Christopher Mulkins ('00)

Majors: International Affairs 

Minors: Economics and German

Graduate Degreees: 
M.A. with Distinction in Contemporary European Studies ('02), University of Bath, England
M.P.A, M.A. in International Relations, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University ('08)

Current job:
Director of Homeland Security on the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Previous professional experience: 
I was a Senior Analyst on the International Affairs and Trade Team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for 11 years. During that time I reviewed a variety of federal programs and activities, including U.S. efforts to build foreign partner security forces capacity, international development assistance, U.S. embassy management, and visa issuance. I was also posted to GAO's office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan for 8 months during 2011 and 2012 to help the agency provide oversight of U.S. government activities in the country. Before joining GAO, I worked as a regional advisor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Syracuse, New York and as a policy advisor at the Center for European Policy Studies conducting immigration and asylum research in Brussels, Belgium. 

In what ways did the JMU Political Science Department prepare you for your career?
The Political Science Department at JMU was instrumental in providing me with a fundamental knowledge of international relations and political science that laid the foundations for my career in government. The department's strong commitment to student success and the development of programs and initiatives to help their students achieve their academic and career goals are superb. In addition, persoanlized advising and mentorship helped me figure out what I wanted out of my career and how best to get there. I can't speak highly enough of JMU's Political Science Department.  

Highlights of your JMU experience
My four years at JMU was a wonderful time in my life. In addition to my studies, being an active Student Ambassador where I was able to share with prospective students the many offerings that JMU provided, was a definite highlight in my college career. 

Advice to students who are studying Political Science, International Affairs, or Public Administration at JMU
Do not be afraid to try new things and figure out what you do not like as much as you like. The opportunities provided by the university and the department allow you to explore new topics and potential career paths and expose you to ideas that you may not have thought would interest you. Take advantage of all of those. Part of the reason I feel like I have found a career that is so rewarding is that I tried many things and determined that wasn't the path I wanted to take.