public administration

Introducing a New Minor in Lobbying and Advocacy—and Meet the Student Who Helped Create It

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:23:33 +0000

Introducing a New Minor in Lobbying and Advocacy—and Meet the Student Who Helped Create It Andrew J Schappert Thu, 03/12/2026 - 13:23

A new Schar School of Policy and Government undergraduate minor debuts in fall 2026: Lobbying and Advocacy is an interdisciplinary minor that develops students' understanding of policy institutions and industries, and how to influence both as a professional advocate.

Zayd Hamid: ‘It came down to building the program I wish I had access to as an undergraduate.’ Photo provided

The program, one of only two in the country and the only one in the Washington, D.C., region, will offer opportunities for experiential learning, including field projects, internships at key Washington, D.C., firms, and the �鶹��Ƶ’s annual grassroots advocacy trip �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies to the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia.

The course was codeveloped by Schar School Term Professor David K. Rehr, professor of public policy and director of the Center for Business Civic Engagement, and Zayd Hamid, a master of public policy student (with an emphasis in education policy), over a multiyear process.

Rehr, a former longtime advocate for major nonprofit organizations including the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, is happy to share the inspiration for the course with Hamid, who had the idea as an undergraduate in the Schar School’s public administration program.

“He drafted the outline of the minor and I adjusted it to maximize value for students from various George �鶹��Ƶ departments whose students could benefit,” he said. Students in degree programs including business, communication, conflict analysis and resolution, environmental and sustainability studies, economics, and other fields would find lobbying skills useful.

“Given our location near Washington, D.C., the minor will be taught by a stable of top academics and practitioners, and graduates will be prepared to advocate effectively for meaningful and efficient change, even if they do not become full-time lobbyists themselves,” he said.

“The government,” Rehr added, “is increasingly becoming more involved in the activities of businesses, nonprofits, and other industries and professionals who understand the advocacy process who can provide innovative solutions will be increasingly valuable to their employers.”

David K. Rehr: ‘Given our location near Washington, D.C., the minor will be taught by a stable of top academics and practitioners, and graduates will be prepared to advocate effectively for meaningful and efficient change …’

For Hamid, the minor is personal. As his graduation approached in spring 2024, the proudly first-generation college student began thinking less about what he had accomplished as a student and more about what he would leave behind.

His college accomplishments were substantial, among them, discovering advocacy through �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies, serving as a panelist for a congressional staff briefing on financial aid, and being named the inaugural National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics Student Advocate of the Year, an award he dedicated to Rehr.

“The nexus between all those pivotal moments in my undergraduate years was taking Dr. Rehr’s GOVT 318 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process class,” Hamid said. “I am a direct product of the wisdom and industry insights he shared with me and of the mentorship and support he’s given me over the years…. His class and �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies shaped the trajectory of my undergraduate experience, cultivating my interest in policy into a passion for education advocacy.”

As he considered what he could leave as a legacy, the answer became clear: “It came down to building the program I wish I had access to as an undergraduate,” he said.

Hamid, who is a graduate professional assistant with George �鶹��Ƶ’s University Life, is cochair of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Student Advisory Committee, the commonwealth’s coordinating agency for higher education. That latter role, alongside his previous experience as the student representative on the education integrity advisory �鶹��Ƶ Core Committee, accustomed him to academic program policies at a state and institutional level. This positioned him to support his and Rehr's proposal through George �鶹��Ƶ's internal processes, culminating in a final vote by the Undergraduate Council in December, clearing the way for inclusion in the catalog in fall 2026

The proposal’s review was expedited and streamlined amid political shifts in Washington, which, to Hamid’s mind, created opportunities for employment for graduates.

“Federal furloughs and a changing Washington, D.C, policy landscape have resulted in more students exploring careers outside of—but adjacent to—Congress and the White House,” he said. “So, this minor also helps the Schar School meet the moment and respond to a shifting job market.”

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Meet the Undergrad Who Is Headed to a PhD Program: Andrew Strasberg

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 12:59:35 +0000

Meet the Undergrad Who Is Headed to a PhD Program: Andrew Strasberg Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/26/2023 - 08:59

Andrew Strasberg and the poster for his first-place research project. Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Not every undergraduate can leap from a bachelor of science degree to a highly rated PhD program, but that is what graduating Schar School of Policy and Government student Andrew Strasberg has done.

Strasberg is currently in his final semester at �鶹��Ƶ, finishing up his bachelor of science degree in public administration, 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.

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.

“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.”

Strasberg’s entry to a PhD program was facilitated by Schar School professors: ‘Their help was immeasurable.’

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.

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 Jennifer Victor, 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.

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.

In addition to benefiting his application profile, he also found that he liked the courses.

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.

“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.”

Under the mentorship of Victor, as well as Schar School professors Lucas Núñez and Eric McGlinchey, Strasberg presented his original research at the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chicago in 2022 and 2023. His first conference presentation began as a paper assignment in McGlinchey’s graduate research design course. The paper, “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.

This semester, Strasberg won first place in the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program competition. His winning study examined “Who Tweets Populism When?”

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.

For Strasberg, the ultimate goal is to become like the influential professors who helped shape his way.

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A Busy Day: Two Schar School Learning Communities Tour Capitol, DOJ

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:50:35 +0000

A Busy Day: Two Schar School Learning Communities Tour Capitol, DOJ Andrew J Schappert Thu, 03/30/2023 - 11:50

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Democracy Lab students take in the Rotunda of the Capitol building. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

As the famed Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms reached their peak bloom on a chilly Friday in late March, two groups of students from the Schar School of Policy and Government made the trip from �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus to destinations in the nation’s capital. The nearly 50-or-so undergraduates making the visits represented two Schar School learning communities: While Democracy Lab took to Capitol Hill, the Jurisprudence Learning Community spent most of the day at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Members of the Democracy Lab and Lab director Jennifer Victor, center in green, pose on the Capitol steps. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Democracy Lab Sees House Vote

With Congress in session, the day started with the �鶹��Ƶ students seeing all 435 members of the House of Representatives at once on the House floor. For some, it was a dazzling sight.

“It’s crazy to see all of the people you see in the media right in front of you,” said first-year government and international politics (GVIP) major Zane Ryan-Hart, taking in the view. He and classmates were intrigued as they witnessed several floor votes take place, in effect moving proposals on their way into laws.

The tour, a first-time visit for most of the students, took in the Capitol Galleries, the majestic domed Rotunda, and the museum at the visitor center before dining in the Capitol cafeteria for lunch.

Robinson Professor of Public Affairs Steven Pearlstein and Schar School associate professor Jennifer Victor led the group and gave the students insights into political life on the Hill. The tour was joined by two current Schar School students currently interning in the House: GVIP major Aidan Jacobs works with U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), and public administration major Will Dagle is appointed to the office of Zach Nunn (R-IA). The legislative interns gave the students insights as to how a congressional office works and how to land an internship on the Hill.

While some students arranged meetings with their home district representatives in advance, Connecticut native Joey Rizzo, a freshman majoring in public administration, unexpectedly met his representative Jim Himes (D-CN) in the Capitol’s marble hallway. “It was cool—I got to shake his hand,” Rizzo said. On second thought, “I should have taken a photo!”

Jonathan Wroblewski, principal deputy assistant attorney general, addresses the Jurisprudence Learning Community students at the Department of Justice. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

The tour ended with another missed photo opportunity involving a small dog: Students stopped to pet the adorable canine, but first asked the owner for permission. It turns out it was Deco, the French bulldog being walked by his owner, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). AOC and Deco appreciated the attention.

Federal Lawyers Meet with Jurisprudence LC

Attorney General Merrick Garland was on the agenda, but he was understandably caught up in headline-making decisions. Instead, 24 students from �鶹��Ƶ’s Jurisprudence Learning Community (JPLC) visiting the Department of Justice on Pennsylvania Avenue spent the afternoon with Garland’s engaging chief of staff, Matt Klapper, enjoyed a surprise drop-in visit from Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the very busy Southern District of New York, and experienced an extended question-and-answer session with Jonathan Wroblewski, principal deputy assistant attorney general and head of the Office of Legal Policy, the attorney general’s main policy advisor.

Those conversations came on the heels of the JPLC’s own visit to the Capitol where they had meetings in the Russell Senate Office Building with John Connolly, counsel to U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ryan Raybould, chief counsel to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

Each meeting with distinguished attorneys provided new layers of understanding as to how the DOJ operates and how lawyers become federal authorities.

Klapper caught students’ attention when he revealed he began his career as a firefighter before dovetailing into advising for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NY). For his part, Williams was emphatic in stressing that the students should do “something that brings you joy” in the legal field. “I don’t do this for money,” the prosecutor said, “I do it for joy, for performing a public service.”

Wroblewski, a former adjunct at the George �鶹��Ƶ School of Law (now the Antonin Scalia Law School), afforded an engaging conversation detailing a career in law, from how to determine the best practice suited for the would-be lawyer to how careers and their benchmarks for success change over time.

Sophomore GVIP student Miranda Céspedes, reflecting on her first visit to the wood-paneled rooms of the historic 1935 Art Deco building, said the federal attorneys confirmed that “I have various different avenues that I can go forward with once I get my law degree. It's definitely in my future,” she said.

Jurisprudence Learning Community students and JPLC director Ally Coll, center in white, pose for a parting shot at the DOJ. Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

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What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:11:03 +0000

What Drives a Sports Fan? Researching the Rise of ‘Ultras’ in European Soccer Andrew J Schappert Thu, 10/27/2022 - 11:11

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Andrew Strasberg. ‘His work has the potential to become integrated into a broader body of literature,’ said mentor Jennifer N. Victor.

For Andrew Strasberg, the game of soccer has always been a focal point of his life. When the Schar School senior was tasked with completing a research project for a graduate level research class, his topic of choice was a rather easy decision.

Strasberg, a bachelor of science in public administration major, combined his love of soccer with his interest in politics in a unique way. His project, “Hooligans or Honchos? Developing a Political Theory of European Ultra-ism,” explores the sociopolitical phenomenon of ultras, a type of sports fan renowned for ultra-fanatical support. Strasberg explores the existing research on ultras and proposes new methods of analysis to develop “a causal explanation of ultra-ism and its associated violence in Europe,” he said.

Strasberg’s project came into fruition with the help of Schar School Associate Professors Eric McGlinchey and Jennifer N. Victor. Strasberg created his proposal in fall 2021 while taking GOVT 500, a graduate scientific method and research design class taught by McGlinchey, who offered valuable mentorship. (�鶹��Ƶ allows undergraduates to take 500- and 600-level courses with an instructor’s permission. “I was just interested in the class,” Strasberg said.)

While working for Victor in the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP), she encouraged him to submit his proposal to the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) for consideration and served as his mentor throughout the latter half of the year.

Victor says that Strasberg’s timely work is important, now and in the future.

“The study of political violence and the ways in which humans get attracted to groups that become violent is a very important topic,” she said. “His work has the potential to become integrated into a broader body of literature that helps us understand the conditions under which people turn to violence to achieve political goals.”

After his project was accepted, Strasberg joined Victor and other Schar School faculty in Chicago at the MPSA conference in April 2022. He presented his research during an undergraduate poster session and met other like-minded students also exhibiting important work.

Victor says it is rare for undergraduates to present at political science conferences such as the MPSA meeting. Strasberg said the experience allowed him to meet informed academics who offered invaluable feedback on his work.

He advises prospective or current Schar School students interested in research opportunities to pursue them.

“Do it!” he said. “Look for projects that allow you to push the boundaries of what you know and can do already. A lot of people don’t realize how willing and able professors are to help, and will go out of their way to see you succeed.”

Strasberg is now including his successful proposal in his personal statement for PhD applications. He said his class with McGlinchey and the entire URAP program provided “professionalizing resources” and gave him confidence in future endeavors.

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‘How Washington Really Works’: A Collaborative Class with the University of Pennsylvania

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 21:05:14 +0000

‘How Washington Really Works’: A Collaborative Class with the University of Pennsylvania Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/07/2021 - 16:05

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Steven Pearlstein. Photo by Creative Services

A first-ever course taught by political insiders arrives during the spring 2022 semester that will help students understand how politics is accomplished in the nation’s capital. And it takes place on Capitol Hill.

GOVT 467: Issues in Economic Policy—also known as “How Washington Really Works”—features Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist and �鶹��Ƶ Robinson Professor of Public Affairs Steven Pearlstein and Zeke Emmanuel, former health care advisor for President Obama and now the vice provost for global initiatives and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Emmanuel, Pearlstein said, “thought it would be fun to teach a course about how Washington really works and he suggested we do it together. I said, that's a great idea but there's a little problem: Your school is in Pennsylvania and my school is in Virginia.”

As it happens, Penn operates the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement on Constitution Avenue, just blocks from the Capitol. The idea, Pearlstein said, was that “we could teach the course in Washington and we could have the students from Penn come south and the ones from [�鶹��Ƶ] come north.”

Zeke Emmanuel. Photo by Candace di Carlo

The Friday classes will feature special speakers who will elaborate on insights of eight case studies the course will explore. Cases range from the 1957 Civil Rights Act to welfare reform to Obamacare. According to the course description, “policy debates, political dealing, and the motivations and ambitions of politicians and policy makers will be examined, along with the roles of interest groups, think-tanks, and the media.” (Lunch and Metro fare will be provided to each student.)

In the final weeks, students working in groups of politically like-minded colleagues, will be tasked with creating comprehensive and politically-realistic policy proposals related to immigration, poverty, and taxes.

“Our aim is for [students] to not be cynical about how policy is made but to be realistic,” Pearlstein said of the goal of the course.

Ultimately, students will understand how public policy is achieved when stakeholders have competing interests.

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Introducing a New Minor in Lobbying and Advocacy—and Meet the Student Who Helped Create It

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