Schar School of Policy and Government

Master of Public Administration

Study Abroad: From London Halls and Oxford Debates, a Dean-Led Journey to the U.K.

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:33:05 +0000

Study Abroad: From London Halls and Oxford Debates, a Dean-Led Journey to the U.K. Andrew J Schappert Mon, 09/15/2025 - 12:33

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Mark J. Rozell

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Study abroad is an essential component to a well-rounded Schar School education. Beyond the academic credit, traveling the world with professors to meet dignitaries and visit sites of study immerses students in different cultures and ways of thinking. Winter break opportunities are enrolling now. See this website for more information. Below is a story about a summer excursion to the U.K. with a special guest instructor—the dean.

George Mason students led by Dean Mark J. Rozell, left in cap, visit the Winston Churchill monument at Parliament Square Garden in London. Photos provided

This summer, �� students had the opportunity to study abroad under the leadership of Schar School of Policy and Government dean Mark J. Rozell, whose vision and guidance shaped an unforgettable program in London and Oxford—two of the world’s foremost centers of politics and academia.

The program brought together rigorous coursework, immersive learning experiences, and transformative opportunities that extended well beyond the classroom.

Studying governance in London meant walking through the halls where history has been made for centuries. Visits to University of Oxford’s historic colleges brought politics vividly to life, as students experienced the very places where the ideas they studied were first debated and refined. In fact, Schar School students one evening participated in an Oxford-style debate with students at Goodenough College, the residential community in central London that was the scene of afternoon classes and dinner events.

“This trip pushed me out of my comfort zone,” said Lillian Mullins, who is in the Schar School’s Master of International Security program. “It challenged me to debate important issues, think more broadly, and understand multiple sides of an argument.”

A major component of the experience were insightful lectures by faculty from University College London and distinguished speakers at dinners, followed by traditional evening “port talks” over fortified red wine at Goodenough College.

Organization Development and Knowledge Management student Christine Adwoa Dua, right, and Dean Rozell, left, pose with Goodenough College dean Alan McCormack ahead of dinner in the Great Room of the postgraduate residential community.

“Immersing myself in Dean Rozell's world of U.S./U.K. politics was a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Christine Adwoa Dua, a master’s student in the Schar Organization Development and Knowledge Management (ODKM) program. “As an ODKM student, my purpose has always been to seek environments that encourage knowledge exchange and inspire transformation. From guest lectures and guided tours with subject matter experts to off engagements with Schar School peers, I was able to expand my network while reinforcing my commitment as a change facilitator.

“I look forward to continuing this trajectory for the remainder of my program and beyond within this community.”

Dua was not the only traveler to make lasting connections.

“Not only did I learn more than I ever thought I would about international relations, but I was also able to connect meaningfully with folks across different walks of life using Dean Rozell's instructions as a jumping off point,” said Ashbury Sunshine Lindsey-Hernandez, a student in the College of Education and Human Development’s Master of Education in Counseling program. “It was an incredible jam-packed trip.”

Experiences such as walking the streets of the city with former Lord Mayor of London, Nicholas Lyons, facilitated through Rozell’s refined network, were once-in-a-lifetime moments that exemplified the caliber of access and experiences Schar School study-abroad programs provide.

The U.K. program not only delivered unparalleled academics and history, but also the relationships and global insights that define George Mason’s increasingly expanding international reputation.

Writer Juliet Touma is a student in the Schar School’s Master of Public Administration program.

Topics

Master of International Security

Organization Development and Knowledge Management

Jurisprudence Learning Community

Can AI expand access to legal services? This aspiring lawyer hopes to find the answer.

Sarah Holland — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:23:17 +0000

Can AI expand access to legal services? This aspiring lawyer hopes to find the answer. Sarah Holland Fri, 09/05/2025 - 15:23

With an associate’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College already in hand by the time she graduated high school, Sharanya Maddukuri was determined to make the most of her final two undergraduate years. Because of its top ranking in Virginia for internships, �� was the place for her.

Maddukuri, an Honors College student, is majoring in government and international politics with a minor in ethics and artificial intelligence (AI) and wants to attend law school. She’s already hit the ground running, landing two internships at the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in Washington, D.C., during spring and summer semesters in 2025.

How did you find your internship with the LSC?

I’m in the [Schar School of Policy and Government] mentorship program, and I’m paired with Tim O’Shea, BA Government and International Politics ’19. He’s currently a lawyer for the government. I told him about how I was having trouble finding an internship for the spring 2025 semester, and he recommended I look at opportunities with LSC.

You’ve interned in two different sectors of LSC. Your first internship in the spring was with the Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF). What kind of work did you do?

Basically, the PBIF offers grants to legal aid organizations across the nation to help them engage more lawyers and non-legal professionals in pro bono services to help close the justice gap. So, one of my main projects was a five‑month audit of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, where I analyzed data from 30 legal aid organizations. After presenting my findings, I realized my work had sparked a genuine shift in how the team approached its largest grant, which made this project one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

I also helped my supervisor plan a panel on pro bono work for the Equal Justice Conference in San Francisco, and I got to attend the conference to see the panel I had worked on for five months come to life! I had the opportunity to hear about pro bono cases all around the world, like a case of international kidnapping where private attorneys from a big law firm stepped in to provide resources and help the client. Hearing about these cases where pro bono made a difference was really inspiring.

In the summer, you transitioned to the Disaster Grants Program within LSC. How did your responsibilities change?

In the Disaster Grants Program, I mainly worked on the Legal Aid Disaster and Heartland websites, which are both resources for legal aid professionals working in disaster areas and for disaster survivors. One exciting project I did was paving the way for a site-wide content audit to support the development of an AI chatbot, which will greatly assist disaster survivors navigating the plethora of legal issues that arise after a disaster.

Maddukuri in front of the LSC sign in their office. Photo provided.

You mentioned the justice gap: Is this an issue you’re passionate about?

Yes, definitely. The justice gap has been growing since the ‘80s, and LSC reports that low-income Americans did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems. Having been exposed to the ways that legal aid organizations and LSC are using AI, I know I want to pursue a career helping legal aid organizations incorporate AI. Using AI responsibly to help reduce the load of their intake processes for applications, developing AI self-help resources for legal advice or completing paperwork, or even chatbots that can provide translation services: Those would really help people who don’t have access to legal services, and therefore would help narrow that gap. I would love to be at the forefront of that.

How have your experiences at George Mason helped prepare you for the responsibilities of your internships?

The Jurisprudence Learning Community (JPLC) in the Schar School has been really helpful in equipping me with pre-law resources. The director of the JPLC, Assistant Professor Shea Holman Kilian, has been a great resource as well, particularly helping me prepare to apply for the internship. And her class is also very similar to a class you would take your first year of law school, so I feel better prepared for law school when it’s time.

Law and Society with [assistant professor] Kelly Richter was a welcome challenge and incredibly helpful. We analyzed the dynamic relationship where society shapes the law, and in turn, the law shapes society. And since I took that course in the spring, I was learning about procedural justice and all its complications while developing this pro bono panel that talked about procedural justice. I got to use what I was learning to develop my work.

And my courses with the Honors College prepared me with research skills that I’ve been able to use at LSC.

What have you gained from your time with LSC?

After this experience, I’ve decided that once I become a lawyer, I’ll be doing pro bono work, no matter what. I think it instilled that culture of service and caring about the community and really help reinforce that law is where I want to be. I believe in LSC’s mission now more than ever, and having had my eye on this profession since I was 11, this experience has only made me more certain that it’s the right place for me.

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Study Abroad in South Africa: Democracy, Development, Diplomacy—and Lions

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:45:40 +0000

Study Abroad in South Africa: Democracy, Development, Diplomacy—and Lions Andrew J Schappert Thu, 08/28/2025 - 13:45

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Michal McElwain Malur

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Schar School students walk with the lions at the Ukutula Conservation Center and Biobank. Photos provided

In the days before the 2025 fall semester began, graduate students from the Schar School of Policy and Government at �� ventured some 8,000 miles away from the Arlington, Virginia, campus to South Africa to take part in an academically rigorous study-abroad program hosted in partnership with the University of Pretoria.

Democracy, Development, and Diplomacy is a three-credit “global intensive” course set against the backdrop of South Africa’s first coalition government since 1994. The program challenged students to critically evaluate how domestic politics intersect with development strategies, regional security, and international diplomacy.

The course provided demanding case studies in governance adaptation and policy implementation, deepening students’ understanding of democratic transitions and international relations in practice.

“Study-abroad programs like this are invaluable to our students,” said Michal Malur, the Schar School’s director of external programs who served as part of the course leadership. “They strengthen résumés, expand global networks, and give students a perspective that simply cannot be gained in the classroom alone.”

Former Associate Dean Thys van Schaik, who has curated the program itinerary for two decades, once again led this year’s initiative. He emphasized that courses such as Democracy, Development, and Diplomacy play a vital role in advancing the mission of higher education.

“Study abroad transforms education. It’s not just about what students learn in lectures, it’s about how they live the lessons, experience the world firsthand and carry those insights into their careers and lives,” said van Schaik.

Academic sessions were held in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. Highlights included a panel on coalition governance and South Africa’s 2024 political transformation; briefings at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on foreign policy and global security; and an in-depth exploration of constitutional design and legitimacy at Constitutional Hill, guided by judicial and academic experts.

Students also engaged in focused discussions on conservation, restorative justice, and biodefense with specialists at leading research institutes, reinforcing the connection between theoretical frameworks and real-world challenges.

“We weren’t just reading about democratic transitions,” said biodefense master’s student Kate Groves, “we were hearing directly from policymakers.”

German Acosta, a public administration master’s student, added that “the combination of site visits and lectures gave me a broader global perspective.”

The program’s experiential learning extended beyond the classroom and involved the local wildlife. In addition to spotting whales off the scenic coast of Cape Good Hope, a visit to the Ukutula Conservation Center and Biobank, a cutting-edge educational research hub for mammal and predator conservation, students engaged—safely and ethically—with a pride of lions. The lions are part of the center’s reproductive research on species that are keystones to African ecosystems.

Schar School students met dignitaries at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria.

For more information on the Schar School’s study-abroad offerings, visit abroad.gmu.edu. Ben Main is a master of international security student in the Schar School.

Topics

South Africa

Government and International Politics

Beyond Books: How a Schar School Senior Turned an Internship into a Legal Education

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:08:27 +0000

Beyond Books: How a Schar School Senior Turned an Internship into a Legal Education Andrew J Schappert Mon, 08/11/2025 - 13:08

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Phillip Mink

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The first time Erika Burkard was in a courtroom as an intern for a law firm, the presiding judge asked her to introduce herself before the session began.

Erika Burkard’s advice for finding internships: Try everything that’s interesting. ‘You have time to investigate it. Don’t rush into it.’ Photo provided

“I stood up and said, ‘Good morning, ma’am.’ And she said, ‘It’s “Your Honor.” And I was like, ‘Oh, dang it!’”

Whoops! But that teachable moment is just one example of the myriad details the government and international politics senior in the Schar School of Policy and Government absorbed during an internship that not only supplemented her college education but confirmed that the practice of law was indeed her calling.

“I learned a lot of these really rigid things that you wouldn’t ordinarily recognize that I’ve been exposed to from interning,” the �� Honors College student said. “It’s been a really valuable experience. I’ve seen a lot of interesting litigation, and the fact that I’m allowed into these closed courtrooms has been an invaluable advantage.”

Finding an internship at a law firm “is really tricky,” she said. “A lot of the time you need certain qualifications, or you need to know someone who knows someone. And they’re normally looking for law students.”

With the encouragement of Assistant Professor Phillip Mink, who directs the Schar School’s Patriot Pre-Law program, Burkard did what she calls “the most old-fashioned version of finding experience you possibly can”: the cold call. She didn’t call just one or two law firms in the Richmond, Virginia, area where she lives but “roughly 30 to 40. I don’t mind endurance.”

Finally, she called Cravens & Noll, a well-established personal injury and family law firm with offices convenient to her home. After an interview, she landed a paid summer internship.

That was last summer, 2024. She returned to the firm during the winter break and again this summer, with plans to return in December during the 2025 winter break.

“Her internship with a superb law firm is a crucial component of her education as it combines hands-on experience with a law practice and the challenging intellectual work she has done as an undergraduate,” said Mink. “With backgrounds in both sectors, she is well-positioned for success in law school and the practice of law. I look forward to following her progress in both.”

She has many strengths, Mink added, “but I will never forget her core philosophy of improving her work, constantly experimenting with new ways to approach a problem.”

Burkard’s internship contributes to her legal studies minor in countless ways. During her time at Craven & Noll, she has assisted attorneys, paralegals, and clients by drafting court communications, estate documents, divorce filings, and even assisting in a memorable wrongful death suit involving a nursing home.

She has sat in on litigation, trials, and hearings and provided real-time assistance to counsel. And she’s travelled to nearly every court in Virginia, speaking with judges, clerks, incarcerated clients, the Commonwealth Attorney, and others.

“I fell in love with even the mundane procedural things that need to be done at law firms, because all of it contributes to a much larger picture,” she said. “Even if it’s just taking a client’s phone call.”

In addition to her studies and internship, Burkard is executive administrator of the campus Alpha Phi chapter, which raises funds for the study of women’s heart health. Among other duties, she writes memos at meetings, something she knows a bit about.

“It’s funny how my job at a law firm goes straight into my sorority stuff,” she said.

While the process of landing an internship required dogged persistence, Burkard knows her efforts paid off. She advises incoming students, her advice is to “go on Mason360 and take advantage of the activities, meetings, speakers, because that’s how I narrowed down what I was most interested in. I had thrown around the idea of pre-law, but it wasn’t until I had gone to a pre-law meeting at the Schar School that I realized this is something I want to do. And you have time to investigate it. Don’t rush into it.”

Topics

Honors College

Pre-Law

Patriot Pre-Law Program

internships

Former Governor Robert McDonnell Joins Faculty of ��’s Schar School of Policy and Government

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:01:39 +0000

Former Governor Robert McDonnell Joins Faculty of ��’s Schar School of Policy and Government Andrew J Schappert Wed, 08/06/2025 - 13:01

The Schar School of Policy and Government at �� welcomes former Virginia governor Robert F. (Bob) McDonnell to the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice. A seasoned public servant with a deep background in law, governance, business, law enforcement, and military service, McDonnell brings nearly four decades of practical experience to one of the nation’s most dynamic public policy schools.

Bob McDonnell: ‘After 38 years of public service and with experience in the military and business, I hope I can inspire students to dream big, be responsible, and treat people with respect.’ Photo provided

McDonnell served as the 71st governor of Virginia from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, he held statewide office as Attorney General after spending 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates. His background includes substantial leadership in areas ranging from transportation and education reform to economic development and criminal justice. He also spent four years as a manager with a Fortune 500 health care company. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BBA), Boston University (MSBA) and Regent University, (JD, MA), McDonnell also served 21 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1997.

With his appointment, McDonnell joins a growing list of senior lawmakers and practitioners contributing to the Schar School’s distinctive blend of academic rigor and real-world insight. His addition to the faculty will enrich classroom conversations with firsthand perspectives on legislative processes, intergovernmental relations, and executive decision-making. Students studying public policy, law, and political leadership will benefit from his unique ability to bridge theory and practice.

“Governor McDonnell's appointment offers our students the opportunity to learn from his vast experience in state government,” said Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School. “As a school of policy and government, we benefit from a unique combination of traditional and professional faculty members working together to advance our community's understanding of key policy issues and governing challenges. The governor’s addition to our faculty further strengthens that model and enhances the real-world perspectives we bring into the classroom.”

McDonnell grew up in Fairfax County, home of George Mason’s Fairfax ��, and has seen the evolution of the university from a small college to a major research institution with more than 40,000 students.

“I care deeply about Virginians, and George Mason is the largest public university in Virginia with the widest reach and many well-established programs,” he said. “I look forward to contributing to a highly respected government and policy school on the doorstep of Washington, D.C. After 38 years of public service and with experience in the military and business, I hope I can inspire students to dream big, lead well, and treat people with respect.”

McDonnell will also be a featured speaker at Schar School public-facing events, joining fellow Schar School faculty in contributing to the school’s thought leadership in forums that reflect the school’s commitment to informed policy dialogue.

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Mark J. Rozell

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Faculty and Staff News

Schar School Students Explore Geopolitics and Human Security in Cyprus

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:08:44 +0000

Schar School Students Explore Geopolitics and Human Security in Cyprus Andrew J Schappert Thu, 07/24/2025 - 15:08

�� students and professors with Chrysilios Chrysiliou (center), director of the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas, and Port Security.

Students from ��’s Schar School of Policy and Government recently returned from an intensive study-abroad program in Cyprus, where they examined the Eastern Mediterranean’s shifting geopolitical landscape and human security challenges.

Led by Schar School professor Ellen Laipson, director of the master of international security program (ISEC), and Michal McElwain Malur, director of external programs, the course blended rigorous academic study with direct engagement with diplomats, policymakers, security officials, and civil society organizations.

High-level diplomatic engagement was a hallmark of the program. Before departing, students visited the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington, D.C., to meet Ambassador Evangelos Savva. In Cyprus, briefings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered insights into the island’s strategic role in regional diplomacy. A highlight was meeting Carter Wilbur, a George Mason alumnus and acting political-economic chief at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, who shared perspectives on U.S. policy and economic interests in Cyprus.

Security institutions and regional preparedness were other key focuses. The class visited facilities underscoring Cyprus’s role in regional security, including the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS), a U.S.-Cyprus initiative serving as a regional hub for training in border security, customs enforcement, and cybersecurity.

Students also toured the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), which coordinates maritime and aerial search and rescue operations. During their visit, the JRCC was actively managing evacuations following U.S. bombings in Iran—a vivid example of Cyprus’s role as a regional humanitarian hub.

The program emphasized peacebuilding efforts on the island. Students visited the United Nations Buffer Zone and met with representatives from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). They toured the Home for Cooperation, an NGO fostering dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and visited the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) Anthropological Laboratory, where a bi-communal team works to identify and return remains of individuals missing since the island’s 1974 division.

Beyond field visits, students attended lectures covering topics such as great power politics in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Cypriot politics and economic developments since 1974, regional conflicts and their global implications, climate change and environmental security, energy developments, international law, and the transnational challenges of migration and climate.

“Offering these study-abroad experiences is essential to equipping our students with the knowledge, skills, and global awareness they need to become effective leaders and practitioners in policy and international affairs,” said Malur.

While the week was academically demanding, students also explored Cyprus’s archaeological sites in Kourion and Paphos to experience firsthand the island’s nearly 13,000 years of history. The program concluded with a scenic boat cruise along the coast—a well-deserved moment of reflection.

Students praised the program for its immersive, real-world learning.

“Seeing the JRCC coordinating evacuations in real time during U.S. military actions against Iran underscored the critical importance of human security in conflict zones and drove home the real-life implications of what we are learning in the classroom,” said Sarah Bassil, an ISEC student who was herself evacuated through Cyprus from Lebanon in 2006.

“Our group enjoyed lectures from leading experts, intensely engaging field visits, and great camaraderie among our diverse student group. Cyprus is an intriguing case study,” added John Thacker, another ISEC student.

As geopolitical tensions continue to shape the Eastern Mediterranean, Schar School students return to George Mason with invaluable insights and a deeper understanding of how regional dynamics intersect with global security.

For more information on Schar’s study-abroad offerings, visit the Schar School study-abroad page.

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Ellen Laipson

Michal McElwain Malur

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Master of International Security

Hina Kazmi: Meet the Schar School Alum Who Is Launching ‘Intro to Space Policy’

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:55:13 +0000

Hina Kazmi: Meet the Schar School Alum Who Is Launching ‘Intro to Space Policy’ Andrew J Schappert Thu, 07/17/2025 - 11:55

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Hina Kazmi

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Hina Kazmi: ‘We’re expanding our access to space, and it has become critical infrastructure—but what does that mean policywise?’ Photo provided

Hina Kazmi, after seeing Voyager 1’s images of Saturn: ‘I knew I was going into aerospace.’

When you ask Hina Kazmi if she would ever like to live in a colony on the moon, her answer is quick and enthusiastic.

“Oh, I would absolutely do that,” she said. “Do they need a tester for the first flight to Mars? I would do that too.”

It’s not a farfetched question to ask Kazmi. The Schar School of Policy and Government at �� adjunct professor is set to teach a new course, Introduction to Space Policy, beginning in August with the start of the 2025 fall semester. It’s one of the rare courses in the country that will bring the growing fields related to space exploration—and exploitation—into the classroom.

The course is designed to support a broad range of public policy interests, Kazmi said. Those interested in international and national security, engineering, business, public administration, and other topics will find the course useful in their academic pursuits and future careers.

“When you think of space,” she said, “you think of commercial startups and Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk launching their rockets. That’s the fun stuff. But beyond that excitement there are huge national, international, and commercial aspects to this industry.”

As more of the business of space falls into in private hands, there comes a need for clear, informed, and educated thinking on public policy, she said.

“In the past, [space activity] was government controlled, but now it’s commercially available for navigation, weather prediction, communications. We’re expanding our access to space, and it has become critical infrastructure—but what does that mean policywise?”

As an example of the field’s growth, the tiny island of Bahrain, where the Pakistan native spent her middle school years, has a space agency. “Every country now sees this as important,” she said.

Kazmi, an engineer by training who at one point was leading programs for NASA, developed a fascination for space in 1980, when the interstellar craft Voyager 1 sent its first images of Saturn back to Earth from some 800 million miles away. The astronomical event made an impression on the young scholar.

“I knew I was going into aerospace,” she said.

Kazmi earned her undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, with a minor in mathematics, in 1993 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

She also holds a master of business administration degree. After rising through the ranks in technical and management roles at major private and public aerospace leaders, she began teaching at George Mason, revitalizing a dormant course in managing government contracting.

Realizing her future was in academia, she earned a master of public policy degree from the Schar School in 2008, followed by a PhD in public policy in 2016. She received the Joseph A. Fisher Award for best PhD dissertation.

“I really believe Gen Z, who is in college now, and Gen Alpha behind them will be the space generations,” she said. “Space tourism, living in space, working in space, moon colonies—all of that is happening. We’re in the very, very early stages of it.”

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Master of Public Policy

PhD Public Policy

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Space

Alumni

Alumna Whitney Woods to Lead Denver Domestic Violence Survivor Center

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:41:55 +0000

Alumna Whitney Woods to Lead Denver Domestic Violence Survivor Center Andrew J Schappert Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:41

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Whitney Woods, a 2007 graduate of the Schar School of Policy and Government’s renowned government and international politics program—known for preparing students to lead in complex policy environments—has been appointed executive director of the Denver-based Rose Andom Center, a comprehensive resource center supporting survivors of domestic violence. The announcement was made earlier this month.

Whitney Woods: ‘When I came to visit, it was a picture-perfect weekend and felt like something out of movie. George Mason turned out to be a great fit for me.’ Photos provided

For Woods, née Phillips, the new position at the helm of Colorado’s first family justice center is a fitting next chapter for someone whose career has already included high-stakes crisis communication on Capitol Hill, work with the White House, and strategic leadership across government and philanthropy.

The Colorado native chose �� in 2004 “because I wanted to go to college very far away from where I grew up—it was important to me,” she said. “I knew I wanted to work in government someday and George Mason had a great program.”

Woods, who minored in conflict analysis and resolution in an accelerated degree program, was also interested in studying international policy.

“If I decided to go that route, I wouldn’t need to change schools,” she said, an observation that underscores one of the Schar School’s defining strengths: housing both political science and international affairs under one interdisciplinary roof.

But it was the tour of the Fairfax ��—a leafy hub of innovation and buzzing with student life—that was the deciding factor.

“When I came to visit, it was a picture-perfect weekend and felt like something out of movie,” she said, recalling the campus vividly more than 20 years later. “George Mason turned out to be a great fit for me.”

Whitney Woods Alpha Xi Delta’s 2006 recruitment event

The Schar School’s proximity to key institutions in nearby Washington, D.C., was another draw. “It was close to the city but not in it,” she said. “It felt like a small community even thought it was really connected to not just the larger community, but to the world.”

That proximity paid off: While balancing her coursework with roles as a Mason Ambassador—giving campus tours to prospective students—and an active member of Alpha Xi Delta, a Schar School professor helped her develop a resumé and encouraged her to apply for internships on Capitol Hill, despite her only experience being retail work.

That nudge led to a 2007 internship with U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) and an extended stay on Capitol Hill until 2013, rising through the ranks, ultimately serving as communications director for U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) until his retirement in 2013.

In that role, she helped shape national narratives and dealt with the world’s major media outlets during a series of historic moments: the assassination of Osama bin Laden, the government shutdown, Hurricane Sandy, the Sandy Hook school shooting, and the death of Muammar Gaddafi, among other generational milestones.

“When I eventually went to work in Congress, I often thought of how interesting it was that our [government] framework remained the same—three branches—but that so much else had changed,” she said. “My [Schar School] degree provided a solid foundation for understanding how our government is supposed to work and the intention behind its design.”

As she begins her new role leading the Rose Andom Center, Woods is drawing once again on the values and vision she developed in Fairfax where, she said, “I really grew up there and found my independence, and who I wanted to be.”

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Alumni

Government and International Politics

Schar School BA in Government and International Politics

South of the Border, Deep in Policy: Study-Abroad Students Tackle U.S.-Mexico Relations in the Field

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:01:12 +0000

South of the Border, Deep in Policy: Study-Abroad Students Tackle U.S.-Mexico Relations in the Field Andrew J Schappert Mon, 07/07/2025 - 10:01

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Derek M. Mills

Michal McElwain Malur

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George Mason’s study-abroad cohort visits the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México’s landmark Central Library. Adjunct professor Derek M. Mills is at right. Photo provided

You could feel the weight of geopolitics in the air as 15 �� students stepped onto the worn stone of the Plaza of Three Cultures, where centuries of conquest, revolution, and resilience converge. The students weren’t just tourists with backpacks and bottled water. They were emissaries of inquiry—and there would be a quiz.

Over a weeklong intensive in Mexico’s bustling capital, the students—most from George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government—immersed themselves in the multifaceted knot of issues that define United States-Mexico relations. The students were eager to see firsthand elements of theory learned in classrooms: Migration, trade, national security, and the still-rippling effects of a second Trump administration.

“Throughout the program, students were encouraged to approach the experience not merely as observers but as engaged policy analysts,” said Derek M. Mills, the Schar School adjunct professor who led the trip. “The course, U.S.-Mexico Relations in the Age of Trump, provided an experiential lens into the historical, political, and economic complexities shaping bilateral ties.”

The group took deep dives into policy briefings with diplomats at the U.S. Embassy and with business leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce. They sat in on discussions at the Mexican Federal Congress and exchanged ideas with their counterparts at the prestigious Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

They weren’t just studying policy. They were living it.

A highlight was meeting Schar School alum Jose Loyola-Trujillo, who earned his PhD in public policy in 2005. Loyola, once Mexico’s undersecretary of energy, is now head of international affairs for LIGA MX—the top-flight Mexican soccer league.

Students also visited Casa de los Amigos, a migrant shelter that pulls no punches in portraying the human cost of border enforcement.

Another stop took the students to a nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced people and families by means of a range of support programs. In fact, meeting the staff at New Comienzos “and hearing from returning migrants was inspiring to see how resilient they are and how that connects to the deep ties between Mexico and the United States,” said Jackie Tuala, a master’s student in public administration. “It was my favorite visit.”

There were lessons in history and humanity at every turn—from the pyramids of Teotihuacan to the testimonies of deportees. But there was also room for forward-looking policy dialogue.

In Cuernavaca, south of Mexico City, the group met with the Secretary of Tourism Josefina Rodriguez Zamora, who didn’t mince words about how U.S. political rhetoric affects Mexico’s global image. When U.S. media parrots terms like “rapists” and “murderers,” the official said, the damage isn’t abstract—it costs Mexico tourist dollars, jobs, and dignity.

Students also toured AirDesign and FloraPlant—two export-focused companies where the granular details of tariffs, supply chains, and sustainability initiatives became tangible.

“The trip brought the issues we study in class to life. I loved how everything—from policy debates to cultural sites—was tied together,” said Stella Lovelady, a master’s student at George Mason’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

As the Trump administration 2.0 begins to cast long shadows over cross-border cooperation, the students came away with a clearer, more nuanced perspective, as well as a deeper sense of responsibility.

“Experience is crucial to our students’ professional development as future public, private, and nonprofit leaders,” said Michal McElwain Malur, Schar School’s external program director, who accompanied the students for the week.

“By engaging directly with these issues on the ground, they build the kind of informed, empathetic understanding that will shape them into thoughtful leaders in our increasingly interconnected world,” she said.

Study abroad is a vital and highly recommended component of a Schar School education. Questions on future classes can be directed to McElwain Malur at mmcelwai@gmu.eduand be found on the Schar School of Policy and Government Study Abroad page.

Students visit the U.S. embassy in Mexico to gain insights into the life and work of a diplomat. The students were briefed on issues of the day and saw in real time what they studied in classrooms. Photo by Ibis Perez.

Topics

Master of Public Administration

PhD Public Policy