What do you currently do?

I am a Compensation Manager at AmerisourceBergen, a Fortune 10 company headquartered in the Philadelphia Metro Area. In this role, I oversee pay programs for over 22,000 employees around the world.

How do you see the connection between the time you spent as a IR major and what you’ve been able to do since?

In many ways, working within human resources is like working brokering a peace treaty, just on a much smaller scale. There are always problems to solve and you’re always working to understand the scope of the problem and the people impacted, and come up with the most diplomatic solution for everyone. No matter what country you live in, people tend to feel very strongly about their pay. It’s important that we understand all relevant laws and cultural issues surrounding pay, and that we’re communicating our plans clearly, effectively, and in accordance with all local practices.

What advice do you have for students currently majoring in, or considering to major in Politics or IR?

The one thing that I didn’t do at Ursinus was a course on statistics; I was required to take multiple statistics courses when in graduate school. I’ve found that no matter your field, an understanding of basic statistical principles is useful–I use these concepts every day in my role in HR. They are a strong compliment to anyone in the social sciences, and if you choose to pursue an advanced degree, it will put you ahead of the game. (Editor’s note: Students majoring in Politics or IR all nowadays take POL 300 (Research Methods), which gives students a robust introduction to social science statistics.)