John Wellendorf, ’12, is a Youngstown, Ohio native who now resides in New York City. He works as a Legal and Government Relations Analyst with an Australian-based investment fund. Wellendorf works with the head of his department to “develop and carry out a comprehensive government, community and public relations strategy.” He explains further that his main objective is to “build relationships with elected officials, key community leaders, and local civic groups.”
Prior to accepting his current position in early 2014, Wellendorf was enrolled in graduate school at Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he earned his Master’s degree in political science.
Wellendorf, who majored in political science and history as an undergraduate, speaks highly of his experience at Muskingum. He says, “Throughout my four years at Muskingum, my professors pushed me to increase my involvement in campus life; I was President of the Campus Democrats and Model United Nations, a Resident Assistant, completed two internships, and was involved with organizing visits by scholars from other universities through the Political Science Department.”
Wellendorf credits several faculty members in both the Political Science and History Departments with pushing him “to reach a potential I had no idea was possible.” Over the course of his four years as a Muskie, Wellendorf studied abroad in both China and Montreal, attended an academic conference, published a paper in an academic journal, and was accepted to several prestigious graduate programs.
Because of these experiences, Wellendorf says, “When I started graduate school, my writing and research skills were miles ahead of the students who attended large state schools. And when I started my first job, the life, leadership, and communication skills gained in my campus involvement at Muskingum proved invaluable.”