study abroad

George Mason students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:25:23 +0000

George Mason students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults Taylor Thomas Mon, 08/26/2024 - 09:25

In This Story

Megumi Inoue, PhD

Across the globe, the number of older adults is rapidly increasing and health care systems around the world are adapting to the needs of this population. This summer, a group of ��AV graduate and undergraduate students, led by Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work Megumi Inoue, participated in the study-abroad program in Japan—Rise of the Super-Aged Society.

Students explored policies, programs, and services to meet the unique needs of an aging global population. During the program, students visited governmental and nonprofit agencies working with the older population and interacted with local older adults in community settings.

“Study-abroad programs offer students experiential learning opportunities in different cultures that go beyond traditional classroom education. By immersing themselves in new environments, students gain practical skills in cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and problem-solving while they are studying a specific topic. They also develop a deeper understanding of local issues and perspectives, enriching their academic knowledge and broadening their worldview,” said Inoue.

Samiah Clark, a bachelor of social work student set to graduate in May of 2025, attests to how students gained valuable, firsthand knowledge that can only be accomplished through immersing oneself in the culture.

"The trip enhanced my education and observational skills surrounding the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan,” Clark said. "Additionally, I learned about their customs of respecting older adults and traditions families partake in when caring for their parents. If I had the chance, I would go again."

The course is designed to introduce and examine strategies implemented in Japan in response to issues and challenges surrounding its rapidly aging population. Students explore the strengths and limitations of strategies that Japan has incorporated expanding their perspectives on interventions for other aging countries, including the United States.

“Taking students on study-abroad trips is important for their educational and personal development,” said Inoue. "It enriches their academic experience, enhances cultural competence, and prepares them for the globalized world. After the program, students often express how cultural exposure facilitated personal growth, professional development, and self-reflection."

Learn more about the Japan - Rise of the Super-Aged Society Mason-led study abroad.

Topics

study abroad

International Health Policy

Older Adults

healthy aging

Social Work Faculty

experiential learning

Students

Navy chaplain works to build international peace

Shayla Brown — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:52:48 +0000

Navy chaplain works to build international peace Shayla Brown Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:52

U.S. Navy chaplain Andrew Hoyle studied hard in the classroom to complete his master of science in conflict analysis and resolution at ��AV in one year, but he hasn’t stopping learning and gaining more experience. This summer, the active-duty officer interned at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C.

For his internship, Hoyle researched religions in Africa, China, Russia, and Rio de Janeiro, among other areas, looking at how the diversity of religions are embedded in cultures throughout the United States and internationally. His work culminated in an extensive article analyzing how the Russian Orthodox Church is expanding in Africa as part of Russian international relations efforts.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Andrew Hoyle. Photo provided.

Hoyle said one of his favorite internship experiences was collaborating with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development representatives, sharing their research and knowledge on peace building.

“The U.S. Ambassador to Suriname met with our team and talked about how indigenous peace building in Surinam helped address some of the nation’s biggest concerns,” said Hoyle.

“That was so phenomenal because I not only saw collaboration between the State Department and USIP on an official level, but on a really personal level. Seeing them address how we can do things better really reinforced to me that’s what international relations is about.”

USIP also frequently hosts forums and guest lectures on specific topics in the peacebuilding field. Hoyle’s academic advisor at George Mason’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, David Smith, encouraged him to attend as many as he could during his internship, he said.

“I learned so much about peace building in Africa, post-conflict societies for women in Ukraine, and how they relate to the wars happening,” Hoyle said.

“There were all kinds of interesting topics that really expanded my understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution on an international level.”

The United States has active-duty service members all over the world working to deter wars and build positive relationships that create stability and security, explained Hoyle.

“Those relationships happen on the international and grassroots levels, and as a military chaplain, I have a unique opportunity to be there and build those relationships through religious actor engagement,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle was able to complete his master's program in one year through the Naval Postgraduate School Civilian Institutions program.

At USIP, “I was assigned to work with the Religion Inclusive Societies Team frequently doing research on the role of military chaplains in international peace-building endeavors and how chaplains could be better leveraged to engage in those capacities,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle said his course with Carter School professor Douglas Irvin-Erickson, CONF 600 Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, laid the framework of what to expect in this field.

“The course was really foundational in my understanding of what this field is all about,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle also earned course credit with a Carter School study-abroad trip, Cambodia: Post Genocide Community Development, and Spirituality, from December 2023 to January 2024.

“We visited Buddhist monks and a monastery college, and we saw Buddhism in action culturally and did some comparison. This study-abroad experience really gave me an appetite for seeing more peacebuilding in the international community,” explained Hoyle.

Hoyle said his time with USIP will also influence his work as a chaplain.

“Throughout this internship, I observed the importance of interfaith collaboration,” he said. “One of the action guides that the team has put out is called Religion and Reconciliation, which focuses on intra- and inter-religious dialogue, and it’s something I see every day on a local level. I think that's going to be nuts and bolts for my next duty station assignment with the Navy.”

In This Story

Douglas Irvin-Erickson

David Smith

Topics

internships

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

study abroad

Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Students

Military

Summer Internship

Costello MBA global residency experience: consulting project with Circle Care Clinic in Dubai, UAE

Greg Johnson — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 21:25:23 +0000

Costello MBA global residency experience: consulting project with Circle Care Clinic in Dubai, UAE Greg Johnson Wed, 07/24/2024 - 17:25

Each summer, MBA students at the Costello College of Business at ��AV travel abroad as part of their global residency experience. The goal of the global residency experience is for these students to fully immerse themselves in the business culture of the country they are currently visiting. This year, four cohorts traveled to Greece, Japan, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), each having unique experiences based on their destination.

Cohort in front of the Burj Khalifa

During the global residency, the agenda includes site visits at companies ranging from multinationals to startups, delving into their business practices, and learning about the local culture with scheduled tours and events.

As Nirup Menon, professor of information systems and operations management and the faculty lead for the UAE trip, put it, “Sure, reading about doing business in Dubai is useful. But conducting a competition and market analysis for geographic or product scope expansion in Dubai gives students specific and lasting impressions about global business.”

John Davis, the Costello MBA student ambassador, shared his experience and the project he and his team completed in the UAE. Their consulting project aimed to leverage their analytical skills and fresh perspectives to enhance Circle Care Clinic's services and operational efficiency.

The following project recap is written by John Davis, Costello MBA student ambassador.

Project Overview

Our consulting project focused on analyzing Circle Care Clinic's current services and facilities. My team and I conducted multiple meetings and site visits with Circle Care Clinic’s business director Joe Hawayek, immersing ourselves in the clinic’s daily operations to understand its strengths and areas for improvement. We also received great feedback from Mr. Hawayek: “Partnering with the Costello MBA program has been a transformative experience for Circle Care Clinic. Their insightful analysis and strategic recommendations have provided us with a clear roadmap for enhancing our services and expanding our footprint in the UAE healthcare landscape.”

Recommendations

At Circle Care Clinic

Our top recommendation was expanding the services offered by Circle Care Clinic. Recognizing the growing trend and necessity of digital healthcare, we proposed integrating telemedicine services for specific specialties such as dermatology. This addition would broaden the clinic's reach and cater to the increasing demand for convenient and accessible healthcare options. Furthermore, we suggested introducing additional specialties and expanding current ones to attract a wider patient base and provide more comprehensive care. Specialties such as dermatology, women’s health, and orthopedics were highlighted as potential growth areas based on our market research.

Our analysis also covered the strategic expansion of Circle Care Clinic to a third and fourth location within the UAE. We identified optimal locations based on demographic trends, population density, and competition analysis. The recommended sites were selected to ensure maximum accessibility and convenience for potential patients, aiming to solidify Circle Care Clinic's presence in the region. The expansion strategy included detailed plans for resource allocation, marketing, and phased implementation to ensure sustainable growth.

Takeaways

Sightseeing in the desert

This consulting project with Circle Care Clinic in Dubai provided us with valuable insights into international business and healthcare. We navigated the UAE’s healthcare market, learning about its regulations, cultural nuances, and operational challenges. This experience enhanced our understanding of global business and equipped us with skills to thrive in diverse settings. Our team demonstrated analytical prowess and strategic thinking, contributing to the clinic's vision of exceptional healthcare services. This collaboration benefited both Circle Care Clinic and us, allowing us to bring together everything we learned throughout the course of our MBA program and provide insights and actionable growth plans to an established business in a foreign country.

Topics

Costello College of Business News

Costello College of Business Students

Learn more about the Costello MBA

In This Story

Nirup Menon

Study abroad combines tourism and tech

Martha Bushong — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 15:18:13 +0000

Study abroad combines tourism and tech Martha Bushong Tue, 07/23/2024 - 11:18

When most people think of Vienna, Austria they imagine elegant baroque palaces and a world-class opera and symphony, not a European Tech hub. The tension between old and new inspired Professor Rob Pettit, associate chair of the Computer Science Department at ��AV, to lead a pioneering study-abroad program there in the summer of 2024.

Designed for undergraduate computer science students, this initiative is among the nation’s first faculty-led, study-abroad opportunities specific to computer science. "Studying abroad is not just about combining academics with travel," said Pettit. "It's a transformative experience that expands horizons, fosters cultural understanding and builds a global perspective. Given today's interconnected world, studying abroad equips students with unique skills and insights, preparing them to navigate and contribute to a diverse and dynamic global community."

Pettit and the students lived as locals in Vienna's dynamic 6th district for this six-week immersive program. Students attended classes at the renowned Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), consistently ranked in the world's top 100 computer science universities. There, Pettit held lectures for CS 321 Software Engineering in which students gained hands-on experience with team-based agile software development practices in preparation for their transition to industry.

“CS 321 is a project-based course and part of the required curriculum for the BS CS and BS ACS degrees at George Mason,” said Petit. “For their projects, students were required to incorporate elements of their study-abroad experience into a deliverable software application.”

In addition to CS 321, students earned credit for CS 399 Exploration of the Global Software Engineering Industry. Together, this combination provided six credits of coursework directly applicable to the computer science major.

Computer Science students in front of Melk Abbey. Photo provided.

Organized excursions and industry interactions enhanced the students' cultural and historical understanding. Highlights from the program's first half included visits to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna's Technical Museum, and the Belvedere Palace's art galleries and gardens. The undergraduates also traveled to nearby Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For the industry experience, TTTech corporation hosted students at its Vienna location and included presentations on high-reliability software. Beyond site visits, the group also shared community meals where they experienced traditional Austrian, Hungarian, and Turkish cuisine while building stronger bonds within the group.

For their first long weekend, students and Pettit traveled to Prague, staying in a hotel with views of the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. A guided tour of Prague's historic city center provided deep insights into the city's rich history. "Our guide, a lifelong resident, enriched our experience with his extensive historical knowledge, concluding the tour in Wenceslas Square with a firsthand account of the Soviet suppression of the Prague Spring uprising, which he witnessed as a teenager," said Pettit.

Additional excursions included visits to Schönbrunn Palace—the stunning Baroque summer palace of the Hapsburgs—and day trips to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Sopron, Hungary. The students explored and traveled to locations in Croatia, Germany, and Italy during their free weekends.

In This Story

Robert Pettit

Learn more about Computer Science at George Mason

Explore the world with the Global Education Office

Topics

computer science

study abroad

Students

College of Engineering and Computing

Global Education Office

Strategic Direction

CEC Global Engagement

Where in the World: Katarina Benson

Colleen Rich — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:15:38 +0000

Where in the World: Katarina Benson Colleen Rich Fri, 07/19/2024 - 12:15

Mason Spirit's editorial assistant Katarina Benson traveled to Ireland this summer as part of a George Mason study-abroad trip.

Kat at the Cliffs of Moher. Photo provided

Katarina Benson

Major: English with a concentration in cultural studies

Hometown: Sparta, New Jersey

Where did you go and for how long?

I went to The University of Galway in Galway, Ireland, for four weeks for the International Summer School. It's actually the only official bilingual university in Ireland so everything is in Irish as well as English.

What was the class you took?

I took two classes while there: “Representing Ireland: Literature and Film” and “The Archaeological Heritage of Ireland.”

Favorite part of the trip?

I really loved meeting new people and exploring Galway with them.

Was this your first time out of the country?

Yes, it was my first time abroad.

What made you want to study abroad?

I’m Irish American, and my family loves Ireland, so I’ve always wanted to go!

Kat Benson in Galway. Photo provided

What would you recommend to students thinking about taking one of these trips?

I would recommend having an open mind and be willing to try new things! Just because you don’t like something or aren’t interested in something at home doesn’t mean you won’t like it abroad.

How was the food? Do you have a favorite dish/restaurant now?

The food was really good! I ate a lot of Italian food, which is kind of ironic.

Do you have recommendations for places to visit?

I would recommend Trinity College and the Book of Kells/Old Library experience in Dublin and Galway City in general. There are so many nice places to go in Galway like The Kings Head, which is over 800 years old, and the Galway Saturday Market.

Topics

study abroad

Mason Spirit

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

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

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

In This Story

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Topics

study abroad

Master of International Security

Master of Public Policy

Master of Global Commerce and Policy

Immigration

Trade

Government and International Politics

International Relations Policy Task Force

Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School Featured Stories

Schar School News for April 2024

Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Democracy Lab

International Relations Policy Task Force

Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School Featured Stories

Schar School News for April 2024

study abroad

Students

Mason students work on international projects through Diplomacy Lab partnership

Shayla Brown — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:20:42 +0000

Mason students work on international projects through Diplomacy Lab partnership Shayla Brown Mon, 03/25/2024 - 09:20

��AV students are working with the U.S. Department of State to find out what motivates students to study abroad, specifically in Southeast South Korea.

Cortney Rinker works with her students in their Diplomacy Lab course. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV.

Global affairs students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Schar School of Policy and Government students from Mason Korea and the Fairfax Campus are collaborating with the Diplomacy Lab on two projects. The first project aims to help the Busan Consulate increase study abroad of U.S.-based students in Busan, roughly 150 miles outside of Seoul. The second project aims to address allegations of violence by the security forces in Senegal, West Africa.

“The problem is that a lot of American students don't go to South Korea at all, they typically go to Europe,” said Mason Korea student Leah Tudor, who is working on the study-abroad project. “If they do go to South Korea, it’s for universities in the greater Seoul region.”

Universities in the Busan region are asking how they can be more attractive to U.S.-based institutions and students for study abroad, explained Cortney Rinker, director of Mason’s Global Affairs Program, who teaches the Applied Approaches in Diplomacy course where the students are taking on the projects.

The Diplomacy Lab is CHSS’s first institutional partner and provides students an opportunity to participate directly in solving real-world problems.

“This was an excellent project for our program because it’s similar to one of the goals of the Global Affairs Program, which is to get more Fairfax students to attend Mason Korea,” said Rinker.

In her research for the project, Tudor, who is a junior global affairs major with a minor in Korean studies, has found that students who are more exposed to foreign languages when they're younger are more likely to travel in the area(s) that speaks those languages since they're less likely to experience language barriers.

“This course has shown me how to communicate with people at the intersection of higher education and diplomacy,” said graduate student Seihoon Lee, who is working on a master’s degree in higher education and student development. “Being a bilingual and bicultural student, I always seek opportunities to be a bridge that brings these worlds together.”

Seihoon Lee and his group present their research in the Diplomacy Lab course. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV.

In the class there are ethnic and non-ethnic Korean students, as well as other students who have very different lives, said Lee. “[Because of these experiences], we have very intense conversations of how we should approach this project and our research questions, and it's really stimulating.”

This is the last research project before graduating for senior global affairs major Inn Kyung Seo, who agreed with Lee’s sentiment.

“I try to compare what I feel in the U.S. as a Korean student with what foreign students in Korea might feel,” said Seo, who participated in various diplomatic camps hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Korea.

“This course is an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the difficulties international students face and resolve those issues,” he said.

An advisory board of faculty members with expertise either in the region or on the topic guides the students on each project.

Advisory board member Soyoung Kwon, associate professor of global affairs and director of security policy studies–Korea, said she provides support to students and faculty involved in the project, including advising on research methodologies, offering insights on relevant topics or issues, and facilitating connections with external partners, such as the U.S. Consulate in Busan.

Kwon, who has taught GOVT342 Diplomacy at Mason Korea since 2017, believes that this partnership will expose students to different approaches to diplomacy and teach them about the most effective public diplomacy strategies while being part of public diplomacy project, she said.

Rinker and her students will be traveling to Washington, D.C., on April 19 to present on the projects at the State Department’s Diplomacy Lab Fair, where all of the participating institutions are invited to present their work.

“I am definitely going to teach this course again next spring,” said Rinker. “We hope to expand it in the future so that other students and faculty members can become involved in the Diplomacy Lab as well.”

Interested in studying abroad yourself?

Learn more about Mason Korea

Monumental Politics: Unveiling the Political Meaning Behind Rome, Athens Artistry

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:52:54 +0000

Monumental Politics: Unveiling the Political Meaning Behind Rome, Athens Artistry Andrew J Schappert Tue, 02/27/2024 - 09:52

The Monumental Politics students and guides at the Parthenon atop the Acropolis in Athens.

The fireplace in the central room of the Angeliki Chatzimichali Museum of Folk Art and Tradition in Athens. Photo courtesy Vassiliki Chryssanthopoulou.

For more than 20 years, an annual winter study-abroad program has offered ��AV students the opportunity to travel to two of the cities that invented many of our most important political concepts: Athens and Rome. Not only do they study the written and oral foundations of democracy, but they get to experience the aesthetics of power in the art and built structures of these two exciting cities.

The program is true to its title—Monumental Politics—as the program’s focus is on how those European political capitals portray the good—and the bad—of their early efforts to govern.

“It’s a study of political theory, mostly,” said Char R. Miller, an associate professor at Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government who created the program after first visiting the ancient cities as a political science graduate student in 1999. “The course is the political theory of the monuments. The students read contemporary accounts of aesthetics and affect as well as what authors like Pericles said they were doing in constructing these ancient monuments. This helps them consider the contemporary stakes in understanding how political monuments operate.”

But before getting on a plane the students get on the Metro to see political theory depicted in structures and artifacts in Washington, D.C., not far from the Mason Campus in Fairfax, Virginia.

“We take a field trip and walk around Capitol Hill, the National Mall, the National Gallery of Art, and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, and talk about aesthetic accounts of politics,” Miller said. “And then we have a class or two here before we go to Athens and talk about how the monuments work.”

Once abroad, the trip provides students with a chance to learn from local experts—thanks to a longstanding partnership with the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition in Athens—which is one of the highlights during a robust two-week itinerary that also includes famous sites, ranging from the Acropolis in Athens to the Forum and Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Miller has taken countless Mason students to the publicly funded Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, founded in 1981 in the bustling Plaka neighborhood of Athens, where museum staff, including museum director Stavroula Pisimisi, generously turns the neoclassical mansion into a temporary classroom amid the singular exhibits of fabrics, embroideries, costumes, and ceramic artwork on exhibit at the museum.

Typical lecture fare includes “The Acropolis of Athens and Its Place in Classical Athens” by Andrew Farrington, a professor of ancient Greek history in the history and ethnology department at Demokritus University, and “Greek National Identity and the Birth of Greek Folklore” by Vassiliki Chryssanthopoulou, an assistant professor of folklore studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Over the years, Mason has developed special relationships with both of these universities, including a memo of understanding with Demokritus University.

“I believe that it is a very special activity for the students, as they get to hear not only about ancient Greek monuments, their history, their global significance, and their impact on the shaping of modern Greece, but also about the political and cultural events that have contributed to the formation of contemporary Greek society, culture, and identity and how they relate to Greek monuments and material culture diachronically,” said Chryssanthopoulou by email from Athens.

“The students can link what they hear in the lectures and what they observe during the tour inside the museum to its very building, its exhibits, and the history of the very special person whose home it was, the eminent Greek folklorist, Angeliki Chatzimichali.”

The students also “compare the artifacts they encounter and reflect on their similarities to ones from their own cultural backgrounds and experiences,” she said. “Through their introduction to the life and work of Angeliki Chatzimichali, as it is represented in her own home, the Mason students are given the opportunity to discuss the agency of individuals in shaping the national and civic identities and ideologies of their societies.”

“It was genuinely a life-changing experience,” said Sofie Strompf, an Honors College student majoring in biology. “I think I came out of it a more confident, curious person.”

The study-abroad excursion helped her “fall in love with travel, and I learned the importance of sometimes talking to strangers—I learned a lot about the cultures of people local to Athens and Rome from doing so. Professor Miller encouraged us to expand our comfort zones. The class could have easily been more stressful than fun—three credits in two weeks is a lot—but he structured the class so that we could experience a whole city in a whole other country and do classwork without feeling stressed.”

As for the Angeliki Chatzimichali Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, Strompf was equally wowed.

“The building is gorgeous, and it was amazing to speak to such seasoned professionals in the fields of Greek culture, history, and folklore,” she said. “It was so special to have the opportunity to speak with experts and professors of such specific cultural subjects—while being immersed in the culture they were teaching about.”

Photos of the art and architecture explored by the course are posted on Instagram.

��AV and the Schar School strongly encourage study-abroad programs for students at all levels. For more information, see the robust schedule of study-abroad opportunities at Mason’s Global Education Office.

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Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School News for February 2024

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Students

A Switch from STEM to Government Fit This Schar School Scholar

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:02:22 +0000

A Switch from STEM to Government Fit This Schar School Scholar Andrew J Schappert Mon, 02/12/2024 - 17:02

This is part of the Schar School's student-to-student story series where undergraduates are interviewed and profiled by their peers.

Ruthu Josyula discovered a passion for government as a senior in high school through her involvement in speech and debate. She knew she wanted to attend college in Virginia and investigated universities with government programs. Fairfax proved far enough away from home but still near bustling Washington, D.C., so ��AV and the Schar School of Policy and Government felt like a good fit.

Schar School student Ruthu Josyula has explored her career goals through a wide range of school activities. Photo provided

Not only was it in the perfect location, but Mason provided me with all of the tools I needed to begin delving into government,” she said.

Josyula attended a magnet high school, which focused on math and science. She had planned to be an architect, but switched to a government and international politics major because she was fascinated to learn about how government works and what role it plays in everyday life.

As a freshman, Josyula applied to the Democracy Lab, a first-year residential learning community, led by Associate Professor Jennifer Victor. As a member of the Democracy Lab, students live with peers who share a passion for learning and civic action. Students enroll in a government course, take part in customized field trips to important institutions in the Washington, D.C., area, and hear from prominent guest speakers. All of these opportunities build a strong network of students, professors, mentors, and advisors that contribute to students’ future success.

I was so nervous to enter a completely different area of study, but Democracy Lab was an essential step in my smooth transition,” she said. “I have met my closest friends through the program.”

Josyula had such an eye-opening experience with the Democracy Lab that, as a sophomore, she joined another learning community, the International Relations Policy Task Force, led by Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey, where sophomores, juniors, and seniors engage deeply in pressing worldwide challenges.

“This learning community will give me insight on how governments interact on a global scale,” she said.

Not only is Josyula fully immersed in Schar School programs, but she is also on the executive board of several clubs, most notably Bridge. As the name suggests, Bridge’s mission is to encourage civic dialogue on campus; it is strictly nonpartisan and specializes in mediating.

Josyula’s passion, when she is not leading a Bridge meeting or discussing international relations with Professor McGlinchey, is traveling. Another factor that led to her choosing Mason was the Global Gateway program, which allows first-year students to study abroad. She chose to travel to Morocco.

“I was shocked that I had the chance to leave the country as early as my first year,” she said. “It was a transformative adventure, and I plan to continue traveling the world.”

Having learned so much from her professors and peers, Josyula is excited for the next stage of her academic career. She plans to seek an internship in Washington, D.C. While internships are highly competitive, Josyula feels confident that she has gained marketable collaboration skills through her involvement with the Schar School’s learning communities.