Schar News December 2020

Survey: Do Young Americans Learn ‘Socialism,’ ‘Capitalism’ Early Enough to Understand Differences?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 04:54:59 +0000

Survey: Do Young Americans Learn ‘Socialism,’ ‘Capitalism’ Early Enough to Understand Differences? Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 01/10/2021 - 23:54

Originally published on December 17, 2020

With political campaigns across the country accusing opponents of promoting “socialist” agendas, a professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government wanted to find out if young voters knew the features behind the term.

“We wanted to better understand what millennials are thinking as they become engaged in politics and public policy,” said David K. Rehr. “When do they learn the differences between capitalism and socialism? At what point in their lives do they understand the economic and political system they live in?”

A new survey conducted by the Schar School’s Center for Business Civic Engagement shows that the majority of millennials—some 40 percent of those surveyed—first learn about socialism and capitalism in high school. A majority of those surveyed said they were unaware of the negative impact of the political and economic system in Socialist countries.

“In other words, one out of five millennials don’t understand the market system and they lack real-world examples of democratic socialism,” said Rehr, who conducted the survey. “That surprises me because we live in a free market system.”

Respondents indicated they believe capitalism was a better economic system for promoting entrepreneurship, economic growth, and job creation. They believe socialism is more beneficial for social justice, equal opportunity, and economic fairness.

A total of 504 randomly selected respondents in the U.S. born between 1981 and 1996, demographically balanced to reflect the millennial population overall, participated in the survey called Millennial Views of Economic Systems. The study was funded by the Institute for Humane Studies at ��AV.

Schar School Fact: Research is fundamental: The current lifetime value of active grants at the Schar School is $25 million.

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Schar News December 2020

Haider Semaisim: Tracking Terrorists at the Schar School Is ‘Fighting Through the Keyboard’

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 04:52:40 +0000

Haider Semaisim: Tracking Terrorists at the Schar School Is ‘Fighting Through the Keyboard’ Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 01/10/2021 - 23:52

Haider Semaisim: ‘This project is giving me retribution in a way…’ Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Originally published on December 16, 2020

When Haider Semaisim works on the federally mandated database of global incidents of terrorism with ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government, he does so with pride. It is not only an educational and professional endeavor, he said. “It’s personal.”

“Iraq is one of the countries that suffered a lot from terrorism,” said Semaisim, an Iraqi-American. “[My friend, Zaid] was killed in 2011 by ISIS.”

Zaid, who Semaisim said was working as a first lieutenant for the Iraqi Army, responded to an order to liberate hostages in a home. Tragically, the house was booby-trapped and exploded, he said.

“It was very devastating,” said Semaisim, who earned his master of laws from Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School in 2017. “This project is giving me retribution in a way, that I am fighting terrorism through the keyboard.”

As Semaisim analyzes terrorist incidents for the Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center, housed at the Schar School’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), he helps trace terrorist trends and strategies.

“When we look at a terrorist organization holistically over one or two years, we notice something that a real-time follower would not notice,” Semaisim said.

That’s one reason the database provides critical insight for policy makers, he said.

Semaisim said he primarily analyzes incidents from Iraq, and his fluency in Arabic and understanding of Iraqi culture and politics allow him to bring a unique expertise to the project.

He describes the project as “the good fight,” but he is also passionate about making a difference in other areas.

Before coming to the United States in 2014, Semaisim said he was a lawyer in Iraq doing criminal and divorce law.

“I was not very optimistic about the future of Iraq, and the United States is a beacon of freedom,” said Semaisim, who became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

Some of Semaisim’s friends were not as fortunate, he said. Learning about their challenges in gaining legal status inspired him to switch his interests to immigration law.

“There’s a lot of people who deserve to be here, who would contribute a lot, who seek to have a better life to care for their children and want to be here,” Semaisim said. “With just the right type of help, they can live their lives normally.”

Thanks to his Mason education, Semaisim believes he will be on his way to helping after he passes the bar exam.

“George Mason is an amazing university,” Semaisim said, adding that the law school professors, such as his favorite, Michael Davis, are respected lawyers who not only teach from textbooks, but from real-life experience.

Even when Semaisim would disagree with peers or professors, he said his Mason education instilled in him “respect of the argument and how to accept differences.”

“Haider is a hard worker, eager to learn, willing to give back, and fully appreciative of the education he received,” Davis said. “There are some students I think will do well in the future, and then there are those students like Haider, who I am sure they will do well. He was an asset to our law school and a model for other LLM students.”

Schar School Fact: More than $450,000 is available for scholarships in 2021 in the Schar School’s top-ranked International Security program.

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Student Spotlight: Elina Jioeva’s Journey from Conflict Zone to the Schar School

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:35:11 +0000

Student Spotlight: Elina Jioeva’s Journey from Conflict Zone to the Schar School Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:35

In This Story

Ellen Laipson

Elina Jioeva: ‘I always wanted to have this U.S. perspective about international relations and about Eastern Europe-and-Russia relations…’

Originally published on December 2, 2020“

When you experience it yourself, when you’re sitting at home with the lights off out of fear of being killed—well, it really affected me,” said Elina Jioeva, recounting her experience as a young adult when the Russian Federation invaded Georgia, her native country, in 2008.

“If you don’t experience it for yourself you can’t understand completely what it means,” she said. “You did not do anything and you’re just sitting in your home—and another country just decided to change your reality. And you just can’t do anything about that.”

But Jioeva did not intend to keep that feeling of helplessness going forward.

Now, 12 years later, Jioeva is pursuing a degree in the Master’s in International Security program at the Schar School of Policy and Government. Jioeva already had an interesting perspective, having been raised in the former Soviet Union, in a country with strategic importance located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and neighboring Russia. However, the American perspective, she said, was something she sought.

“I always wanted to have this U.S. perspective about international relations and about Eastern Europe-and-Russia relations, and all the security issues that are going on now,” she said. “I really enjoy some of the classes, like International Security with Ellen Laipson, because we analyze different cases of U.S. decisions, such as with Cuba. It just gives me a different perspective, and how the U.S. came to this point in history—through what kinds of challenges and decisions.” Laipson, it should be noted is the former vice chair of the National Intelligence Council.

Jioeva’s Georgia neighborhood after the 2008 invasion by the Russian Federation.

Jioeva’s path to the Schar School is unlike most students. After completing her undergraduate program in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, she began working for Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, planning training programs at the Diplomatic Training Center, and working alongside international partners such as German Marshall Fund for International Security. Jioeva then studied at the Estonian School of Diplomacy, before moving to the United States in January, 2019.

Jioeva currently works remotely as an analyst for the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, located in Helsinki, tracking human rights abuses throughout the former Soviet Union. She said she would like to use her master’s degree education to branch out and work on strategic and security policy. Some possible career opportunities of interest are at the National Endowment for Democracy, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Woodrow Wilson Center, and the Eurasia Foundation.

“I have always had it in my mind,” she said, “that whatever I do, even if I’m abroad, I will help Georgia, and the world, somehow.”

Schar School fact: The Schar School of Policy and Government, located in Arlington, Va., is just minutes from Washington D.C., and provides access to facets of American diplomacy and defense to students from all over the world. The school is ranked No. 2 in the world for security studies programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2019).

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Schar News December 2020

Sample Class: ‘Examining the Middle East & North Africa—the Good, Bad, & Ugly’

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:31:55 +0000

Sample Class: ‘Examining the Middle East & North Africa—the Good, Bad, & Ugly’ Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:31

In This Story

Heba F. El-Shazli

Originally published on December 2, 2020

Schar School of Policy and Government Assistant Professor Heba F. El-Shazli has personally witnessed many landmark events in her native Middle East, as well as in Europe. The winner of the school’s 2016 Outstanding Teacher Award, El-Shazli takes students on a journey through time—from ancient history to the future—in her Middle East and North Africa (MENA) class.

El-Shazli recently presented a 90-minute sample class that examines all aspects of the politics, culture, and history of these historically important regions.

Schar School fact: Did you know U.S. News & World Report ranked the school No. 2 in the world for security studies in 2019.

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What Were We Thinking? Selected Schar School Op-Eds (November 2020)

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:30:18 +0000

What Were We Thinking? Selected Schar School Op-Eds (November 2020) Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:30

Originally published on December 2, 2020

From Medium:

It’s Happening Here: What a Ukrainian Fitness Club Taught This Anthropologist About Dirty Togetherness in America

The result is that government is more and more poised to serve politicians, not the public — a state of affairs that will not simply evaporate when Trump leaves office.

—Janine Wedel

From the Hill:

Systemic Racism Is a Drag on the U.S. Economy

The United States is in the midst of two crises—a pandemic-induced recession with consequent unemployment, and a struggle to overcome a prolonged history of systemic racism. These twin crises are linked.

—Kenneth Reinhert and Gelaye Debebe

From the Roanoke Times:

We’ve Had Controversial Elections Before

The point is that this is not the first time we have encountered controversy, question, and litigation in connection with a presidential campaign. It has happened before, and it will likely happen again. The good news is that the Republic survived these historic controversies, and we will survive this one as well, regardless of the outcome.

—Bill Bolling

From the Washington Post:

Forget McConnell. Forget Pelosi. In a Divided Congress, Biden Needs to Build His Own Coalition.

I’ve talked with scores of members of Congress who, once they get past their rants about the partisan gamesmanship of the other side, admit anger and frustration with their growing irrelevance in a process that has them running around all day accomplishing nothing.

—Steven Pearlstein

From Bloomberg Tax:

Social Security Framing-Benefit-Claiming Cn Be Delayed Beyond Retirement

A few simple changes would ensure that older Americans are in a better position to understand the choices available to them.

—Sita Slavov

From America’s Quarterly:

Can Francisco Sagasti Hold Peru Together?

Decades later, as Peru emerges from a week of upheaval and police violence, and as the country looks to upcoming elections in April 2021, this depth of experience is part of what makes Sagasti a good steward. Still, he faces real challenges in the short eight months he will be president of Peru.

—Jo-Marie Burt

From Political Violence at a Glance:

Why It Matters if Trump Rejects the Election Result

When electorates are highly polarized along cultural cleavages, rhetoric like this creates an impression on the losing side that they are victims of an imperious and culturally alien “other,” and that the electoral process offers no solution.

—Philip Martin

From the Washington Post:

Virginia Can’t Have Marijuana Legalization Without Equity

If we are going to create and sustain meaningful change, we need to act big and be bold. We can’t tinker around the edges and act as though we are being transformative. One way to do this is to finally fully legalize marijuana and recognize it for what it is: a civil rights issue.

—Terry McAuliffe and Don Scott

From the Hill:

The ‘Diploma Divide’ in American Politics

The wealthier you are, the more likely you are to vote Republican. That has been true for nearly 100 years. At the same time, the better educated you are, the more likely you are to vote Democratic. That trend has been building since 1980.

—Bill Schneider

From Defense One:

Trump Should Act Against Russia’s Use of Chemical Weapons

Only a unified response at home and solidarity with our allies abroad will be able to match the brazenness of Russia’s violations of international law and norms against these barbaric weapons.

—Gregory D. Koblentz and Andrea Stricker

From the Washington Post:

What the Election Meant for Our Region

With a mainstream GOP ticket, Virginia could be not only competitive next year but also a national bellwether for measuring the political standing of the Biden administration.    

—Mark J. Rozell, Mileah Kromer, and Michael K. Fauntroy

From War on the Rocks:

Lessons from the Roosevelt: A Call for Improving the U.S. Navy’s Preparedness for Biological Threats

Military threats, however, are rarely communicated so clearly or so far in advance as that of COVID-19. The next biological threat to a U.S. Navy ship, be it a pandemic or an intentional biological attack, may not provide the kind of advanced warning needed to deploy the specialized disease surveillance units and capabilities necessary for early detection.

—Gregory Koblentz and Brian L. Pike

From the Washington Post:

Virginia Voters Face a New Election Season, and It Starts Today

In Virginia, there will be no rest for the weary because, once the presidential race is settled, a brand-new election season starts immediately. Every fall there is a general election in the Old Dominion, and the next one—a year from now—is for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.

—Mark J. Rozell

From the Hill:

Trump Didn’t Create the Country’s Division, But He Stoked It: What’s Next?

Four presidents before Donald Trump promised to bring the country together. They all failed. That’s where Trump is different. He didn’t even try. Instead, he exploited the division for his own political benefit. No other president has done that.

—Bill Schneider

Schar School Fact: Schar School experts are quoted in, cited by, and contribute to nearly 300 media appearances a month.

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Webinar Recap: ‘The Resurgent Chemical Weapons Threat’

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:28:10 +0000

Webinar Recap: ‘The Resurgent Chemical Weapons Threat’ Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:28

In This Story

Gregory Koblentz

Originally published on December 3, 2020

A week before the November 30 Conference of the States Parties—the governing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention—in the Hague, Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biodefense programs at the Schar School of Policy and Government invited professional colleagues to present their research to a virtual audience called The Resurgent Chemical Weapons Threat: Current Challenges to the Chemical Weapon Convention.

The webinar drew more than 180 participants from North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa, said Koblentz.

See the slides and a recording of the conversation at the biodefense program’s student- and faculty-run blog, The Pandora Report. “The chemical weapons nonproliferation regime is at a crossroads,” Koblentz said following the webinar. “The Chemical Weapons Convention faces its most serious challenge since it was signed in 1993. The distinguished speakers at this event assessed the technical, political, and policy aspects of these developments and the threats they pose to the nonproliferation regime and international security.”

The panelists discussed three major issues which were addressed at the Hague. Those three major issues, including Syria’s use of chemical weapons during their on-going civil war; Russia’s use of chemical weapons to silence dissidents; and the threat that new “incapacitating” agents pose.

The first presenter, Jean-Pascal Zanders, discussed chemical weapons used in Syria. Zanders is an independent researcher and founder of The Trench, a research initiative dedicated to the future of disarmament.

“If Syria is found to be non-compliant,” Zanders said, “then its rights and privileges as a state party to the Chemical Weapons Convention might be suspended or restricted. In other words, it loses its voting rights, among other things. It’s also possible to have much further reaching consequences, including measures that are authorized under international law.”

The second presenter, Stefano Costanzi, is an associate professor of chemistry at American University. His educational background in both chemical science and international affairs has led him to advance research in the existing gaps in policies for chemical weapons proliferation. Most recently, Costanzi has been researching and educating about the Novichok agent which Russia has been suspected of using to silence dissidents.

“Until very recently, Novichoks were nowhere to be found in the [Chemical Weapons Convention] schedules,” Costanzi said, “whereas one might have suspected to find them in Schedule 1A, just like the other nerve agents. Now, I want to be very clear here, this doesn’t mean at all that Novichoks weren’t considered chemical weapons.” Costanzi pointed out that there is evidence to support the conclusion that Russia engineered Novichok with the specific goal of circumventing chemical weapons treaties.

The third presenter, Malcolm Dando, is the Liverpool Trust-Emeritus Fellow in Peace Studies at Bradford University, located in the United Kingdom. Dando is one of the world’s foremost experts on chemical and biological weapons, and has focused the last several years on education in the field of biological security.

“The rate of change in our understanding of the central nervous system, and its operations, is proceeding very rapidly, particularly given the number of state-level brain research projects which have been initiated recently, and we’re now getting to really understand the neuro-circuits which underly our behavior,” Dando said.

Schar School fact: The Schar School’s biodefense graduate program is the oldest, largest, and fastest growing program of its kind in the country. The Master’s in Biodefense program can be completed on-campus, fully online, or through a combination of both. Learn more and how to apply.

Additional reporting by Buzz McClain.

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A Program of Webinars for Elected Leaders Ends with Award ‘Dinner’

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:24:06 +0000

A Program of Webinars for Elected Leaders Ends with Award ‘Dinner’ Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:24

In This Story

Mark J. Rozell

Clockwise from top left, Mark J. Rozell, Charniele Herring, and Dick Saslaw. Screenshots by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Originally published on December 3, 2020

More than 50 viewers, about half of them elected leaders, tuned in Wednesday, December 2, for the presentation of the second annual Regional Leadership Awards, presented by the Schar School of Policy and Government.

Wednesday’s virtual NOVA Leadership Dinner was the final event of a series of policy-focused webinars for the region’s elected officials, including those elected in early November. It is the third year the Schar School’s Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI) has provided support and education to area representatives in an effort to create cross-border collaboration and innovative policy development.

Throughout the fall, representatives from a number of organizations provided detailed information to elected leaders about major public policy issues that face the region, including transportation, energy, the environment, affordable housing, and economic development.

The award “dinner” served as RELI’s 2020 finale and included an hour-long question-and-answer session with Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring—a 1993 graduate from ��AV who will be the school’s Winter Commencement speaker—and Virginia Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw. Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell hosted the session.

This year’s awards for exceptional regional leadership were given to:

Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39th), who in 2017 became the longest-serving woman in Virginia’s statehouse. Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine introduced Watts.
Loudoun County District Supervisor Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles), who Rozell recalled as “my best student at Catholic University 20 years ago,” was introduced by Kate Mattice, executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

The Schar School’s RELI bipartisan efforts to bring new perspectives and build consensus on vital regional issues is important said RELI’s Mary Hynes. Hynes and former Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette are RELI’s coordinators.

“Regionalism doesn’t just happen,” said Hynes, also a former Arlington County Board member. “At RELI we use the Schar School’s unique thought-leader position to foster regionalism by bringing all of Northern Virginia’s elected legislative-body leaders together.

“Our hope is that our webinars and Regional Leadership Awards prompt learning, conversation, and coordinated local actions focused on our shared challenges in, among others, housing, transportation, and climate action.”

Plans are already in the works for the 2021 RELI, Hynes said.

“RELI looks forward to helping shape how 2021 approaches our regional needs and their statewide implications as the pandemic comes under control, schools are able to safely reopen, the economy gains ground, and our transportation needs are clarified,” she said.

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Schar News December 2020

Mason alumna, Generation Hope founder recognized as a leader for racial justice

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:18:21 +0000

Mason alumna, Generation Hope founder recognized as a leader for racial justice Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:18

Nicole Lynn Lewis. Photo provided.

Originally published on December 4, 2020

For Nicole Lynn Lewis, Master’s in Public Policy ’06, completing her undergraduate degree as a single mom not only opened doors of opportunity, but symbolized how far she had come despite the challenges involved.

With an overwhelming desire to help other young parents earn their degrees, but finding no organizations in the Washington, D.C. area with such a mission, she founded Generation Hope in 2010.

Since then, the organization has reported helping more than 200 teen parents in college and their children with mentoring, emotional support and financial resources, providing more than $800,000 in tuition assistance, and celebrating 93 college degrees.

For her impact, the ��AV alumna was recently named one of 31 inaugural awardees of the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund, an initiative championed by actress Kerry Washington, philanthropic leader Wes Moore, among others, that draws on $10 million to invest in Black leaders across the United States working on issues of racial justice.

“It means everything to have someone say, ‘We see you and we honor the work that you’re doing and what your vision is for the world,’” Lewis said. “It’s a validation of [teen parents’] experiences and how important it is that we support their dreams for their futures, because that is so connected to the journey that we’re on as a country for racial equity and justice.”

About 90% of the students Generation Hope works with are students of color, said Lewis, who has also been named a CNN Hero, a Minority Business Leader by Washington Business Journal and a “Top 40 Under 40” by Washingtonian. Funds from the award will be used to support Generation Hope’s mission and continue to tell the story of why teen parents’ success matters.

“[Teen parents] have so much to offer their communities [and they] tend to have higher GPAs than their peers, but there are so many systemic barriers and hurdles to their success,” Lewis said. “As we talk about higher ed, as we talk about solutions to poverty, and as we talk about racial equity and justice, we have to be talking about helping this population thrive.”

In her professional career, Lewis said she still draws on the skills she learned at Mason.

“A big takeaway for me was understanding the unintended consequences of legislation,” Lewis said. “As students, we were encouraged to uncover and ask the right questions and that’s been really helpful in the work that I do now when we’re thinking about free college efforts, financial aid reform, or how do we increase SNAP benefits to cover college students and be more accessible to college students.”

“Nicole is changing lives for the better every day,” said Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell. “With her ability she could have chosen any other path professionally and made a lot of money, but instead she followed her passion to help people.”

“It’s gratifying to see people who never sought personal reward be recognized for doing good,” Rozell said. “I’m very proud of her. She represents the best of Mason.”

Schar School fact: The Schar School has achieved remarkable racial and ethnic diversity, with 36 percent of students coming from minority backgrounds. ��AV is a majority-minority institution.

Nicole Lynn Lewis (left) with Mason alumna Karen Escobar, who received support from Generation Hope while a student, in 2019. Photo by Lathan Goumas

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Schar News December 2020

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta Set to Discuss Post-Trump Intelligence

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:14:59 +0000

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta Set to Discuss Post-Trump Intelligence Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:14

Originally published on December 9, 2020

When Leon Panetta was a top official in U.S. intelligence and national security, an off-hand comment about Pakistani authorities knowing where Osama bin Laden was hiding was considered a major controversy. Times have changed, as evidenced by the deterioration of the relationship between the White House and the intelligence community—and where controversies seem to emerge daily.

In a rare public interview, Panetta, a former Congressman (D-Calif.), White House Chief of Staff, CIA Director, and Secretary of Defense, will face questioning from Larry Pfeiffer, director of the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security at the Schar School of Policy and Government. Panetta will answer questions from the audience after the discussion.

This virtual event takes place Thursday, December 17, at 7p.m. ET, and is open to the public. Free, but registration is required.

“General Hayden and I are very excited to host Secretary Panetta at the Hayden Center for this timely discussion about the incoming Biden administration,” said Pfeiffer. “There are few Americans today with his breadth of experience…This is a man who devoted his life to serving the public good, which should inspire our undergraduate and graduate students looking to embark on a similar path. We hope many of them take advantage of this great end-of-semester event and join us.”

The wide-ranging conversation will address President-Elect Joe Biden as he prepares to take the highest office in the land; Biden comes to the position with more foreign policy experience than any other president over the last three decades. Biden also brings with him an experienced and diverse team of professionals.

The Trump administration dealt with more than one national security challenge over the past four years, such as a rising China, competition with Russia, and a nuclear Iran. However, there are new non-conventional national security challenges that Biden’s team will face, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, and climate change looming on the horizon.

Panetta, with all of his years of experience, is quite uniquely capable to discuss these challenges, and provide possible solutions.

Schar School Fact: The school is ranked No. 2 in the world for security studies programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2019).

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Schar News December 2020

Making the most of her college career

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:12:09 +0000

Making the most of her college career Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:12

In This Story

Lucas Núñez

Robert L. Deitz

Delaney Hertel, a government and international politics major, said an introductory event with the Honors College convinced her to come to Mason. Photo by Naomi Fort.

Originally published on December 14, 2020

Ever since Delaney Hertel was in the eighth grade, she knew she would attend college on the East Coast.

True to her word, the California native is closing in on her final days at Mason as a government and international politics major at the Schar School of Policy and Government. She graduates in December with honors.

Hertel said she decided to come to Mason after attending an introductory event held by the Honors College.

“I just remember seeing a professor on a panel get so passionate about what he was talking about, and I hadn’t seen that anywhere else,” she said. “I really appreciated that.”

Hertel brought her own passion to Mason, particularly when it came to helping fellow students. She enlisted as a Patriot Leader, working at campus orientations. She was an orientation leader for incoming freshmen, served as an Honors College peer mentor, and is on the executive board of the Mason chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

During her time at Mason, Hertel held internships at the Arlington, Virginia-based American Veterans Center and at talk-programming network Radio America. She also worked at the Republican Attorney Generals Association, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy agency that works to elect Republican AGs. She later landed a position at a polling company doing data management and research.

Currently, Hertel is interning at the National Association of Counties, staying busy in their research lab, cleaning data sets, polishing literature reviews, and assisting with economic mobility reports. The association represents some 40,000 U.S. counties.

“Mason and especially the Schar School are really good at teeing up the ball,” she said. “You just have to take the initiative to step up and hit it.”

Hertel named three professors who assisted in her success at Mason, including Schar School Assistant Professor Lucas Núñez, for whom Hertel became a research assistant; former Army Strategic Intelligence Officer Lee Roberts, whose positive comments on her work, she said, “meant the world, because I knew he meant it”; and Professor Robert Deitz, former senior counselor to the director of the CIA and general counsel of the NSA “who really cares about his students, looks for the best in them and is willing to go the extra mile to talk to a confused senior.”

By way of advice to incoming students, or students looking to expand their experiences at Mason, Hertel offered, “If you are a student who seeks out the opportunities you want and takes the time to seek out the professors and have legitimate conversations with them, I think that’s what makes you successful. That’s what the Schar School does really well, providing the professors who will do that with you.”

After graduating, Hertel said that she is interested in pursuing a career in research analysis, possibly in security studies. She is also considering, at some point, pursuing a graduate degree with the Schar School’s master’s in international security program, ranked No. 2 in the country.

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Schar News December 2020