Political science, history student finds passion for teaching on the Plains

Dylan Duke | 8/26/2026

Montana Maslonka, a junior from Mesa, Arizona, came to Auburn looking for a place where she could pursue her passion for politics and history. Along the way, she found supportive faculty, transformative leadership experiences and a calling to one day become a college professor.

Choosing Auburn wasn't always part of the plan. Despite her parents' desire for her to go to Auburn, Maslonka applied to 12 different schools across the Southeast.

"The doors to Auburn just kept opening," she said. “After being accepted in October, I got the first time slot for housing selection and met three girls who wanted to live with me before even arriving on campus. It was one of those Goldilocks moments.”

Maslonka's passion for politics and history began long before college. She remembers being the only student in her fifth-grade class paying close attention to the 2016 presidential election.

At Auburn, she found a way to combine her interests through her double major. Studying history alongside political science has allowed her to better understand how the two disciplines complement one another.

"The further I get into my studies, the more I realize the training that I've gotten in historical research has helped me so much in my political science major,” Maslonka said. “I have learned valuable skills in methodology of how to study and find information."

Conversations with her parents at the dinner table inspired her philosophy minor, while her leadership minor has introduced her to students from all across campus and strengthened skills she uses both inside and outside the classroom.

"I feel like I'm a liberal arts Frankenstein with all my different classes that complement each other," she said. "And I love every single part of it."

That interdisciplinary education has been strengthened by close relationships with Auburn faculty. Maslonka attributes much of her academic growth to history professors such as Philip Baltuskonis and Camden Elliott, who have connected her with colleagues and research opportunities.

"Both of my majors have fantastic professors who genuinely care about their students, take the time to know them as individuals and are invested in helping them succeed after graduation," she said.

In political science, Maslonka said Professor Steven Brown has become a role model as she pursues a future in higher education, while Senior Lecturer Matthew Clary's engaging teaching style challenged her to explore subjects she never expected to enjoy.

Outside the classroom, Maslonka has embraced leadership opportunities across campus. She serves as director of special events for Auburn University Dream Makers, vice president of campus engagement for Involvement Ambassadors, vice president of leadership and educational programming for the Greek Programming Board and director of internal affairs for Kappa Alpha Pi.

This fall, she will also serve as a peer instructor for Auburn's First Year Seminar program, where she hopes to gain classroom teaching experience while helping first-year students transition to college.

Over time, Maslonka has learned that meaningful involvement isn't about joining every organization but rather investing in opportunities that spark her joy, align with her career goals and allow her to make a lasting impact on the Auburn community.

As vice president of campus engagement for Involvement Ambassadors, Maslonka finds fulfillment in helping students who were once in her shoes through involvement fairs, one-on-one consultations and interview workshops.

“I remember the first few weeks of freshman year, I was going to First 56 campus events by myself hoping to find a community,” Maslonka said. “Auburn is such an involved campus where community thrives through involvement, and the involvement ambassadors mean so much to me because I was the person who needed that extra hand to get involved and make those lifelong friendships.”

Her leadership experiences also equipped her with practical skills beyond the classroom.

"Being involved has enabled me to get hands-on skills that you can talk about in a job interview," she said. "Whether that's reading and signing contracts or planning large-scale events, Auburn has truly prepared me to be a successful adult in the 21st century.”

This summer, Maslonka participated in the Global Media and Culture Studies study abroad program through Auburn's School of Communication and Journalism. The eight-person cohort spent two weeks in London and two weeks in Prague.

"After taking an Eastern European history class in the spring, it was so amazing to translate what I had learned about Prague in the classroom to experiencing its rich history in real life,” she said. “The program was so unique because there were only eight of us, so our classes often took place in parks or cafes which allowed us to be fully immersed in the culture.”

That same curiosity continues to shape Maslonka's future. After graduation, she plans to either attend law school or pursue a master's degree before earning a doctorate, with the ultimate goal of becoming a college professor specializing in legal history or constitutional law.

“I’ve always had a strong desire to learn, and I have always been incredibly curious,” Maslonka said. “Being a professor would allow me to continue doing my own research while also being able to pour into the next generation of leaders.”

Learn more about major programs at the College of Liberal Arts website.

Tags: Political Science History Students