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Schar School Professors Impact Alum’s Path to Law School

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:48:31 +0000

Schar School Professors Impact Alum’s Path to Law School Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/03/2024 - 15:48

In This Story

Phillip Mink

Jennifer N. Victor

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Ethan Thomas, BA Government and International Politics ’24, presented his research at the 2024 Midwest Political Science Association Conference.

Ethan Thomas’ success story is one that many Schar School students hope to replicate. Since graduating in May 2024 with a BA in government and international politics, he took a position as a law clerk at Whitestone Young, a criminal defense firm located in the Fairfax, Virginia, area.

Thomas earned the Distinguished Student Leader Award at the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference.

He also continues to stay connected to the Schar School and the ��AV community, working part time as an admissions representative in George Mason's Admissions Office.

Hailing from Elmhurst, Illinois, Thomas first developed his passion for government and law around the contentious 2016 election. He set his sights on the East Coast, and consequently George Mason as a hub for government and legal experiences. He immediately dove in, taking advantage of the Washington, D.C., metro area’s resources, culminating in an internship at the district office of U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL), and another in the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on Capitol Hill.

Thomas credits Schar School professors, including Assistant Professor Phillip Mink and Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor, for having a profound impact on his journey while at George Mason.

“One of the great things about a lot of classes taught at the Schar School is that the professors were really knowledgeable in their fields,” he said.

One of his favorite classes was the legal writing course taught by Mink, the faculty advisor for the Schar School's Patriot Pre-Law Program. In the class, Thomas was able to fine-tune his personal statement for law school, getting feedback from both Mink and his peers.

“We really honed those legal writing skills that often a lot of students don’t learn until they’re in law school,” he said.

The legal writing skills are uniquely developed through assignments designed to analyze real world examples and the principles they use to improve students’ writing.

Another valuable experience took place in Associate Professor Victor’s lab as part of the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) where students work alongside their professor on valuable research projects. Thomas worked with Victor on congressional caucus research in the second semester of his freshman year, showing his enthusiasm for immersing himself in Schar School opportunities. He proceeded to engage in the lab for the rest of his time at George Mason, forming a strong professional relationship with Victor, who then advised him on the data regression portion of his senior project, “The Impact of Court Rulings on Legislative Activity.”

Having graduated, Thomas is preparing for the LSAT as well as applying to law schools. In the process, he has found that the community he built with professors and other legal professionals at the Schar School helps support him in his future endeavors.

“Having professors and others who have been in law school provide that reaffirming support and tells me that ‘hey you’re going to be an amazing lawyer’ can really help get you over that struggle sometimes,” he said.

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Drones and Terrorism: Graduating Senior Bahceci Shines at Criminology Conference

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:56:17 +0000

Drones and Terrorism: Graduating Senior Bahceci Shines at Criminology Conference Andrew J Schappert Thu, 11/21/2024 - 10:56

Presenting a research poster at a major conference is a big deal for a student, particularly for an undergraduate.

Poster presentations create networking opportunities with experts and peers who often provide constructive feedback; summarizing complex ideas and data enhances communications skills; and, in addition to building confidence, it makes a significant addition to resumés and CVs.

Ayse Selma Bahceci with her poster: ‘Presenting at this level gave me firsthand insight into the many opportunities to further enhance our research.’ Photos provided.

For Ayse Selma Bahceci, presenting her poster in mid-November at the American Society of Criminology’s 79th annual meeting in San Francisco, a conference that draws more than 4,000 attendees from more than 40 countries, was not only thrilling, but also nostalgic.

“I was incredibly excited, as this was my very first conference,” the graduating senior said. “It was also a nostalgic experience because I was born and raised in San Francisco.”

Bahceci presents her poster to a conference attendee.

The government and international politics major in the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV had her dream fulfilled just in time: She graduates in December. It’s an opportunity she was happy to have experienced.

“I had the chance to network with a diverse group of talented individuals in their respective fields, which was truly inspiring,” she said. “Presenting at this level gave me firsthand insight into the many opportunities to further enhance our research.”

The poster was titled “Changing Weapon Types in Terrorist Organizations: Which Groups Have Used Drones?” and reflected the work accomplished at George Mason’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and its affiliated organizations and tools.

“In this presentation, I analyzed drone use within terrorist organizations using data from the Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center [GTTAC] and the Incidents Database [GRID], shedding light on how drones are shifting weapon and logistic strategies among these groups,” she said.

Bahceci, left, with Mahmut Cengiz at the conference: ‘I’m excited to see how the Schar School is preparing young experts to fight terrorism around the world,’ he said.

“Many attendees were intrigued by our Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center data collected at the Schar School, and my presentation on drones received excellent feedback,” she said, adding that the data is open for all to use.

“This was Ayse Selma’s first conference, and she gave an exceptional poster presentation on drones, a timely and important topic,” said Associate Professor Mahmut Cengiz, director of the GTTAC. Cengiz accompanied Bahceci to California.

“Her presentation was excellent and she was very well received,” he said. “I’m excited to see how the Schar School is preparing young experts to fight terrorism around the world.”

Presenting at a conference, Bahceci said, “has always been a goal of mine, and I am especially grateful to my mentor and advisor, Professor Cengiz, who supported me every step of the way in reaching this milestone in my career.

“I made many connections during my time at the conference, both from the United States and abroad,” she said. “I believe these networks are valuable moving forward in my career after I graduate.”

In This Story

Mahmut Cengiz

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Transforming Access to Justice: Students Tackle Language Barriers at Fairfax Courthouse

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:17:21 +0000

Transforming Access to Justice: Students Tackle Language Barriers at Fairfax Courthouse Andrew J Schappert Tue, 10/22/2024 - 11:17

From left, Schar School Jurisprudence Learning Community students Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zubaidi and Sharanya Maddukuri, a government and international politics major and Honors College student, flank General District Court Judge Dipti Pidikiti-Smith in her courtroom. Photo provided

Going to a court of law as plaintiff, defendant, witness, juror, or a spectator in the gallery can be stressful and confusing if you don’t know where to go. What floor is the right office on? Which clerk at which window do you need to visit? Which courtroom do you need to be in and when do you need to be there? And which way to the bathroom?

Mohammed Al Zubaidi presents the Court Signage Survey Project to an attorney who advocates at the Fairfax General District Court. Photo provided

The Fairfax General District Court conducts its business at the Fairfax County Courthouse, not far from ��AV’s Fairfax Campus near the City of Fairfax. It shares the facility with the Fairfax Circuit Court, the largest trial court in Virginia. Understandably, the hallways of the campus can be confounding even to those who frequent the complex, much less those who have business there only occasionally.

Now imagine you need to visit the General District Court but do not speak English as your native language. All the signage is in English. You can see there might be a problem.

Members of a team of 15 volunteer students from the Jurisprudence Learning Community (JPLC), one of five learning communities in the Schar School of Policy and Government, are spending time in the hallways and offices of the busy court complex conducting a survey project aimed at helping the court understand the accessibility needs of court users.

The students visit the courthouse in shifts each weekday for a month to administer surveys to those who use the court, including judges, attorneys, deputies, bailiffs, and visitors. When the survey period is over, the students will compile the results to gain an understanding of the steps the court should take to increase accessibility for individuals, particularly language and translation accessibility.

“The results of the Court Signage Survey Project will be sent to the District Court for review and ultimately compiled into a larger report that will go to the Virginia Supreme Court,” said Assistant Professor Shea Holman, director of the JPLC.

From left, Sathvika Kolluru, Sharanya Maddukuri, and Abigail Harmon wield survey clipboards in the courthouse hallway. Photo provided

General District Court Judge Dipti Pidikiti-Smith reached out to Holman for the project.

“She specifically wanted to connect with George Mason students,” Holman said. “We are such a diverse campus and the JPLC is a place where students from many different backgrounds have the opportunity to experience the legal field firsthand. This is an amazing experience for students to interact directly with individuals attempting to navigate our legal system and to spend time in a courthouse setting.”

For Schar School junior Mohammad Ibrahim Al Zubaidi, that’s exactly what has happened.

“The most memorable experience has been engaging with court users directly,” the government and international politics major said. “Listening to their stories about the communication barriers they face in such a crucial setting has been eye-opening. It reinforced the importance of the work we’re doing and the impact this project can have on improving access to justice for everyone.”

Al Zubaidi’s degree program includes a concentration in American Institutions and Processes and a minor in criminology, law, and society. His visits to the courthouse, he said, will help him gain hands-on experience in legal processes, particularly in improving access to justice for underrepresented communities.

“This project allows me to connect my academic knowledge of government and law with real-world applications," Al Zubaidi said. "Balancing classwork and off-campus duties has been a challenge, but it's also helped me develop strong time management and organizational skills. By staying organized and setting clear priorities, I’ve been able to manage both effectively."

Walking the hallways of the bustling courthouse is a new experience for some of the students.

“I haven't spent much time in [a courthouse] up until this point, so it has been interesting to see the innerworkings,” said Abigail Harmon, an integrative studies major with a legal concentration. “I also feel that making the courtroom more accessible to all kinds of people is a really important cause, and I am proud to be helping out with that. I hope that the information collected in the surveys can help with this.”

Among all the court users she’s met, it’s the interpreters who work there that have made a significant impression.

“They are passionate about helping people who don't speak English navigate and understand our legal system,” the Twin Falls, Idaho, native said. “One of the interpreters stressed how important it is to have interpreters, because if you don't speak English and don't utilize one, you might be unable to get the justice you deserve.

“I feel that this was relevant in our survey, because non-English speaking individuals might find it difficult to get around the courtroom, and the courthouse should find ways to fix that. I've had the opportunity to see a couple of the interpreters in action, and without them their clients may have had a different outcome and experience in their case.”

“This project allows me to submerse myself in the exact environment I am striving to be in postgraduation,” said government and international politics senior April Cornelius from Aliso Viejo, California. “The best experience I have had thus far has been surveying people on the third floor, which is the domestic cases. I had a mom with her two daughters fill out a survey, and was nice to connect with her older teenage daughter.

“Nobody likes to be bothered with a survey,” she added, “but it is nice to take someone’s brain off the reason why they are there—most times not for a good reason.”

In This Story

Shea M. Holman Kilian

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George Mason Students Secure Second in the Country in Collegiate Speech

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:37:22 +0000

George Mason Students Secure Second in the Country in Collegiate Speech Andrew J Schappert Wed, 05/01/2024 - 11:37

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The ��AV Forensics Team poses with its 2nd place trophy at the National Forensic Association Tournament.

On any given Saturday, you might find the members of the ��AV Forensics Team, or intercollegiate speech team, huddled together in an empty classroom.

After a rousing round of vocal warmups, the students—nearly half of them students in the Schar School of Policy and Government—join hands and recite “The Covenant,” a poem passed down since the team’s founding more than 50 years ago. At the completion of the poem and a after a round of pep talks from coaches and captains, the team disperses to compete against teams from across the country for the title of most persuasive, informative, or poetic speaker (among other titles).

With a glance at the “wall of champions,” students can trace their competitive lineage decades back—with Schar School students scattered throughout the wall. One alumnus, former captain Jacob Thompson and two-time national champion, credits the Schar School for its seamless integration with the team.

“Being a Schar School student and competing on the Mason speech team is really the best of both worlds,” he said. “You get a chance to travel the country and practice your advocacy with the team then directly apply those skills to help change the country through the connections and opportunities the Schar School provides.”

The Forensics Team has existed longer than Mason itself. With a focus on both competitive success and education, the team has attracted Schar School students since its founding. Its current cohort of 10 Schar School students compete in a wide range of events, from poetry interpretation to extemporaneous speaking—an event in which the speaker is given a political question and 30 minutes to prep a seven-minute memorized answer with sources and argumentation. Students hail from across the country with varying prior speech experience, but one thing binds them together: a passion for advocacy.

Evanna Koury, a first-year Schar School government and international politics major, sought the speech team as an avenue for both personal and academic passions.

“Being a queer, disabled woman interested in government and political advocacy is challenging because I can't often get my foot in the door,” she said. “The Forensic Team changed that. I get seven to 10 minutes of uninterrupted talking time to amplify my voice with an amazing community.”

Mason’s speech team has been among its most successful competitive teams of all time. The team has been a Top 5 national program consistently since its founding, taking second in the country at the national championships for the past three years.

With advocacy as a focus, it is unsurprising the teams student population is so dominated by Schar School students, including seniors Molly Izer and Eleni Mercer, who share the team’s captainship and are both students in the Honors College. In fact, Schar School students earned an impressive array of awards at this year’s 2024 American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament, held in April, as well as taking second place in Division I at the National Forensic Association Tournament, its sister tournament held just a week later.

Eleni Mercer, senior government and international politics major
- Semifinalist, Informative Speaking (AFA)
- 2nd place, Program Oral Interpretation (AFA)
- National Champion, Program Oral Interpretation (NFA)
- Semifinalist, Poetry Interpretation (AFA)
- 9th place Individual Sweepstakes (AFA)
- 2nd place, Duo Interpretation (AFA)
- Octofinalist, After Dinner Speaking (NFA)
- Octofinalist, Informative Speaking (NFA)
- 3rd place, Duo Interpretation (NFA)
Molly Izer, senior government and international politics major
- Semifinalist, Impromptu Speaking (AFA)
- 4th place, Impromptu Speaking (NFA)
- National Champion, Informative Speaking (AFA)
- National Champion, Informative Speaking (NFA)
- National Champion, Poetry Interpretation (AFA)
- Quarterfinalist, Persuasive Speaking (NFA)
Grace Martinez-Cora, freshman government and international politics major
- Octofinalist, Poetry Interpretation (NFA)
Lexi Martinez, sophomore government and international politics major
- Quarterfinalist, Prose Interpretation (AFA)
- Octofinalist, Prose Interpretation (NFA)
- Semifinalist, Informative Speaking (AFA)
- Octofinalist, Dramatic Interpretation (NFA)
- Quarterfinalist, Informative Speaking (NFA)

“It is always exciting to have Schar School majors on the team,” said Dawn Lowry, director of the Forensics Team and lifetime forensicator. “They possess the unique combination of idealism and practicality. They can see a better world, but they also understand the institutional and societal structures that shape our lives.”

While the team continues to attract many Schar School students, each Forensics Team alum leaves the experience a passionate advocate, citizen, and human being.

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A Day in the Life of Student, Teaching Assistant, and Congressional Intern Maaz Abbasi

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:54:48 +0000

A Day in the Life of Student, Teaching Assistant, and Congressional Intern Maaz Abbasi Andrew J Schappert Wed, 02/21/2024 - 11:54

‘My favorite part of the internship is interacting with constituents, engaging in what they have to say, proving answers, providing help.’

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

Maaz Abbasi, a senior government and international politics major at the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV, is a master juggler. He attends classes full time and works as a teaching assistant and legislative intern for Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA). Below he shares a typical (busy) day as an intern and a student.

Internship days – Tuesday and Thursday
6 a.m. | Get ready and head to work

My day starts at 6 a.m. I work in the office of Congressman Gerry Connolly in Virginia’s 11th district as a legislative intern. Capitol Hill is a very formal environment, so interning there requires me to wear a suit and tie. I leave my house around 7:45 a.m. and take the Silver Line for 1 hour and 10 minutes to D.C. During that time, I catch up with assignments or plan my Friday teaching lessons.

9 a.m. | Go to Capitol Hill internship

Right now, because of recent international events, we are very busy. The first thing I do is check any emails or messages from my supervisor. Then, I will be given an assignment, which can be working on a letter. The other day I worked on a Supreme Court reaffirmation letter. I wrote the letter from scratch, which spoke about the need for change in the Supreme Court after multiple corruption cases were revealed within the body. Writing this letter was important because court corruption can affect the body’s decisions and American’s lives. I was able to bring analytical skills while referencing the congressman’s opinions. I was able to do research for it and what the congressman has supported. A lot of my time is spent on research and answering calls from constituents. They call for a huge range of things, so you need to be prepared to answer EVERYTHING. Yesterday, I answered a call about UFOs and then another about Vietnam War veteran benefits.

I go to different events. So, if an organization wants to lobby for a certain bill, the congressman’s office will send me to an event to take notes. For example, I’ve gone to a Save the Whales event, or a Gambling Addiction event and take notes for staff, so maybe they can get the congressman to support it or not. I also lead tours in the Capitol and share its history. Learning history is a big part of the job because if you know the history of Capitol Hill you will be much more respected and engaged in what is going on there.

My favorite part of the internship is interacting with constituents, engaging in what they have to say, proving answers, providing help. Assisting people on the phone is very rewarding because, sometimes, people just want to be listened to, and giving them the opportunity to voice their opinions is what democracy and freedom of speech is all about.

The most unexpected thing is the amount of work the office of a congressman does. It’s a lot. There are two offices, the district one and the Washington one, and they all do so much to help the congressman succeed, write legislation, find what legislation to sponsor, help constituents, and just be there to support him. There are a lot of functions that require a huge time commitment.

5 p.m. | Head home

It takes me one hour to get back to Ashburn. I mostly decompress and read a book or watch a movie. When I get home, I will check my class, check if any student has emailed me regarding the 103 class I assist with, and answer any questions they might have. I am also a member of the No Lost Generation club, a student club at Mason, which is dedicated to expanding refugees’ access to higher education opportunities. Currently, I serve as the director of policy advocacy as it facilitates contacts throughout my internship because the congressman is a big supporter of refugees.

School days – Wednesday and Friday
7 a.m. Wake up

I wake up and get ready for the day. I finalize lesson plans and make sure all activities are ready to present to the class.

11 a.m. | Arrive on campus

I hold office hours before class and then teach the 50-minute class. Then, I go to club meetings and interact with people on campus and professors who might have office hours. As a teaching assistant to Professor Jennifer Victor, I give input on the lesson, helping by providing examples and answers to the students. Some of my specific tasks are teaching recitations, answering questions about the textbook or the class, providing support for review sessions, and being a point of contact for students.

My favorite class is GOVT 332 Politics in the Middle East with Associate Professor Bassam Haddad. I like this class because it builds from GOVT 345 Islam and Politics, which I had taken before. When you take out religious perspective, you get a deeper understanding when you don’t focus on only one thing. Also, the way Professor Haddad teaches, he starts off looking at your own biases and perspectives and then analyzes them.

5 p.m. | Leave campus

I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to the gym, and reading. I like to read political books about places and communities that are not talked about. 

In This Story

Jennifer N. Victor

Bassam S. Haddad

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A Successful Semester Abroad Fosters a Love of Travel

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:54:26 +0000

A Successful Semester Abroad Fosters a Love of Travel Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/12/2023 - 09:54

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Schar School junior Maggie Reier visited various cities, including Budapest, while studying at the University of Oxford.

Even before arriving at ��AV, Maggie Reier knew she wanted to study abroad for a semester. The Schar School of Policy and Government helped her achieve that goal.

A San Francisco Bay native, Reier wanted to be in the Washington, D.C., area for college—location was key for the current junior double majoring in government and international politics and integrative studies with a concentration in social justice and human rights. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and study human rights law.

“I knew I wanted to be somewhere that would provide a lot of job and internship opportunities for what I wanted to do, and Mason just fit the bill,” she said. “Not to mention, the government degree was unique to Mason, and really appealed to me.”

As far as studying abroad, that notion was homegrown. Her father traveled extensively for work as a photographer and her mother and sister both studied abroad while in high school.

“I grew up hearing about their experiences and I wanted to experience traveling abroad for myself,” she said.

When the Global Education Office sent an email to students advertising a study abroad opportunity in Oxford, England, Reier immediately got in touch with her Schar School advisor to apply.

A semester at Mason is structured differently than a semester at the University of Oxford, according to Reier. Instead of the usual five classes a semester, she took two tutorials: The Politics of Human Rights and Comparative U.S. and U.K. Law.

“I am given readings and discussion questions, and sometimes an essay. Basically, I do the work over the course of the week, and when I meet with my tutor, we talk about what I read and/or wrote,” she said. “My tutors aren’t afraid to put me on the spot; that’s really helped to improve my ability to answer questions and recall the readings.”

Although the changes were an adjustment for Reier to make, she says that the differences improved her academic abilities.

“My writing has also gotten better in terms of speed and conciseness,” she said. “The learning system forces me to time manage more efficiently than I have before.”

She credits her Schar School classes for helping her to prepare for the content covered at Oxford.

“The Nonprofit Sector in the U.S. class was heavily research-based, so that was helpful in preparation for the amount of research I have to do in my tutorials,” she said. “Constitutional Interpretation gave me a foundation for my comparative law tutorial because the subject matter requires you to be thoughtful and analytical when looking at cases and decisions.”

Outside the classroom, Reier liked to travel across Europe with her peers. She spent a lot of time traversing the United Kingdom, specifically the city of London.

“There’s just so much to do, and I’ve barely scratched the surface,” she said.

Reier also visited Rome and the Vatican. Her favorite city to explore is Budapest.

“The city is so cool, and I wish we could’ve had more time there,” she said. “We went to St. Stephen’s Basilica and Heroes’ Square. We also saw Fisherman’s Bastion, a lookout point on the Buda side of the Danube. We spent a lot of time on the Pest side in the Jewish quarter and it was my personal favorite part of the trip.”

Reier encourages any student interested in studying abroad to take advantage of the opportunities that Mason offers and shares this advice: “It’s important to understand what your priorities are in terms of what you want to get out of your study-abroad experience. If travel is important, try to pick somewhere that’s accessible to other countries. Try to plan as much as possible—don’t be afraid to reach out to the GEO office to talk about their different programs. I found that meeting with someone to get more insight into the different programs was helpful in figuring out what program I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. Once you’re abroad, just make the most of it. Take advantage of what’s near you and try to get out of your comfort zone.”

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Schar School Public Service Weekend on Policy Communication Nurtures, Inspires Students from 24 Universities

Jessica Bates — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:10:12 +0000

Schar School Public Service Weekend on Policy Communication Nurtures, Inspires Students from 24 Universities Jessica Bates Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:10

In This Story

Justin Gest

Bonnie Stabile

Jennifer N. Victor

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A cohort of 28 college students from around the country came together at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, in October for the inaugural Schar School of Policy and Government Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Public Service Weekend. Students enjoyed three days of workshops, distinguished speakers, and learning—all in the frame of public policy communication.

Schar School organizers, who partnered with the not-for-profit PPIA — which is devoted to diversifying the future pipeline of public policy professionals — reported that the students came from 13 states and 24 universities. One of the goals of the program was to expose underrepresented students to elements of pursuing a graduate education in a policy field.

The weekend, which included lodging in a nearby hotel and a bowling outing, featured a diverse collection of distinguished guest speakers from across the media and public policy world, offering students firsthand knowledge through direct contact with industry leaders.

Schar School’s Justin Gest in conversation with Axios’ Sara Fischer at the opening of the Public Service Weekend 2023. Photos by Sydney Henry.

Speakers included senior media reporter for Axios Sara Fischer, MSNBC anchor Symone Sanders-Townsend, and PBS NewsHour White House reporter Laura Barrón-López. Through interactive sessions, crash course lectures, and direct interviews with guest speakers, participants of the conference gained practical hands-on experience engaging with public policy—and communicating it to stakeholders.

“One of the focuses of a Schar School education is policy communication,” said PPIA convenor Justin Gest, professor of policy and government at the Schar School and author of six books on policy communication, demography, and immigration. “It’s really important that our future policy makers and leaders reflect the demography of our country and have the skills to bring a broad diversity of ideas and opinions to the halls where decisions get made.”

“Throughout the weekend, Professor Gest shared valuable insights into the process of news pitching and the importance of dealing with professional rejection,” said Ilana Drake, a sophomore studying public policy and English at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “I was grateful to attend the Public Service Weekend at the Schar School and gain knowledge on how policy interacts with the media, all while mingling with fellow students, Mason faculty, and distinguished speakers.”

Gabriella Grabovska, a sophomore studying government and international politics at the Schar School and a participant of the PPIA weekend, noted the importance of communicating ideas to a broad diversity of stakeholders.

“With the recent growth of media power, knowing government and politics is not enough because you have to communicate your knowledge and ideas to the people that make decisions,” she said. “The PPIA weekend improved my skills of writing and speaking communication and was just a very inspirational and practical experience.”

Throughout the weekend, participants had full access to numerous Schar School faculty in addition to Gest, including Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs Bonnie Stabile, Director of the Schar School’s Master’s in International Security Degree program and Center of Security Policy Studies Ellen Laipson, along with Associate Professors Michael Fauntroy and Jennifer N. Victor and Assistant Professor Meghan Garrity.

Students engaged in dynamic workshops, writing policy memos and op-eds while receiving guidance, insights, and mentorship from the faculty and guests. Students also engaged in mock broadcast interviews with Margaret Talev, outgoing managing editor at Axios and a CNN political analyst.

Government and international politics major Gabriella Grabovska asks a question about policy communications during the PPIA weekend.

“Participating in the Schar School’s Public Service Weekend was truly an honor,” said Emmanuella Osei, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “The lectures provided by Dr. Gest were extremely informative and engaging. I even had the opportunity to share an excerpt of my op-ed and receive feedback from Symone Sanders-Townsend, host of Symone on MSNBC.”

Beyond meeting with Sanders-Townsend, who many students noted as a highlight of the weekend, students also met with Axios’ Fischer, who offered insights in the changing dynamics of the media world, and NewsHour’s Barrón-López, who described the fast-paced and hectic news environments the White House operates within.

“After presenting my op-ed to the conference, the distinguished guests, and faculty, along with the students, gave me useful ideas to truncate and implement stronger direction in my rhetoric,” said Blaine Greene II, who attends St. Mary’s College of Maryland. “As an English major with a political science minor, I sometimes feel like an idealistic rube or a country bumpkin, yet I was unbelievably proud to be in the presence of this group of the world's greatest students.”

The Public Policy Weekend also provided the students an exclusive opportunity to gain a sneak peek at what it’s like to study public policy at the Schar School.

“The program is mutually beneficial to students and faculty because each get a head start at building relationships that will serve them throughout a two-year program,” said Professor Victor, who participated in the mentorship lunch-table segment, a series of small, casual discussions with Schar School faculty providing insights into the public policy world.

“Being a Schar [School] student means being well-connected to different political resources, amazing faculty, outside opportunities, and programs like PPIA,” Grabovska said. “My advice would be to stay in touch with connections that you make within [the Schar School]. If you are in touch with your academic advisor, they might send you some cool classes or workshops. If you stay in touch with a Schar [School] student, who knows, maybe one day they will become the president?”

When asked about what advice to give to students interested in the public policy field, Gest noted the exemplary pursuit of lifelong learning exhibited by the participants of the weekend.

“In this economy and the policy sector, professionals can never stop learning, or they risk becoming less effective and obsolete,” he said. “Always continue to expose yourself to new knowledge, new colleagues, and new information and ideas.”

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Schar School Undergrads Get a Surprise Visitor: A North Korea Defector

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 15:24:11 +0000

Schar School Undergrads Get a Surprise Visitor: A North Korea Defector Andrew J Schappert Fri, 11/10/2023 - 10:24

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North Korea defector Justin Seo: ‘There is no one message that could solve the problems of North Korea, but if the people can stay strong, perhaps positive change lies ahead.’

North Korea currently presents both direct and indirect security concerns for the U.S. and, indeed the world. Its nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities pose a direct threat to specific regions, while its potential to influence other nations is strong.

Former South Korea navy captain Joshua Park is a visiting research fellow at the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV. He is also an adjunct professor, teaching a course called North Korea Security (GOVT 444) that calls on his extensive military experience in conveying a robust foundational understanding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and a thorough examination of its intricate network of foreign relations. Ultimately, Park delves into the intriguing dynamics between North Korea and the broader strategic competition among nations.

On a Thursday in September, Park introduced to the class a guest speaker who provided exclusive insight to contemporary life in North Korea and its foreign relations. The speaker, Justin Seo, is a defector from North Korea, having escaped from North Korea to China with his family in 2005.

Seo vividly narrated a detailed PowerPoint presentation that illustrated the concepts they have been studying as only someone who lived there could.

Seo stated how the propaganda implemented by the North Korean government runs rampant in the news, and civilians have essentially no choice but to believe it. Additionally, most civilians are required to spend a minimum of 10 years in the military, unless their status is deemed unworthy of serving the family of supreme leader Kim Jong Un. In that case, they are likely subject to a life of abject poverty.

North Korea’s flawed education system, he said, was rife with systemic concerns unimaginable to Western thinking.

“In People’s school,” he said, “the students are told to bring valuable things to school. Students may be asked to bring aluminum, herbs, human or animal wastes, rice, firewood, and sometimes money. The teachers collect these items under the dictator’s name to condition students to be subject to the rule of the Kim family at a young age.”

Seo added that students are taught to worship the Kim Jong Un family beginning as early as kindergarten.

Not surprisingly, Seo received a large number of questions from the Schar School class, including one that made his North Korea experience personal: “If you hypothetically had the power to tell all of North Korea one message, what would you tell them?”

“I would tell them to remain aware of their situation and to stay determined,” he said. “There is no one message that could solve the problems of North Korea, but if the people can stay strong, perhaps positive change lies ahead.”

Seo also encouraged the class to share news of the systemic realities of North Korea, such as their human rights violations and a recent summit cementing relations with Russia, as much as possible. He emphasized pressuring the U.S. Congress to accept North Korean people as international refugees.

The students in Park’s class said they were thrilled to have an engaging guest as Seo.

“Being able to hear Mr. Seo describe his background was an extremely fulfilling event,” said Government and International Politics major Jake Moran. “At this moment, I felt very grateful that I decided to take North Korean Security with Professor Park. Seeing a North Korean defector speak his mind with his presentation truly made the class standout relative to the other government classes I have taken.”

“Justin Seo’s guest lecture painted a vivid picture of the hardships that North Koreans face in their everyday lives,” said government major Jim Corcoran. “After hearing his story and learning about his perspective, I feel that I can better appreciate the human costs that the regime’s systems of oppression impose on their own people.

“I feel that this class, or any class on North Korea, would be incomplete without being able to learn firsthand about what life is like for ordinary citizens.”

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From California to Capitol Hill: A Q&A with Schar School Student Matthew Glaubke

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:02:35 +0000

From California to Capitol Hill: A Q&A with Schar School Student Matthew Glaubke Andrew J Schappert Thu, 11/02/2023 - 12:02

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While at the Schar School, senior Matthew Glaubke interned with Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA).

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

At ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government, Matthew Glaubke turned his Capitol Hill dreams into reality.

A current senior and Thousand Oaks, California, native, Glaubke knew he wanted to pursue a degree in government and international politics. “I toured a number of other schools in California and Virginia, and Mason was the first place I felt comfortable and at home on campus,” he said. “In the end, it was the Schar School’s commitment to its students’ success and the helpfulness of the admissions staff that gave me full confidence in my decision.”

At the Schar School, Glaubke had the opportunity to intern on Capitol Hill. I asked him why he wanted to work on Capitol Hill, how he secured his internship, and what it entailed.

Why did you want to work on Capitol Hill?
I have always been interested in the policy process and how legislation can be used to improve lives. A job on the Hill would allow me to work in a number of different issue areas I care about.

How did you find your internship?
I found my Hill internship because Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) is my representative at home. I had previously worked for my city government and interned for California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. This was something I had been working toward for years.

Matthew Glaubke: ‘I have always been interested in the policy process and how legislation can be used to improve lives.’

Did you use any Schar School resources to help you get your internship?
One resource I used was the class credit the Schar School offers for internships [Undergraduate Internship Program]. This allowed me to work 24 hours a week on the Hill while maintaining a 15-credit course load. This was extremely valuable to me because it allowed me to gain work experience while also maintaining my academic track.

Tell me about your time on the Hill? Who did you work for, what was your position, and your responsibilities?
I worked as an intern for Congresswoman Brownley in the fall semester of 2022. As a congressional intern, I was responsible for taking constituent calls and writing responses from the congresswoman, leading tours of the Capitol, sitting in on meetings with lobbyists, attending hearings, and writing memos.

What was the most valuable skill you learned while working on the Hill?
The most important thing I learned as an intern on the Hill is to always make yourself available to help. There are always people in the office who could use assistance with something, and if you’re not assigned anything, you should ask others. The staffers in the office will help you in your post-grad job search and are a fantastic resource for you. While I was a legislative intern, I worked with our communications staff frequently and was given the opportunity to work on things that some interns don’t get to, such as finding cosponsors for our bills. One of the bills was the Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act, to improve VA programs for aging veterans. The bill didn't pass while I was an intern, but it did pass the House Veterans Affairs Committee later. This was the must fulfilling responsibility I had during my time on the Hill and I'm grateful to have been trusted by our legislative staff.

What is your advice for current Schar School students who may want to work on the Hill? How can they get the most out of the experience?
Find (and work on) what you’re passionate about. This will be useful for a couple of reasons. First, it can help you find a representative or senator who works on issues you care about. Much of the legislation a representative drafts relates to the committees they serve on, and you want your work to line up with what you care about. Talk to everyone you can, make friends with other interns, and keep connected with the people you meet after your internship.

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