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Podcast — EP 63: The economic perceptions driving U.S. politics
December 11, 2024
Podcast — EP 62: What are the chances of intelligent life beyond Earth?
November 18, 2024
Podcast - EP 61: Can dirty coffee grounds be the key to clean water?
October 21, 2024
Podcast Ep 60 - Marking a decade of success at Mason Korea
August 6, 2024
Podcast Ep 59 - Cybersecurity and the global threats of tomorrow
July 5, 2024

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Jeremy Mayer

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Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0000

Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election Andrew J Schappert Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:33

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David M. Hart

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Anthony Amos: ‘A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college.‘ Photo by Ayman Rashid/Creative Services

It did not take long after graduating ��AV with a 2024 master of public policy (MPP) degree for Anthony Amos to fulfill a longtime dream: win an election that gives him the opportunity to help those around him.

In November, Amos won a seat on the Fairfax City Council after a well-crafted, heart-felt campaign that he said was partially inspired by what he learned at George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government’s MPP program.

Amos joins six other councilmembers on a board led by fellow Schar School graduate, Mayor Catherine Read, who earned her BA in government and politics from George Mason in 1984. As it happens, the university’s Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City.

Serving the public, especially as an elected official, “has always been a dream of mine,” said Amos.

He ran as an Independent, eschewing the traditional opportunities afforded by aligning with a political party.

“I wanted to keep things focused on local issues,” he said of that decision. “We were seeing a lot more of the federal talking points and policies trickling down to the local level where a city council doesn't really decide on those issues, ever.”

Anthony Amos, left, receives his Jack Wood Town and Gown Award from George Mason President Gregory Washington. Photo by Creative Services.

In fact, he said, “You have people who try to manipulate the system and use [controversial] federal issues to control local government. Local government is where you’re supposed to be most connected with the community. If you lose that, that's just bad.”

Amos credits his time at George Mason, whose Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii West Oahu with helping him form and express his political ambitions.

“Anthony was a highly motivated, high-energy participant in my course,” said Professor of Public Policy David Hart, who taught Amos’s U.S. Institutions and Policy Process course. “He asked great questions and engaged thoughtfully with his colleagues as well as me.”

“A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college, such as public financing for different construction projects,” he said. “Land use items, data centers in the energy grid, smart-use items for public transit, things like that … What I appreciate about George Mason is that the professors didn't skip over the local aspects of government.”

Amos works as a legislative aid for longtime Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the sole Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It’s a position that offers opportunities to see policy in action.

Last spring as he was preparing to graduate, Amos won the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations from the university’s Office of Government and Community Relations. The award for the student category recognizes the winner’s leadership in fostering relationships between the university and the community.

Now that he has graduated, Amos continues his relationship with his alma mater in several ways. He contributes to a program benefiting the ARTS By George! scholarships in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and he remains a member in good standing in the Bridge at Mason club which works to foster civic dialogue on campus. He added that he is continuously working on ways to unite George Mason with the city he now represents.

City council seats sometimes lead to larger roles for elected officials. Does Amos have higher ambitions now that his first election is in the books?

“I want to do a good job first and make sure that I'm built for this,” he said. “I managed to survive the campaign but let me let me get in there and not screw up too terribly, and then we’ll see.”

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Master of Public Policy

Alumni

New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:04:10 +0000

New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/10/2024 - 14:04

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Jesse Kirkpatrick

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Jesse Kirkpatrick: ‘The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.’ Photo provided.

While the debates continue over artificial intelligence’s possible impacts on privacy, economics, education, and job displacement, perhaps the largest question regards the ethics of AI. Bias, accountability, transparency, and governance of the powerful technology are aspects that have yet to be fully answered.

A new cross-disciplinary course at ��AV is designed to prepare students to tackle the ethical, societal, and governance challenges presented by AI. The course, AI: Ethics, Policy, and Society, will draw expertise from the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).

The master’s degree-level course begins in spring 2025 and will be taught by Jesse Kirkpatrick, a research associate professor in the CEC, the Department of Philosophy, and codirector of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center.

The course is important now, said Kirkpatrick, because “artificial intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping societal norms, and challenging long-standing ethical frameworks. This course provides critical insights into the ethical, societal, and policy implications of AI at a time when these technologies are increasingly deployed in areas like healthcare, criminal justice, and national defense.”

Debates about bias in AI systems, the governance of autonomous decision-making, and the risks of misinformation “underscore the urgency of equipping students and professionals with the tools to address the opportunities and challenges responsibly,” he added.

This course is designed for students and professionals from diverse fields, including policy, computer science, engineering, law, philosophy, and business.

“Occupations such as AI developers, policymakers, ethicists, legal advisors, and technology strategists will benefit greatly,” Kirkpatrick said. “The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.”

The course is open to George Mason students and is a core component of the university’s new graduate certificate in Responsible AI, making it an essential step for those pursuing advanced study or leadership roles in ethical AI design and governance.

In addition to critical readings and written assignments, the course incorporates hands-on components such as workshops, interactive discussions, and practical tools includes algorithmic audits, ethical toolkits, and risk management frameworks.

“Students will also engage in scenario-building exercises and present collaborative projects that apply ethical AI principles to real-world challenges,” Kirkpatrick said. “The course also features distinguished guest speakers from academia, industry, and government, providing students with diverse perspectives on AI.”

As the codirector of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, Kirkpatrick is engaged in “Responsible AI” initiatives.

“I bring a unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience,” he said. “My work spans creating ethical AI frameworks, consulting on AI policy, and teaching at the intersection of ethics, technology, and public policy.

“This course reflects my commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and tools to address the profound ethical challenges and opportunities posed by AI technologies in society.”

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Mason Square

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Schar School BA in Government and International Politics

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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

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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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Patriot Pre-Law Program

Schar School Student Spotlight

Alumni

Funda Çakmak: Mother, Entrepreneur, and Schar School Junior

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:34:42 +0000

Funda Çakmak: Mother, Entrepreneur, and Schar School Junior Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/03/2024 - 12:34

Embracing a new chapter: Funda Çakmak displays her certificate at her citizenship ceremony in August. Photos provided.

Funda Çakmak’s journey is anything but ordinary. A transfer student from Northern Virginia Community College, she’s now navigating her first semester as a junior at ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government, majoring in international security and law, an innovative undergraduate degree program that’s one of the first of its kind in the nation.

Funda Çakmak

Born and raised in Germany to Turkish parents and transplanted to the United States in 2011, Çakmak is a newly minted American citizen, having been naturalized in August. And on November 5, at her first opportunity, she found profound satisfaction in casting her first vote in a U.S. election, at an elementary school near her home in Haymarket, Virginia. Her milestone vote drew the attention of an ABC news program curious about first-time voters. (You can see her interview on this page.)

Çakmak once envisioned herself wearing a badge or a uniform, working in law enforcement or the military. At 20, however, she took a detour—a one-year au pair position for a family in Virginia.

“I wanted to travel and improve my English, and my goal was to spend a year on the East Coast and a year on the West Coast and then visit other countries, like Australia. But I came here and then ended up staying,” she said with a laugh. “Which was not the plan.”

Çakmak met former Virginia governor and Distinguished Visiting Professor Terry McAuliffe at a Schar School event in November.

Divorced since February 2023, the single mother of three—twin 11-year-old boys and a 9-year-old daughter—Çakmak stays busy with her family and her studies while also managing a limited liability corporation.

In 2021, she ventured into entrepreneurship, founding FC International GMBH, a Germany-based company specializing in fiber optic cable infrastructure.

But what she really wants to do, she said, is use her Schar School degree to work for the government in some capacity, ideally for a national security or diplomatic agency that would offer opportunities for travel once her children are grown.

As she works toward her goals, she imagines a day when she’s not just traveling the world but leaving a mark on it, a legacy her children can be proud of.

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Terry McAuliffe

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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.”

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Mahmut Cengiz

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Research Looks to See How Hidden Costs of Social Security Claiming Takes Toll on Widows

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:52:08 +0000

Research Looks to See How Hidden Costs of Social Security Claiming Takes Toll on Widows Andrew J Schappert Wed, 11/13/2024 - 10:52

The timing of filing for Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions senior Americans must make. But few think about the implications filing early or late in life has on widowed spouses, a segment of society that represents nearly 12 million women, according U.S. Census data.

Sita Slavov: ‘I would hope that this study can help inform families, financial advisors, and policymakers about this important aspect of retirement security.’ Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Some two million of those widows live below the poverty line.

In a new and detailed study of the topic, Sita Nataraj Slavov, a professor of public policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV, is diving into a critical issue facing America’s aging population: How Social Security claiming decisions affect the financial security of widows.

It’s important to know that the later in life an individual files for Social Security—between 62 and 70—the larger the monthly benefit. Prior research, she said, has shown that many, if not most, people can increase the lifetime value of their benefits by delaying claiming.

Her new research focuses on the choices made by primary earners as to when to claim Social Security benefits and how these decisions shape the financial landscape for their surviving spouses in later life. A key component of her analysis is to assess how the timing of a deceased spouse's Social Security claim influences these financial outcomes after widowhood.

“If the primary earner passes away first, the secondary earner receives a survivor benefit that’s equal to the primary earner’s benefit, including the gains from delay,” she said. “In other words, by delaying, primary earners can pass on a higher survivor benefit to their widowed spouses. So, the original claiming age of the primary earner in a marriage has major implications for the well-being of the secondary earner, if the secondary earner is widowed.”

Using advanced econometric techniques, Slavov is employing difference-in-differences and event study models to trace the shifts in income, labor participation, wealth, and poverty risk that widowed secondary earners experience. She plans to examine how these shifts may be larger or smaller depending on the deceased spouse’s claiming age.

“Social Security is the largest source of retirement income for most Americans,” she said. “Among those aged 65 and over, widowed women have a higher poverty rate than others. The poverty rate in this group is around 16 percent, compared to around 10 percent for all individuals 65 and older.”

Many of these widows, she said, “are secondary earners who are receiving survivor benefits. I would hope that this study can help inform families, financial advisors, and policymakers about this important aspect of retirement security.”

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Sita Nataraj Slavov

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Panelists Dive Into Details During a ‘Presidential Election Debrief’ at Mason Square

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:24:03 +0000

Panelists Dive Into Details During a ‘Presidential Election Debrief’ at Mason Square Andrew J Schappert Tue, 11/12/2024 - 15:24

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University Life Arlington Director Melissa Thierry introduces the panel: From left, David Ramadan, Jennifer N. Victor, Terry McAuliffe, and Mark J. Rozell. Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Nearly 120 audience members—more than 30 of them students from the Schar School of Policy and Government’s undergraduate Democracy Lab Learning Community—filled the seats and dined on pizza at ��AV’s Mason Square Monday evening to hear a panel of Schar School political pundits break down the results of the November 5 elections.

Distinguished Visiting Professor Terry McAuliffe: ‘Twelve of the last 14 [presidential] elections have been change elections.’

The Pizza & Perspectives: 2024 Presidential Election Debrief did not disappoint in providing the promised insights as to how and why national and regional elections transpired the way they did. The 90-minute event can be seen at the Schar School’s YouTube channel.

Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell, the moderator for the discussion, kicked off the event by asking Schar School associate professor Jennifer N. Victor what was different about this election cycle that set it apart from others and could it have lasting impact.

After explaining about political realignments and shifting of consensuses, “this was an anti-incumbent sentiment wave election and that explains how we got here,” Victor said.

Distinguished Visiting Professor and former governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe added that “Twelve of the last 14 [presidential] elections have been change elections. People want to change the person who is in power. Forty percent of the people who voted said their number one issue was the economy and Donald Trump won that by 21 points.

“Twenty percent of those who voted said immigration was the number one issue, and Trump won that by 71 percent…Going into this election was going to be a hard thing for Vice President Harris: 70 percent of Americans thought the country is headed in the wrong direction. Kamala Harris was the partner of Joe Biden. She had a very tough hand to deal with.”

David Ramadan, foreground, and the panelists listen to a question from the audience.

Before taking questions from the audience, Rozell reminded the panel that politics never takes a year off in Virginia and that in 2025 the state will elect a new governor.

“The Democrats will have the advantage next year to win the governor’s mansion in Virginia,” said professor of practice and former state delegate David Ramadan, pointing out that traditionally—with the exception of McAuliffe, who broke the convention—the new governor is aligned with the sitting president’s opposing party.

“But it’s not just that,” he added. “They have the advantage on the ground. They have already chosen their nominee in current Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. The Republicans haven’t made up their mind…Of course, the crazier things that come out of Washington will make it more and more appealing for Democrats to win the gubernatorial election next year.”

Among the lines that received audience applause, McAuliffe announced that during the event he had just received a text message announcing his daughter-in-law—finally, after 10 hours of labor—had given birth to his first grandchild, a boy. (See the announcement at the 32-minute mark on YouTube.)

Also receiving applause was Virginia Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39), the longest-serving woman in the House (she took office in 1996) and current chairman of the finance committee. Watts said she attended to hear the questions from the audience, including those from students, as the questions would reveal additional insights to how the commonwealth’s electorate is responding to the election.

The event was sponsored by George Mason’s University Life and hosted by University Life Mason Square. See this page for information about future Mason Square events in Arlington, Virginia.

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University Life

Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship

Campus News

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:49:58 +0000

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress Andrew J Schappert Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:49

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Since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy (MPP) students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program will complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Captain Naquan Staton is among the 2024 cohort.

Captain Naquan Staton has a very simple reason for applying to the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program. As a financial management officer, the Charlottesville native sees firsthand how the congressional legislative process directly affects military strategic planning for resource allocation. In short, he wants to be able to do his job more strategically and successfully.

“As Congress passes authorizing and spending bills, I—at the receiving end—have to continually forecast how such activities will impact military operations and requirements,” he said. “When I learned that the Marine Corps had a program that allowed its members to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process, I was eager to apply.”

Captain Naquan Staton: ‘It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.’ Photos provided.

After more than 17 years in the Marine Corps, Staton is back at college for the third time. He earned a BS in business administration from Regent University in 2017 and an MBA from Baylor University in 2021. Now he’s at George Mason’s Schar School studying for a master of public policy degree. He said he appreciates the school’s support to the Marines cohort.

“Beginning with the application process until now, my second semester, the admissions staff, the advisors, the professors, and even the school's dean have provided us with strong academic support, preparing us for our time on Capitol Hill next year,” he said. “It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.”

The MPP program has so far delivered what Staton was hoping for when he applied. In particular, the course taught by Adjunct Professor Andrew Pavord called National Budgeting Process fit right in his professional wheelhouse.

“He is an oracle for all things budget,” Staton said. “He did more than teach the students about the federal budgeting process—he went deep into its history, explaining cause and effect from yesterday to today.”

Pavord is an example of the accomplished practitioners who make up much of the adjunct and affiliated Schar School faculty. In addition to teaching at George Mason, Pavord, a former executive at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is CEO at Federal Consulting Alliance, a Virginia-based, veteran-owned consultancy. He and others on the faculty bring their experience into the Schar School classrooms and provide an extra dimension of learning.

Naquan Staton was promoted in 2022 to captain in a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depo in San Diego.

Knowing more about how public policy is developed and deployed is important to Staton who said the appropriations process is the segment of public policy that interests him the most.

“Most policy problems that Congress attempts to solve are solved with money and by appropriation,” he said. “Policy initiatives often come with a price tag, which demands congressional consensus before arriving at the president's desk. So many policy proposals and great ideas flow through Congress. Still, the appropriations pie is only so large, and it's fascinating to see which ideas actually take flight.”

Next year, as he serves on Capitol Hill, Staton will be able to see how the fabled “sausage is made” by legislators and their staffs, and by the end of his Hill tour, he hopes to be well-versed in the congressional culture and understand the key areas of policy, politics, and process.

“It's one thing to have a fundamental understanding of how a bill becomes a law, but until you have been in the kitchen, it's difficult to truly appreciate how the ingredients come together,” he said.

With a regime change in Washington arriving in January, things could be less than normal in official Washington for the Marine Corps fellows, but Staton isn’t concerned.

“I believe every Marine's best attribute is composure under chaos,” he said. “We are taught to be flexible, fast, and to constantly consider all risks to the mission. Being somewhat aware of how high-tempo the halls of Congress are, I'm confident any Marine Fellows will thrive.”

More than 4,700 of George Mason’s more than 40,000 students are military or veteran-connected. The university is designated a Military Friendly ^TM institution and has been rated as a top college for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. In fall 2024, the university’s incoming freshman transfer cohort was 20 percent military connected, and the incoming graduate cohort was 19 percent military connected. See this webpage to learn about the Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative at George Mason.

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Master of Public Policy