Welcome to the advising center for the Department of Political Science!
Are you a declared major in Political Science, Political Science - Public Service, or International Relations? Are you interested in our majors or minors? Have questions about your major requirements, student life, and more? You've come to the right place.
Here are all the ways you can contact our advising team:
Email advising questions to [email protected]. You can also email us forms needing a signature, course information for study abroad, and Academic Planning Forms (APFs).
Use virtual drop-in advising with our Academic Peer Advisors. Peer Advisors are current students in the major and are trained to answer questions about major requirements, adding a double major or a minor, academic planning, student life, and more. Drop-in advising is open to all current UCD students.
Set up a full 30-minute advising appointment with a staff advisor. Go to appointments.ucdavis.edu: Click on “Get Scheduled” then “Kerr Hall Advising Center” and your specific major. To ensure equitable access, staff advising appointments are limited to DECLARED POL/PPS/IRE major students only, and students are limited to 1 appointment per quarter. Due to demand, appointments with staff advisors are booked very quickly; new appointment slots are released each day, so please check at the beginning of each day for the best availability. Appointments can be booked up to two weeks in advance. Please make sure to attend your scheduled advising appointments – appointment access may be limited in the future for students who repeatedly miss appointments. If you must meet with a staff advisor and cannot book an appointment, please email us at [email protected] for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Virtual Drop-In Advising
Meet Your Advising Team
Staff Advisor, Political Science/Political Science-Public Service:
Chaz Butler
Pronouns: he/him
Hi everyone, welcome! As we embark on this journey together, here is a little about me: I am a big sports fan, fitness is kind of my thing, and I am a self-proclaimed Uno champion. I hold a MA in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University (LSU). My background is in undergraduate and graduate education, and student development, I am committed to fostering student success through personalized guidance and support. I believe in empowering students to explore their academic interests and achieve their goals by providing tailored advice. I am passionate about inclusivity and student engagement, and I actively work to cultivate a supportive learning environment that encourages personal and academic growth. Looking forward to meeting with you soon!
Staff Advisor, Political Science/Political Science-Public Service:
Saira Delgado
Pronouns: she/her
I am a proud UC Davis alum with degrees in International Relations and Communication. As a student, I was often involved in local political campaigns and public interest causes. After graduating, I worked for several years as a staffer for the California State Legislature. In my various positions, I worked with countless dedicated community volunteers and over 250 student interns! My enthusiasm for helping students achieve their career goals led me to my position as an academic advisor in Political Science. I strongly believe in the value of professional development and mentorship, so please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help you in your journey at UC Davis! I hope to continue empowering other students and youth to make change in their communities. I look forward to helping you achieve all of your goals on campus and beyond - go Ags!
Staff Advisor, International Relations:
Sarah Yunus
Pronouns: she/her
It's so lovely to meet you all! A little bit about my background is that I got my Undergrad degree at Chico State and then went on to New Hampshire to receive my Masters. Throughout my career, I have bounced around in different areas of education such as teaching, working for the Registrar and then moving onto advising in both Grad and now Undergrad spaces. I'm a first-generation student, so I really learned to lean on my advisors to help me navigate my academic career and essentially led me to where I am today. It's been a very rewarding journey that I now get to be on the other side of the advising table and take on that support role for students that had once made a significant difference in my own life! I have an open-door policy so I'm always here for you when you need me!
Peer Advisor, International Relations:
Maddison Cunningham
I am a current UC Davis undergraduate International Relations and Psychology double major, minoring in Communication. I hope to pursue a career in diplomacy or with the federal government. In my free time, I am an avid reader and I love hiking, camping, and traveling (when I have the time). I am also a huge proponent of study abroad and have studied in France with the UCEAP French in Paris program, so I am always up for discussing study abroad! Please feel free to visit me during drop-in hours for any major advising questions or just to chat!
Peer Advisor, Political Science/Political Science-Public Service:
Annalise Harhay
I am a current UC Davis undergraduate Political Science and French double major. I hope to pursue a career in law or teaching. In my free time I enjoy painting and doing ceramics, as well as reading and traveling. I studied in France through the UCEAP Science Po Paris program so I am always willing to discuss study abroad! I’m excited to be your Undergraduate Academic Peer Advisor for Political Science and Political Science – Public Service. Please feel free to visit me during drop in hours to discuss any major advising questions you may have, or just to chat. Can’t wait to meet you all!
Peer Advisor, Political Science/Political Science-Public Service:
Ethan Valencia
I am a third-year political science major and plan to pursue a career in law. In my free time, I enjoy playing lacrosse, golf, skiing, and watching Formula 1. This past summer, I interned with the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office, and next summer I’ll be interning with a commercial real estate law firm. I’m more than happy to share what I’ve learned from these experiences, my process for preparing and applying to law school, or anything related to the Political Science major. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just want to chat!