PhD Public Policy / en Hina Kazmi: Meet the Schar School Alum Who Is Launching ‘Intro to Space Policy’ /news/2025-07/hina-kazmi-meet-schar-school-alum-who-launching-intro-space-policy <span>Hina Kazmi: Meet the Schar School Alum Who Is Launching ‘Intro to Space Policy’</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-17T11:55:13-04:00" title="Thursday, July 17, 2025 - 11:55">Thu, 07/17/2025 - 11:55</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <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/hkazmi1" hreflang="en">Hina Kazmi</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="705847a4-638e-4535-9824-bff7b628eda4"> <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="e47006e7-5340-4c95-b9a2-cd99810bf8ae"> <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-question-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> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <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"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2025-07/hina-kazmi-1-web.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="A woman in a black and white top sits in front of a white airborne observatory." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Hina Kazmi: ‘We’re expanding our access to space,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;has become critical infrastructure—but what does that mean policywise?’ Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <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/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-07/hina-kazmi-2-600x600.jpg?itok=kfJKEcCL" width="350" height="350" alt="A woman in a red top poses in front of an image of a NASA logo." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Hina Kazmi, after seeing Voyager 1’s images of Saturn: ‘I knew I was going into aerospace.’</figcaption> </figure> <p><span class="intro-text">When you ask&nbsp;</span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/hkazmi1"><span class="intro-text">Hina Kazmi</span></a><span class="intro-text"> if she would ever like to live in a colony on the moon, her answer is quick and enthusiastic.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>“Oh, I would absolutely do that,” she said. “Do they need a tester for the first flight to Mars? I would do that too.”</span></p> <p><span>It’s not a farfetched question to ask Kazmi. The&nbsp;</span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span> at 鶹Ƶ 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.</span></p> <p><span>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.</span></p> <p><span>“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.”</span></p> <p><span>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.</span></p> <p><span>“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,</span><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><span>and</span><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><span>it&nbsp;has&nbsp;become critical infrastructure—but what does that mean policywise?”</span><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>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.</span></p> <p><span>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.</span></p> <p><span>“I knew I was going into aerospace,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>Kazmi earned her undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, with a minor in mathematics, in 1993 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>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,&nbsp;she began teaching at George 鶹Ƶ, revitalizing a dormant course in managing government contracting.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Realizing her future was in academia, she earned a </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/masters-programs/public-policy-mpp"><span>master of public policy</span></a><span> degree from the Schar School in 2008, followed by a </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/phd-programs/public-policy-phd"><span>PhD in public policy</span></a><span> in 2016. She received the Joseph A. Fisher Award for best PhD dissertation.</span></p> <p><span>“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.”</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/2121" hreflang="en">Master of Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17941" hreflang="en">PhD Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18801" hreflang="en">Schar School Featured Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20826" hreflang="en">GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2491" hreflang="en">Space</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:55:13 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 118256 at Meet the Undergrad Who Is Headed to a PhD Program: Andrew Strasberg /news/2023-04/meet-undergrad-who-headed-phd-program-andrew-strasberg <span>Meet the Undergrad Who Is Headed to a PhD Program: Andrew Strasberg</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-26T08:59:35-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 08:59">Wed, 04/26/2023 - 08:59</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/2023-04/Andrew-Strasberg-web.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="A man with a dark beard and jacket stands in front of a poster on a stand." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Andrew Strasberg and the poster for his first-place research project.&nbsp;Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>Not every undergraduate can leap from a bachelor of science degree to a highly rated PhD program, but that is what graduating&nbsp;</span></span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/" title="Schar School of Policy and Government"><span lang="EN"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></a><span lang="EN"><span>&nbsp;student Andrew Strasberg has done.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>Strasberg is currently in his final semester at 鶹Ƶ, finishing up his bachelor of science degree in </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/undergraduate" title="Schar Undergraduate programs"><span lang="EN">public administration</span></a><span lang="EN"><span>, and he has accepted an offer of admission to the political science PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis, often referred to as Wash U.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>Although Wash U was one of Strasberg’s top choices in his pursuit of a PhD program, the path to being admitted at a top program presented some challenges, but his persistence was undaunted.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>“I got rejected from so many places,” he said. “It’s pretty common for people to apply for 10, 12, and maybe even 15 programs and only be accepted into one or two.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <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/2023-04/Andrew-Strasberg-2-web.jpg" width="300" height="518" alt="A man with a dark beard and jacket stands in front of balloons." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Strasberg’s entry to a PhD program was facilitated by Schar School professors: ‘Their help was immeasurable.’</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>When asked why he selected Wash U, Strasberg said he wanted to pursue a path to becoming a college professor. “The reason I picked Washington University in St. Louis is due to their excellent political science program.” He added that Wash U has a stellar record of placing graduates in academic positions.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>While many Schar students pursue some type of graduate schooling beyond their undergraduate degree, it is relatively rare for graduates of any major to pursue PhD studies immediately after finishing their bachelor’s degree, according to Schar School associate professor </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jvictor3" title="Jennifer Victor's profile"><span lang="EN">Jennifer Victor</span></a><span lang="EN"><span>, who serves as one of Strasberg’s mentors. Victor, who also entered a PhD program straight after undergrad, said it is not an entirely unusual pathway for students to follow, but not many Schar School students have made it their goal the way Strasberg did. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>One of the strategies that Strasberg followed was to take more quantitative methods classes than were required in his bachelor’s program. Quantitative methods classes teach students how to collect, analyze, and interpret numerical data, which can be vital in working in or teaching in the public administration field.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>In addition to benefiting his application profile, he also found that he liked the courses. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>His professors took note of his ambitions and his extra effort and began to recommend him for undergraduate research; they also enabled him to take graduate-level courses.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>“Andrew decided a few years ago that a political science PhD was his goal, and he has pursued it with tenacity,” Victor said. “He took extra courses, sought mentorship from multiple faculty, and deliberately included research-oriented activities into his personal curriculum.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>Under the mentorship of Victor, as well as Schar School professors </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/lnunez6" title="Lucas Nunez's Profile"><span lang="EN">Lucas Núñez</span></a><span lang="EN"><span> and </span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/emcglinc" title="Eric McGlinchey's Profile"><span lang="EN">Eric McGlinchey</span></a><span lang="EN"><span>, Strasberg presented his original research at the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chicago in 2022 and 2023. </span></span><a href="/news/2022-10/what-drives-sports-fan-researching-rise-ultras-european-soccer" title="What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer"><span lang="EN">His first conference presentation</span></a><span lang="EN"><span> began as a paper assignment in McGlinchey’s graduate research design course. The paper, “</span></span><span>Hooligans or Honchos? Developing a Political Theory of European Ultra-ism,” was a study of soccer fan behavior; Victor remarked his findings in sport could be applied to a wide range of fields.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>This semester, Strasberg won first place in the Schar School’s </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/current-students/academic-advising-student-services/undergraduate-student-services/undergraduate-13" title="Schar School Undergraduate Research Assistant Program"><span>Undergraduate Research Assistant Program</span></a><span> competition. His winning study examined “Who Tweets Populism When?”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>Ultimately, Schar School professors gave Strasberg the mentorship and encouragement he needed to pursue a PhD, for which, he said, he is grateful. “Their help was immeasurable,” he said.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN"><span>For Strasberg, the ultimate goal is to become like the influential professors who helped shape his way.</span></span></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/2641" hreflang="en">public administration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17941" hreflang="en">PhD Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17786" hreflang="en">Schar School News April 2023</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/481" hreflang="en">Graduation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</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="2665d621-6eae-419f-b527-6db57a2b91f4"> <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="a1add594-0126-4893-93d5-55ab52ed0363"> <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/jvictor3" hreflang="und">Jennifer N. Victor</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/emcglinc" hreflang="und">Eric McGlinchey</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lnunez6" hreflang="und">Lucas Núñez</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="896737d3-cf95-4fdf-b0ee-ab20fb7f9454" 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-334491c9dc8e9bd16db72d059ce97ee8c5cbd876a5b3b1eed0c7045e4b233bcb"> <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">鶹Ƶ 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 鶹Ƶ 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 鶹Ƶ 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 鶹Ƶ’s 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, 26 Apr 2023 12:59:35 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 105156 at