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Department of History, Politics and Philosophy hosts International Career Panel

Tristan Brew | 

Lipscomb University’s Department of History, Politics and Philosophy held its fourth International Career Panel on Oct. 24.

Coordinated by Susan Haynes and Marc Schwerdt, assistant professors of political science, in collaboration with Monica Wentworth, director of the Career Development Center, the panel featured representatives from the CIA, U.S. Department of State, Peace Corps, Japanese consulate, Nissan North America and Baker Donelson, an international law firm. The event was held in partnership with the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

“This is the hallmark event for both the department and the Tennessee World Affairs Council,” said Haynes. “We have held this event since 2015, and it has grown each year. This is the first year CIA representatives were in attendance for this event.”

This year’s panel included Michael McClellan, recruitment and outreach officer with the Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment at the U.S. Department of State; Lindsay Voigt, Peace Corps veteran and current public health programmer John M. Scannapieco, shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson law firm; Cameron Manning, cultural programs coordinator at the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville; and  Deborah Pixley, senior manager in field quality investigations at Nissan North America; as well as a CIA representative.

Throughout the panel, moderated by Haynes, each speaker shared their international experiences throughout their career and took questions from students in the audience. Topics discussed included the different sectors of jobs available to students, the rewarding moments and stories of their career and the challenges they all faced in their lines of work.

“Most students really don’t know about the options available to them. But, they also don’t know about the rigors of having a career in political science. The candor of the panel and their vulnerability is appreciated by me as well as all the students in attendance,” Haynes said.

Haynes said she hopes this bi-annual international career panel exposes students, especially those majoring in political science at the plethora of possibilities they have both during their academic career at Lipscomb as well as the potential opportunities available to them upon graduation.

“This panel discussion gives students the opportunity to see all the possibilities of an international career,” said Schwerdt. “This discussion helps students see that a career and degree in political science is absolutely worthwhile and feasible and is within their reach.”

Want to learn more about Lipscomb’s Department of History, Politics and Philosophy? Visit www.lipscomb.edu/politicalscience.