Schar School News March 2022 / en Spoiler!: Schar School Students Prevent Escalating East China Sea Conflict /news/2022-03/spoiler-schar-school-students-prevent-escalating-east-china-sea-conflict-0 <span>Spoiler!: Schar School Students Prevent Escalating East China Sea Conflict</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/311" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">bmcclai2</span></span> <span>Thu, 03/31/2022 - 11:52</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lrober18" hreflang="und">Lee Roberts</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/simulation-class-photo-cropped.jpg" width="300" height="238" alt="PhD candidate and Army Strategic Intelligence Officer leads the seven-hour simulation." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>PhD candidate and Army Strategic Intelligence Officer leads the seven-hour simulation.</figcaption></figure><p class="MsoNormal">Disaster averted! Representatives from the U.S., China, and Japan met on March 26 in an attempt to de-escalate the intensifying crisis in the East China Sea. Failure to come to a mutually accepted agreement could have led to deadly conflict involving militaries, endangering millions of civilians.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Didn’t hear about this crisis on the news? That’s because, thankfully, it was a simulation. More than two dozen undergraduate and graduate students at AV’s<span> </span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a> participated as diplomats, policymakers, and military leaders during a realistic exercise led by national security experts.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The real-time, seven-hour event presented high-pressure situations for immediate decision-making to avert drastic outcomes. Happily, participants were able to avoid escalating the crisis through diplomatic negotiations and deft military maneuvers.<span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The simulation, hosted by the<span> </span><a href="https://csps.gmu.edu/events-2/upcomingevents/">Center for Security Policy Studies</a><span> </span>(CSPS) and led by PhD candidate Lee Roberts, a U.S. Army Strategic Intelligence Officer and former CSPS fellow, was the first in-person crisis simulation in more than two years. Additional simulations are planned for the near future.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7801" hreflang="en">International Security</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13061" hreflang="en">Simulation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 15:52:26 +0000 bmcclai2 67916 at National security industry leader Shea will speak at Mason’s Spring Commencement /news/2022-03/national-security-industry-leader-shea-will-speak-masons-spring-commencement <span>National security industry leader Shea will speak at Mason’s Spring Commencement</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Wed, 03/30/2022 - 12:25</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="align-right"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-03/Shea_Stu_cropped.jpg?itok=cCsgY_fo" width="200" height="300" alt="Stu Shea wears a business suit and stands in front of a white background" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <p><span><span><span>Stu Shea, chairman, president and CEO of Peraton, a Virginia-based national security company, will be the featured speaker at AV’s </span><a href="/graduation-spring-2022/commencement"><span>Spring Commencement</span></a><span>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 20, in EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Shea, 65, a former member of Mason’s </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/about/advisory-boards"><span>College of Science Advisory Board</span></a><span>, in February was named one of the 50 Most Influential Virginians by Virginia Business. He has served the security, intelligence, business and technology industries in various executive leadership capacities in public and private companies and in government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Peraton is one of the largest employers in the region according to the Washington Business Journal, with 6,180 employees in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including more than 450 Mason alumni. The company is in the process of moving from Herndon to Reston.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Shea led the corporate split of the Science Applications International Corporation into SAIC and Leidos in 2013. He is the former president and chief operating officer of Leidos. </span><span>He also led SAIC’s support to the national security community as president, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and as vice president and executive director of space and intelligence at Northrop Grumman TASC and technical director of PAR Government Systems Corporation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Shea was founder, president, chairman and CEO of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and founded the GEOINT Symposium, considered the world’s largest gathering of intelligence professionals. He also was chairman of the Senior Advisory Group for two directors of national intelligence, </span>for which he received the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In 2003, Shea was named as one of the 12 members of the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Shea earned a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s in geography from the University of Kansas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>He will receive an honorary doctorate from Mason at the graduation ceremony.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3831" hreflang="en">Commencement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/481" hreflang="en">Graduation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 30 Mar 2022 16:25:03 +0000 Colleen Rich 67851 at Academic and Activist Cornel West Comes to the Schar School April 14 /news/2022-03/academic-and-activist-cornel-west-comes-schar-school-april-14 <span> Academic and Activist Cornel West Comes to the Schar School April 14</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/311" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">bmcclai2</span></span> <span>Wed, 03/30/2022 - 11:23</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/fauntroy" hreflang="en">Michael K. Fauntroy</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Noted academic and progressive political activist Cornel West visits AV’s Van Metre Hall in Arlington for a wide-ranging discussion with Schar School of Policy Associate Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/node/9261">Michael K. Fauntroy</a> on Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The in-person appearance, sponsored by the Schar School’s <a href="https://rppc.schar.gmu.edu/">Race, Politics, and Policy Center</a> (RPPC), is free and open to the public.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Screen-Shot-2021-07-23-at-6.32.11-PM.png" width="419" height="300" alt="Cornel West gestures to the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Cornel West: 'We will explore the deep crisis that America finds itself in.'</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“We will discuss issues of personal integrity, civic virtue, and a political vision of justice and fairness,” West said. “We will explore the center of the deep crisis that America finds itself in.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Specifically, added Fauntroy, founding director of the RPPC, the discussion will address the state of American democracy, human rights, critical race theory, and other topics. A question-and-answer session with audience members will follow the conversation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Fauntroy, who has known West for more than a decade, noted that his appearance exemplifies the kinds of events the RPPC will produce as it aims to become “a major player in advancing the public discourse about the vital issues on which we focus,” he said. West’s appearance as the first in-person event is “a big honor for the center, the Schar School, and the university at-large.”</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>West, a well-known as “a provocative intellectual,” has written 20 books, edited 13, and taught as a professor at Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, and the University of Paris. He currently serves as the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><em><span><span>Participants must complete</span></span> <span>Mason COVID Health™</span> <span><span>and receive a “green light” status on the day of the event. Event organizers must confirm status during check-in prior to event entry. Attendees are required to wear masks during the event.</span></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7791" hreflang="en">Race</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4021" hreflang="en">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15426" hreflang="en">Cornel West</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:23:18 +0000 bmcclai2 67841 at Schar School Rises in New U.S. News & World Report Rankings /news/2022-03/schar-school-rises-new-us-news-world-report-rankings <span>Schar School Rises in New U.S. News & World Report Rankings</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Tue, 03/29/2022 - 13:53</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mrozell" hreflang="und">Mark J. Rozell</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="align-center"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Arlington-Campus-Van-Metre_Hall-600x400.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Van Metre Hall on Mason Square in Arlington, VA" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="align-right"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-03/2023-US-News-and-World.png?itok=aDwAiZYI" width="350" height="350" alt="Graphic showing that U.S. News & World Report ranked the Schar School of Policy and Government #39 nationally among 270 Public Affairs Institutions" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <p><span><span><span>The </span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span> at AV surged nine places in the latest </span><em><span>U.S. News & World Report’s</span></em><span> 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings. Of the 270 schools surveyed, the Schar School rose from No. 48 to No. 39 in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Several Schar School graduate programs landed in the top 25 among all universities,</span><span> with homeland security leading the list at No. 7 nationally, and No. 6 among public institutions</span><span>. </span><span>The Schar School’s homeland security program has made the nation’s top 10 list for five years straight.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The other top 25 programs include </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-public-policy-mpp">public-policy analysis</a><span>, </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/faculty-research/faculty-areas-research/public-private-nonprofit-management">nonprofit management</a><span>, </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/faculty-research/faculty-areas-research/economics-development-public-finance">public finance</a><span>, and </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-public-administration-mpa">local government management.</a><span> The nonprofit management program made a remarkable rise of 14 spots, from No. 32 to No. 18 nationally.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“The Schar School’s interdisciplinary programs increasingly are being recognized as among the best,” said Schar School Dean </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mrozell" target="_blank"><span><span>Mark J. Rozell</span></span></a><span><span>. “Most notable this year is the big jump in the ranking in nonprofit management studies—the largest one-year move we’ve ever seen. High-impact faculty work and recent exciting hires in that field are being noticed by our peers nationally,” Rozell said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>In addition to a growing and prominent faculty, the Schar School’s location in the heart of the U.S. political scene provides students with extraordinary professional opportunities. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Overall, Mason has eight graduate programs listed among the top 25 nationally, reflecting the university’s reputation of being a top institution for advanced degrees. Mason has 18 programs ranked in the top 50 nationally and 33 ranked in the top 50 among public universities. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Mason is the fastest growing public university in Virginia </span><span>and has conferred the highest number of master’s degrees of any four-year public institution in the state for the past five years. According to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Mason conferred nearly a third of the state’s master’s degrees for the 2020-21 academic year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><em><span>Additional reporting by Mariam Aburdeineh.</span></em></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1661" hreflang="en">Rankings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2776" hreflang="en">U.S. News & World Report</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:53:11 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 67786 at Schar School Welcomes Degree Celebration Keynote Speaker, PBS’s Judy Woodruff /news/2022-03/schar-school-welcomes-degree-celebration-keynote-speaker-pbss-judy-woodruff <span>Schar School Welcomes Degree Celebration Keynote Speaker, PBS’s Judy Woodruff </span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Tue, 03/29/2022 - 10:26</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Judy-Woodruff-250.jpg" width="250" height="250" alt="Photo of PBS anchor Judy Woodruff" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Judy Woodruff: ‘[O]ur country is strongest when it finds its way past political polarization, to a place where we can respect our many differences, and above all, value truth.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><em><span><span>PBS NewsHour</span></span></em><span><span> is one of the longest-running and most influential news programs in the country. And since 2013, the anchor of that hour-long show has come to be regarded as a calming influence for the nation, someone who at the end of a frenzied day of chaos and calamity puts us at ease with her trademark even-handed tenor. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Thank goodness for Judy Woodruff.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Woodruff will deliver the keynote address during the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Degree Celebration at EagleBank Arena on the AV’s Fairfax Campus on May 19 at 2 p.m. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Woodruff, a former public policy visiting professor at her alma mater, Duke University, is the anchor and managing editor of <em>PBS NewsHour</em>, the no-nonsense, comprehensive, national program that draws on her more than four decades of experience. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“I’m thrilled to be celebrating with the graduates of the Schar School, who’ll be called on to lead in an era when we need principled leadership more than ever,” she said. “In my remarks I hope to build on what I’ve learned as a journalist: that our country is strongest when it finds its way past political polarization, to a place where we can respect our many differences, and above all, value truth.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Woodruff served as White House correspondent for NBC News from 1977 to 1982, followed by one year as chief Washington correspondent for NBC’s <em>The Today Show</em>. She joined PBS in 1983 as chief Washington correspondent for the <em>MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour</em>, and from 1984 to 1990 she anchored PBS’ award-winning documentary series, “Frontline with Judy Woodruff.” </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>After moving to CNN in 1993, she served for 12 years as an anchor and senior correspondent, anchoring the weekday program, <em>Inside Politics</em>, among other duties. She returned to the <em>NewsHour</em> in 2007, and in 2013, she and the late Gwen Ifill were named the first two women to co-anchor a national news broadcast. After Ifill’s death, Woodruff was named sole anchor in 2018. From 2006 to 2013, she anchored a monthly program for Bloomberg Television, “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.” </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>In 2006, she was a visiting professor at Duke University's Terry Sanford School of Public Policy. In 2005, she was a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation. She serves on the boards of trustee of the Freedom Forum, the Duke Endowment, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and is a director of Public Radio International and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>She is the recipient of more than 25 honorary degrees and numerous awards, most recently the 2020 Peabody Award for Journalistic Integrity, the Radcliffe Medal, the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism, the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award, and the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. She is the author of <em>This is Judy Woodruff at the White House</em>, published in 1982. Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita. </span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15421" hreflang="en">Degree Celebration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 29 Mar 2022 14:26:15 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 67771 at Schar School Rebrands Top-Ranked Program to Global Commerce and Policy /news/2022-03/schar-school-rebrands-top-ranked-program-global-commerce-and-policy <span>Schar School Rebrands Top-Ranked Program to Global Commerce and Policy</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Thu, 03/24/2022 - 15:20</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/kreinert" hreflang="und">Kenneth A. Reinert</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span><span><span><span>The top-ranked International Commerce and Policy (ICP) master’s degree program at AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government is changing its name, but not its objective.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>ICP is now the </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-global-commerce-and-policy"><span>Global Commerce and Policy</span></a><span><span> program (GCP), a name change that the director of the program said “reflects a broader trend in transnational trade.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“’Global’ is rapidly replacing the term ‘international’ in many of the fields related to the degree, including economics, political economy, and business,” said professor of public policy </span></span></span><a href="https://reinert.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Kenneth A. Reinert</span></span></span></a><span><span><span>, director of the program. “</span></span></span><span><span><span>Value chains are now global value chains, finance is now global finance. While ‘international’ emphasizes the relationships between individual nations, ‘global’ better reflects the modern reality of the world economy.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Like the International Commerce and Policy program before it, the interdisciplinary Global Commerce and Policy program—offered as in-person and online formats—prepares master’s degree students for careers and advancement in the world’s new economic landscape. Graduates are prepared to excel and lead in public and private sectors, multinational organizations, non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, and consulting firms.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>The program is ranked as the 14<sup>th</sup> overall and fifth among public institutions in the global policy and administration category by the most recent <em>U.S News & World Report</em> ranking.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Unlike traditional international affairs programs, the </span></span></span><span><span><span>Global Commerce and Policy</span></span></span><span><span><span> degree is focused on international economic issues, including global trade and investment. It differs from an MBA program by providing training in the political, social, and technological aspects of the global economy. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“In today's world, it is critical for all participants in global markets to understand the multifaceted environment in which they work,” Reinert said. “This program is for those who are </span></span></span><span><span><span>passionate about the intersection of international relations, business, and public policy.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>He added that in addition to the name change, the program is offering a new Global Economic Policy graduate certificate “that covers the foundations of international economics and the analysis of global economic policies.” It too will be available in traditional and online formats.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><em><span><span>Information about Schar School master’s programs, </span></span></em><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/visit-us#appointment"><em><span>see this page.</span></em></a></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15401" hreflang="en">Global Commerce and Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:20:46 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 67456 at Former U.S. intelligence ‘Cold Warriors’ give insights on Russia’s war in Ukraine /news/2022-03/former-us-intelligence-cold-warriors-give-insights-russias-war-ukraine <span>Former U.S. intelligence ‘Cold Warriors’ give insights on Russia’s war in Ukraine</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Thu, 03/17/2022 - 11:27</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mhayden4" hreflang="und">Michael V. Hayden</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="align-center" style="min-width: 50%;"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-video-embed-field field--type-video-embed-field field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJpah_Jof_0?autoplay=0&start=23&rel=0"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>America’s overwhelming focus on terrorism following 9/11 gave Vladimir Putin the impression that its leaders weren’t really paying attention, and that he could act with impunity without fear of paying a price.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The “bad, bad miscalculation” by the Russian president likely emboldened him to recently invade Ukraine and has drawn the world closer to World War III than at any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“He really interpreted that as weakness on the part of the United States,” Leon Panetta, who served as director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2009 to 2011, said of Putin. “That’s why he went into Georgia, that’s why he went into Crimea, that’s why he went into Syria, that’s why he went into Libya, and that’s why he did the cyber attack against the United States. Deep down, he did not think that we would respond and that he would pay a price. I think a lot of that contributed to what he’s doing now in Ukraine.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Panetta’s insights were among the many enlightening takes to come from <span><span>“The Directors' View: Russia & Ukraine,” </span></span>Wednesday evening’s virtual program hosted by the </span></span></span><a href="https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy and National Security</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> within the </span></span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span><span> at AV</span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span>. More than 1,300 people from across the United States and overseas tuned in as former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper joined former leaders of the CIA including Panetta, John Brennan, Michael Morell and </span></span></span><a href="https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/people/founder/"><span><span><span>Gen. Michael V. Hayden</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> (USAF, Ret.), the founder of the Hayden Center and former head of the CIA and National Security Agency, in closely examining the conflict in Ukraine and the challenges it poses to the entire world.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://haydencenter.gmu.edu/people/director/"><span><span><span>Larry Pfeiffer</span></span></span></a><span><span><span>, the director of the Hayden Center who previously served as CIA chief of staff and the director of the White House Situation Room, served as the moderator for the star-studded panel.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, but has encountered far greater resistance than expected, while also dealing with numerous military setbacks and logistical problems.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Putin has defended the invasion as Russia’s natural response to further potential NATO expansion, but the panelists dismissed such a notion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Putin just couldn’t stand to have a fledgling, but improving democracy—capitalists and that sort of thing—right next door to Russia and visible to a lot of Russians,” Clapper said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It’s unlikely, the panelists agreed, that Putin anticipated the galvanizing effect his decision would instead have on the NATO alliance, the strong U.S. response in terms of military aid to Ukraine and the immediate coalescing of the free world to create powerful sanctions that have begun throttling the Russian economy as punishment.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“We want to go together,” Hayden said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Morell, the former acting director of the CIA and deputy director now serving as a Distinguished Visiting Professor within the Schar School, called Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine “the biggest strategic blunder a major power has made since Hitler invaded the Soviet Union during the Second World War.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Clapper attributed the “lackluster performance of the vaunted Russian army” thus far to underestimates of Ukrainian military prowess, its reliance on conscripts and poor logistics that require trains to deliver needed supplies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>But the panelists worried what Putin might do when cornered. Russia has previously used chemical weapons against civilians, and Putin has threatened the use of tactical nuclear weapons.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“A cornered, humiliated individual is a very dangerous one,” Brennan said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The region has quickly become a powder keg, requiring no more than one errant Russian missile or the bad judgement of a lone individual for the conflict to potentially expand into World War III.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“This is a very dangerous time,” Panetta said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1886" hreflang="en">Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence Policy and International Security</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15151" hreflang="en">Ukraine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:27:03 +0000 Colleen Rich 67081 at New web-based app maps violence in Ukraine based on in-country news sources /news/2022-03/new-web-based-app-maps-violence-ukraine-based-country-news-sources <span>New web-based app maps violence in Ukraine based on in-country news sources</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/236" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Melanie Balog</span></span> <span>Tue, 03/15/2022 - 16:28</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span><span>A new <a href="https://schardata.shinyapps.io/viina/">web-based app</a> developed by a AV professor visualizes near-real-time data collected from media sources on the ground in Ukraine. The app allows users to filter an interactive map of rapidly developing events in specific neighborhoods throughout the besieged country. A link to the original media outlet accompanies each data point representing a military or nonmilitary event.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The map is called <a href="https://schardata.shinyapps.io/viina/">“Ukraine VIINA Dashboard”</a> and is based on a dataset from University of Michigan professor Yuri Zhukov’s Violent Incident Information from News Articles (VIINA) project.</span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-center"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2022-03/UkraineWebAppscreenshot.jpg?itok=jdhbw8CE" width="560" height="342" alt="screen shot of web based app" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>A screenshot from the app.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span>“Our app visualizes geolocated media stories from the event data,” said <a href="https://mcgrath.gmu.edu/">Robert McGrath</a>, the <a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a> associate professor who created the app.<span> “We think that journalists and citizens following the war will find it a useful way to access primary sources in a visually appealing way.”</span> </span></span></p> <p><span><span><a>McGrath</a>, a political scientist and instructor of research methods and data science tools, had<span> been “obsessively reading about the war on American news outlets and on Reddit, and I was thrilled to have access [from Zhukov’s data] to all the Ukrainian and Russian sources that are reporting ‘on the ground.’” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>He was encouraged to bring his computer coding skills to task by fellow Schar School associate professor </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/emcglinc">Eric McGlinchey</a><span>, who </span>secured Zhukov’s cooperation with the app.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I see this as very much in the spirit of ‘activist social science,’” McGlinchey said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“The app presents readily understandable information to English-speaking audiences who otherwise could not make sense of the Ukrainian and Russian data sources,” he added. “Equally important, our app has a good chance of flying under the radar of Russian state censorship, allowing audiences in Russia a clear picture of what truly is happening in Ukraine.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The numbers and colors on the map indicate how many events/stories there are in that area. Red indicates more events; green, fewer events. Users click a cluster to zoom to the area; another click zooms even closer to the location of the media report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Eventually, when you drill down enough, you’ll see individual nodes, which represent actual news stories about an event that took place there,” McGrath said. “When you click a node, you’ll see metadata about the event, often including a link to the actual story.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>McGlinchey added that the professors are also working on a database of war crimes committed during the Ukraine crisis and another app that geolocates and provides data on those war crimes.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/206" hreflang="en">Faculty and Staff News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 15 Mar 2022 20:28:50 +0000 Melanie Balog 67016 at First-Ever Multi-Campus ‘Teach In’ Explores in Depth the Crisis in Ukraine /news/2022-03/first-ever-multi-campus-teach-explores-depth-crisis-ukraine <span>First-Ever Multi-Campus ‘Teach In’ Explores in Depth the Crisis in Ukraine</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 03/09/2022 - 13:15</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/jwedel" hreflang="und">Janine R. Wedel</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/elaipson" hreflang="und">Ellen Laipson</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/rkauzlar" hreflang="und">Richard Kauzlarich</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mhunzeke" hreflang="und">Michael Hunzeker</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mkatz" hreflang="und">Mark N. Katz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/ddinan" hreflang="und">Desmond Dinan</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/emcglinc" hreflang="und">Eric McGlinchey</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Schar-School-PhD-student-Mariia-Panga-600x400.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Photo of Ukrainian national and Schar School PhD student Mariia Panga." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Ukrainian national and Schar School PhD student Mariia Panga greets the Arlington audience. Arlington photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government</figcaption></figure><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Michael-Hunzeker-Mark-N-Katz-and-Eric-McGlinchey-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professors Michael Hunzeker, Mark N. Katz, and Eric McGlinchey from left to right." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>In Fairfax, from left to right, Michael Hunzeker, Mark N. Katz, and Eric McGlinchey. Photo by Gretchen Curry/Schar School of Policy and Government</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The grim realities and uncertain prospects of the war in Ukraine were examined from all fronts Tuesday night in a first-ever </span></span></span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span><span><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span> multi-campus, in-person “teach-in,” presented by the </span></span></span></span><a href="https://csps.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span><span>Center for Security Policy Studies</span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span> (CSPS) and cosponsored by the International Relations Policy Task (IRPT) learning community.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>CSPS director <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/elaipson">Ellen Laipson</a> moderated from a conference room in Arlington’s Van Metre Hall; a second panel convened in Fairfax’s Horizon Hall. Overflow live audiences of AV students, including many from the Schar School’s <a href="/news/2021-10/new-democracy-lab-fosters-networking-growth-first-year-students">Democracy Lab</a> learning community, participated in the brisk 90-minute event by asking questions of professors at both campuses.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The discussion, an event that combined audiences of graduate and undergraduate students, was broadcast in real-time via Zoom. <a href="https://youtu.be/5FbaZQXzJkI" target="_blank">View the recording</a>: https://youtu.be/5FbaZQXzJkI</span></span></p> <ul><li><span><span>Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mkatz">Mark N. Katz</a> presented a thorough examination of Russia president Vladimir Putin’s personality traits and lagging legacy and speculated on Putin’s ultimate intentions with the invasion of Ukraine.</span></span> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Ellen-Laipson-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor Ellen Laipson" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Ellen Laipson moderates two panels from Van Metre Hall in Arlington.</figcaption></figure></li> <li><span><span>Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jwedel">Janine R. Wedel</a>, a specialist in international corruption who taught in Ukraine in 2015, put into context the ancient civilization and culture the Russians are trying to destroy with the invasion, pointing out, among other aspects, that Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv is older than Moscow.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Assistant Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mhunzeke">Michael Hunzeker</a>, a Marine Corps veteran who led forces in the Iraq War, described details of the ground war that international audiences are seeing in real-time on social media. As for the Russian convoy that seems stalled as it makes its way to Kyiv, Hunzeker pointed out it took coalition forces 15 days to reach Baghdad in 2003.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/ddinan">Desmond Dinan</a>, a former advisor to the European Commission in Brussels, suggested the crisis strengths and unifies the European Union.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Associate Professor <a href="https://mcglinchey.gmu.edu/">Eric McGlinchey</a>, who researches Eurasian and Central Asian politics, put the current crisis into context by recalling the history of the former Soviet Republics.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Distinguished Visiting Professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/rkauzlar">Richard Kauzlarich</a>, former ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan, described the uncertain diplomatic opportunities to bring the war to an end.</span></span><br /><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Anton_Liagusha-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor Anton Liagusha" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Ukrainian ‘scholar in exile’ Anton Liagusha sheds light on Putin’s propaganda campaign.</figcaption></figure></li> <li><span><span>For her part, Laipson said the U.S. intelligence community has performed well and the decision to release intelligence on Putin’s plans denied him the element of surprise.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Associate Professor <a href="/news/2022-02/schar-school-welcomes-exiled-ukrainian-media-professor">Anton Liagusha</a>, a Ukrainian “scholar in exile” at the Schar School who studies the media’s influence on politics and culture, applied his expertise to Russia’s propaganda and warned what Putin might do in the near future.</span></span></li> </ul><p><span><span>In the most moving testimonial of the evening, Schar School PhD student and graduate research assistant Mariia Panga, a Ukrainian national who has been in the U.S. for seven months, reminded audiences that “Russians are killing Ukrainians right now, even as we speak” and, with remarkable emotional control, read a letter listing those in her home country that she would like to provide words of encouragement but cannot.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“I cannot express all the anger and frustration, despair and fear I have been experiencing for the past two weeks,” she said. “Every morning I text my family members and friends to check if they are still alive.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Among those family members is “my 5-year-old niece, who tells younger kids in the bomb shelter, ‘Don’t be afraid, it will be over soon.’”</span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Desmond-Dinan-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor Desmond Dinan" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Desmond Dinan details Europe’s response to the crisis.</figcaption></figure><figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Janine-R-Wedel-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor Janine Wedel" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Janine Wedel describes Ukrainian culture and the ramifications of the war.</figcaption></figure><figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-03/Richard-Kauzlarich-200x200.jpg" width="200" height="200" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor Richard Kauzlarich" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Can the war in Ukraine end with diplomacy? Richard Kauzlarich offers insight.</figcaption></figure></div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15151" hreflang="en">Ukraine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10386" hreflang="en">Diplomacy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2076" hreflang="en">Military</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15226" hreflang="en">Europe</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8866" hreflang="en">Russia</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15236" hreflang="en">Putin</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15231" hreflang="en">War</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13021" hreflang="en">Democracy Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17756" hreflang="en">Democracy Lab Learning Community</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:15:30 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 66726 at Mason Researchers Land $1.39M to Study AI’s Effects on Global Culture /news/2022-02/mason-researchers-land-139m-study-ais-effects-global-culture <span>Mason Researchers Land $1.39M to Study AI’s Effects on Global Culture</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Fri, 02/25/2022 - 12:15</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span><span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span> professor </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jsingh19"><span>J.P. Singh</span></a><span> leads a team of researchers from across AV campuses that has been awarded a three-year, $1.39 million grant to study the economic and cultural determinants for global artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructures—and describe their implications for national and international security.</span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-02/jp-singh.jpg" width="291" height="291" alt="headshot of singh" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>J. P. Singh. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>The grant was awarded by the Department of Defense’s esteemed <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2944623/department-of-defense-awards-287m-in-grants-for-the-fy2021-minerva-research-ini/">Minerva Research Initiative</a>, a <span><span>joint program of the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy that supports social science research focused on expanding basic understanding of security. </span></span></span>This year’s 17 university teams were selected from more than 220 proposals and will receive a total of $28.7 million in grants. </span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Perhaps the most important and unique feature of our project is that we will use sophisticated big data models in computer and social sciences to specify the economic and cultural determinants,” said Singh, the principal investigator of the grant.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“This analysis will be important for showing how </span></span><span><span>cultural values and institutional priorities embedded in AI shape security—and insecurity—in the 21st century.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The final products from the grant will include forecasting models for AI infrastructures for different national and global contexts, enriched with field research and reports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“This prestigious award recognizes the kind of transformative and multidisciplinary research for which Mason and the Schar School are known,” said </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mrozell"><span>Mark J. Rozell</span></a><span><span>, dean of the Schar School. “Professor Singh's research cuts across academic boundaries to engage the insights of different disciplines in understanding complex public policy issues. His work speaks to not only academic researchers, but opinion leaders and policymakers as well.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Singh has assembled a transdisciplinary team of veteran researchers from several academic fields to contribute to the project. In addition to Singh, a political economist, fellow researchers include:</span></span></span></span></p> <ul><li><span><span><a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/ashehu"><span>Amarda Shehu</span></a><span><span>, an award-winning machine learning engineer from Mason’s Department of Computer Science at the Volgenau School of Engineering and co-director of Mason’s </span></span><a href="https://cahmp.gmu.edu/"><span>Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnerships</span></a><span><span> (CAHMP);</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><a href="/profiles/antonis"><span>Antonios Anastasopoulos</span></a><span><span>, an assistant professor of computer science at Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing; </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mhunzeke"><span>Michael Hunzeker</span></a><span><span>, an assistant professor at the Schar School and associate director of Mason’s Center for Security Policy Studies; and</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><a href="https://www.ippp.gmu.edu/jesse-kirkpatrick"><span>Jesse Kirkpatrick</span></a><span><span>, an ethicist, research assistant professor, and acting director of Mason’s Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul><p><span><span><span>The team originated from Mason’s interdisciplinary </span><a href="https://cahmp.gmu.edu/"><span>Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnerships</span></a><span><span> (CAHMP), which researches how to structure and optimize reciprocal relationships between humans and assistive computing systems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“This award speaks to the ability of this diverse team to identify unique intersectional problems and novel, cutting-edge methodologies,” said Shehu. “It also speaks to the </span></span></span><span><span>strength of this multidisciplinary team that came together through many deliberate team-forming activities in the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnerships, their dedication to understanding one another across disciplines, and ultimately their passion to advancing interdisciplinary research.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Singh noted that three graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher will be hired to assist in the project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Two of the 17 grants awarded this year went to Mason researchers. Itamara Lochard, director of Cyber Policy Studies at Mason's Center for Assurance Research and Engineering, received funding for her project, </span>Habitus and the Information Environment: An Ethnographic Case Study of Digital Anthropology<strong><span>.</span></strong></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13816" hreflang="en">Center for Advancing Human Machine Partnerships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2391" hreflang="en">Press Release</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4111" hreflang="en">Press Releases</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15181" hreflang="en">Schar School News March 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/jsingh19" hreflang="und">J.P. Singh</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:15:12 +0000 Colleen Rich 66091 at