Research & Awards

Cody Aubin was a politics major and history minor from Manchester, New Hampshire, and graduated in 2018. During his academic career, he was a Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador, attended the Harvard National Campaign Conference, worked as a VideoLink studio tech, and spent two years as a student Special Assistant to the President at the College. While a student, Aubin ran for State Representative for his district in Manchester for the 2014 election, and interned with the Presidential Campaign of Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL). Following the election, Aubin interned in the office of Governor Chris Sununu.

Cody’s undergraduate research was They’re Talking About that Again: Senate Issue-Area Specialization, Ideology, and Its Relation to Legislative Success, which explained procedural and norm shifts in the U.S. Senate and how they impact legislative success. This work was accepted and presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in April of 2018.

Anna Boris is a 2018 international relations and Spanish double major from Prospect, Connecticut. During her time on campus, Anna served as a Co-Chair for the Community Outreach Committee of the Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador Program. During the summer of 2017, Anna served as an intern for Senator Ayotte down in her DC office, then continued to work for the Senator as a Field Representative for her reelection campaign in the Fall. Additionally, Boris has worked closely with the office of Campus Ministry, where she not only participated in, but also led Spring Break Alternative trips. Anna’s post-graduate plans are focused on non-profit work.

The topic of her undergraduate research was American Public Opinion of International Institutions, which she presented at the Pi Sigma Alpha Conference in February 2018 as well as the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in April 2018.

Austin Connolly is a politics major and American studies minor from Salem, Massachusetts, and a member of the Class of 2018. Austin was a Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador and served on the communications committee. He was a four-year member of the varsity football program and member of the AVERT Committee. Austin previously interned with the League of Conservation voters and attended their National Youth Lobby Days in Washington D.C., the summer going into his junior year. In his senior year, he interned at the Office of New Hampshire Governor Christopher T. Sununu. 

During his four years at Saint Anselm College, Austin enjoyed his time as a member of the football team and was awarded an athletic scholarship during the pre-season of his senior season. After graduation, Austin will be attending New England School of Law – Boston, to pursue his Juris Doctorate.

Austin’s interest in Brexit as it was occurring helped him in determining that he would research how and why citizens feel the way they do in the European Union for his senior thesis, entitled, The Fear Factor & the Green Factor: How Terrorism and Economics Effect Perception of the European Union. Austin presented his research at the Midwest Political Association Conference in Chicago, IL.

Erica Hudson is a 2018 international relations and French double major, and history and gender studies double minor, from Hopkinton, MA. Erica was a Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador and a member of the communications committee. Erica was also secretary of International Relations club, through which she participated in Model United Nations. During the summer before her senior year, Erica interned for Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito of Massachusetts. Throughout her four years at Saint Anselm College, Erica worked in the modern languages department, and served one year as president of La Société Française. Erica studied abroad as a sophomore in Grenoble, France. After graduation, Erica plans to do a service program in Geneva, Switzerland, working for a non-governmental organization in conjunction with the UN Human Rights Council. 

Her interest in women’s representation inspired her to write her thesis, entitled, Political Representation of Women in Post-Soviet Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia: An Analysis of Electoral Systems and Socio-Political Factors. Erica presented this research as the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, IL, and at the New England Political Science Association Conference in Portsmouth, NH.

Sarah King is a 2018 politics and communication double major from Cumberland, Rhode Island. During her four years on campus, Sarah served as the Program Chair of the Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador Program and on the executive boards of both Student Government Association (Public Relations Chair, Secretary General) and the Saint Anselm College Democrats (Secretary). During the Fall of her senior year, King served as an intern in the college’s Office of Communications and Marketing. Additionally, Sarah has attended multiple conferences on behalf of the school and the NHIOP, ranging in location from Harvard to D.C to California. King also worked as a campaign manager for the 2016 Hillsborough County Attorney race and worked for ABC News during the 2016 New Hampshire Primary Debates. Sarah’s post-graduate plans are focused on education policy and non-profit grant work.  

The topic of her undergraduate research was A Queen, a Bitch, and a Lady: Gendered Media Framing of American First Ladies’ Issue Advocacy, which she presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in April 2018.

Brendan Mahoney is a senior politics major with minors in history and music, from Holden, Massachusetts. During his four years at Saint Anselms, he worked as a campaign organizer for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and for NextGen Climate. Additionally, he worked as a canvass director for Environment Massachusetts and MASSPIRG. After graduation he will be working full time as a policy advocate for USPIRG in Boston, MA. He is currently applying to Ph.D programs in political science.

He presented his research, entitled Populist Rhetoric in American, French, and British Elections, 2016-2017, at the Midwest Political Science Conference in April, 2018

Brandon Pratt is a 2018 politics major from Concord, New Hampshire. During his four years on campus, Brandon served two-terms as the Student Body Vice President and served as Co-chair of the Civic Engagement Committee of the Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador Program. Additionally, Brandon served as Communications Director and Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire Federation of College Republicans in the First Congressional District. Pratt also worked as a Communications Assistant on Rich Ashooh’s 2016 congressional campaign in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District. Brandon was also the Chairman of New Hampshire College Students for Governor Chris Christie’s (R-NJ) 2016 presidential campaign and worked for ABC News during the 2016 New Hampshire Primary Debates. Brandon works for Governor Chris Sununu’s (R-NH) 2018 reelection campaign. Brandon’s work is focused on communications and marketing.

The topic of his undergraduate research was A Piece of the Pie: A Study on Aspirations for Future Socioeconomic Success and Political Party Preference, which he presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in April 2018.

Clare Robbins is a 2018 Politics major and Gender Studies minor from Holden, MA. Clare was a Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador, serving as the chair of the Events Committee for four years. While at Saint Anselm, Clare interned at the Institute of Politics, participated in Model United Nations, worked as an Admissions Ambassador and served as a Senator in Student Government. She volunteered at Girls at Work and focused on gender related issues in the community. During the summer before her senior year, Clare interned for Congressman Jim McGovern in the Washington, D.C. office. She also interned for the Manchester-based firm, Montagne Communications. After graduation, Clare is working for New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen as the state scheduler.

Her interest in women’s issues and minority issues inspired her to write her thesis, entitled, Lending an Ear to Lost Voices: The Political Participation of Native American Women. Clare presented this research at the New England Political Science Association Conference in Portsmouth, NH.