Lydia H. Sigman / en Ian Gates: Taking His Schar School Experience to Local Government /news/2023-05/ian-gates-taking-his-schar-school-experience-local-government <span>Ian Gates: Taking His Schar School Experience to Local Government</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-10T16:37:19-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - 16:37">Wed, 05/10/2023 - 16:37</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2023-05/Ian-Gates-web.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="A man in a suit and tie stands in front of a white column." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Ian Gates: Local politics, he said, 鈥榳ill affect you whether you choose to affect it or not.鈥�</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span>While he was first drawn to 海角社区 by its proximity to the nation鈥檚 capital, Ian Gates discovered a passion for local politics and community organizing during his time in the </span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/" title="Schar School of Policy and Government"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span>. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Gates, who graduates this month with a bachelor of science degree in </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/undergraduate" title="Public Administration program"><span>public administration</span></a><span>, continually found new experiences to&nbsp;</span>complement<span> his degree while studying government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淚 found basically something different to do every semester,鈥� he said about the past four years. From interning in the office of former U.S. Rep. Tom O鈥橦alleran (D) on Capitol Hill to working as a fellow at the nonprofit and nonpartisan political encyclopedia Ballotpedia鈥攚ith other illuminating positions in between鈥擥ates found ways to apply his love for and knowledge of policy in just about every level of government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>With a location on the outskirts of the seat of U.S. government in Washington, D.C., the Schar School, and Mason in general, are singularly situated to facilitate experiential learning for those desiring to accelerate their political careers. Practitioners as professors, high-profile guest speakers, and internships at key agencies are just a few of the ways the Schar School helps students achieve their goals in public affairs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>It was through taking diverse policy classes at the Schar School that Gates, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, discovered his passion for local government and political organizing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>For instance, in a class about education in the U.S., Gates developed an interest in education policy. The real-world implications of this policy issue area were made immediately evident to him when professor </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/aholton2" title="Anne Holton's profile"><span>Anne Holton</span></a><span> sent the class to an Arlington County, Virginia, school board meeting to see education policy in action. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>This inspiring experience proved valuable: Gates researched education funding policy during his time working for Georgia Engage, an organization involved in state-level policy issues. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Similarly, Gates found his Schar School urban planning class particularly fascinating and immediately applicable. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淚've always had an interest in urban planning and transportation policy,鈥� Gates said, 鈥渂ut it was especially cool to learn more about the technical aspects.鈥� Studying urban planning and learning the terminology of this niche policy topic encouraged him to attend his first zoning meeting in his hometown of Atlanta. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As the city leaders discussed rewriting their zoning ordinances for the first time in 40 years, Gates understood the policy issues of land-use planning being weighed. He appreciated, he said, 鈥渂eing able to make educated opinion, or make educated statements about these topics, and make an impact on my community.鈥�</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Gates looks forward to quickly applying his experience in local political organizing and education policy as he begins a post-graduation position with the Tulsa Service Year program, a one-year fellowship for recent college graduates designed to teach political leadership skills. Working on education policy with a group of nonprofits in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gates will use the knowledge and skills he gained from the Schar School at the local level.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Gates鈥� words of advice to Mason students is to take advantage of opportunities the Schar School, the university as a whole, and the Washington, D.C., region has to offer. 鈥淏e a part of the community and be engaged,鈥� he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Gates especially encourages government students to get involved in local and regional politics and not forget their impact on all levels of policy work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淓veryone [should] go to your local planning and school board meetings,鈥� Gates said, 鈥渂ecause these decisions are going to be made whether you鈥檙e there or not, so you鈥檇 rather be there. Politics will affect you whether you choose to affect it or not.鈥�</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18001" hreflang="en">Bachelor of Science in Public Administration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17971" hreflang="en">Schar School News May 2023</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/481" hreflang="en">Graduation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17261" hreflang="en">Schar School BS in Public Administration</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="ad461e96-0096-4fc3-a9c9-2e9f5ce64c9c"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform data-fa-mask style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="40490fce-63e1-409e-9342-bddcff5007ed"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school-0"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform data-fa-mask style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/aholton2" hreflang="und">Anne Holton</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="64dc53e9-291c-4fd2-bd3f-7297f041472c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Read More Graduation Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-d5cb605579bf76dd94ee7f5bf4999090ab4027e33fe5815441b1b12f71999dbe"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-06/mason-korea-graduates-class-2025" hreflang="en">Mason Korea graduates Class of 2025 </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 24, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-06/george-mason-grad-explores-environmental-management-strategies" hreflang="en">George Mason grad explores environmental management strategies</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-05/sit-stay-buzz" hreflang="en">Sit! 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Buzz?</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 29, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-05/george-mason-undergrad-overcomes-health-challenges-walk-across-stage-and-accept-her" hreflang="en">George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-05/george-masons-record-breaking-class-2025-packed-house-spring-commencement" hreflang="en">George Mason鈥檚 record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 10 May 2023 20:37:19 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 105366 at