By Emily Rivard, Features Editor

If you’ve been lucky enough to meet Melissa Calderone on campus, take note: she could very well be the next president.

Calderone, a senior political science major and fine arts minor, is more involved within the political science department than are most students—and maybe even some professors.

“I think ‘Educate ‘08′ was the best thing that ever happened to me at Hofstra. I came in wanting to be a political science major, but ‘Educate ‘08′ got me face to face with politics,” said Calderone.

As one of only four students selected by the University, Calderone had the opportunity to attend the Democratic National Conference in 2008 for two weeks and experience first-hand President Obama’s nomination acceptance speech.
Since then, Calderone has served as a peer teacher for two separate classes, both the First-Year Cluster class American Politics I and The American Presidency with Dr. Meena Bose.

Between classes, Calderone is responsible for the growing network of political science students as co-founder of the Political Science Club.

“I went in January 2008 to New Hampshire to follow campaign stops rights before the primary. I really bonded with department and other poli-sci students. That got me interested and in tune with the department and inspired me to start up the political science club to create a network between students; to sit down and get to know the department more intimately,” said Calderone.

Calderone also recently spent the summer in Washington D.C. with the University’s semester in Washington program, spending her time as an intern for the progressive interest group People for the American Way foundation.

Last week, Calderone was recognized with the Dr. Herbert D. Rosenbaum Award in Political Science for having written to best paper within the department within the past year, an award she calls a “great surprise and a huge honor.”

Aside from political science, Calderone’s “other true love” is art. Her paintings can currently be seen in the downstairs lounge of Axinn Library.
“If I can’t be the president, hopefully I will be the one painting presidential portraits,” laughed Calderone.

Although graduating in May, Calderone knows that her experiences at the University are incredibly valuable off campus.

“Hofstra has taught me…how to think, process and interact in a scholarly and professional manner. Anywhere I go and get hired after this, they’re not going to be able to give me what Hofstra has.”

Aside from the academic life on campus, Calderone believes that her experience in meeting people is an asset to have throughout life.

“I think that building relationships is one of the most important things you do in college. It will get you so far and open up so many doors for you. If you don’t get involved and meet people you will severely limit what you’re able to do.”
 

Melissa Calderone “could very well be the next president.” (Photo Courtesy Melissa Calderone)