Allison Meyer
Political Science

Allison Meyer, a first-year student from Strongsville, Ohio, is a political science major who was selected by Hofstra to participate in a unique program offered by The Washington Center that will examine the administration of President Barack Obama. The Obama Presidency: The First 100 Days seminar in Washington, D.C. will take place from May 17-24, 2009 and will give students the opportunity to study, hear, and question members of Congress, the media, party activists and advocacy representatives on the state of the 44th presidency.

Why did you apply for the Washington Center seminar?

I'm a PoliSci major so I'm interested in the whole Washington scene and I really don't know much about it, and I like the whole idea of a think tank. I'm hoping to meet other students interested in the same things and maybe learn their opinions about it so I can learn more about what I want to do.

What do you hope to get from the seminar?

I like meeting people who can teach me new things and learning from new experiences. I hope to learn more about important issues and possible policies, the Obama administration, Washington, D.C., think tanks, and myself.

As a member of Hofstra Hillel, you participated in the Alternative Winter Break in New Orleans this past January. What was that experience like?

That was an amazing opportunity and really educational, more educational than I ever thought it would be and also lots of fun and good community service. We were assigned a house with other students from the University of Rhode Island. Our duty was to do the outside of it and we put up new siding in the back, new frames for the windows. We helped insulate the house, painted, installed new roof tiles.

What sort of career are you considering?

I really like international relations international politics. I'm in an international politics class right now and I can't believe how much I love that class.

How did you happen to come to Hofstra from a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio?

My dad is a professor in Ohio and I received a tuition exchange. My first time here was orientation. It has worked out unbelievably well. I'm more than happy with the way things have turned out.

Did you have a chance to participate in the Debate Day activities on campus or any of the Define '09 events?

I saw David Plouff (campaign manager, Obama for America), Anderson Cooper (CNN)…I was in a first-year cluster for a semester and everything revolved around the presidential election. I was surprised at how much I liked it. I didn't think I'd be interested in it but I really liked the professor and because they were so excited about the election I got excited about it. And of course, it was a really exciting time, and still is.

The day of the debate we walked around campus, saw all the displays in the parking lot behind the Student Center. The night of the debate I watched it in the Netherlands. I'm from Ohio and that was the night of Joe the Plumber and he's from Ohio, so every time they mentioned him everyone would say, "He's from your state!"

What would you tell prospective students about Hofstra?

I really like the student- teacher ratio. I learn a lot better when the teacher knows my name. I participate in class and they really care. They want you to do really well.

I really like the campus a lot. There's always something to do. There's a wide variety of students and faculty and it's really close to New York City. I feel like I've gone in almost every weekend of the spring semester. I love just walking around.