AIRC attracts students from a broad range of backgrounds, majors, and professional fields. After graduating from Alabama, many such students go on to graduate schools, research programs, jobs, or other endeavors that current AIRC members may find interest in. Below, current members can find bio and contact information for AIRC alumni, which we hope will provide a seamless, tailored networking opportunity!

​Alumni are listed alphabetically by first name, and all expressed approval for being contacted before their information was added to this page.

Griffin Specker

Degree(s) Earned: BA in History, Minor in Public Policy; MA in Public Administration (University of Georgia) 
Hometown: 
Based In: Charleston, SC
Current Project(s): Budget Analyst for the City of Charleston

​Semi-recent alumni with experience in graduate school and work in the public sector. If you're looking for help with grad applications, job applications, advice on finding jobs in government, and finding the right path for you, feel free to reach out!

Maren Kirkpatrick

Degree(s) Earned: BA in International Studies; BA in Religious Studies; BS in Public Health
Hometown: Madison, AL
Based In: Tuscaloosa, AL
Current Project(s): MA in Public Health; research assistantship with UA College of Human Environmental Science

Quinn Lee

Degree(s) Earned: BA in Geography; BS/MA in Mathematics
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
Based In: Tuscaloosa, AL
Current Project(s): Programmer Analyst at Alabama Water Institute, University of Alabama

Quinn is a recent UA graduate and currently working as a staff scientist at the Alabama Water Institute. Her work supports operational forecasting at the National Weather Service's Office of Water Prediction, as well as faculty and researchers at the 28 institutions that comprise the NOAA's Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH). Her day-to-day work spans full-stack software development, geospatial data analysis, hydrologic modeling, and machine learning. She looks back fondly on her time as a delegate, staffer, and eventually SG of ALMUN, her time as a volunteer with TILE, and her many academic and professional detours on the way to her current career (like many of you, she once was an international studies/pre-law student...). She looks forward to conversations with current AIRC students about careers in STEM, science policy, research, and trying to figure out what the heck to do in life!

Zach Johnson

 Degree(s) Earned: BA in Political Science; MA in Public Administration; Graduate Certificate in GIS
Hometown: Madison, AL
Based In: Washington, DC
Current Project(s): Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Henry Cuellar