Hands-on, real-world experience is hard to beat. PennWest Edinboro recognizes that
experiential learning is a valuable tool that complements classroom learning and helps
you make important career decisions. A variety of internships often lead to job opportunities,
as proven by the success of our alumni.
Internships
Providing excellent internship opportunities is a priority for the University, and
the stories of student success in the workplace have been overwhelming. Edinboro History,
Politics, Languages and Cultures students have interned at the Erie County Historical
Society, Edinboro Area Historical Society, American Museum of Natural History, Multicultural
Health Evaluation Delivery Systems, Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit (IU5),
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Pittsburgh, as well as at many other organizations.
While some PennWest Edinboro majors require an internship, cooperative education,
student teaching or research experience, many students elect to pursue an internship
to augment their educational portfolio. Every major has one or more designated internship
directors to assist students with identifying opportunities and coordinating credits.
History, Politics, Languages and Cultures Department Internship Coordinator(s):
History Dr. Ihor Bemko 237 Hendricks Hall Email:ibemko@pennwest.edu Phone: 814-732-2212
World Languages and Individualized Studies Ms. Amanda Frantz-Mamani 112 Hendricks Hall Email:frantzmamani@pennwest.edu Phone: 814-732-1133
Jobs
Acclaimed artists, medical professionals, Disney and Pixar animators and leaders in
business, education, criminal justice and many other fields have built the foundations
of their success at PennWest Edinboro and so can you.
The Boro Center for Career Development assists students at the onset of their professional lives with many outstanding services,
including building resume, interviewing and networking skills and offering numerous
job fair opportunities annually both on- and off-campus.
Alumni from History, Politics, Languages and Cultures have gone on to succeed in thrilling
careers in their field of study. Language graduates are employed in a wide range of
careers, including foreign service, government and teaching; and History graduates
are enjoying careers all over the world with such employers as University of Pittsburgh,
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Air Force Museum, Carlisle Army Museum and with
numerous school districts. Check out the career achievements of some of the Department’s
notable alumni below.
Y’hoshua Murray ’10, BA History, is a historical research writer with The HistoryMakers in Chicago, Ill.
Betty Cruz ’09, BA History, is the Manager of Special Initiatives for the Office of the Mayor, City
of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Robert Thorton ’08/’10, BA History/MA Social Sciences, is an academic advisor with the Urban Education Program,
Westfield State University, Westfield, Mass.
Jamie Chapman ’02/’07, BA History/MA Social Sciences, is a professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Studies, Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa.
Jaime Price Anderson ’01, BA History, is the Executive Director of Variant Consulting Services, Fergus Falls,
Minnesota.
Robert Wertz, PhD ’02, BA History/BA Speech & Communication, is a Journalism and Public Relations Department
faculty member at PennWest Edinboro.
Jonathan Tenney ’97, BA History/BA Anthropology, is an assistant professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies
at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Jeff Person ’12, BA Political Science, is a political campaign field organizer for the Democratic
Party in Virginia.
Chantel Ware ’11, BA Political Science, is a Regulatory Affairs Analyst with AmeriHealth Caritas.
Ryan Bizarro ’08, BA Political Science, is the elected representative of the 3rd legislative district
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He holds an MPA from Gannon University.
Christine Mundia ’08, BA Political Science, is an attorney at Clearly Gottlieb in Washington, D.C. She
is a graduate of George Washington University Law School.
Amy Schmidt ’07, BA Political Science, is a Grant Administrator for the government of Crawford County,
Pa. She is also chairwoman of the Crawford County Coalition on Housing Needs.
Sudarat Tuntivivat ’06, BA political science, is a lecturer and researcher in the Behavioral Sciences Research
Institute at Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand.
Charles Leone ’05, BA Political Science, is Water Commissioner for the City of Torrance, California.
Among other positions, he is a former mayoral aide to City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
R. Villaraigosa.
Tamar Senikidze ’04, BA Political Science, is an attorney in the Office of General Counsel at the University
of Miami. In addition to earning a law degree at the University of Miami School of
Law, Ms. Senikidze also earned an MA with distinction in international economics and
international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Dr. David Kerstetter ’95, BA Political Science, is a research scientist at Nova Southeastern University in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Contact Us
History, Politics, Languages and Cultures 146 Hendricks Hall 235 Scotland Road Edinboro, PA 16444 Phone: 814-732-2575
Amanda Frantz-Mamani, MA Department Chair 140 Hendricks Hall Email:frantzmamani@pennwest.edu Phone: 814-732-1133
