Students play an integral part in the life of the NHIOP. Below please find a list of the many opportunities available to students.
The Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador/Think B.I.G Program
Is a unique opportunity for Saint Anselm College students of any major to be involved in supporting the Institute's special events, welcoming guests and speakers to the Institute. Any Saint Anselm College student interested in becoming a NHIOP Student Ambassador must first complete the two year Think B.I.G. leadership program.The first two semesters of the Think B.I.G. leadership program focus on leadership skill development, understanding philosophies of leadership, grounding leaders in Benedictine values and the development of projects that aim to benefit our local, national and global communities. Upon the successful completion of the Think B.I.G. program, those students interested in the NHIOP Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador program will be interviewed by the NHIOP Executive Director. Once the interview process is complete, the names of the successful candidates will be sent to the President's office for formal appointment.
Both the Think B.I.G. leadership program and the NHIOP Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador program are looking for students who have shown strength of character, are leaders in the classroom, residence hall or on the athletic field, have shown themselves to be creative and critical thinkers and have big dreams. All Saint Anselm College students will have the opportunity to become a NHIOP Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador, and the first step will be to successfully complete the Think B.I.G. leadership program. If you are interested in learning about leadership, and would like to be nominated for the Think B.I.G. leadership program, please see Ms. Lorie Cochran at lcochran@anselm.edu.
Political Union
The purpose of the Political Union is to promote a greater appreciation and understanding of the political system. This organization serves the greater community and campus by encouraging civic-mindedness and a genuine interest in the area of government. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Lucas at jlucas@anselm.edu.
College Democrats
The purpose of the Saint Anselm College Democrats is to promote and create an awareness of the political issues of our nation, state, city and campus; stimulate greater familiarity with the American political system, develop interest in these aforementioned objects and to encourage active and regular involvement in the Democratic Party and in decision making within that party at all levels of government. For more information, contact Dr. Christine Kearney at ckearney@anselm.edu.
College Republicans
This club is open to all interested students that wish to create an awareness and interest in the political issues of the nation, city and state. The club’s purpose is to bring about a better understanding of the American political system and the Republican Party and to encourage active participation in the Republican Party at all levels of government. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Lucas at jlucas@anselm.edu.
International Relations Club
The basic purpose of the club is to foster a greater interest and awareness in international affairs and issues and to broaden students geographic horizons, i.e. to get students to “think in international terms”. To do this, the club sponsors events for the Saint Anselm College community including speakers, films, presentations, seminars, and other such activities that are related to, and of importance to entire global community. For more information, please contact Dr. Barbara Baudot at bbaudot@anselm.edu.
We the People: Project Citizen
Is a curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups. It promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy Entire classes of students or members of youth or adult organizations work cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. Participants develop a portfolio of their work and present their project in a public hearing showcase before a panel of civic-minded community members.The Project Citizen program is administered with the assistance of a national network of state and congressional district coordinators in every state and is conducted with the assistance of the National Conference of State Legislatures. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress. Additional funding at the state level is also provided by an increasing number of state legislatures. For more information, please visit contact Ms. Jennifer Donahue, NHIOP senior advisor, at jdonahue@anselm.edu.
Model United Nations
The purpose of the Model United Nations is to introduce students of the College to the workings and opportunities found within the international system. The organization attempts to broaden the
horizon of people and introduce the students to the different cultures and peoples present within the United Nations. For more information, contact Dr. Christine Kearney at ckearney@anselm.edu.
Pizza and Politics
Is an opportunity to enjoy free pizza and conversation about current political news in a very informal setting. Led by the NHIOP senior advisor for political affairs, Ms. Jennifer Donahue, Pizza and Politics meets monthly at the NHIOP. Topics for discussion are driven by students. For more information, please visit contact Ms. Donahue at jdonahue@anselm.edu.
Public Achievement
Is a youth initiative in which young people learn basic methods of taking public action and become civically engaged. Public Achievement's work is anchored on a few core ideas: everybody can do citizen work (especially K-12 students); power starts in each of us when we find an issue important to us; democracy is messy and often frustrating but it can accomplish extraordinary things; and we learn by doing public work. Typically, a college student serves as a "coach" to a team of 6-8 students. The students pick a public issue they want to address and the college student coaches them on developing an action plan to address the issue. In the process, students acquire important public skills, including public speaking, social accountability, responsibility, interviewing, developing agendas, networking, and running a meeting. Throughout the process core concepts such as democracy, citizenship, freedom, self-interest, diversity, and power are also introduced and reinforced. We are partnering with sites in the greater Manchester area to incorporate Public Achievement into their programs. If you are interested in becoming a Public Achievement site coordinator, please contact Dan Forbes, Director of the Meelia Center for Public Service at (603) 641-7108 or dforbes@anselm.edu for more information.
Student Research Honoraria
The New Hampshire Institute of Politics seeks to support student research related to the study of politics in the social and behavioral sciences, philosophy and theology, history and economics, literature and art, and American politics and international affairs, as well as research in the sciences that is related to public policy or political issues. The Institute, through its Academic Advisory Board, funds four Student Research Honoraria. Honoraria are awarded to seniors engaged in promising research, and whose work is nominated by a faculty advisor. Honorees present their work at a series of brown bag lunches at the NHIOP Academic Research Center in April, and receive an honoraria for their academic achievement. In addition, their research is published among the NHIOP Academic Research Center’s collection of Working Papers. For more information, please contact Dr. Peter Josephson at pjosephs@anselm.edu.
Albert H. Gordon Summer Research Fellowship
The Gordon Research Fellowship will be awarded to a current Saint Anselm College junior or graduating senior, who demonstrates leadership and critical thinking skills, a commitment to or interest in public affairs, and a high degree of intellectual depth and inquisitiveness.
The fellowship will offer a student the opportunity to participate fully in the work of the Institute, which will include mentored opportunities to complete research and writing assignments critical to the Institute’s mission. This position is made available via a competitive process and carries a stipend of $2,500. Students of all majors are encouraged to apply and will be required to complete a personal interview and a writing assignment as part of the application process.
The Albert H. Gordon Research Fellow at the NHIOP was established to provide extraordinary women and men with enhanced opportunities for admission to graduate and professional schools and work experience that will lead them to careers where an interest in public affairs and public policy will be nurtured.
Candidates will be identified through nominations received and will be invited to submit a statement of interest and academic transcript in April.
For more information about any of the above opportunities, please contact Ms. Lorie Cochran at lcochran@anselm.edu. All students are required to honor the College’s stated code of conduct whether on or off campus. The NHIOP name or any part thereof shall not be used by any student or group of students in connection with any public activity, except as authorized by the Dean of Students and the NHIOP.