Alumni Spotlight
Nathan Watkins
Nathan Watkins (B.S., Political Science, ‘19) always had the desire to enter the field of public service. He grew up leading a branch of Rotary International’s youth affiliate, Interact, and from the organization adopted the mantra of “Service Above Self.” This motto motivated Watkins to major in Political Science, and by choosing MTSU, he was able to experience myriad internship opportunities to decide how to pursue his career. He obtained and completed six internships, all for course credit, through the Department of Political Science and International Relations. “I interned across every level and branch of govern- ment, including but not limited to the Tullahoma city administrator, Tennessee General Assembly, and Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division,” he said. “These opportunities allowed me to sample the fields of law, politics, city planning, budgeting, economics, and public service before deciding on my personal career path.”
After graduating, Watkins joined the ranks of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) as a team leader, supervising a group of 8–12 young adults through projects. He is currently stationed at AmeriCorps NCCC’s Southwest Region, which encompasses nine states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. The organization aims to “strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.” “I have always had the desire to serve my country, my state, my nation, and my world, and I couldn’t think of a better fit for my own personal philosophy than serving my country in this role,” Watkins said. He lauded his MTSU professors, including Michael Federici, John Maynor, Lisa Langenbach, and David Carleton, for being “able to expand my mind.”
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College of Liberal Arts
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Fall 2020
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