Justin LoScalzo, a double concentrator in Political Science and Economics, has cultivated a genuine passion for politics while taking full advantage of every opportunity for self-growth throughout his time at Colgate.

He serves as the Supervisory Peer Career Advisor in Career Services, helping students with their with resumes, cover letters, and job search. Additionally, he is the Chair of the Class Affairs Committee, which consists of the elected class councils for each year. “We put on events for the student body that promote unity and are interesting and entertaining for all,” LoScalzo said.

In addition, LoScalzo serves as a President of the Pre-Law Society, an Illustrator in the Office of Admissions where he speaks at information sessions for the University, and is a committed volunteer within the Center for Outreach and Volunteer Education (COVE) Sidekicks organization where he mentors a young student and has had the opportunity to watch him grow up over the course of four years.

At the same time, he brought his interest in politics to life through participating in a Colgate study group. “I knew that Colgate’s Washington, D.C. study group is a prestigious program; it is the oldest program of its kind that allows students to study for a semester in Washington, D.C. I studied and lived politics. I got to visit places such as the White House, U.S. Congress, SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), as well as met Senators, Representatives and even Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia,” LoScalzo said.

But perhaps his biggest accomplishment at Colgate was being the sole recipient of the Dr. William L. Boyle Political Science Award, awarded “for academic excellence to a junior political science major.”

“I have been fortunate to have been a research assistant three times: twice for Political Science, once for Economics. One paper I worked on was presented at a national political science conference, and I have contributed work that will hopefully be published in a book this spring,” LoScalzo said.

In terms of post-graduation, LoScalzo should not have too much trouble finding a job. 

“I’ve worked in every branch of the Federal Government. I interned for a Federal District Judge, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security. I hope to work in the U.S. Intelligence Community after graduation,” LoScalzo said.

Reflecting on his past four years at Colgate, one of the most important lessons he’s learned would be to “challenge yourself, but subsequently not be afraid to ask for help.”

LoScalzo has a fairly good idea of where he would like to see himself 10 years from now.

“I’d like to be running for office and become an elected official, ideally Congress. But at the same time, who knows where the world may take me? Maybe one day I’ll become President,” LoScalzo said.