Discovering a passion for political science

By Rebecca Kirkman on May 19, 2021

During a political science course his freshman year, Everett Shirtliff ’21 had an “a-ha” moment that would shape the rest of his life.

“I realized I was better at political science than I was at math proofs,” says Shirtliff, who came to TU as an applied math major. 

Thanks to adjunct professor Anneliese Johnson’s engaging assignments and discussions in “POSC 103: American National Government,” Shirtliff ended up switching his major.

“I can't imagine liking anything better than I like political science,” he says. “I’ve loved every single class I've taken here.”

Like American Constitutional Law and Politics with assistant professor Juman Kim, where Shirtliff would dig into centuries-old U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

“I never really thought that anything could supplant my love for numbers and statistics and just raw data, but constitutional law was able to do that,” he adds. “The prose with which some justices write, how clear their opinions are, being able to track ideas, being able to see the analogies they make, it was really, really awesome.”

The opportunities at TU allowed Shirtliff to not only discover his passion but to dive deep into the field and set himself up for success.

He developed mentorships with faculty in the Department of Political Science and pursued activities like the Model United Nations, served as the editor-in-chief of the TU Journal of International Affairs and even secured a legislative internship in Annapolis with Delegate Luke Clippinger, chairman of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee.

“I had a front-row seat to all kinds of legislative processes, bill hearings, testimony; it was fantastic,” he says of the internship which turned virtual partway through the 2020 session. “Being dropped into that political culture, seeing the fast pace of the office, I was running to grab amendments, you know, making more coffee, things like that, but I had the most valuable currency that an intern can have, and that’s exposure.”

After Commencement, Shirtliff will start a job at a private law firm before one day heading to law school. 

“Towson has provided me with those opportunities, but you have to really dig down deep into your personal motivations, your personal goals. Your success at Towson and in your preparation for what lies beyond is entirely on you.”

In addition to editing the journal, working as a tutor at the TU Writing Center helped Shirtliff hone his writing abilities as well as learn the skills to help his peers.

“I’ve loved every single session I’ve had,” Shirtliff says. “Seeing the light bulb appear over someone's head when they realize, ‘Oh, that's what that professor meant when he wrote that in the margins’ and seeing their writing improve each and every time they come in, it's fantastic.”

For Shirtliff, participating in the spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies represents more than just the culmination of his undergraduate career.

“Being able to celebrate this monumental achievement for a lot of the graduating class is a big deal,” he says. “But it also functions as almost a trail marker that we're on the right path by being able to graduate in person. I think that's going to fill a lot of people with that feeling that things are getting back to the way they used to be.

“Of course, being able to walk across the stage, I hope I’ll at least be able to elbow bump President Schatzel,” he adds with a smile. “I think that would be pretty cool.”

Get to know more TU grads

Towson University continues its week of Commencement celebrations on Thursday, May 20 with ceremonies honoring the spring 2021 graduates in the the College of Education and College of Liberal Arts.

Megan Hoke ’21

College of Education

Megan Hoke hails from Kotzebue, Alaska, a village of 3,000 people 33 miles above the Arctic circle, one completely off the road system.

But Hoke was never off road when it came to a profession. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher since middle school,” says the early childhood education major and winner of TU’s Provost Scholarship. Her mom, a kindergarten teacher, is her inspiration. “She is extremely patient and has a way of explaining things to help kids understand,” Hoke explains.

“During my college search, I googled top schools for teachers and TU popped right up,” says Hoke, who was valedictorian of her high school. After a virtual visit and knowing friends and family lived on the East Coast, she packed her bags and moved to Maryland.

Any adjustments to the fast-paced culture were mediated by the warm and welcoming guidance from professors and staff in the Department of Early Childhood Education, including Assistant Professor Sara Hooks and lecturer Gweneth Mahoney. And her experience in front of the classroom in Baltimore City made her feel right at home.

 

Lewis Laury ’21

College of Liberal Arts

As a first-generation psychology major, Louis Laury’s younger sisters are watching a family member go to college for the first time.

“They are my motivation,” says Laury, who is also a member of the Honors College. “Before I came to TU, they talked about being cheerleaders. Now they talk about how they want to be doctors. One person can change mindsets in the household. It’s just amazing.” 

Laury credits TU’s SAGE Program for supporting his success. SAGE partners with Housing and Residence Life and the Center for Student Diversity to host a Residential Learning Community.   

He says living in the SAGE Residential Learning Community helped him find a support system on campus. “I met some of my greatest friends through SAGE, and that’s what helped me gain a support system to be able to move through college,” he says.

Laury’s psychology degree will prove useful in the pursuit of his ultimate goal: becoming a juvenile justice lawyer. Lewis plans to attend the University of Maryland Francis King Carey Law School in the fall, where he will continue to work toward redefining Baltimore City through youth-led projects.

#TUproud

We’re proud of all our graduates and we’re eager to celebrate their achievements, together.

A live stream of the ceremonies will be broadcast on www.towson.edu and live updates will be shared all week on TU’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Alumni Instagram accounts.

You can join in on the celebrations too. Use #TUproud when sharing photos on Instagram or Twitter, and we might share them from our pages.

For more information, social media graphics, profile picture frames and more, visit Commencement.