-president of Chrysler Canada (a Bishop's graduate) recently informed us that he would certainly employ, students such as ours, in his multinational corporation. He means what he says. His own son is enrolled in the Politics and International Studies programme at Bishop's and he claims that his corporation will need employees, educated as well as we will educate his son, once they graduate.
If you ask "What can I do with a Politics and International Studies degree?" Have a good look at the career guide prepared for the Canadian Political Science Association, Careers for Political Scientists, by Professor Leslie Pal.
Also look at some of the engaging careers that our graduates are pursuing and consider the words of just a mere handful on how Politics and International Studies at Bishop's helped to get them to do what they are doing:
Landslide victory for Robert Ghiz '96 in P.E.I.
The new Liberal Premier won 23 of 27 districts in the provincial election
"I was going to go through Bishop's -- move to Toronto -- and make a fortune," Robert Ghiz laughs, when asked if he planned a career in politics.
The Politics and International Studies graduate is the newest Premier of Prince Edward Island. Running on the platform, "Islanders First for A Change," Robert took 23 of 27 seats reversing the standings in the legislature.
Pundits were predicting a close race.
"It was May 28th. I was watching the election with my family at my mother's house. The first results came in strong but we didn't want to get too excited. Then at the end, we got a much larger vote than expected. It was a thrill to have won with such a lead," said Robert.
The five major issues highlighted in his campaign were health care, doctor recruitment, a property assessment freeze in the province, promotion of the bioscience industry and cuts to the gas tax, he said.
Robert was the Leader of the Official Opposition in PEI's provincial legislature from 2003-2007. Previously, the Charlottetown native worked as an aide for Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps and as a lobbyist for the Bank of Nova Scotia. In 2001, he joined the office of Prime Minister Jean Chretien where he served as Atlantic Canada advisor before running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island in 2003.
Rob's father, Joe Ghiz, was premier of PEI from 1986-1993. He received an Honorary Degree from Bishop's and graduated with his son, before passing away from cancer in 1996. Their graduation was the last family trip they had together, Robert said.
Robert's younger sister Joanne, graduated from Bishop's in 2005.
"We are all fortunate we went to Bishop's University and could benefit from the small community," said Robert, who is Canada's youngest serving Premier. "I personally give credit to Bishop's University."
Sandra Sullivan-Keeley '93
Question Period with Rob Ghiz
On the10-Year-Plan:
"People shouldn't stick around for too long. I would like to continue a ten year career in politics and be removed by choice."
On his favorite BU Professor:
"Dr. Andrew Johnson was particularly memorable. He was a great teacher, mentor and put students on the right track. He put me on the right track. He was definitely an inspiration."
On being called the Best-Dressed-Man in Charlottetown?
"No comment."
Dorcas Onigbinde, Honours '05
After having completed her undergraduate degree in Politics and International Studies with minors in French and Public Administration, at Bishop's University, Dorcas completed a Masters Degree in Political Science at the University of Windsor, Ontario. Her final research focused on the role and impact of federalism in ethnic conflict management examining Nigeria's political structure. In summer of 2006, she got the opportunity to intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She was assigned to the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch where she worked on the 15th Supplement of the Repertoire of the Security Council. This involved extensive research on the Council's proceedings and decisions on various issues from 2004 to 2005. Issues that she focused on included the protection of children in armed conflict, small arms and light weapons, cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and the prevention of armed conflict. She also used this opportunity to attend numerous Security Council meetings and a General Assembly meeting where she assisted in drafting a report for senior level officials. She also volunteered as a group leader for the Day of the African Child, a yearly event hosted by the United Nations African Mothers Association to bring attention to the plight of African Children. In addition, she was a member of the Yearbook Committee. Currently, Dorcas is a Research Intern at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre in Accra, Ghana for 6 months. She is working on an occasional paper which will examine natural resource manage-ment and its implications for national and sub regional security examining the case of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. She is also a member of the editorial team of the department's monthly news-letter publication and will be a course director for the Model United Nations Conference at the Centre in early January 2008.
"My Bishop's University education helped me develop my research and analytical skills and the wealth of knowledge from the diverse courses and interactions with the professors has been very beneficial. Bishop's University also helped me discover my passion and through that set goals for my career. My time at Bishop's has provided me with numerous opportunities and tools that will last a lifetime".
Kedrin Simms '00 (Major, Political Studies)
Kedrin Simms is the Executive Assistant and Scheduler to the Honorable Henry Bonilla, Member of Congress for the 23rd District of Texas. He is a Republican and the first Hispanic Republican to be elected from the State of Texas. He sits on the Appropriations Committee, and three of its sub-committees: Defense, Foreign Operations, and Agriculture of which he is Chairman. After graduating only 10 months earlier from Bishop's, here is Kedrin in the Oval Office in March 2001.
Ishu Krishna, Honours '97
Upon completing her MA in International Security at Reading University in England, Ishu found work at Booz-Allen and hamilton, a major consulting firm in the US. Ishu has worked on various contracts for the Food and Drug Administration and has recently been asked to work on a consulting project for a Washington-based nuclear weapons facility.
Aside from her consulting activities, Ishu is currently working on an MSc in Information and Telecommunications Systems for Business with a concentration in Electronic Commerce.
Right: Ishu with President Bill Clinton in Washington, DC
