Anthony AndaryAnthony Andary’s poster display highlights his work on internet voting.

Reception showcases political internship research

Political science master’s students celebrated the completion of their MA internships at a reception showcasing their achievements, Thursday, December 8, in Vanier Hall’s Katzman Lounge. The event, hosted by the Department of Political Science, featured compelling research conducted by the students during their six-month placements.

“The idea is that students combine their academic work with their work experience,” says department head John Sutcliffe, adding that the internships prepare graduates for the workforce. “From the first year, a high percentage of the students have been hired, sometimes with the organization they’ve been at.”

Among them is Tashlyn Teskey, who was hired by Workforce WindsorEssex after completing her internship there. Teskey looked at the German apprenticeship model and its application in Canada, and will likely conduct similar research with the organization.

The MA students were not afraid to research controversial subjects, which ranged from online voting to the creative economy.

Tina Savic studied the town of Tecumseh’s approach to online voting, and determined its risks and rewards, while Anthony Andary looked at online voting in Leamington.

“It was a really good experience, I enjoyed it,” says Savic, who is now ready to enter the workforce.

Lauren Stokes looked at public engagement and environmental policies, and she travelled to Ottawa and Detroit, while Urosh Opacic based his research on the creative economy.

During his placement with the City of Windsor, Milad Heydarzadeh looked at diversity and inclusion policies in hiring practices. Heydarzadeh, who is from Toronto, came to Windsor for the internship program.

 “It was amazing. I hope they continue this program,” he says.

The event featured research in poster form, and each student engaged in conversations regarding their findings and experiences.

—article and photo by Loren Mastracci

Spotlight on Graduate Research