Jo Boileau
2020 Graduate, Major: Political Science, Minor: Environmental Politics & Policy
Jo Boileau came to Purdue eager to explore his interest in political science inside and outside of the classroom. His persistent pursuit of learning opportunities on campus and around the world has armed the 2020 graduate with an impressive resume of achievements as he enters the job market.
In addition to serving as President of Purdue Student Government (PSG) in 2019-2020, Jo interned at the United Nations in New York City, competed at the Model United Nations Conference in Bogota, Columbia with a Purdue delegation, traveled to Poland on a cultural immersion trip sponsored by General Electric (GE), and attended the Iowa caucuses with fellow political science students to interview voters about the 2020 election.
What makes these accomplishments even more noteworthy is that Jo didn’t become a Boilermaker until the second semester of his sophomore year. After his early admission to an elite private school fell through, Jo found himself at a community college in rural Tennessee.
Jo thrived at community college, earned an associate degree in political science, and transferred to Purdue in January 2018. He arrived on campus excited and determined to embrace all the transformative possibilities that a Purdue education offers.
An Introduction to Environmental Policy, one of his most challenging but also most impactful courses, confirmed Jo’s decision to minor in the field. Constitutional Law was a great primer for what to expect in law school, which he plans to attend after gaining some work experience.
“What I love about political science is the flexibility to craft my schedule to have the courses and educational experiences that I want. Our classes are a marketplace of ideas. I love that our professors facilitate discussions and debates that are both respectful and substantive.”
Jo’s passion for political science extended far beyond the classroom. He was a summer intern at the United Nations for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, contributing to reviews on the status of formal diplomatic relations and regional climate change. He received financial support through a College of Liberal Arts Job-Ready Award, which allocates students up to $2,000 to help cover their basic costs while interning.
During the summer of 2019, Jo was among 10 American students selected for a GE funded cultural-immersion trip to Poland to study politics, economics, and diplomacy. They met the President of Poland and other government officials, toured factories and multinational firms working on sustainable energy, and visited Auschwitz.
Being elected President of PSG was an education all its own. Jo is most proud of PSG’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the first-ever campus-wide collaboration supporting mental health. In February, PSG distributed over 23,000 free green bandanas for students, faculty, and staff to display all week as a “movement of silent solidarity.” Attached to each bandana was a card listing the mental health resources and services available on campus for those in need.