James Madison College at Michigan State University

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From career milestones to new leadership roles, our latest JMC Alumni Notes highlight the continued impact of JMC gradua...
05/28/2026

From career milestones to new leadership roles, our latest JMC Alumni Notes highlight the continued impact of JMC graduates across industries and communities. Link in comments to read and submit your professional updates.

Douglas Hoekstra joined James Madison College in 1969 as a graduate student working for founding dean Herb Garfinkel. He...
05/27/2026

Douglas Hoekstra joined James Madison College in 1969 as a graduate student working for founding dean Herb Garfinkel. He became one of the college’s earliest faculty members and remained at JMC for 36 years, until he passed away in May 2006.

In 2007, students, alumni and friends of the college established an endowment in his memory. The endowment supports Madison students in field experiences and internships, an applied component of Madison’s curriculum that Hoekstra particularly valued.

Link in comments to read Q&As with three recent scholarship recipients, who reflect on the opportunities the fund helped make possible.

Emilio Silerio-Gonzalez is a Class of 2026 graduate, majoring in Social Relations & Policy and Public Relations. During ...
05/26/2026

Emilio Silerio-Gonzalez is a Class of 2026 graduate, majoring in Social Relations & Policy and Public Relations. During his time at MSU, Emilio was a lead communications intern with University Communications & Marketing, where he published dozens of stories that explore the campus experience. He was also a communications e-board member with Latino Leaders in Policy MSU and found a community with Michigan State Climbing Club.

Link in comments to read Emilio's Student View, which explores his approach to pursuing meaningful experiences both within and beyond the classroom.

The May edition of the JMC Alumni newsletter is here. This issue announces the college's 2026 Alumni Award recipients, c...
05/21/2026

The May edition of the JMC Alumni newsletter is here. This issue announces the college's 2026 Alumni Award recipients, celebrates the Class of 2026 and marks 20 years of impact from the Hoekstra Endowment. You'll also find recent news from Case Hall, alumni notes and a call for stories about the JMC connections that shaped your career. Links in comments to read and subscribe.

Class of 2026 grad Finni Padgitt grew up in East Lansing, knew Tom Izzo before she knew Dora or Elmo, and spent 18 years...
05/20/2026

Class of 2026 grad Finni Padgitt grew up in East Lansing, knew Tom Izzo before she knew Dora or Elmo, and spent 18 years in and around campus before she became an MSU student. Link in comments to read Finni's Student View, where she reflects on graduating from MSU as a lifelong resident of East Lansing.

JMC Prof. Jordan Cash was recently a guest on the Civics in a Year podcast, where he discussed presidential succession, ...
05/19/2026

JMC Prof. Jordan Cash was recently a guest on the Civics in a Year podcast, where he discussed presidential succession, the vice presidency and what the rules say about executive power. Link in comments to listen to Cash's insights in constitutional history and the mechanics of executive power.

JMC's annual Research Showcase provides Madison students with the opportunity to showcase their scholarship and creative...
05/18/2026

JMC's annual Research Showcase provides Madison students with the opportunity to showcase their scholarship and creative activity. The May 2026 event included presentations on American Liberalism & Conservatism, U.S. Health Care Policy & Politics, Cults of Personality in Dictatorships, U.S. Foreign Policy, and multiple projects from the JMC Human Rights Data Science, among others. Congratulations to all of the students who presented this year.

Link in comments to view more photos.

As Class of 2026 grads begin their next chapters, we'd love to hear from JMC alumni of every year. Share your career upd...
05/15/2026

As Class of 2026 grads begin their next chapters, we'd love to hear from JMC alumni of every year. Share your career updates for next week's JMC alumni newsletter, including new roles, promotions, move, milestones and projects you're proud of.

Submit your alumni notes via Qualtrics: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eKX456xKnxNpYPQ

When Livingston County’s Planning Department offered Abigail Carrigan an internship, she didn’t hesitate. She had never ...
05/14/2026

When Livingston County’s Planning Department offered Abigail Carrigan an internship, she didn’t hesitate. She had never taken a planning course, but she was confident she could tackle the challenge of developing the agriculture component of their upcoming master plan.

What started as a single chapter became a standalone plan and the comprehensive document she created has since won awards at both the state and national level. Link in comments to read more about Abigail's story.

Last week, JMC students spent three days in Detroit for the spring Career Exposure Program. They visited alumni at Ford,...
05/13/2026

Last week, JMC students spent three days in Detroit for the spring Career Exposure Program. They visited alumni at Ford, General Motors, the Gilbert Family Foundation, the City of Detroit, the U.S. Department of State, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the ACLU of Michigan and the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Alumni also spoke with students about careers in law, labor and organizing.

One impromptu meeting helped capture the spirit of this JMC program: On May 5, Charlaine Stevenson (SRP '20), now a policy analyst with the City of Detroit, bumped into JMC students as they walked through the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center where she works. She'd been on the same trip ten years earlier as a freshman and the experience helped inform her decision to build her career in Detroit. A decade later, she helped welcome this year's students to the city.

Thank you to every JMC alum who hosted this year's program! Link in comments to read more.

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