Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Ellen (DeWeese) Politi ’17 always dreamed of a career in politics. We caught up with the busy borough manager to reflect on her career and educational journey, the mentors who encouraged her to follow her dreams, and how Westminster continues to be part of her life today.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating Westminster.
Following graduation, I went to American University in Washington, D.C., and received a Master of Public Administration in December of 2018. I focused my degree in state and local government, and also worked as an intern at the National Education Association and the Alliance for Retired Americans. I then moved back to Pittsburgh and started my career as the administrative assistant in Edgeworth Borough (Allegheny County). I was promoted to assistant borough manager in December 2023, and borough manager in October 2024, which is the position I hold today!
What professors, classes or activities helped shape your life and career?
Every political science professor (Dr. Smithey, Dr. Aleprete, Dr. Rhodes, and Dr. Cohen) had an impact on my life and career. I was fortunate to be involved in multiple events and organizations, such as Model United Nations, Mock Convention, Pi Sigma Alpha, and state lobby day that allowed me to explore different avenues that I could take with my political science degree. My academic advisor, Dr. Cohen, helped me to really determine what I wanted out of my future career, and with his guidance I was able to find the right graduate program and focus of study that established the baseline for a successful career. Each professor also took the time to understand who I was as a person beyond my academic goals, which I really appreciated. I was also involved in Greek life, which aided my ability to communicate well, connect with others, and implement service into my daily life.
You’ve been active in giving back to current students through the Professional Networking Symposium (PNS), Model UN, etc. Why is this type of volunteer work important to you? I always looked forward to alumni coming back to campus when I was an undergrad, as they had (somewhat) recently lived the same experiences I was going through. I also found it very valuable to hear what paths they took with their education, because there are one thousand opportunities available and it can be difficult to feel like you're making the right decisions at 22. I hope to give current students the same type of perspective. I also love Westminster! I had so many wonderful experiences on campus. I grew up hearing about WC as my mom (Kathleen Hootman '88 M'12) is also an alumna, so it has always been a part of my life. I like to give back in whatever small way that I can.
What do you do for fun/in your spare time? I don't have much spare time as I also work part-time for a dance studio! But I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three-year-old son, cooking, being outdoors, and traveling both near and far. And yes, we did meet at WC! His name is Dominic Politi (graduated in December 2016/class of 2017 like me). We worked at the Titan Club (which at the time was the room adjacent to Berlin Lounge) together, and began dating in early 2017. We got married at the chapel in 2021! Dominic received a Master in Education from WC in 2022, and we still come back to visit New Wilmington a couple of times a year.
