In an era of political polarization and skepticism about the government, students are often uncertain about whether there is still space for careers in nonpartisan public service, and what those careers might look like. The good news is that there are many ways to pursue nonpartisan public service. This year, the Lunch with Honors series will occasionally feature speakers sharing their experiences and talking about opportunities available for students and graduates.

We will begin with the theme of national security. Mark C., a 37 year USG national security professional, currently serves as the acting Executive Director of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Mark, a member of the Honors Program, graduated from UofM in 1979 with a BA in PolSci, and an MA from Stanford in 1982 in East Asian Studies. He has served overseas in East Asia and the Middle East, and also worked on South Asia, Counterterrorism, the Intelligence Community, and public-private national security partnerships.

Nicole is a Senior Intelligence Analyst. For thirteen years, she has worked on counterterrorism issues, driving intelligence collection on behalf of analysts and clandestine operators, including a post in a war zone. Before joining the intelligence community, Nicole worked as an economist, consultant, and researcher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.