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Schar School News for April 2024

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Schar Study Abroad Immerses Students in U.S. Mexico Border Policy, Security, and Immigration

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 20:04:50 +0000

Schar Study Abroad Immerses Students in U.S. Mexico Border Policy, Security, and Immigration Andrew J Schappert Mon, 04/08/2024 - 16:04

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Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera

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Members of the Schar School study abroad contingent gather in front of a mural at the National Autónomous University of México. Professor Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera is at center.

Following the coattails of President Biden’s highly publicized visit to Brownsville, Texas, a cadre of graduate students from ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government arrived for a week of academic activity along the U.S.-Mexico border and in Mexico City.

Unlike a parallel trip to the same region at the same time by the Schar School’s International Relations Policy Task Force (you can read their story at this page), “our trip was about the U.S.-Mexico relations during a time of elections,” said Professor Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a foremost expert on border and immigration policy who accompanied the students.

“Border developments are perhaps the most consequential policy issue of this time,” said Michal McElwain Malur, director of external programs at the Schar School, who assembled the itinerary and helped lead the trip to the border for a second year in a row.

“Since the inception of its study abroad program, the Schar School has prioritized providing students with opportunities to explore consequential policy problems facing the U.S. today.”

“We spent one whole day at the border, specifically at the border wall, and we spoke at length with a local editor about border security,” added Correa-Cabrera. “It was important to see this issue through the eyes of someone who covers it for newspapers for a population that relies on accurate information.”

Along the way they met with top industry and government leaders on both sides of the border, with whom they freely discussed the ongoing issues that keep the U.S.–Mexico affiliation at the top of international headlines.

“Putting a face to the border was fascinating,” said Davis Kaderli, a Master of Public Policy student and participant on the trip. “What I actually saw isn’t what the mass media often portrays. It is much more complex than the majority of Americans understand.”

For instance, while in Brownsville, Texas, the students heard harrowing stories of inadequate services provided to Americans in need along the border. In Boca Chica, during a visit to the sprawling SpaceX campus, students met with residents in government partnerships and discussed their views on how SpaceX impacts their community.

“The meetings we had gave insight and were candid discussions,” said Chris Williams, a student in the Schar School’s Master of Global Commerce program. Williams added that anybody immersing themselves in a degree with a global perspective should seek out study abroad opportunities.

A significant component of the trip was a visit to the political capital of Mexico City and the National Autónomous University of México (UNAM), where students engaged in conversations with decision makers and attended lectures.

“Mexico is having elections in June this year,” Correa-Cabrera said. “The U.S. is having them in November. We put these elections in context for the students.”

Upon arriving in Mexico City, the students received a briefing from Miguel Siliceo, the senior economic advisor to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

On International Women’s Day, the cohort of students was officially welcomed by the president of the federal senate of the Republic of Mexico, who recognized them from the Senate floor, followed by a meeting with a Mexican senator. The students said they gained insights from Mexican officials and policymakers on mutually shared challenges, as well as new avenues for cooperation and engagement.

“We had ridiculous access on this study abroad, from [President López Obrado’s] senior economic advisor to a legislative briefing at the Mexican federal senate by the vice president of the Senate,” said Willaims.

Students met with a panel of diplomatic staff at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and received an interactive briefing on the challenges in the upcoming presidential election.

“The five speakers at the embassy was my favorite session,” said Anduela Johnson, a student in the Schar School’s Master of International Security program. “It was interesting to hear how they are managing security issues and balancing economic implications.”

“They see the relationship with the U.S. and our shared border differently. The entire experience was a true joy,” said Johnson. On topics ranging from security and trade policy to the challenges of the upcoming election with two female candidates, each discussion sparked fascinating discussions and means for collaboration between the sets of students.

“My favorite part of this trip was hearing many perspectives,” said Gabe Dole, one of the undergraduates on the trip and a student in the Schar School’s Government and International Politics major. “I really valued the range of perspectives we heard.”

“The Schar School of Policy and Government offered two complimentary study abroad programs to the U.S. Mexico border this spring,” said Malur. “The fact they were both at the border is a testament to the Schar School being a policy school and offering our students the opportunity to hear and see firsthand policy debates and consequences of policies in action.“

Study abroad opportunities are important to a Schar School education, no matter the level or degree program. Trips include programs in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. To learn more about the school's study abroad programs, visit this site.

Not only did the Schar School students receive a shout out from the Senate floor, they were invited to a briefing in a committee room and to sit at Senate desks.

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Schar School News for April 2024

Exploring Border Narratives: Another Successful Trip for the International Relations Policy Task Force

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:14:38 +0000

Exploring Border Narratives: Another Successful Trip for the International Relations Policy Task Force Andrew J Schappert Tue, 04/02/2024 - 16:14

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Schar School students traveled to the United States-Mexico border over spring break.

For the second time since its formation, members of the International Relations Policy Task Force (IRTF) at the Schar School of Policy and Government traveled to the United States-Mexico border in March to witness firsthand the causes and consequences of competing narratives surrounding border dynamics.

William Barker, a public administration student who joined the 1-credit, spring break study-abroad trip for the second time, reflected on the transformative nature of the trip, expressing that it “reaffirmed my passion for international relations and certainly informed me of what I want to do after graduation.”

Kaylee Fernandez, a sophomore studying government and International politics, participated in the Democracy Lab learning community last year. Now, as a member of the IRTF, the trip piqued her interest in policy development and immigration.

“The firsthand exposure to the southern border provided a deeper and new perspective essential for meaningful discourse on immigration issues,” she said.

Abara, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering peace through educational programs around immigration and border realities, hosted the IRTF students. Abara provided the students with an immersive and vulnerable experiences in some of the 32 shelters with which they work both in El Paso, Texas, and Juárez, Mexico. The objective of these volunteer experiences was to rehumanize relationships outside the news cycles and allow students to fully engage with those directly impacted by the border issues, particularly migrants. Engagement ranged from community service activities such as assisting in the kitchen and garden to engaging in conversations and recreational activities with locals.

“Being able to directly interact with migrants facing challenges at the border and putting faces to the topics often discussed in political discourse was incredible and provided me with an experience I will never forget,” Fernandez said.

Working with Abara left an undeniable impact on the students, fostering a deeper comprehension of border dynamics and the individuals affected. Engaging with local community members and activists further enriched their understanding.

“The media often shapes public opinion on immigration yet fails to capture the perspectives of the migrants themselves,” Fernandez said. “That is why volunteering in the shelters was an unforgettable experience for me.”

As an intern on Capitol Hill for U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Fernandez says the trip will continue to shape her perspective for years to come.

“This experience has forever changed how I will approach drafting memos and understanding legislation related to immigration,” she said.

Beyond volunteering in shelters, students had the opportunity to explore historical and political landmarks, engage with governmental and nongovernmental representatives, and connect with faculty and students from institutions in Juárez. This well-rounded experience not only broadened their understanding of immigration policies and human security, but also fostered meaningful connections and lasting impressions.

“The trip encouraged openness, dialogue, and connection, and the scenic overlook of El Paso and Juárez served as a poignant reminder of the diverse narratives and shared humanity that transcend borders,” Barker said.

Such an experience inspired the students to continue their exploration of border narratives and realities, marking a fulfilling and educational conclusion to the successful trip.

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Schar School News for April 2024

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Schar School Undergrads Help Welcome Australia’s Prime Minister to White House

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:45:41 +0000

Schar School Undergrads Help Welcome Australia’s Prime Minister to White House Andrew J Schappert Thu, 10/26/2023 - 11:45

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Jennifer N. Victor

Eric McGlinchey

Mariely Lopez-Santana

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From left, Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor, Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey, Jacob Risinger, William Barker, Aarush Jambunathan, Riley Pierce, Sabrina Afzall, John Mckey, Mary Decker, Yousef Alakkad, Sona Jinson, Anthony Andriolas, Joseph Blanchette, Shad G. Karim, Anastasia Rea, Grace Martinez-cora, Laura Lopez Salazar, Sierra Hill, Adjunct Professor Shea Holman, and Associate Professor Mariely López-Santana. Kneeling, Liam Campbell. Not pictured, Finn Riedl. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Photo by Jennifer N. Victor/Schar School of Policy and Government

On a glorious late October morning, a few hundred business-attired guests strolled the flag-festooned South Lawn of the White House to help President and First Lady Joe and Jill Biden welcome Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon to the U.S. during the traditional Welcome Ceremony that accompanies official state visits.

Among the invited guests were 16 students from the undergraduate programs of the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV. They were accompanied by the faculty members who lead the four learning communities that bring students together with like-minded peers to share opportunities and experiences, including field trips like this one.

Mason’s Schar School is uniquely positioned for those interested in pursuing an education in government, international politics, public policy, and other fields that tackle the world’s largest problems. The university’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and its faculty and staff’s access to those in seats of power were amply demonstrated on this day, as President Biden stood at a podium about 50 yards from where the Schar School students stood listening to the welcome address.

“I love Washington, it’s my dream place,” said Sierra Hill, a first-year government and international politics major who came to Mason’s Fairfax Campus from her home in Gypsum, Colorado, a town of about 8,000 in the Vail Valley.

“I came to Washington to have these opportunities,” she said as the military bands on the other side of the security fencing played traditional marching music ahead of the president’s appearance. “The only way I was able to come out here was because of the scholarship that George Mason gave me. Mason took a chance on me, and I’m very grateful for that.”

For freshman government major Anastasia Rea, the ceremony at the White House had a meaning beyond those of her classmates: Her parents are Australian and, while she was born in the U.S., she has dual citizenship with Australia.

A newcomer to the area from Toledo, Ohio, Rea never expected to visit the White House grounds, especially not in her first semester of college. The thrill of the event, she said, “was mainly about going to the White House, but it being the prime minister from where my parents are from makes it more exciting.”

Sophomore government major Yousef Alakkad said his first visit to the home of the president “was a cool opportunity. Every other time I’ve come here, I’ve been on the other side of the fence [at Lafayette Square], so I can thank George Mason for getting me in.”

One of the benefits of joining the Schar School’s Democracy Lab learning community is exposure to events and experiences specific to legislative government, including meeting congressional leaders and enjoying networking opportunities. The group regularly travels around the Washington, D.C., area to visit key sites, including the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Smithsonian Museums.

Shad G. Karim, a native of Iraqi Kurdistan whose grandfather served in the Kurdish parliament, said the White House excursion was inspirational.

“Events like these are important,” he said, “especially for government majors because we are the future, we are the ones who are going to be working in government, in places like the White House and the different agencies. These events inspire college students, and it’s definitely inspired me to work harder.

“Hopefully, we get invited to more of these kind of events.”

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Schar School News for October 2023

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Schar School Students Gain Valuable Insights at Council on Foreign Relations Visit

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 02 May 2023 18:50:57 +0000

Schar School Students Gain Valuable Insights at Council on Foreign Relations Visit Andrew J Schappert Tue, 05/02/2023 - 14:50

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Schar School learning community students and their professors pose in front of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. Photo by Gretchen Curry/Schar School of Policy and Government

More than 30 students from three of the Schar School of Policy and Government’s student learning communities—Democracy Lab, Pillars of Research, and International Relations Policy Task Force—recently had the opportunity to visit the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is a leading U.S. think tank specializing in foreign policy and international relations. The Council is typically made up of secretaries of state, bankers, lawyers, academics, and others, who focus on issues promoting diplomacy, trade, military cooperation, and other challenges that affect national security in dozens of regions around the world.

Schar School students explored the Council's headquarters located near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is adjacent to the White House. Students toured the expressively decorated building, where an array of murals and historical artifacts depict significant scenes from American history, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the signing of the Treaty of Paris, and the Battle of Gettysburg.

The students also had the privilege of meeting and engaging with Esther Brimmer, the James A. Binger senior fellow in global governance, and an expert on transatlantic relations and U.S. foreign policy. She shared insights on international organizations and her experience at the State Department. Students had the chance to discuss current events and foreign policy with Brimmer, gaining knowledge about potential career opportunities in international law and foreign policy-related fields.

Schar School senior Shafuq Naseem attended the visit and asked Brimmer about her experience.

“It was interesting to hear about topics I've learned about in courses at the Schar School being applied in a professional setting,” she said.

Caroline McCarry, assistant director of human resources at the Council, encouraged students to apply for the vast number of internships the think tank offers and also invited them to seek employment with the Council after they graduated from the Schar School.

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Pillars of Research

Schar School News May 2023

Learning Communities Tackle Mason’s EDGE Challenge Course

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 19:57:30 +0000

Learning Communities Tackle Mason’s EDGE Challenge Course Andrew J Schappert Mon, 09/12/2022 - 15:57

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Members of the Democracy Lab and International Relations Policy Task Force at the EDGE. Photo by Gretchen Curry/Schar School of Policy and Government

On a brutally hot day in August, more than 50 Schar School students participating in the Democracy Lab and International Relations Policy Task Force learning communities, plus a few game professors, tackled ��AV’s EDGE team-building climbing course at the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia. The EDGE provides powerful and positive experiential learning experiences—not to mention a bit of intimidation—that turn disparate students into bonded classmates. From the looks of things, mission accomplished!

An ambitious student scales the fearsome Alpine Tower to the top while Learning Communities director Jennifer Victor awaits at the top. Photo by Olivia Hollenbach/Democracy Lab

Associate Professors Jennifer Victor, Eric McGlinchey, Matthew Scherer, and Assistant Professor Christopher Berk didn’t just watch, they climbed with the students.

Celebrating survival with an intense “rock-paper-scissors” competition. Photo by Eric McGlinchey/Schar School of Policy and Government

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Schar School News September 2022

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Inspired by Revolution to Study Government, She’s Now Earning a BA and Master’s Degree at the Same Time

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:04:42 +0000

Inspired by Revolution to Study Government, She’s Now Earning a BA and Master’s Degree at the Same Time Andrew J Schappert Mon, 12/06/2021 - 11:04

Nardine Mossad: The BAM program allows the senior to take graduate-level courses, condensing the time it takes to complete her master’s degree. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

When Nardine Mosaad was 11 years old, she witnessed the protests of the 2011 Egyptian revolution firsthand. Watching from her balcony in Cairo, her eyes stung from the gas bombs exploding in the streets. Mosaad saw young students and others taking to the streets to fight for a change. She admired their tenacity and fearlessness even when the police fought back. The experience inspired her to study how governments work.

“I saw a group of young people in Egypt topple down a 30-year-old regime and it really had a profound impact on my development,” she said. “It really impressed on me how a group of young people could have a tremendous effect on how the government could be structured.”

Mosaad, a senior at the Schar School, moved to Fairfax when she was 13, and it wasn’t long after that she learned a teacher from her school in Egypt was murdered in a church bombing. That event solidified her drive to go into government, with the intention of representing those who do not have an effective public voice. Mosaad chose the Schar School because the government and international politics program is known as one of the best in the country. For her, it was important—not to mention energizing—to know she could study at a top government school.

Enrolled in Mason’s Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) program, Mosaad is majoring in government and international politics with a concentration in international relations and a minor in French. Her accelerated master’s degree studies are in international security. The BAM program allows her to take graduate-level courses as an undergraduate, condensing the time it takes to complete her master’s degree.

“I thought, I’m just going to get my degree and leave,” she said. But when she saw “how Mason really cares about students and wants them to get involved” in issues that interest them, “that really motivated me to go out and get out of my comfort zone and talk to people.”

She immersed herself in several Schar School offerings, signing on in the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP), which provides significant research opportunities for undergraduates; joining the International Relations Policy Task Force (IRTF), which gives juniors and seniors a chance to become policy experts by researching and crafting policy recommendations; and pursuing an internship that can reinforce her studies.

Through all these available opportunities, Mosaad discovered her favorite thing about the Schar School: its diversity.

“When you listen and learn from people from all around the world, you start seeing the world from a whole different perspective,” she said.

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Schar School News December 2021

Schar School BA in Government and International Politics

College Life Is Not Like the Movies, It’s Better, Says Spanish Exchange Student Clara del Olmo

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 18:50:42 +0000

College Life Is Not Like the Movies, It’s Better, Says Spanish Exchange Student Clara del Olmo Andrew J Schappert Tue, 11/16/2021 - 13:50

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Eric McGlinchey

Spanish exchange student Clara del Olmo: ‘Students at Mason care about creating a real well-connected community that makes me feel safe to express my own thoughts without feeling judged.’

When Clara del Olmo learned she was coming to America as a college exchange student from her home in Spain, she imagined the experience would be something “like in the movies, where there would be lots of partying.”

The reality, she reports now, turned out to be better.

The junior from the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid arrived at ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government on a one-year exchange program this fall to continue her study of politics and global affairs. Much to her relief, Mason and the Schar School were more about academics than the social activities seen in films.

“The university experience is organized better here than in Spain,” she said. “There is a bigger emphasis on learning and on networking and less on studying and memorizing.”

She soon discovered the school increases a student’s sense of community by providing opportunities to become involved in campus life and to explore the school’s culture, something that is not emphasized in her country.

When trying to pick a school, del Olmo’s study abroad advisor pointed her to Mason because of its reputation for having a great government program and a diverse student body. (In fact, Mason is majority minority and the most diverse university in Virginia). Del Olmo also talked with other students who had studied at Mason; they described the school as “very international student friendly” and the community as “very accepting,” she reported.

Since del Olmo is studying politics, she finds it important to be surrounded by a diverse group of people in order to better understand the world. Different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs give insight into how different world governments work and how people can interact with each other.

Faculty Is a Favorite

Del Olmo says the best part of the school is its professors. Each of her professors, she said, care about what they teach and is very involved with students, which fosters a good environment for sharing ideas.

Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey teaches theory and important background information, but also applies topics to daily life and makes learning fun, she said. He’s the reason why del Olmo decided to join the International Relations Policy Task Force Learning Community, which gives students a chance to become policy experts by researching and crafting policy recommendations in one of three task force areas.

What she likes about the task force is that she is learning about the American political system from insiders with different perspectives on a variety of issues:

“Students at Mason care about creating a real well-connected community that makes me feel safe to express my own thoughts without feeling judged,” she said. “I expected Mason to be an eye-opening experience, and that is what I got. There is time for learning and there is time to have fun, the perfect balance that keeps you motived and engaged with your university life.”

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Schar School News November 2021

Schar School Kicks Off Learning Communities with Appearance by President Washington and a Scavenger Hunt

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:18:46 +0000

Schar School Kicks Off Learning Communities with Appearance by President Washington and a Scavenger Hunt Andrew J Schappert Tue, 09/21/2021 - 11:18

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Searching the stacks: The scavenger hunt took Schar School undergrads into the Fenwick Library.

The Schar School of Policy and Government instituted three new “learning communities” for its undergraduate students for the fall of 2021: the Democracy Lab, the Undergraduate Research Community, and the International Relations Policy Task Force. In late August, the Democracy Lab students, who will share experiences on- and off campus, heard ��AV President Gregory Washington deliver a stirring inaugural address on racial justice. Also in August, all three communities participated in a whimsical-if-competitive scavenger hunt.

Schar School students, many of them in their first year at Mason, were split into nine teams and given clues that sent them all around Mason’s Fairfax campus to complete different tasks. The clues guided students to fun, but also important, places on campus.

Students learned their way around campus and discovered some of the many resources available to them at Mason and the Schar School. They learned what the oldest buildings on campus are as well as where the newest one is; they learned where to find Mason’s president’s office (he wasn’t in), the library, the bookstore, and the writing center.

Students also discovered where they can go to find academic advisors, professors, or anyone in the Schar School who can provide answers to their questions. Some of the faculty were at the event to introduce themselves to the students—including learning communities faculty directors Peter Mandaville, Eric McGlinchey, and Heba El-Shazli—with the idea of making students more comfortable and therefore more likely to engage with and utilize their support team.

Democracy Lab resident advisor Molly Reed displays her scavenger hunt findings.

“The event was a great way to meet professors and students in Schar School in an informal way,” one sophomore participant commented. “I got to make friends with people that I have classes with but would not have been confident in speaking to them. My overall take away from the event was the importance of community and group members. The fact that we were divided into groups made the event more fun.”

One of the biggest appeals of learning communities is the genuine community students build and the relationships formed with other students and faculty. The scavenger hunt kick-off was a good way to introduce students to the community as an initial step to becoming closer and to bolster success.

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Schar School News September 2021

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