Erin Egan / en Passion for International Development Drives Double Alum /news/2024-10/passion-international-development-drives-double-alum <span>Passion for International Development Drives Double Alum</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Mon, 10/28/2024 - 08:36</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="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="80ed1509-50b2-4a0f-a93e-8c909c8e05ea"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request Schar School program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="b5c925cf-6db6-485d-8066-a829b191f78e"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-question-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </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 class="intro-text">From a young age, Annie Tulann always had her sights on AV. As a resident of Arlington, Virginia, she was familiar with the school and its reputation. </span></p> <figure class="quote"><span><span><span>“I remember thinking early on when I was younger, ‘I am going to go to George Mason,’ which seems funny looking back now,” she said. “But it was a great school—close to D.C., close to my family, and really diverse. I just knew I’d feel comfortable there.” </span></span></span></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/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-10/annie-tulann-web.jpg?itok=ycRkkg-A" width="350" height="350" alt="A young woman with long, dark hair stands in front of several marble pillars." loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>‘I’m thrilled that I got my MPP. It’s really set me on the right path forward and it’s become such a huge stepping stone for my career.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>After graduating in 2014 with a degree in biology, Tulann realized that she no longer wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Instead, she joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and began working as a program assistant. Within two years, she moved to a new position in the Office of Afghanistan Affairs and the Office of Pakistan Affairs, where she assisted on gender issues, education, water sanitation, and hygiene, traveling to each country multiple times. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In 2018, while still working full time in the Afghanistan and Pakistan offices, Tulann enrolled in the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/public-policy-mpp">Master of Public Policy</a> program at the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a>. At first, she felt nervous entering the program given her science background.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I didn’t take any development classes or any of that like my peers did,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Attending orientation and hearing other students talk about their experience helped quell her nerves. A consultation with Jill Deering, senior assistant dean for student and academic affairs at the Schar School, eased any remaining jitters. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“She just made it so comforting for me and made sure that I would have everything that I need,” Tulann said. “It was such a validating experience in the sense of like, you will be OK and you will get through and you will do what you need to do.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once classes began, the connection between her coursework and her job was immediate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Every single class I had completely correlated to the work that I was doing,” she said. “I took a terrorism class and I was working in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which really worked out well for me, and I started understanding issues deeply.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Tulann was recruited to work on the agency’s COVID-19 task force to make sure rules and regulations were in place.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“At the time I was taking an emergency preparedness class, so every single thing that I was doing was completely aligned,” she said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In 2021, Tulann graduated with her master’s degree and transitioned from the Office of the Administrator working directly with Administrator Samantha Power to the Executive Secretariat as a program analyst. In her position, she daily navigates through multiple high-stakes projects and works with the agency’s multiple bureaus to ensure that Power has everything she needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I work with the bureaus to make sure that she’s well prepared,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Tulann’s position affords her the extraordinary chance to attend most of the agency front office and administrator meetings. She has been in rooms with presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, and celebrities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“It’s a really great opportunity that not everybody in the agency gets to experience,” she said. “I learn directly from the administrator but also from other leaders around the world.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Earning her MPP, while difficult, was worth it and one of the greatest experiences she’s had, Tulann says. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I’m thrilled that I got my MPP,” she said. “It’s really set me on the right path forward and it’s become such a huge stepping stone for my career.”</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/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18801" hreflang="en">Schar School Featured Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20386" hreflang="en">Schar School News for October 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2121" hreflang="en">Master of Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20446" hreflang="en">Schar School Alumni and Student Spotlight</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:36:49 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 114431 at Earning a master’s degree and graduate certificate online worked perfectly for neurosurgeon Nick Marko /news/2024-06/earning-masters-degree-and-graduate-certificate-online-worked-perfectly-neurosurgeon <span>Earning a master’s degree and graduate certificate online worked perfectly for neurosurgeon Nick Marko</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Mon, 06/24/2024 - 12:59</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/lshelley" hreflang="und">Louise I. Shelley</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/gkoblent" hreflang="und">Gregory Koblentz</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="501121d0-4bd9-4eea-a865-f228f4d89a6b"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request Schar School program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="1406373d-3088-4d12-bbf9-bb072f7159f6"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-question-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </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 class="intro-text">There are lifelong learners and then there are individuals like Nick Marko, who recently graduated with a <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/biodefense-ms">Master of Biodefense</a> and a graduate certificate in <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-certificate-programs/illicit-trade-analysis-certificate">illicit trade analysis</a> from the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a> at AV.</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/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-06/schar-awards-nicholas_marko.jpg?itok=VvI0Xvcr" width="350" height="307" alt="Nick Marko and Greg Koblentz with award" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Before earning his degree in May, Nick Marko (left) received the Outstanding Biodefense Student Award. Pictured here with his advisor Gregory Koblentz. Photo by John Boal Photography</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>Marko also happens to be a board-certified neurosurgeon who currently serves as director of neurosurgery for <span>LewisGale Health System in Salem, Virginia</span>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I am someone who has a hard time not continuing to learn,” he said.  </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Marko decided to pursue a master’s in biodefense at the Schar School because of an interest in the history of biological and chemical weapons development, proliferation, and use, including both the science and the policy/political dimensions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“I had read as much as I could on my own in my spare time, but there is always the situation of ‘You don’t know what you don’t know,’” he said.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Marko was familiar with George Mason’s reputation, having attended college and medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and was aware of the school’s online offerings. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“I knew that George Mason had one of the first departments in this [biodefense] space and that it had a great faculty,” he said. “Also, the ability to do the work online was a big plus for me, because I have a full-time day job and had to do coursework on nights and weekends in a bit of a protracted fashion. Ultimately the fit was perfect for my needs.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Initially planning to earn a graduate certificate in biodefense, Marko’s coursework piqued his interest and led him to earn both the master’s degree and certificate.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“Things got a little bigger in scope than I had initially planned, but it was a great experience,” he said.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Because he completed his degree and certificate coursework completely online (with a few in-person campus visits), Marko appreciated the Schar School’s flexibility.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“The Dean's office was accommodating to my somewhat unique situation and was open to facilitating solutions that allowed me to pursue the degree,” he said. “I was grateful that such an opportunity was available because I couldn’t have made it work otherwise.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>He also praises his professors and advisors, </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/lshelley">Louise Shelley</a><span> and </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/gkoblent">Gregory Koblentz</a><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“They were absolutely terrific,” he said. “I met with them personally several times, and we traded a lot of emails. Both are incredibly knowledgeable and well-connected in their fields. I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of mentors.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Before earning his degree in May, Marko earned the Outstanding Biodefense Student Award, a testament to his academic efforts and love of learning.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“I am proud of the work that I have done as part of the program,” he said. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to explore some topics of personal interest at this stage of my life and my career, and the biodefense master's was an example of how I intend to keep doing that.”</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/17821" hreflang="en">Master of Biodefense</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19596" hreflang="en">Illicit trade analysis</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/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19601" hreflang="en">Schar School News for June 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/481" hreflang="en">Graduation</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:59:27 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 112651 at Ukrainian Freshman Joins Schar School Community, Looks Forward to ‘Whole New Life’ /news/2022-10/ukrainian-freshman-joins-schar-school-community-looks-forward-whole-new-life <span>Ukrainian Freshman Joins Schar School Community, Looks Forward to ‘Whole New Life’</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Tue, 10/18/2022 - 11:41</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"><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/2022-10/Gabriella-Grabovska-web.jpg" width="700" height="400" alt="A young woman in front of the Lincoln Memorial drapes a Ukrainian flag in the wind behind her." loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Ukrainian student Gabriella Grabovska: ‘Sometimes, when my [Mason] friends see me, they will say, Slava Ukraini [Glory to Ukraine], and I’m so touched in this moment.’ Photos by Ron Aira/Creative Services</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>Gabriella Grabovska always dreamed of attending college in the United States. Working hard on her studies, the 17-year-old from Ukraine pored through lists of American colleges and set her sights on AV’s </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span><span>. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“It seemed like it was the right fit,” she said. “The level of education, the community. It’s a perfect match for me.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Grabovska felt the strong support of Mason Nation even before she set foot on campus. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Last February, she and her family left their home in Kyiv to travel to the town of Borodyanka. They had planned to return to Kyiv in a couple of days. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began and Borodyanka was bombed repeatedly. The barrage destroyed roads and bridges, eliminating any way out. Grabovska and her family were trapped without electricity or heat.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“It was one of the most difficult periods of my life because we had very limited amounts of food and water,” she said. “We were bombed every hour. We had no way to even call our relatives to let them know we were alive.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>She and her family managed to escape to Ternopil, where they remained for more than two months. They finally returned to Kyiv and Grabovska wrote about her terrifying experience in an Instagram post.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“So many people from George Mason supported me,” she said of the post. “They said that my story was eye-opening. They finally realized what the war was really like and I was so grateful to all of them because they started donating money to support Ukraine.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>A </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/undergraduate/major-government-and-international-politics"><span>government and international politics major</span></a><span><span> and member of the </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/student-experience/learning-communities/schar-academic-community"><span>Democracy Lab</span></a><span><span> learning community, she’s immersed herself in her classes, attended extracurricular and social events, and expanded her network of friends.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I love the people here,” she said. “I’m really interested in talking to lots of people. I’m 100 percent extroverted so it was easy for me.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>One of her favorite courses is GOV 103, taught by </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jvictor3"><span>Jennifer Victor</span></a><span><span>, an associate professor who also serves as the director of the Democracy Lab. Grabovska recalls being inspired by one of Victor’s early lectures.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“For the first time in my entire life, I had this thought, <em>I want to be her one day</em>,” she said. “She is a professional in her area of interest. She is so energetic. She is always ready to answer our questions.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>One of Grabovska’s preferred spots on campus is the Johnson Center, especially in the evenings when the building buzzes with students.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“It’s kind of motivating to study there because everyone is typing and you’re like, I’ll do that too. I love it,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>While Grabovska is “just looking forward to my whole new life,” the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about her family’s safety are never far from her thoughts. She talks to her parents daily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I read the news about Ukraine and the war every day,” she said. “I still get notifications about air alerts. So, when I see an air alert in Kyiv, I text my dad, <em>Are you in a bomb shelter?</em>”  </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Grabovska feels grateful that she is safe in the U.S. and able to pursue her education as a member of the Schar School community, many of whom are aware of what she has been through.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Sometimes, when my friends see me, they will say, <em>Slava Ukraini</em> [Glory to Ukraine], and I’m so touched in this moment,” she said. “That’s so cool. They understand what’s going on and they support us. That’s just Mason Nation and I’m happy I ended up at this university.”</span></span></span></span></p> <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/2022-10/Gabriella-Grabovska-3-web.jpg" width="700" height="400" alt="A young woman in a Mason tee shirt sits in front of the statute of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial." loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Grabovska’s journey to Mason was fraught with danger: ‘We were bombed every hour. We had no way to even call our relatives to let them know we were alive.’</figcaption></figure></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <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/jvictor3" hreflang="und">Jennifer N. Victor</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="78808f58-0390-4e1f-8515-b58e162f7313"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school-0"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-pencil-alt" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="2996f5ef-dd1b-4e03-9c15-1e058dc850fc"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-pencil-alt" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="d80d4458-a9f8-4500-afd4-9cae8ec85af5" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> </p> <p> </p> </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/13021" hreflang="en">Democracy Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17011" hreflang="en">Schar School News October 2022</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17476" hreflang="en">Spirit Magazine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17481" hreflang="en">Spirit Spring 2023</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17526" hreflang="en">Patriot Profile</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17756" hreflang="en">Democracy Lab Learning Community</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:41:08 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 100931 at Mason Double Alum Revels in Paying it Forward /news/2022-08/mason-double-alum-revels-paying-it-forward <span>Mason Double Alum Revels in Paying it Forward</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Mon, 08/01/2022 - 09:50</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="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="9ecea3c4-9470-4ca0-85c0-eea54e3258a0"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school-0"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="deb32c79-2ce8-4fc6-90bb-c95ebcfee8f7"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </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/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-08/Freddy-Mitchell-speaking.jpg?itok=jdwkoOi7" width="348" height="350" alt="Schar School of Policy and Government Alum, Freddy Mitchell" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Freddy Mitchell delivers the commencement address to spring 2022 graduates of the Schar School.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span>When the time came to decide where to pursue a master’s degree in public policy, the choice was simple for Freddy Mitchell.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Already an alumnus of AV (BA in history, 2008), he calls his undergraduate experience “absolutely remarkable.” </span></span></p> <p><span><span>“It was everything I could ever want,” Mitchell said. “I really got everything out of the Mason experience, both the social aspect and the educational aspect.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>So, when he attended an open house for the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs">Schar School of Policy and Government graduate programs</a> in fall 2014, Mitchell immediately felt at home.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“It was a no-brainer as soon as I walked in there,” he said. “It was always going to be Mason.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Prior to graduate school, Mitchell had worked at Jones Walker and Williams & Connolly, two prestigious Washington, D.C. law firms. He even attended law school at North Carolina Central University for a year, but ultimately decided it wasn’t for him.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“It wasn’t the experience that I wanted,” he said. “I didn’t want to practice. The end goal was to be in government relations, to study public policy, to work in politics. Once I realized that, I made the pivot.” </span></span></p> <p><span><span>He moved back to Washington, D.C., and worked on Capitol Hill as a graduate Congressional intern on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee while pursuing his master’s degree at the Schar School. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>While his Mason undergraduate degree proved foundational, earning his graduate degree in 2017 enhanced Mitchell’s already rich professional experience.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“By the time I was undergoing my master’s program, I was already well-established in my career,” he said. “I wasn’t naive in the sense that I thought I was going to change the world. I was incredibly singularly focused on my career and the impact that I wanted to make on others.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Valuable lessons learned in the classroom about quantitative and qualitative skills in public policy immediately transferred to his position on the Hill.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“I could directly apply them to what I was doing in my job. They were analogous. They were directly correlated,” Mitchell said. “What I was working on day-to-day in the House of Representatives were things that we were discussing in the classroom.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Mitchell credits Schar School faculty members for their expertise and engagement in and out of the classroom.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“The professors I had were former Hill staffers, worked in public service, served in administrations, and worked for the government,” he said. “They understand bureaucracy. They understand politics. They understand process. Being able to go a mile wide <em>and</em> a mile deep was just a whole other level. Those are things you expect from a graduate course at a prestigious graduate school.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Now a vice president of U.S. government relations at MetLife, Mitchell advocates and lobbies on behalf of the Fortune 50 company. He represents MetLife in front of Congress, the White House, and the administration and interacts with policy makers every day.  </span></span></p> <p><span><span>“I really do believe it was the master’s that got me to where I needed to be,” he said. “I use my degree every single day.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>This “Mason lifer,” as Mitchell calls himself, feels a responsibility to pay it forward. He serves as a member at large of the Schar School Alumni Chapter, where he remains active in promoting networking and social events and opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“Mason did so much for me,” he said. “The least I can do is absolutely shout from the rooftops what the university has done for me personally and professionally.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Mitchell checked off a bucket list item this past spring when he spoke at the Schar School Degree Celebration.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“I can’t put into words what it meant for me,” he said. “It’s not lost on me that as a 36-year-old I was able to speak at my alma mater’s commencement.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Just five years removed from his own master’s graduation ceremony, Mitchell was thrilled to offer some insight to the new alumni. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>“Because I’ve sat in those chairs, I wanted them to feel good about their accomplishment and feel even better about what’s to come ahead,” he said. “It wasn’t long ago that it was me. It was just a great feeling.”</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/16281" hreflang="en">Schar School News August 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 01 Aug 2022 13:50:32 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 74106 at Double Alum Finds Fulfillment with Master’s in Public Administration /news/2022-05/double-alum-finds-fulfillment-masters-public-administration <span>Double Alum Finds Fulfillment with Master’s in Public Administration</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 05/25/2022 - 10:08</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/kanacker" hreflang="und">Katrin B. Anacker</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/2022-05/Meron-Aboye-web.jpg" width="300" height="349" alt="Meron Aboye: ‘When you’re studying something you are passionate about, it’s not about the grades anymore, it’s about what you’re actually learning.’" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Meron Aboye: ‘When you’re studying something you are passionate about, it’s not about the grades anymore, it’s about what you’re actually learning.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>After earning her BS in chemistry from AV in 2019, Meron Aboye had a plan to attend pharmacy school. She has always followed a checklist. Go to college. <em>Check</em>. Take the right classes. <em>Check</em>. Get your bachelor’s degree. <em>Check</em>. Apply to pharmacy school. <em>Check</em>. But as she began receiving acceptances from several schools, she started to panic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“</span><span>I had a lot of reservations that this career wasn’t really for me,” she said. “I had never had those feelings before.”</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>So, even though she admits to being nervous, Aboye completely altered her plans. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I decided to scrap that idea and find something I really wanted to pursue,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In a sharp pivot, she enrolled in the </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-public-administration-mpa" target="_blank"><span>Master’s in Public Administration</span></a><span> program in Mason’s </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span>, where she was initially intrigued by the nonprofit management concentration.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Nonprofits have had a lot of impact on my life and I’ve always wanted to do nonprofit work,” she said. (She was part of Mason’s </span><a href="https://eip.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span>Early Identification Program</span></a><span>, which <span>provides access to educational resources for middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college</span>.)</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once she learned that an MPA could lead to other career avenues beyond nonprofits, including working in local or federal government, Aboye felt excited by the possibilities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“With undergrad I had a list of everything I wanted to do and that kind of cornered me in one area,” she said. “That’s why I decided to go with the MPA. If I wanted to concentrate on nonprofits I could, but I could still be open to what else is out there for me.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Aboye experienced a new-found motivation in her coursework.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“When you’re studying something you are passionate about, it’s not about the grades anymore, it’s about what you’re actually learning,” she said. “It felt fulfilling that the work I was going to do was going to be impactful.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Aboye credits her professors with providing support and counsel whenever she needed it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“They were always very accessible,” she said. “I always felt like I had that community.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/kanacker"><span>Katrin Anacker</span></a><span>, a professor in the Schar School, taught Aboye in her Policy and Program Evaluation course. She says it was a privilege to have Aboye in class.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“</span><span><span><span>She is a critical, respectful thinker who broadens analyses and enriches discussions,” Anacker said.</span></span></span><span><span> “Her excellent questions demonstrated that she had thought about the materials ahead of class. The entire class benefited from her contributions.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Now that she has graduated—again—Aboye will begin a two-year fellowship with the Loudon County Department of Finance and Budget, where she will provide data analysis support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“It’s exciting,” she said. “I have so much to learn. It will be a great opportunity for me to grow and develop, not just in my career but as a person.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>No matter where her career takes her, Aboye has learned that being openminded has its advantages.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“After switching from chemistry to where I am now and seeing how good that change can be, I’m not afraid of changing direction anymore,” she said.  </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/14701" hreflang="en">Master’s in Public Administration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15701" hreflang="en">Schar School News May 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 25 May 2022 14:08:14 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 70571 at Examination of Middle East Politics Wins Undergraduate Research Award /news/2022-05/examination-middle-east-politics-wins-undergraduate-research-award <span>Examination of Middle East Politics Wins Undergraduate Research Award</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 05/11/2022 - 12:37</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/helshazl" hreflang="und">Heba F. El-Shazli</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/pmandavi" hreflang="und">Peter Mandaville</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/2022-05/Delaney-Soliday-web.jpg" width="300" height="457" alt="A young woman in eye glasses and a black mask sits in a wheelchair in front of a poster she created about the Taliban." loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Delaney Soliday: ‘Being in this program and being so supported by peers and other professors really allowed me to find my stride…’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span>Growing up in Irwin, Pennsylvania, Delaney Soliday remembers learning about Flight 93. Her small hometown sits roughly 50 miles from Shanksville, where the plane crashed on 9/11.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“</span></span></span><span>I heard a lot about that and I wanted to understand it,” she said. “That led to my interest in Middle Eastern politics and it kind of showed me that there is so much more to the region.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Now a junior in the </span></span></span><a href="https://chss.gmu.edu/?_ga=2.92807962.660682126.1650890695-208236564.1632259330"><span><span>College of Humanities and Social Sciences</span></span></a><span><span><span> at AV, Soliday, a global affairs major with a concentration in global governance, has immersed herself in her classes and in-depth research.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/pmandavi"><span><span>Peter Mandaville</span></span></a><span><span><span>, a professor of government and politics in the </span></span></span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></a><span><span><span>, has taught Soliday in courses including </span></span></span><span><span><span>Introduction to International Politics and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East</span></span></span><span><span><span>. He has been impressed with her enthusiasm and scholarship. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“She has a genuine passion for learning, and for relating what she is studying to real-world events and policy considerations,” he said. “The questions and contributions she brings to the classroom are incredibly impressive.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Soliday frequently discussed her research ambitions with Mandaville, and he connected her with faculty whose interests matched her own.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Professor Mandaville has been amazing in helping me find a community and professors who were supportive of my research ideas,” Soliday said. “He has been really great in helping me take an initial idea and turning it into a plan that actually makes sense.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Mandaville introduced her to </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/helshazl"><span><span>Heba El-Shazli</span></span></a><span><span>, an assistant professor in the Schar School, who also serves as director of the </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/student-experience/learning-communities/research-community"><span><span>Undergraduate Research Community</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span> (URC)</span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span><span><span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span>El-Shazli encouraged Soliday to join the semester-long program, which gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on research and analytic skills while contributing to topics of interest and earning class credit.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>As part of the program, students work on a project and present it at an annual Undergraduate Research Fair. Soliday’s initial idea proved too broad, but after brainstorming with El-Shazli, her topic came into focus. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The finished product, </span><em><span><span>The Taliban Over Time—A Diachronic Case Study of Governance in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,</span></span></em><span><span> examined how today’s Taliban differs from the group that led Afghanistan in the 1990s. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“</span></span></span><span>Professor El-Shazli really helped me to organize the idea because my initial idea was too all encompassing,” she said. “I came out with a much stronger project because of that.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Indeed, Soliday earned first place at the Undergraduate Research Fair for her work. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>“The poster and presentation were excellent on all levels: research question, visuals, content, responses to questions, and an overall engaging presentation of your research,” El-Shazli said in a congratulatory email to Soliday.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>To say she was surprised is an understatement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I was really shocked,” Soliday said. “I was just over the moon. There were so many other incredible projects and I was just blown away by everyone’s creativity.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Hoping for a career in homeland security or intelligence analysis, Soliday looks forward to her upcoming internship with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where she will serve on the counterterrorism and intelligence team.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“When I am working at the Washington Institute this summer, I will be getting open-source intelligence analysis training,” she said. “That’s something I’m really excited to put toward a future career where I’m able to use those skills potentially in a more classified setting.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Soliday feels thankful she joined the URC, where she found community and confidence.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Being in this program and being so supported by peers and other professors really allowed me to find my stride and also recognize that my research interests are not just a weird quirk,” she said. “This will actually get you somewhere, get you a career with the skills you are developing.” </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/606" hreflang="en">Student Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15701" hreflang="en">Schar School News May 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 11 May 2022 16:37:42 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 69926 at Political Science PhD Student, Adjunct Aaron Stuvland Earns Congressional Fellowship /news/2022-05/political-science-phd-student-adjunct-aaron-stuvland-earns-congressional-fellowship <span>Political Science PhD Student, Adjunct Aaron Stuvland Earns Congressional Fellowship</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:39</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/jvictor3" hreflang="und">Jennifer N. Victor</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/2022-05/Photo-of-Aaron-Stuvland-web.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Photo of Aaron Stuvland" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Aaron Stuvland: ‘Having an up-close and personal perspective on how Congress works will enhance my teaching.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>After defending his PhD dissertation in November 2021, </span></span><a href="/profiles/astuvlan"><span><span>Aaron Stuvland</span></span></a><span><span> weighed various employment possibilities. In the end, the </span></span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></a> <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/phd-programs/phd-political-science"><span><span>PhD in political science</span></span></a><span><span> student turned down several teaching opportunities and accepted an offer from the </span></span><span><span>American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellowship Program</span></span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I had a few other options, but nothing that was more compelling than doing the fellowship,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The APSA Congressional Fellowship Program is a highly selective, nonpartisan program devoted to expanding knowledge and awareness of Congress. Since 1953, it has brought select professionals to Capitol Hill to experience Congress at work through fellowship placements on congressional staffs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The nine-month program begins in November with an intensive one-month introduction to Congress taught by leading experts in the field. After orientation, fellows work in placements of their choosing and participate in ongoing seminars and enrichment programs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Stuvland’s dissertation, “</span></span><span><span>Talking Like a Populist? Exploring Populism in Six Western Democracies,” </span></span><span><span>examines when and why parties “talk like populists” or use populist ideas, concepts, and frames to appeal to voters. To answer this question, he analyzed speeches and manifestos over the last 20 years in Austria, France, Germany, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jvictor3"><span>Jennifer N. Victor</span></a><span><span>, associate professor in the Schar School and a member of Stuvland’s dissertation committee, encouraged him to apply for the fellowship. A former APSA Congressional Fellow in 2004-05, she thought Stuvland would benefit from participating in the prestigious program.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Working in this capacity on Capitol Hill has several advantages for scholars of politics, not the least of which is the opportunity to develop first-hand experience with the policy-making process in the U.S.,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Stuvland admits he probably would not have considered the APSA fellowship had Victor not informed him of it. (<span>The last time a Schar School PhD in political science graduate earned the APSA fellowship was in 2015. Brian Alexander is now a tenure-track faculty member at Washington and Lee University in Virginia.)</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“She thought it would be a good opportunity for me to gain experience in Congress and get a better sense of how it works and to do it in the context of this fellowship,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Stuvland, who is an adjunct instructor at the Schar School, aims for a career in academia after the fellowship concludes and believes the program will strengthen his skills. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Having an up-close and personal perspective on how Congress works will enhance my teaching,” he said. “I see the fellowship as a good way to deepen my knowledge of American politics and equip me to teach a variety of courses about Congress, policy-making, and things like that. I want to bring that experience and that knowledge to the classroom.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Stuvland, who also holds a </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/masters-public-policy-mpp"><span>master’s degree in political science</span></a><span> from the Schar School, says relationships with his professors have been key to his success.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“They modeled not only what the school is about, but how to be a good educator,” he said. “That would be the one thing I would highlight at my time at the Schar School. A lot of good teachers, good instruction, good people.”</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/15731" hreflang="en">Adjunct</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7806" hreflang="en">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15701" hreflang="en">Schar School News May 2022</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2671" hreflang="en">political science</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 04 May 2022 16:39:51 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 69576 at From Egypt to Texas to Law School, With a Little Help /news/2022-04/egypt-texas-law-school-little-help <span>From Egypt to Texas to Law School, With a Little Help</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 04/13/2022 - 12:31</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/2022-04/Photo-of-John-Marin-Elias-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Photo of Schar School Professor, Phillip Mink and AV student, John Marin Elias" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Phillip Mink, director of the Patriot Pre-Law program, and John Marin Elias.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>Arriving at AV in fall 2018 as a freshman, John Marin Elias had already faced—and overcome—a myriad of challenges for one so young.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>His family emigrated from Egypt to the U.S. in 2013 in order for his older brother to receive medical treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Eliases were uprooted from their new home in Houston in August 2017 after Hurricane Harvey decimated the southeast region of the Lone Star State. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once the family resettled in Virginia, Elias worked furiously to make up more than a month of schoolwork, reschedule his crucial scholastic aptitude test, and apply to several colleges, including Mason and the University of Virginia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“That was a very tough transition,” he said. “Thankfully, things worked out.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>While Elias was accepted to every school to which he applied another obstacle arose. Language barriers at his mother’s job proved too great to overcome, forcing a relocation back to Texas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Rather than return with the family and perhaps be a burden on finances, Elias chose to enroll at Mason, which, as it happened, offered him a full scholarship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“I’m very thankful I did” enroll at Mason, he said. “It alleviated a lot of financial strain on my family. It was a great opportunity and from there I became a part of the Patriot community.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once at Mason, Elias, an economics major, immersed himself in his studies and thrived. He joined Phi Alpha Delta, the professional pre-law fraternity, and met </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/pmink"><span>Phillip Mink</span></a><span>, an assistant professor in the </span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span> and the School of Business, who also serves as director of the </span><a href="https://scharprelaw.gmu.edu/"><span>Patriot Pre-Law program</span></a><span>. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Professor Mink showed me a glimpse about law school,” Elias said. “He gave me an idea about expectations and how all my metrics needed to rise to the level of my ambitions. He was there for me all along the way.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>More than a mentor, Elias calls Mink his “American father.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“He was the guiding light to help me maneuver through this foreign country,” Elias said. “A lot of people learn things from their parents and their connections and their networks and I just didn’t have any of that here. So thankfully, Professor Mink was there to guide me along this path.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>While Mink is flattered by Elias’s compliment, he feels certain the senior would have excelled with or without his assistance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“John is one of the most focused students I have seen in my 15 years in higher education,” he said. “He would have done well in whatever he chose to do. I’m just glad that I could be of some help to him.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>To assist with the LSAT, the often-burdensome test required for most law school admissions, Elias earned one of eight $500 awards from the Schar School Pre-Law LSAT Scholarship Fund. He used the money to purchase books and subscription-based courses to help prepare for the exam. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>It paid off. Elias is now weighing law school acceptances from the University of Virginia, Georgetown, George Washington University, and the University of Texas, all high-profile universities with renowned law schools.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As a future lawyer, Elias hopes to use his personal experience to provide guidance to immigrants entering the U.S.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Hopefully, through a successful legal career I’ll be able to alleviate some of the pain and unfortunate circumstances that minorities and disenfranchised people around the world have to go through.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>For his part, Mink looks forward to following Elias and watch where his career takes him.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Coming from a country where the rule of law is tenuous at best, John has a deep understanding of how important it is to have a functioning legal system,” he said. “He is going to be extraordinarily sensitive to individuals who might be outcasts in society. It will be a real pleasure to see his career unfold.” </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/15541" hreflang="en">Law School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15456" hreflang="en">Schar School News April 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:31:14 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 68586 at