Politics Alumni
Alumni Outcomes
Our alumni follow many different career paths to make a positive change upon our current political climate.
Fatima Silva '05
TRIAL ATTORNEY AT SILVA LAW/CO-HOST OF INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY NETWORK'S TRUE CRIME SHOW "REASONABLE DOUBT"
Fatima Silva is the Co-Host of Investigation Discovery Network's true crime show "Reasonable Doubt". She received her JD degree with honors from Pace University School of Law in New York in 2008. From 2012-18 she was an attorney in the Law Offices of James V. McGrail, specializing in criminal defense, immigration, and personal injury cases. She is now a trial attorney at Silva Law.
Catherine Stefani ’91
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISOR
San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani, District 2, is a City Hall veteran, anti-gun activist, and former prosecutor. Stefani is vice chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and vice chair of the Campus Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. She serves on the Mental Health Board, the Family Violence Council, and the Department of Emergency Management Disaster Council. She is an alternate member of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
Michael Montafi ’11
GLOBAL NGO PROGRAM OFFICER
After leaving the Peace Corps, Montafi stayed another year in Azerbaijan and worked for a local NGO, helping to rehabilitate land mine survivors and reintegrate communities displaced by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Since then, he has completed a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute in Geneva (2016–2018) and is now back in the South Caucasus, where he works as a program officer with the HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian de-mining organization. As an international development and human security practitioner, Montafi sees his time at Saint Mary’s College as integral to his journey post-graduation, instilling values of humanitarian service and a deep interest in global affairs.
Megan Collins '17
ASSISTANT MANAGER FOR GLOBAL PR AT ALLBIRDS
Megan is the Assistant Manager for Global PR at Allbirds in San Francisco. Previously she was an Account Manager and then Associate Account Executive at Mighty in San Francisco, where she specialized in strategic communication and planning, media relations, and social media management.
Sean Sullivan '03
SENIOR VP, CAO AND GENERAL COUNSEL OF DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO
Sean graduated from Columbia Law School in 2006. He is currently the Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of the Duckhorn Portfolio, based in Saint Helena, California. Sean previously practiced law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Michael Cullin '09
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY WITH ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO
Michael received his JD degree from Northeastern University Law School in 2014. From 2016-19 he served as an Associate Attorney with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, where he advised local education agencies on all aspects of student services, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. He has also served as campaign manager/political director for several candidates for national office.
Peter Detwiler, '71
CAREER IN CALIFORNIA STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Peter Detwiler received an MA in Public Policy & Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He enjoyed a 40-year career in state and local government, including 30 years as staff director of the State Senate’s Committee on Local Government. For over 25 years he taught in Sacramento State’s graduate program in Public Policy & Administration.
Mary Luros '04
SENIOR ATTORNEY AT HUDSON & LUROS, LLP, IN NAPA
Mary Luros, 2004, earned her J.D. at Golden Gate School of Law. She serves on the Napa City Council and is a Partner/Senior Attorney at Hudson & Luros, LLP, in Napa.
James Thompson '99
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE JAMES A. GARFIELD CENTER FOR PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AT HIRAM COLLEGE
James received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. He is currently Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the James A. Garfield Center for Public Leadership at Hiram College in Ohio. His primary area of research is International relations, with a focus on regional integration projects. He is the author of Making North America: Trade, Security, and Integration published by the University of Toronto Press.
Maria Elena Durazo, '75
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
Maria Elena Durazo, 1975, is a member of the California State Senate. In 2003, Durazo became the National Director of the Immigrant Workers' Freedom Ride. She is currently the General Vice President for Immigration, Diversity and Civil Rights at Unite Here. She is also Executive Vice President of the governing Executive Council of the national AFL-CIO and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.