Welcome to the International Affairs Scholars Program at Ohio State! My name is Steven Blalock, and I am the Program Manager for the IA Scholars. Whether you are a current or former IA Scholar, a prospective student, or a potential campus and community partner, we encourage you to review this website for information and resources that may be of interest to you.
A little about me! I graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2009 with a BA in International Studies with minors in Political Science and History. I was heavily involved in Model United Nations (MUN) and our Class Councils. I had the opportunity to study abroad twice: a summer in Stuttgart, Germany in 2007 and a Spring Break trip to London, England in 2008. I was also fortunate enough to participate in the national LeaderSHAPE program.
After graduation, I spent a year in Austria with the Fulbright Commission’s Teaching Assistantship Program, where I was placed in two schools outside of Innsbruck, Austria. Following that, I moved to Ohio to attend graduate school at Ohio University-Athens and completed a MA in Political Science. I then worked for a little under four years at the Ohio Statehouse with the Legislative Service Commission Fellowship Program and as a Legislative Aide to a former Ohio Senator.
I started at Ohio State in August 2015 as Program Coordinator at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies where I was responsible for event logistics, our scholarships and grants program, and assisting the Executive Director. I am also a member of the University Staff Advisory Committee that advocates for the needs and interests of Ohio State staff members and am currently enrolled in the In-Career MA Public Policy and Management program in the Glenn College of Public Affairs (finished December 2018- woohoo!).
My goal as Program Manager is to guide both first and second year students throughout the program and beyond. I am responsible for teaching the one-credit Scholars Seminar course every fall semester, overseeing our fantastic Leadership Council (LC), and assisting with programming, co-curricular development, and overall strategic planning. I am also here to serve as a general resource for IA Scholars as they navigate their professional and academic paths.
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Steven Blalock
