Student Leadership Opportunities
Politics and leadership are natural allies. As you study and experience politics during your undergraduate years, you will have opportunities to change the world around you and develop leadership skills. Whether in the Department of Political Science, across the university, or off-campus, your involvement can start you down a rewarding path of leadership. It's up to you, however, to take advantage of the opportunities.
Within your Political Science experience there are a number of opportunities to make a difference and develop leadership skills.
- Your classes, co-op assignments and internships offer numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills. For example, you can take advantage of class assignments to assume a lead role on a group project or activity. Co-op and internship assignments also provide many opportunities to develop leadership skills.
- The Political Science Student Association/Pi Sigma Alpha offers many opportunities to become involved in academic and extracurricular affairs of the department. Members of the association represent student interests in the department, and they play a key role in sponsoring different events. This organization is open to all Political Science majors. Contact Professor John Portz if you are interested in getting involved.
- The United Nations Association is a very active group that supports the Model UN and Model Arab League courses and also facilitates student participation in several other model events in Boston, Washington, D.C. and other cities. Contact Oscar Camargo at camargo.o@neu.edu, president of the association, if you are interested in getting involved.
Across the university, there are many organizations and programs that provide opportunities for involvement and the development of leadership skills.
- The LEGO Program (Leadership Education and Growth Opportunities) provides a number of seminars and activities for "new" and "emerging" leaders. This is an excellent opportunity to meet other students interested in becoming leaders, and to develop your own leadership skills.
- A new Leadership Minor was recently started that combines some elements from the LEGO Program with other academic classes, including INT U940, Student Leadership Practicum, taught by Professor Rochefort of the Department of Political Science.
- Northeastern's Student Government Association is a very active organization that supports many student programs and services while also representing students before the university's administration. The Student Senate is the major governing body. To become a senator, you need a petition signed by fifty students from your college. Call 373-2651 or visit the SGA offices in 332 Curry Student Center.
- There are almost 100 student organizations on campus that cover a broad range of activities, from academic to advocacy to recreation. Each organization is an opportunity to meet like-minded students and develop leadership skills.
Beyond the Northeastern campus, you can become involved in organizations and activities that will further develop your leadership skills. There is no one place to find all of the available contacts. Talk to professors, staff and your fellow students about their activities and read the newspaper (particularly the Boston Globe Calendar section on Thursdays) to find out about current events.
