There is no shortage of unique experiences for Politics students at Saint Anselm College, especially not as a former New Hampshire senator takes on the role of lecturer and as a class gets to engage with Marvel through the lens of Politics and the Arts.
This spring, the Politics Department has seen an exciting roster of courses including PO-210 “Congressional Power,” taught by former N.H. Congressman and Senator John E. Sununu and PO-247 “Politics and the Arts: Marvel,” led by Professor Chistopher Galdieri, both held in the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
The son of a former White House Chief of Staff and brother of the former N.H. Governor, Sen. Sununu represented N.H. as member of the United States House of Representatives from 1997 through 2003 as well as the United States Senate from 2003 through 2009. Now, Sen. Sununu leads in a different light, taking on a classroom of his own and providing students with the chance to learn from a former politician who brings knowledge from the Capitol itself.
Prof. Galdieri takes students on a creative journey, exploring the connection between the political sphere and the Marvel franchise. The course explores the comics and movies as pieces of art that “ask us to explore our place in the world.” Prof. Galdieri draws on his research on the inherent political aspects of Marvel stories, most recently published as a chapter titled “Captain America vs. James Madison” in “The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Students have been quick to share their excitement for these courses. Politics major Conor Beswick ’26, shared insight on having Sen. Sununu as an instructor, “The Senator creates an atmosphere that is challenging but also inviting for students to participate and take risks.”
Mario Ventresca ’25, also a politics major, who is enrolled in both courses, said that Galdieri’s class takes a creative approach to learning and “often finds us debating what different political messaging in the Marvel universe could mean.”