MARIETTA, OHIO — For Trevor Burton, a 2016 graduate of Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO), success didn’t happen overnight. It began with the strong foundation he built at WSCO, where he discovered his passions, developed key skills, and gained the mentorship that set him on the path to a global impact as a policy analyst with the U.S. Department of Defense.
That foundation started taking shape the moment Burton first enrolled at WSCO. Although he wasn’t entirely sure what his future would hold, he knew he loved history and international relations. Choosing WSCO’s Liberal Arts Transfer program gave him more than academic preparation—it gave him a supportive environment to explore his interests, build confidence, and begin developing the research, writing, and analytical skills that would carry him forward.
One of those mentors was WSCO Business Management Professor Brad Merritt, who also serves as the advisor for the college’s Alpha Rho Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). “Professor Merritt had a lot of faith in me, made classes enjoyable, and shared his passion for history,” Burton recalls. “He pushed me to excel and encouraged me to join PTK in the fall of 2015. That opportunity helped me build professional and leadership skills that I still use today.”
Burton went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in History, Politics, and International Affairs at Muskingum University, where his studies sparked a deeper passion for global issues, particularly in the Middle East. Still, he is quick to emphasize that WSCO was where it all began. “WSCO was the place I first started developing the skills I rely on every day—research, writing, analysis—and it gave me the confidence to pursue a career in international affairs,” he said. “These degrees gave me a stronger understanding of the world and the context behind international partnerships. The foundation I received at WSCO made the transition to further studies and professional opportunities much smoother.”
After graduating from Muskingum in 2019, Burton enrolled in a summer program at Arizona State’s Critical Languages Institute where he studied Persian for two months. In the spring of 2020, he was accepted into American University’s School of International Service, where he began his Comparative and Regional Studies MA. It was there that he continued to develop his skills and passion for international relations. He completed several internships, including one as a research assistant at the Embassy of Iraq in Washington, DC. In the spring of 2022, Burton was awarded a Boren Fellowship, an initiative of the Department of Defense’s National Security Education Program that funds students studying critical languages. With this fellowship, he spent nine months in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, continuing his Persian studies and gaining valuable firsthand international experience.
Today, Burton serves as a policy analyst with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. In his role, he helps draft and develop security cooperation policies for the Department of Defense. His work includes interfacing with various government agencies, coordinating policy updates, and even acting as a liaison with international partners.
In 2024, Burton had the opportunity to serve as a liaison officer at the NATO DC Summit (75th Anniversary), where he supported the delegation of former NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer. “It was an incredible experience that strengthened my diplomatic, organizational, and communication skills,” Burton said. “Despite the challenges, the delegation appreciated my efforts, and I grew tremendously from it.”
Looking back, Burton offers this advice to current and future students: “Don’t rush through life’s stages. Be patient with yourself and find the path that works for you. Dreams sometimes need to adapt to circumstances, and failure isn’t the end — it’s just a redirection. Surround yourself with people who truly support you, and focus on your own growth rather than comparing yourself to others. My time at WSCO and the experiences I have had since graduating have taught me all of that and more,” Burton shared.
