If one is looking for evidence that the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Lander University is preparing its students for lives of public service, they should look no further than to our nation’s capital.
There, Lander students regularly take part in internships with members of Congress, federal agencies and non-profit organizations. Some are even inspired to continue their studies in the graduate school of their choice, before parlaying their education into budding careers of public service for these same organizations after finishing their formal education.
One graduate of Lander, Kara Noel Hawkins, of Summerville, is such an example of this transition into public service. After finishing her degree at Lander, majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish and international studies, Hawkins and her husband moved to Savannah, Georgia, where she worked at a defense law firm before pursuing her master’s in international relations with an emphasis in national security from Troy University.
It was during her graduate studies that Hawkins accepted a position with the Student Internship Program at the Department of State and spent a semester working for the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. Following the internship, she finds herself in the same office she served as an intern, now organized within the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation.
There are some obvious skills from college studies that quickly translate into her professional role: the demanding coursework, and staying in communication with professors, according to Hawkins, were great preparation for the “real world.” Yet Hawkins pointed to some specific learning opportunities she was afforded at Lander University that she now leans on each day in her job at the Department of State. One class she mentioned was American Foreign Policy, a favorite among political science students, and taught by Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
As part of the course, McMillan coordinates various simulations of the National Security Council, and students are assigned specific roles. “My simulation dictated that I act in the role as Director of National Intelligence,” Hawkins remembered, which prepared her for the fast-paced and research-dense environment she now experiences at the State Department. “Given the nature of the simulation, we had to have various facts and talking points on hand. This is a practice that I began in that course that I have found useful in my current position.”
Hawkins also credited Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss, chair of the Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology, for pushing her to always present her best work. Hawkins recalled having to submit “journal entries” during her capstone course, which brought a lot of tough criticism from her professor.
After several attempts to crack the code, Hawkins decided to take a different approach. Despite the task being a minor assignment, Hawkins decided to write and submit “a full-blown research paper” to ensure she would earn a high mark.
“He gave it back to me with a ‘Now that’s what I’m talking about!’” she remembered, along with an A on the assignment. From this experience, Hawkins said she learned the importance of knowing when to go above and beyond in your work, rather than merely meeting expectations. “Showing your highest quality work is what sets one apart,” she said, “whether that is in an academic or professional setting.”
Woodiwiss praised his former student for using the well-rounded, liberal arts education she received at Lander University to enter a rewarding career of public service. “It is always a joy to see former students thriving after they graduate,” Woodiwiss said. “Kara embodies the very essence of what we strive for in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. We intentionally cultivate learning environments that challenge our students to look beyond the classroom, and themselves, and engage with the complexities of the global community.”