Alumni Narratives
Ronald Deedrick (B.A. 2005)
Currently, I work for the Illinois Senate Republican Communications & Public Affairs Staff. My primary duties include handling media relations for State Sens. John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon), Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac). Our staff also handles constituent requests, newsletters, letters to the editor, columns and informational brochures. I have also dealt with the Caucus’s television needs since early last year as well. This occupation is ever-evolving as we are forced to emerge into the new, developing internet media markets. The degree that I received from Eastern has enabled to me have a productive career for the Senate Republicans. I believe that the connections, both, political and educational, will be long term assets in my career. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at EIU. I have made life long friends, colleagues and connections that will always be an asset
Amy Lenoard (B.A., 2004)
(Following graduation from EIU) I attended National Louis University and just received my Masters of Art in Teaching. I teach high school social studies at Hampshire High School as well as Night School at Dundee Crown High School. I teach: world history, youth and law, American government, creative writing, economics, U.S. history and war and conflict (but not all at once). I would describe my overall experience at EIU as positive one. I met a lot of wonderful friends while receiving an outstanding education. Without my degree from EIU, I may not have been where I am currently. I feel like I have enough knowledge to share it with others in the form of teaching. I have also been employed by two EIU Alums, which always helps!
Sarah Prescott (B.A., 2002)
During my tenure at Eastern Illinois University from 1998-2002, I had the opportunity to serve two consecutive internships at the U.S. Department of State and serve as head delegate on Eastern's Model United Nations team. Completing my undergraduate degree in Political Science with International Studies at Eastern provided a solid knowledge base on U.S. foreign policy, which I have built upon in my career at the U.S. Department of State. Currently I am a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism. My role in the office is to serve as deputy coordinator for the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, which is a cross-cutting strategic framework of 75 nations committed to strengthening individual and global capacity to prevent, detect, and/or respond to a nuclear event. At the end of March, I will be leaving the Office of WMD Terrorism to begin a new job in the State Department as the Tajikistan Desk Officer in the Bureau of South Central Asia.
Amanda K. Sartore (B.A., 2005)
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from EIU and a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. I currently reside in Evansville, Indiana and practice as a licensed social worker; in a year and a half I will have completed my supervision for clinical social work and will be able to practice independently as a LCSW. I have an interesting job where I work between two non-profit agencies: Aurora, Inc, a homeless outreach organization in Evansville, and Habitat for Humanity of Evansville. I am the first individual to hold this position. My job consists of foreclosure prevention on Habitat for Humanity homes through individual and family counseling, debt management, credit counseling and budgeting techniques as well as working with families currently residing in homeless transitional housing shelters who are interested in becoming a Habitat for Humanity homeowner.
My degree in political science prepared me for graduate school and beyond. Political Science taught me the inner workings of local, state, national and international governments as well as non profit agencies. The social science background was a requirement for my Master's work, and my degree in political science served me better than I ever could have imagined. I felt as though I had a advantage over other students who were just beginning to learn about the world of government and politics. I could not have had better preparation for a career in the field of social services.
My time at EIU was special and memorable. I made wonderful friends who I will be contact with for years to come and special professors who I am forever indebted too because of their individual work and attention. EIU was big enough for a broad liberal arts education but just small enough to feel like an actual home. I always felt comfortable on campus; never out of place. My time on Student Government will always stay close to my heart as that was the organization that pushed me to become who I am today. Between my courses in political science, community health and communication I feel that I am a stronger, wiser individual.
I am thankful for everything I learned at EIU...in and out of the classroom.
