Poli Sci course brings experts to class

Monday, April 13, 2026 • Leslie Hull-Ryde
Derrick Meggie visited with Dr. Sarah Young's political science class, sharing how he works with state legislators in his role as director of state government and community relations for the USC system.
Derrick Meggie visited with Dr. Sarah Young's political science class, sharing how he works with state legislators in his role as director of state government and community relations for the USC system.

One USCA political science professor routinely explores how to tie her classroom instruction to current events while offering a sneak peek into future job prospects for her students.

Dr. Sarah Young often invites USCA alumni, elected officials, public servants and public policy administrators to her classes.

Most recently her political science class, Parties and Interest Groups, highlighted how organized interests, including higher ed institutions, lobby and advocate for their members and the stakeholders they represent. 

Derrick Meggie, director of state government and community relations for the USC system, visited the class and outlined the state legislative process, the importance of committees as key gatekeepers for whether legislation passes, and how his office maintains relationships with committee chairs and other key legislators. He also talked about the importance of hearing from the represented vested parties, including students and faculty.

“This class was about to dive into the topic of lobbying and how lobbyists and advocates work to align the interests of their stakeholders with legislative support,” Young said. 

“Mr. Meggie gave us real-life examples of how his work at Columbia does just that.”

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