McNair Scholars Program has Tyler-Joseph Ballard Thinking Doctorate
Tyler-Joseph Ballard is a guy with a lot on his mind – politics, research, doctoral programs, and civil discourse in our community to name a few.
The senior Political Science major from Poultney, Vermont, has lofty goals that his Castleton education is helping him prepare for. With his sights set on a Ph.D. program and eventually law school, the McNair Scholar and vice president of the Pre-Law Club is finding the tools he needs to succeed.
Tyler is also gaining practical experience as he nears graduation through both work and internship. He is working in the Castleton Zoning Administrator's Office, helping to file permits and doing data entry, and also doing an internship with Republican gubernatorial candidate John Klar.
He recently worked on arranging for Klar to speak on campus. He said the event served as an excellent opportunity for Klar to talk to students. Politics and civil discourse are topics that excite Tyler's mind.
"Civil and respectful discourse is something that is lacking in our society," Tyler said. "Whether we blame social media or national politics, I guess the two go hand in hand. There are a plethora of reasons why we must recognize other ideas and engage in political conversation."
Tyler originally planned to go to law school following his undergraduate work. However, the McNair Scholars Program has opened up some new doors and possibilities.
The McNair Scholars Program is a federally-funded TRIO program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The program grants a limited number of colleges and universities around the country the ability to help low-income and first-generation students, as well as students from ethnic groups that are under-represented in doctoral study, to pursue graduate education. Castleton's McNair Scholars Program was established in 2017.
"Over time, I got lost in the research process. I love the research and meeting with students who have the same background and challenges that I have faced. It is inspiring for me to have these opportunities," Tyler said.
Tyler said that the further he got into the program, the more invested in obtaining a doctorate in either political psychology or American politics he became.
"Without McNair, I wouldn't have ended up with the opportunities I have now. I found new enjoyment in doing political research on voting behavior, political psychology, and the political system," Tyler said.
None of this is to say that law school is off the table. He hopes that he might move on to that after he completes a Ph.D. He said the McNair Scholars Program has had one of the most significant impacts on his life.
"This has helped me to feel more confident in myself as a student," Tyler said. "McNair really changed my outlook on my future. I've changed my path, and I think I'm going to be happier with this path. It's a good, small, and creative community. I am truly grateful for the opportunity."
Tyler is finding success at Castleton because he values a close-knit community and the individualized attention he can get from professors. He cited Dr. Rich Clark, professor and Political Science program coordinator, as an example of a professor that gives students the attention they need to thrive.
"This smaller institution provides opportunities that you would see at a larger university. We have access to the same information and resources. We have the only McNair Program in Vermont. We have the means of doing well by our students, faculty, and community," he said. "I think something you don't get at a larger school is that feeling of family, community, and cohesiveness."
Tyler said he would like to stay in the Northeast after graduation. He is currently applying to graduate schools for doctoral study and has offers to attend Ohio State, Brown, SUNY Buffalo, Penn State, and University of Georgia.
"I ended up at Castleton for a reason, and it was the best set of circumstances that could have happened to me," Tyler said.