Master of Public Administration

A Working Mother’s Triumph: Juggling Parenting, Career, and Master of Public Administration Courses

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:46:18 +0000

A Working Mother’s Triumph: Juggling Parenting, Career, and Master of Public Administration Courses Andrew J Schappert Wed, 08/28/2024 - 08:46

During her four years as a Master of Public Administration student at ��AV's Schar School of Policy and Government, Dana Staley held down a fulltime job, survived a global pandemic, and became a mother, in addition to the ample reading and writing required in a master’s program.

Dana Staley: ‘I appreciated that I was able to participate in classes in the evening so that I could still work full time.’

A year later, Staley, who graduated in 2023, has sage advice for those facing similar trying circumstances.

“If you find yourself in an impossible season of juggling too much and not knowing when rest will come again, keep going,” she said. “Keep pushing, surprise yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help. The end will come, and it will be so worth it!”

That was her message in a recent LinkedIn essay that caught the eye of one of Staley’s former professors, Associate Professor of nonprofit studies Mirae Kim, who vivid recalls Staley’s ambition to complete her degree, not to mention her dedication to her family.

“I could never forget her,” said Kim, who teaches in the Schar School’s Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise. “She was one of the most engaged students in my recent semesters at George Mason.”

When Staley enrolled in the master’s program in 2019, she was working full time as the director of programs at a small nonprofit in Washington, D.C. Two years later, still deep into her studies and with a 9-month-old, she landed a position with Auxilio Partners as a nonprofit business consultant.

“I lead a team to support 15 different nonprofits nationwide in finances, human resources, risk management, compliance, and board governance,” she said, adding that her firm does the backend work “so that the organizations can focus more on their mission.”

While Staley was an exceptionally devoted student, the Schar School’s graduate programs are attractive to early- and mid-career professionals for many reasons, including location, flexibility, and higher education specialists to rely on for support. In Staley’s case, online conferences with professors were key to her success.

Dana Staley, ‘Mom with a master’s’

In fact, “I had [online] office hours to get support on an assignment,” Staley said. “I sat at my kitchen table, got on Zoom with my professor, and had my 4-month-old, Kai, in a baby bouncer next to me. It’s an image that will never be erased from my mind: All of my responsibilities tied into one simple memory.”

The success is summed up in the slogan on her favorite mug: “Mom with a master’s.”

Kim, who recalls that Zoom session vividly, understands the need for assistance beyond the classroom, as do other Schar School professors.

“It is not simply the instruction they appreciate, but when they feel supported, students are empowered to engage more,” she said.

“I appreciated that I was able to participate in classes in the evening so that I could still work fulltime,” Staley said. “I also enjoyed that many of my classmates were also working, so there were a lot of real-life experiences shared in the classroom. The professors were excellent and balanced the task of challenging us as students while understanding we all had many other responsibilities we were juggling.”

Staley closes her LinkedIn essay with this:

“Being a mom, being a student, being a professional—those are all experiences that, in their own right, are difficult...But as I look back, I am proud of what I accomplished and am forever grateful for my husband, family, friends, coworkers, and professors who cheered me on through it all.

“By the way, that Nonprofit Financial Management class has become invaluable in my work today!”

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MPA, Not MLB: Adjunct Professor Craig Fifer’s First Pitch at the Nationals Game

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:32:49 +0000

MPA, Not MLB: Adjunct Professor Craig Fifer’s First Pitch at the Nationals Game Andrew J Schappert Wed, 08/02/2023 - 14:32

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Schar School graduate and adjunct professor Craig Fifer is flanked by National’s pitcher Joe La Sorsa and mascot Screech after delivering his ceremonial first-pitch. Photo by Alex Perry.

Fifer poses next to a sign indicating his approximate first-pitch speed. Maybe. Photo by Yael Krigman.

Craig Fifer has been a season ticket holder for Washington Nationals games for 19 consecutive years, since 2005 when the team relocated from Montreal. Remember Vinnie Castilla and Brad Wilkerson? Fifer does. He was in his seat in rickety RFK Stadium for those early seasons when those were the top players, before the advent of palatial-by-comparison Nationals Park and the emergence of MLB all-stars Bryce Harper and Juan Soto.

As a reward for his continued indulgence, the Nationals invited him to take part in the time-honored tradition of throwing the ceremonial first pitch of the game. The call came on the Thursday before a Tuesday game as he was headed out of town—not a lot of time to hone his splitter, but Fifer said yes.

Fifer is a 2008 graduate of the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Master of Public Administration Fellows program, a degree program designed for mid-career professionals employed by regional governments. At the time, Fifer was four years into a position with the City of Alexandria, beginning as a manager and working up to director of communications and public information.

In 2021, Fifer was loaned to Governor Ralph Northam’s administration to serve as director of intergovernmental affairs for the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. He is now special advisor to the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, an agency of some 1,600 employees overseeing 11,000 human service workers throughout the state.

“I think it certainly helped,” he said. “I sometimes think the purpose of a graduate degree is to demonstrate a commitment to a profession. Mid-career public servants with the drive to pursue MPAs are also likely to distinguish themselves at work in other ways that earn promotions, so it all fits together.”

After graduating from the fellows program, Fifer was repeatedly invited by faculty members to give guest lectures to MPA courses. That led to his appointment as an adjunct professor in 2019. He’s preparing now to teach his eighth semester in a class called Ethics for Public Administrators. “I love teaching and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back after a great experience as an MPA student,” he said.

Back to baseball: With limited time to get his curveball to groove, Fifer “read every article on the internet about how to throw out a ceremonial first pitch,” he said. He managed to practice a little with friends and by July 25, the day the Nats were to face down the Colorado Rockies, he was good to go. Sort of.

Nationals’ player Joe La Sorsa played the role of catcher, Screech the bald eagle mascot served as umpire, and Fifer took the field in front of the pitcher’s mound, which was still covered with a tarp from the 90-minute rain delay that preceded his pitch.

“I had been practicing a high arc [throw], because everybody tells you don’t pitch in a straight line or you’ll hit the dirt,” he said. “My goal was that the catcher did not move his feet.”

And?

“I blew it. I pitched very straight. It hit the dirt. But the catcher was super nice and made me seem like Babe Ruth. He signed the ball and was very gracious. It almost makes it worse that’s he’s actually a pitcher.”

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Reunion of MPA Fellows Celebrates 20 Years of Educating Public Leaders

Jessica Bates — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:21:18 +0000

Reunion of MPA Fellows Celebrates 20 Years of Educating Public Leaders Jessica Bates Thu, 06/22/2023 - 10:21

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Attendees of the Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows reunion. Professor James N. Burroughs is near the center in red tie.

A few minutes before guests arrived at the Cabrera Global Center at ��AV’s Fairfax Campus, Schar School of Policy and Government Associate Professor James N. Burroughs glanced down at the RSVP list for the evening. “Twenty years of memories are on this list,” he said wistfully.

The occasion was a reunion of graduates of the Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows program, a Master of Public Administration degree program led by Burroughs and designed for mid-career professionals employed by regional governments. Applicants are nominated and sponsored by their employing agency and vetted by a panel of public human resources managers before acceptance.

The goal of the degree is to prepare tomorrow’s local government leaders with specific skills for key roles in a wide range of agencies. Graduates include chiefs of police, budget directors, equity and inclusion officers, environment officials, mental health administrators, public safety and courts managers, and state legislators, among other positions. (Three recognizable names include District of Columbia Police Spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, Fauquier County Sheriff Jeremy Falls, and Virginia State Senator Jeremy S. McPike [D-Prince William].)

Class of 2024 cohort members pose with their professor: From left, Marwa Hajahmed, probation officer and mediator for Fairfax County’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court; Burroughs; Yousri Ben Slimane, code enforcement supervisor for Arlington County; and Jennifer Poppino, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue battalion chief.

Those graduates are doing well, not just for themselves but for the public they serve: A 2019 survey by news outlet 24/7 Wall Street calculated that five Northern Virginia jurisdictions led by cohort graduates were in the top 20 best places to live in the country.

More than 50 graduates attended the June 16 reunion, with members ranging from Cohort No. 2, from 2004, to Cohort No. 16 (Cohort No. 18 starts in late August). More than 300 have graduated from the program since its inception, in class sizes ranging from 15 to 25.

“What’s remarkable is the classmates end up as friends,” Burroughs said. “They become a support network for each other as they advance in their careers.”

“The friendships endure after graduation,” said Darcy Kipp Kim, director of outpatient services for HCA Healthcare and vice president for alumni engagement with the Mason Alumni Association. “This is much more than a community service commitment. It has been the best part of my professional life.”

Mallory Stribling graduated with Cohort No. 16 in May and recently began a new position as director of management and budget for Fauquier County. She was wrapping up her studies when she was interviewed for the position that serves a growing suburban and rural population of about 75,000. The MPA degree and the insights she was gaining from the classes were topics of conversation during the comprehensive interview process, she said.

Burroughs with Thea Pirnat (Class of 2019) and David Prinat (’16). David is a police officer with Fairfax County; Thea will be sworn in as chief of police for the Town of Leesburg in August.

“It was a huge part of my interview, talking about all the courses and the leadership skills that I gained,” she said. “And truly, it was the confidence I gained from the program over the last 3 years that, I think, prepared me to step into the role.”

And what was her favorite part of the MPA program?

“The cohort,” she said. “The relationships we formed. I’m very close with people from different jurisdictions,” even to the point of “pulling in one of my cohort classmates to help solve a recent county issue.”

During his remarks, Burroughs admitted to being genuinely touched by the reunion and the ongoing relationships among the classmates and himself.

And as it happens, Burroughs is a graduate of the program he leads. He graduated from Mason with an MPA degree in 1994.

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Soto-Harmon: Schar School Alumna Named Leader of National Conservation Nonprofit

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:59:15 +0000

Soto-Harmon: Schar School Alumna Named Leader of National Conservation Nonprofit Andrew J Schappert Tue, 06/06/2023 - 12:59

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Lidia Soto-Harmon: She hopes to connect fellow MPA grads ‘to the work we are doing to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.’

When Lidia Soto-Harmon graduated from ��AV in 1991 with her Master of Public Administration degree, she knew her education had “set the stage for me to become an effective leader,” she said.

She wasn’t kidding: Soto-Harmon’s resume spans decades as she’s served with public-facing organizations including the Fannie Mae Foundation, literacy nonprofit First Book, and the President’s Interagency Council on Women established by President Bill Clinton. In addition, she spent 18 years at the regional council for Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, including 12 years as the chapter’s CEO.

But most recently, the Schar School of Policy and Government alumna was named the next president and CEO of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a national conservation nonprofit founded in 1957 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that provides hands-on environmental conservation programs to more than 2,000 youth and young adults each year.

Speaking of her time at Mason, Soto-Harmon, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, said that her Schar School degree provided “a comprehensive understanding of the tools needed to thrive in the nonprofit space and make an impact.”

Her conviction to shape the future of nonprofit leadership is self-evident: She chairs the MPA Advisory Council at the Schar School and returned to Mason during the pandemic to teach a graduate-level nonprofit management seminar.

Now at the helm of one of the largest conservation nonprofits for youth in the country, she said she’s looking forward to connecting “MPA students at George Mason to the work we are doing to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.”

The admiration between alumna and alma mater is mutual.

“The Schar School's MPA program is very proud to call Lidia Soto-Harmon an alumna and wishes her well in her new position at the Student Conservation Association,” said Alan J. Abramson, director of the Schar School’s Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise. “The association is fortunate to have this smart, passionate, warm leader as its new executive.”

Soto-Harmon received the 2014 Wayne F. Anderson Award for Distinguished Public Service from Mason, an honor reserved for those dedicated to “embodying the spirit of public service.”

If you’re interested in what a Master of Public Administration degree could do for your career, click here.

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Irish MPA Student Grace Furlong Helps Mason Take First in Women’s Track & Field

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 09 May 2023 17:24:20 +0000

Irish MPA Student Grace Furlong Helps Mason Take First in Women’s Track & Field Andrew J Schappert Tue, 05/09/2023 - 13:24

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Grace Furlong and the Mason Women’s Track & Field team racked up another A-10 championship.

Congratulations to Schar School of Policy and Government Master of Public Administration student Grace Furlong for contributing to two No. 1 placements in ��AV’s A-10 Women’s Track & Field Outdoor Championship. The Patriot women finished first overall at the University of Massachusetts last weekend. This is the women’s fifth time winning the outdoor championship and the first since 2019.

As you may recall from our October profile (see it here), Furlong is not only a 3.89 GPA master’s student with volunteer positions at Washington-based foreign relations agencies, but she’s also Irish, a native of Waterford, making her one of the few grad students who is also a scholarship track champ.

Last weekend, Furlong was the long jump champion, with a leap of 6.02 meters, and her teammate Henrike Fielder won silver with a 5.96 meter jump. The Patriots swept the triple jump, led by Dhiambi Otete, whose 12.77 meter leap equaled a facility record. Furlong and teammate Kelsey Sebwe set personal bests, taking the silver and bronze at 12.67m and 12.49m.

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Mason Detective Advances Career with Dual Schar School Degrees

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:25:56 +0000

Mason Detective Advances Career with Dual Schar School Degrees Andrew J Schappert Fri, 04/21/2023 - 10:25

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Mason Detective Ryan Grant: Noting that the master of public administration program had an emergency management and homeland security element, ‘definitely piqued my interest. And then seeing the specific classes and professors within that degree track really answered a lot of questions for me.’ Photos by Ron Aira/Creative Services

In March 2024, ��AV detective Ryan Grant made national headlines when tripped safety cameras alerted police that a license tag associated with someone with an outstanding warrant was driving on campus. Grant, who is a double Schar School graduate, not only made the arrest but also completed the driver’s DoorDash delivery (to Mason students, who, the story says, were happy to see him). Here’s our profile of Grant from last year.

Until he was 12, Ryan Grant wanted to be a firefighter. “Then I came to my senses somewhere in high school,” he said. He eventually altered his course to another schoolboy ideal: Policeman.

The New Jersey native is now a detective on the ��AV police force, working to keep the campuses safe by investigating cases from theft to sexual assaults. What makes his job even better, the four-year veteran of the force said, is that Mason is his alma mater, having earned a bachelor of science from the Schar School of Policy and Government’s public administration program, with a minor in criminology, in 2019, and a master of public administration degree from the Schar School in 2022.

After completing his BS degree he enrolled in the police academy, graduating in 2019 and began as a campus patrol officer—including bicycle patrol and the infamous midnight shift—in 2020. As a sworn officer scouring the campuses—he’s served at each Mason campus except Korea—Grant said he developed relationships that are now paying off in his role as a detective.

“People feel more comfortable engaging with us in a casual setting,” he said, “but also they feel more comfortable reporting crimes to us or seeing us out as a resource for them.”

Grant was inspired to pursue law enforcement by an uncle who was a police chief. He came to Mason, he said, on the advice of a cousin who earned their master of business administration degree from Mason and, not insignificantly, “out-of-state tuition was comparable to in-state at Rutgers.”

He found that internship opportunities to explore government and law enforcement abounded at Mason, thanks to its location and relationships with regional emergency management agencies. Those internships led to an important moment of self-discovery: “That kind of showed me that I’m not able to sit at a desk for long periods of time,” he said with a knowing grin. “I kind of need to be out engaging with people and doing things.”

That impulse led him to the Mason police force. “And the biggest part of being a university employee was the tuition benefit,” he said. “So I started my graduate program, literally, as soon as I could.” His entire expense for his MPA degree was “one summer course I paid out of pocket.”

It also was important that the Schar School program’s classes were flexible, making it possible to continue working fulltime while earning his degree.

Advancement in law enforcement does not always require advanced degrees but Grant said once he realized the MPA program had an emergency management and homeland security element, “that definitely piqued my interest. And then seeing the specific classes and professors within that degree track really answered a lot of questions for me.”

“Ryan stood out as an intellectually curious and dedicated student,” said one of his MPA instructors, Associate Professor John Marvel. “From the beginning of his coursework, his aim was to apply what he learned to a career in law enforcement. In particular, he wrote an excellent research paper for my organizational theory course on the things law enforcement agencies can do to recruit and retain high-performing personnel.”

Grant’s research skills were augmented by other Schar School courses, including one he took with Professor Katrin B. Anacker, who instructed his policy and program evaluation course.

“The data research was not super interesting to me,” he admitted, mentioning learning how to master advanced analytic tools such as SPSS statistics software. “But she found a way to show how it could apply to what I’m doing at work and where my general research interests were. Her class definitely opened my eyes to how research could be more applicable to what I was doing.”

For her part, Anacker sees a bright future for the detective.

“I was impressed with his public speaking skills, which are important when pursuing a leadership role,” she said. “He brought energy and enthusiasm to each class, which speaks to his determination to succeed in his chosen profession.”

Ryan Grant: A professor’s course ‘definitely opened my eyes to how research could be more applicable to what I was doing’ in law enforcement.

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Cabinet Posts: Two Schar School Grads Picked to Lead Maryland Environment, Natural Resources Agencies

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 20:11:07 +0000

Cabinet Posts: Two Schar School Grads Picked to Lead Maryland Environment, Natural Resources Agencies Andrew J Schappert Tue, 03/07/2023 - 15:11

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Environment Secretary Serena Coleman McIlwain

Maryland’s new governor has chosen two Schar School of Policy and Government graduates to serve in his cabinet. Governor Wes Moore (D) has named ��AV graduates Serena McIlwain (nee Coleman) as Secretary of Environment and Josh Kurtz as Secretary of Natural Resources. Both have been confirmed by the Maryland senate.

“With each announcement, we continue to build a cabinet that reflects the state we are humbled to serve,” said Moore in a statement about his cabinet appointments. “These leaders bring with them great knowledge and deep expertise. This is going to be Maryland’s decade, and our team will lead with service in their hearts.”

The agencies to be led by the Mason graduates work closely together to maintain and improve Maryland’s air, land, and water.

As Secretary of Natural Resources, Kurtz, a 2012 graduate of the Master of Public Policy program, takes the helm of the agency with 1,352 employees and a $578 million budget. Previously, Kurtz was Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and government relations director of the Nature Conservancy.

“Regardless of the issue at hand, one challenge we will continually face is solving complex problems with diverse stakeholders who share different views and ultimate interests,” Kurtz said in an email. “I believe, however, that we can all agree with the department’s mission: Securing a sustainable future for our environment, society, and economy by preserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing Maryland's natural resources.”

The Schar School MPP degree, he said, helped prepare him for the new leadership position. (At the time of both Kurtz’s and McIlwain’s degree programs, the school was called the School of Public Policy.)

“My time at [Mason] equipped me with some of the tools I think I will need to be successful in bringing people together toward our goals,” he said. “As an example, at [Mason] there was a strong focus on the upfront work of learning about the intricacies of the issues and blending the data and the human component.

Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz

“This was best illustrated to me while working on a group project focused on building policy and programmatic solutions to reducing traumatic brain injuries in our service members. We developed a project that was based on medical research, statistics, and anecdotal evidence about the impacts of specific injuries. We presented our draft to our professor and he asked us: How does this impact the families of those dealing with the injuries? How about their communities?

“It really crystallized for me the need to evaluate the issue within the broader context, while finding solutions for the people who are immediately impacted.”

McIlwain, a 2003 graduate of the Master of Public Administration program, will take charge of the agency that implements and enforces environmental protection laws and programs.

Before joining Moore’s administration, McIlwain served as Undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency in Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) administration beginning in 2019. She supervised the agency’s day-to-day operations and managed a budget of $22 million, providing leadership and support to all of the boards, departments, and offices under CalEPA and CalEPA’s total budget of $4.6 billion.

“[Gov. Moore] is a person who considers Maryland home, and I can just feel his love for this state and mine, too,” McIlwain told the Washington Post. “And it just really made me want to be back here to do all of the things that I was doing in California.”

She said she read through the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act, and “I couldn’t believe that some of those goals in that act were more aggressive than California. And I thought, ‘Wow, I need to be there to see if we could make that happen.’”

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What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:11:03 +0000

What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer Andrew J Schappert Thu, 10/27/2022 - 11:11

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Andrew Strasberg. ‘His work has the potential to become integrated into a broader body of literature,’ said mentor Jennifer N. Victor.

For Andrew Strasberg, the game of soccer has always been a focal point of his life. When the Schar School senior was tasked with completing a research project for a graduate level research class, his topic of choice was a rather easy decision.

Strasberg, a bachelor of science in public administration major, combined his love of soccer with his interest in politics in a unique way. His project, “Hooligans or Honchos? Developing a Political Theory of European Ultra-ism,” explores the sociopolitical phenomenon of ultras, a type of sports fan renowned for ultra-fanatical support. Strasberg explores the existing research on ultras and proposes new methods of analysis to develop “a causal explanation of ultra-ism and its associated violence in Europe,” he said.

Strasberg’s project came into fruition with the help of Schar School Associate Professors Eric McGlinchey and Jennifer N. Victor. Strasberg created his proposal in fall 2021 while taking GOVT 500, a graduate scientific method and research design class taught by McGlinchey, who offered valuable mentorship. (��AV allows undergraduates to take 500- and 600-level courses with an instructor’s permission. “I was just interested in the class,” Strasberg said.)

While working for Victor in the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP), she encouraged him to submit his proposal to the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) for consideration and served as his mentor throughout the latter half of the year.

Victor says that Strasberg’s timely work is important, now and in the future.

“The study of political violence and the ways in which humans get attracted to groups that become violent is a very important topic,” she said. “His work has the potential to become integrated into a broader body of literature that helps us understand the conditions under which people turn to violence to achieve political goals.”

After his project was accepted, Strasberg joined Victor and other Schar School faculty in Chicago at the MPSA conference in April 2022. He presented his research during an undergraduate poster session and met other like-minded students also exhibiting important work.

Victor says it is rare for undergraduates to present at political science conferences such as the MPSA meeting. Strasberg said the experience allowed him to meet informed academics who offered invaluable feedback on his work.

He advises prospective or current Schar School students interested in research opportunities to pursue them.

“Do it!” he said. “Look for projects that allow you to push the boundaries of what you know and can do already. A lot of people don’t realize how willing and able professors are to help, and will go out of their way to see you succeed.”

Strasberg is now including his successful proposal in his personal statement for PhD applications. He said his class with McGlinchey and the entire URAP program provided “professionalizing resources” and gave him confidence in future endeavors.

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International Grad Student? Check.? Promoting Cultural International Relations? Check. Stellar Track Athlete? Check! Wait. What?

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:56:58 +0000

International Grad Student? Check.? Promoting Cultural International Relations? Check. Stellar Track Athlete? Check! Wait. What? Andrew J Schappert Thu, 10/13/2022 - 15:56

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Grace Furlong: ‘The schooling here at George Mason makes it really accessible…’

Mason triple jump champion Grace Furlong is the rare international graduate student-athlete.

Grace Furlong has wasted no time since arriving to ��AV from Ireland to make important connections that contribute to her studies and her future career.

The Schar School Master of Public Administration student has been a support volunteer to the U.S.-Ireland Alliance, the Washington, D.C.- and Dublin-based nonprofit that develops strategic relationships between the two nations. On the heels of that, after “probably being very annoying to a lot of different people,” as she playfully put it, she plans to work further, where possible, in the field of diplomatic relations and connect with agencies that promote cultural ties between Ireland and the United States.

As if working toward these goals was not enough—in addition to throwing herself into her MPA studies—Furlong is also a scholar-athlete, which is what brought her to Mason in the first place. Furlong competes in the triple jump for the Mason NCAA women’s track and field team, training six days a week during the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

International graduate student-athletes are rare, said Anthony Mihalich, assistant coach of Mason’s Track and Field and Cross Country Programs. “We have a few, but it’s not very many,” he said. (She may be the only Schar School student that matches that description.)

It was Mihalich who discovered Furlong and recruited her to come to Mason. “I keep an eye on who’s doing what overseas,” he said. “I’m familiar with the Irish athletics system and look to see what people have done, who might help us, and who is interested in coming to the U.S. Grace was right in the middle of that Venn Diagram of fabulous athletes.”

Furlong, a native of Waterford, was named to the 11-member A-10 All-Academic team in March on the strength of her 3.89 GPA and her gold medal in the indoor conference championship (with a jump of 12.44 meters), and in May, one of three Mason athletes on the team to do so.

Furlong came to the U.S. after completing her undergraduate degree at the University College Cork and a master of science degree in public policy at Dublin City University. Mason, she says, compares well to the schools at home, but the athletics program is outstanding, she said.

“Mason is massive and amazing but the way they fund sports, the way they support athletes here—you just don’t get that in Europe. It’s phenomenal,” she said. “I used to have to pay to use my track back home, but not here, and the track here is amazing. They really take care of you.”

How does she manage to budget her time, given her studies, her volunteer positions, and her stellar athletic career?

“Sometimes I don’t,” she said with a laugh. “The schooling here at George Mason makes it really accessible—especially as an international student—because coming to understand the whole American system when you’ve not been brought up on it is overwhelming.

“But the lectures have been great, the coursework is very accessible, very understandable…Mason just complimented everything I was interested in—the coaches, the closeness to Washington, D.C., and to go into a master’s program and study something I was really passionate about.”

As for volunteering her time, “I just do what I can fit in,” she said, adding that what she is learning is vital to a future career “in the nonprofit sector, lobbying, creating policy, things like that. I’m really open.”

When asked for athletic career highlights, Furlong hesitates and drops her voice. “I was so lucky,” she said modestly. “From about age 16, I won every national title from that year on in Ireland.”

All of Ireland?

“All of Ireland,” she quietly confirmed.

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Reunion of MPA Fellows Celebrates 20 Years of Educating Public Leaders

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Soto-Harmon: Schar School Alumna Named Leader of National Conservation Nonprofit

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Irish MPA Student Grace Furlong Helps Mason Take First in Women’s Track & Field

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Mason Detective Advances Career with Dual Schar School Degrees

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Cabinet Posts: Two Schar School Grads Picked to Lead Maryland Environment, Natural Resources Agencies

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What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer

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International Grad Student? Check.? Promoting Cultural International Relations? Check. Stellar Track Athlete? Check! Wait. What?

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