Fairfax County Officials Inspire Schar School MPA Students to Pursue Local Government Careers

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:08:52 +0000

Fairfax County Officials Inspire Schar School MPA Students to Pursue Local Government Careers Andrew J Schappert Wed, 11/05/2025 - 14:08

MPA students listen to Fairfax County leaders discuss careers in local government. Photo provided

Nearly 60 current master of public administration (MPA) students and several faculty members in the Schar School of Policy and Government at �� attended the degree program’s annual Local Government Night on November 3 at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Jim Burroughs, left, and Assistant Chief of Police Eli Cory, MPA ’19. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

The event was organized by more than 10 MPA alumni employed by the Fairfax County government, including several who served as panelists. Dianne Hon, MPA ’19, a victim specialist with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, led the organizing effort.

The idea, said Associate Professor Jim Burroughs, is to bring MPA students face to face with graduates of the same program who now hold senior positions in local government. It was the 28th time the Local Government Night took place, Burroughs said. It was also his last as he is slated to retire at the end of the fall semester.

The benefits of the meeting flowed both ways as Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill, who admitted to earning his MPA from a school other than George Mason, used his time at the podium to highlight the career possibilities available in local government—particularly within Fairfax County. As he went around the room asking students about their postgraduation goals, he offered examples of how their interests and expertise could translate into careers in county offices in fields including finance, economics, law, and psychology.

Those opportunities were further illustrated by in-depth presentations from several county officials, including Deputy Director of the Department of Management and Budget Katie Horstman, who provided insight as to how she and her staff manage a $11.10 billion budget.

County Executive Bryan Hill addresses the MPA students. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Also presenting were members of the county’s first responder agencies, among them Assistant Chief of Police Eli Cory, MPA ’19; Deputy Director of Victim Services Sarai Rivera, MPA ’24; and Assistant Fire Chief John Walser, who emphasized his department’s need for graduates skilled in data collection and analysis to help firefighters and EMTs continuously refine best practices for saving lives and property.

A second panel introduced Schar School MPA graduates active in the county’s emergency preparedness and response departments. Each shared how current federal challenges—such as furloughs, shutdowns, and budget cuts—affect their ability to deliver services to residents.

The speakers included Assistant Director of Domestic Relations in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Marwa Hajahmed, MPA ’24; Senior Social Services Supervisor with Neighborhood and Community Services Keith Grupposo, MPA ’20; and Management Analyst IV with the Department of Family Services Maha Martin, BA Sociology ’04, MPA ’16.

The evening concluded with a session titled “Reflections: The Impact of the MPA Program on My Career” featuring Dianne Hon, and Enterprise Applications Manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority Yeoanny Venetsanos, BA Biology ’00, who is a current MPA student slated to graduate in December.

Deputy Director of the Department of Management and Budget Katie Horstman manages an $11.10 billion budget. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

“I want to be a more effective public administrator for Fairfax County,” Venetsanos said. “I want to take my management, leadership, and organizational skills and apply them where I can bring value to the organization.”

The MPA program, he added, “is a mile wide and a foot deep—you can see the forest for the trees. It helps because you’re looking at every single service that a government provides.”

For the current MPA students in the audience, the evening was both enlightening and encouraging.

“It was great hearing from so many different county leaders and understanding the various aspects of local government, from budgeting to program implementation,” said Esha Doshi, who works in the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. “And it was inspiring to have Bryan Hill connect our interests with real career possibilities.”

Dianne Hon, MPA ‘19, left, and Enterprise Applications Manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority Yeoanny Venetsanos, BA Biology ’00. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

For Jack Potter, BA Public Administration ’25, a fellow in the school’s Center for Energy Science Policy, the evening was about relationships.

“I think every single speaker talked about making connections—getting to know people and forging real relationships outside of work,” he said. “I also learned that Fairfax is a unique county, not just in Virginia but in the U.S., and there are going to be opportunities everywhere—some great opportunities.”

The speakers each reinforced the personal nature of local public administration, a point that was not missed by faculty members.

“It was truly inspiring to hear from local government leaders about what it’s like to work in a setting where your efforts directly benefit your own community and neighbors,” said Associate Professor and MPA Program Director Mirae Kim. “It’s an experience that feels much more immediate and tangible than the broader, often more distant impact of federal service.”

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James N. Burroughs

Mirae Kim

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Mason Completes Transformational Energy Action Plans for Virginia Communities

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:19:09 +0000

Mason Completes Transformational Energy Action Plans for Virginia Communities Andrew J Schappert Tue, 04/30/2024 - 13:19

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In a significant advancement for sustainable development, ��’s Local Climate Action Planning Initiative (LCAPI) announced the completion of comprehensive Energy Action Plans (EAP) for Henry County, the City of Danville, and the City of Martinsville in Virginia.

Paul Bubbosh: ‘These Energy Action Plans are a testament to what we can achieve together…‘ Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

These plans, now accessible on the LCAPI website, “represent a pivotal step forward in the regional effort to embrace cleaner energy and ensure a resilient future for these communities,” said Paul Bubbosh, codirector of the LCAPI and an adjunct professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government.

The LCAPI, a collaboration between George Mason’ Schar School and the Center for Energy Science Policy (CESP) faculty and students, focuses on aiding Virginia municipalities in energy conservation, reducing costs, and bolstering community resilience against climate-related challenges. This initiative is particularly geared toward supporting vulnerable and marginalized communities across the state by helping them tap into state and federal funds for transitioning to reliable and affordable clean energy sources.

The development of the Energy Action Plans involved a meticulous three-phase process:

An initial research phase that involved studying the specific history and background of each municipality and identifying key stakeholders within the community.
A modeling phase where the university teams assessed the municipalities’ greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental and energy risk factors.
A community engagement phase that included public meetings with stakeholders to discuss, evaluate, and select strategic goals and actions for mitigating climate change impacts and managing rising energy costs.

These plans were crafted with close cooperation from local government officials and community members, alongside George Mason’s student teams, which brought together expertise from science, policy, and communication disciplines. The collaborative nature of this initiative has not only fostered a sense of shared responsibility but has also highlighted the practical applications of academic knowledge in real-world scenarios.

“�� is committed to extending our educational and research resources to serve the community, especially those areas that are most in need,” Bubbosh said. “These Energy Action Plans are a testament to what we can achieve together: innovative solutions to urgent climate and energy challenges, improved air quality, and stronger, more resilient communities.”

The program is designed not to just be sustainable but replicable.

“As these newly developed plans take effect, they promise not only to reduce energy costs and lower emissions but also to serve as models for other regions aiming for sustainable development,” he said.

The ongoing efforts by Mason signify a proactive approach to environmental stewardship and community engagement, setting a benchmark for academic institutions nationwide.

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