College of Humanities and Social Sciences

University Libraries announces Samaine Lockwood is 2026 Fenwick Fellow

lclarkg — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:44:18 +0000

University Libraries announces Samaine Lockwood is 2026 Fenwick Fellow lclarkg Tue, 01/27/2026 - 10:44

University Libraries has named Samaine Lockwood, associate professor of English, the 2026 Fenwick Fellow.

Lockwood’s research project, Tituba Indian: The History of an American Cultural Figure, will further her work on a monograph of this title. Tituba Indian was the first person accused of practicing witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, and she was an enslaved woman of color.

Samaine Lockwood, associate professor of English and 2026 Fenwick Fellow. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The Salem witch trials have been a popular subject for literary re-creation since the early 19th century. Lockwood's book will provide the first comprehensive account of this literary history by focusing on the role Tituba Indian has played within this body of literature and examining the cultural work that women of color are called on to perform in relation to theories of democracy, citizenship, and belonging.

Lockwood taught the English Honors seminar The Witches of American Literature in fall 2024, which explored representations of the witch in American culture from the Civil War to the 21st century, particularly in the long shadow of the Salem Witch Trials.

“The witch is a powerful and enduring cultural figure in large part because women continue to struggle with multiple and intersecting forms of structural discrimination, and the culture at large continues to grapple with questions of what is permissible in terms of womanhood and women's freedom,” Lockwood said.

The witch, according to Lockwood, is frequently cast as a figure of rebellion against existing power structures.

The course came about as a result of the research Lockwood was conducting on how Tituba Indian was represented in U.S. culture from 1820 to present.

“Tituba is an important figure through which to think about gender, race, and civic belonging as they coalesce in America,” said Lockwood. “Her presence in cultural representations of Salem witchcraft complicate the often white-dominant narrative about witches in the U.S. and women of color in New England history.”

Lockwood has gone on to develop and teach other courses based on this research, including a graduate-level course designed to introduce graduate students, many of whom are public school teachers, to new approaches for teaching Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, which continues to form part of the public school curriculum.

Lockwood’s fellowship will include an immersive trip to Salem, Massachusetts, as well as the purchase of key works to enhance the University Libraries’ collections, supporting research and relevant courses for students.

Lockwood will present on the outcomes of this project at a future Fenwick Fellow Lecture.

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George �鶹��Ƶ alumna joins Spanberger's team

ckearney — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:11:04 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alumna joins Spanberger's team ckearney Thu, 01/15/2026 - 12:11

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has named �鶹��Ƶ alumna Gerica Goodman director of legislative affairs. Goodman, who earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from George �鶹��Ƶ in 2012 and a master of public administration (MPA) degree in 2015, is the governor’s principal point person for interacting with the General Assembly and coordinating the administration’s legislative strategy.

Gerica Goodman. Photo by Office of University Branding

In 2020, Goodman, who worked in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Admissions and Alumni Relations offices as a student and after graduation, became the first Black woman to serve in the post of legislative and policy director for the Virginia Speaker of the House.

“I'm not surprised at her place in government,” said James Burroughs, former director of George �鶹��Ƶ's MPA Program. “She has earned her position through intelligence and hard work.”

Goodman, he said, “possesses two rare talents. She combines a keen intellect with excellent people skills. It isn't easy to unpack a proposed law and explain it in plain English to regular folks or to take an idea and turn it into legislation. Even more important, she has earned the trust of people in power as an honest broker.”

Goodman said in a 2020 interview that her MPA degree comes in handy on a daily basis.

“One of my favorite classes was Program Evaluation,” she said, adding that it was taught by an adjunct who was also “a bureaucrat’s bureaucrat,” a senior analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office. “The class looked at government programs and took them apart and evaluated them, which is essentially what I do for bills and government agencies.”

She admitted to being “kind of a boring person who likes the legal print on the back of anything, and I like legal jargon,” she said. “Reading bills seems like a daunting process, but I always find something really interesting.”

Always?

“We had a bill about milk, about not calling anything that’s not derived from a dairy cow ‘milk.’ I find stuff like that super interesting,” she said.

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Q&A with Ali Reza Manouchehri, Winter Commencement 2025 Speaker

Katarina Benson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:07:25 +0000

Q&A with Ali Reza Manouchehri, Winter Commencement 2025 Speaker Katarina Benson Thu, 12/11/2025 - 14:07

MetroStar co-founder and chief executive officer Ali Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ’99, is the featured speaker at �鶹��Ƶ’s Winter Commencement on December 18. Here he talks about his George �鶹��Ƶ experience, his company’s partnership with the university, and his advice for new graduates.

Are there any lessons or experiences from your time at George �鶹��Ƶ that inform your life (work or otherwise) today?

The most important experience George �鶹��Ƶ provided was the opportunity to meet my co-founders. Robert [Santos] and I met as roommates at �鶹��Ƶ and quickly developed a bond through our shared classes and curiosity. We came of age during the early days of the dot-com boom, where the spirit of experimentation, invention, and resilience shaped our thinking. Our time at George �鶹��Ƶ gave us more than a degree, it gave us a launchpad.

�鶹��Ƶ’s environment was rich with diverse people and perspectives. We were fortunate to learn from outstanding professors across the humanities and business, which helped shape the holistic thinking behind MetroStar. Associate Professor Rose Cherubin was a major influence; I took every course she offered. Her way of unlocking creativity through logic, philosophy, and storytelling helped influence the foundation of how I view problem-solving, leadership, and innovation today.

What George �鶹��Ƶ truly offered us was the ability to customize our education and blend disciplines. That cross-pollination of thought, from engineering to philosophy to business, became a core trait of MetroStar’s culture and is something I carry forward every day.

Can you share a favorite George �鶹��Ƶ memory?

One of my favorite and most pivotal memories was how Rob and I became roommates. At the time, I was living with a wrestler, and my suitemates were also on the wrestling team. Rob was living with a new wrestling recruit. One day, my roommate Ben asked me to speak with Coach [Brian] Shaffer, next thing I know, I moved downstairs, the wrestling recruit moved upstairs, and Rob and I ended up as roommates.

That move changed everything. We bonded quickly, exchanged ideas constantly, and soon began building what would later become MetroStar. That memory reminds me how spontaneous connections can become life-changing partnerships. It’s also a perfect metaphor for what we want to recreate with our partnership, bringing students from different disciplines together to spark the unexpected.

MetroStar’s partnership with George �鶹��Ƶ offers some incredible opportunities for our students. Please speak about your inspiration to enter into the partnership, and what you look forward to most in working with the College of Engineering and Computing and the Costello College of Business.

The inspiration behind this partnership is deeply personal. When we founded MetroStar, Rob was in the business school, I was studying humanities, and our third co-founder, Pirooz Javan, BS Systems Engineering ’02, was a computer science major. The DNA of MetroStar was born out of these intersections—engineering, creativity, and business.

In many ways, this partnership is our opportunity to give back and pay it forward. We’ve always found ways to stay engaged with �鶹��Ƶ, through internships, sponsored courses, events, and hackathons, even when we were bootstrapped and building. But this three-year partnership is different. It brings two decades of lived experience, lessons, and growth to the forefront.

What excites us most is creating structured opportunities for students to collaborate across disciplines and experience what we once did organically: the power of “accidental collisions.” We hope to spark those chance meetings, innovative projects, and unexpected friendships that can turn into start-ups, solutions, and careers.

What do graduates need to know about harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) regardless of their field, and how do you see AI impacting the job market? 

AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a mindset shift. It’s changing how we approach problems, unlock creativity, and imagine what’s possible. Whether you're in health care, the arts, business, or public service, the ability to understand and thoughtfully apply AI will become foundational to your career. You don’t need to be a machine learning expert to harness its power, but you do need to be curious, adaptable, and willing to engage with it meaningfully. 

One of the most important new skills is learning how to prompt AI, how to ask the right questions, frame the right challenges, and steer the outputs in useful directions. Prompting is quickly becoming a core competency, both personally and professionally. Knowing how to effectively communicate with AI, whether it’s for brainstorming, writing, analysis, or planning is like having a new kind of literacy that will only grow more essential. 

What AI does best is free us to focus on what makes us uniquely human: creativity, judgment, empathy, reasoning, and innovation. The future won’t be AI vs. Humans: it will be AI + Humans. The people who learn how to integrate AI into their workflows, whether to make faster decisions, personalize experiences, or generate new ideas, will have an edge. 

You’ve stayed involved at the university in various capacities. How is it mutually beneficial for George �鶹��Ƶ alumni to stay engaged with their alma mater? 

Staying connected to George �鶹��Ƶ is like plugging back into the source of your original spark. 

When alumni engage, whether by mentoring students, guest lecturing, sponsoring events, or collaborating on research, they’re not just giving back. They’re staying sharp. They’re reconnecting with fresh perspectives, new ideas, and the energy that comes from being around passionate, hungry students. 

It’s a two-way street. Students gain real-world insight and inspiration; alumni get renewed purpose and fresh perspective. What has always made George �鶹��Ƶ special is the diversity of thinking across disciplines of business, engineering, humanities, and sciences and how that fuels creative problem-solving. The more we stay connected, the stronger that ecosystem becomes, and the more meaningful innovation takes root and grows beyond the classroom.  

Finally, if you could offer any advice to a George �鶹��Ƶ student, what would it be?

My advice is simple: Stay curious and mix it up. If you’re studying AI, take a philosophy course, maybe even one on pre-Socratic thinkers. If you’re an engineer, take a business class. If you’re a business major, dive into the humanities or computer science.

Some of the greatest breakthroughs come from the intersection of disciplines. Don’t just follow a linear path. Explore. Take electives that challenge your thinking and expand your worldview. Meet people outside your major. �鶹��Ƶ today offers more opportunities and resources than we ever had, so maximize them. This university is full of goodness—you just have to stay curious enough to discover it.

Discover more on Philosophy at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Global affairs grad encourages others to give back to their communities

Katarina Benson — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:17:17 +0000

Global affairs grad encourages others to give back to their communities Katarina Benson Wed, 12/10/2025 - 14:17

Tereana Battle can look back on many accomplishments during her time at �鶹��Ƶ, but one of the memories that gives her the most satisfaction is her capstone project, creating an anti-bullying workshop for middle school students.

With her workshop, she helped equip students in Loudoun County with cultural competency skills so they can treat one another with kindness and respect.

A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Battle is graduating this month with a bachelor’s degree in global affairs.

Battle said giving back to the community is important to her because as a young person she sought out mentorship and guidance and wanted to provide that for other students. During her time at George �鶹��Ƶ, she served as a Patriot Leader, helping new students and their families make the transition to college through Orientation and other programs.

Battle also participated in the Bonner Leadership Program, which combines exploration of citizenship and democracy studies with civic engagement through work at community agencies. “Not only did it help me with my vocational experiences, but also allowed me to continue to study full time as an undergraduate student,” she said.

At an internship with Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington provided Battle with another opportunity for service. There, she learned about immigration policy while assisting families.

Battle also took advantage of many of the student services the university offers, including the Writing Center, career readiness and success coaching.

“With the Writing Center, I was able to create my goal statement, and with my goal statement, I was able to get into the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Program within the Schar School, which is highly competitive,” Battle said. She plans to pursue a master of public administration.

She served in Student Government and worked as an access services student assistant for the University Libraries. She also studied in Spain through the Global Gateway scholarship program, living with a host family and improving her Spanish language skills.

She was also a member of Every Nation on Campus, or ENC, a faith-based group.

She encourages current and future Patriots to find clubs that align with their passion and values.

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From rugby pitch to classroom, this Patriot is redefining what success means to him

ckearney — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:53:54 +0000

From rugby pitch to classroom, this Patriot is redefining what success means to him ckearney Mon, 12/08/2025 - 11:53

At 26, Max Dacey enrolled at �鶹��Ƶ with a singular goal: to earn his degree quickly and better support his family. A former competitive rugby player, he didn’t imagine a traditional college experience. His plan was to take classes, stay focused, “get the paper, and get out,” he said.

However, a year and a half later, the public relations major from Alexandria, Virginia, is graduating with far more than he expected: new confidence, a renewed sense of purpose, and a community that shaped the way he sees himself as a student, coach, and leader.

Fitting in as a contemporary student

Dacey’s decision to enroll was guided by a mentor from his hometown—a George �鶹��Ƶ alum who urged him to return to school and reconnect with the university’s rugby program.

Once he entered the classroom, the sense of belonging broadened. “In my first class, a lot of students were above the age of 23 and talked about who they were outside of class,” he said. “I immediately felt like part of a community. The professors cared about my opinion, which was uplifting.”

Over time, Dacey uncovered strengths he hadn’t seen in himself. “I did not know that my critical analysis was as good as it is,” he said. In a rhetoric course last spring, his professor noted how consistently he identified metaphors and underlying connections—insights he hadn’t even realized he was making.

Max Dacey (far right) with the rugby team. Photo provided

Returning to school also gave him something he hadn’t had in his professional life: time to pause, think, and dig deeply into ideas. George �鶹��Ƶ’s classroom environment offered the space to stretch intellectually and write about what mattered to him. One of his favorite assignments was a critical analysis of The Lord of the Rings, a series he has loved for years. Approaching it from a scholarly angle, dissecting its metaphors, themes, and world-building, was “challenging and energizing,” he said.

That shift, he realized, was transformative. It wasn’t simply about meeting degree requirements; it was about learning to think hard, ask questions, and make connections.

Coaching, leadership, and community

Throughout his student experience, rugby remained his anchor. Dacey first joined the club sports program as an assistant coach, eventually stepping into the head coach role. Leading teammates close to his age brought complexity along with humor.

“I didn't like being called ‘coach,’” he said with a laugh. “I joked with them, ‘I’m teaching you rugby because that’s what I’m good at. But if you tutor me in a class, I’m not calling you Coach —we’re peers.”

Max Dacey. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

Coaching is one of his proudest accomplishments and has guided his journey in developing leadership skills. “My time at George �鶹��Ƶ as head coach,” he said, “has given me a chance to better myself outside the classroom and lead my peers in the sport I love.”

Charting his own path

As graduation approaches, Dacey is exploring his next steps with intention, looking for opportunities that align with both his public relations training and leadership experience.

Success, to him, is deeply individual. “Success means achieving your goals in a way that you’re proud of,” he said. “Everyone has different aspirations and methods. Accomplishing them in your own way is success.”

His advice to other George �鶹��Ƶ students, especially those returning to campus after time away, is grounded in his own experience. “Make as many connections as possible, attend every networking event, and have confidence in yourself,” he said. “The more you put yourself out there, the more confidence you’ll have. You’ll surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.”

Winter 2025 Commencement

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Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team

Shayla Brown — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:22:50 +0000

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team  Shayla Brown Thu, 12/04/2025 - 11:22

�鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team won the prestigious West Point Sword at the United States Military Academy’s 60th annual National Debate Tournament in West Point, New York.

“This is one of the most iconic awards in college policy debate, and it was the one title George �鶹��Ƶ Debate had never won until now,” said Jackie Poapst, director of the Debate Team. “To see our name finally engraved among the champions in the tournament’s 60th year is nothing short of historic. This moment represents six decades of legacy, and the future of excellence at George �鶹��Ƶ.”

The victory in October was one of many for the George �鶹��Ƶ varsity team this season.

George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team. Photo provided.

George �鶹��Ƶ students competed against teams from Harvard, Cornell, James Madison University, Liberty University, Binghamton University, New York University, the University of Rochester, and Suffolk University.

This year’s tournament topic was labor rights, and the George �鶹��Ƶ team had several wins on the tournament leaderboard:

Austin Davis (Communication, sophomore) and Del Gorman (Government and International Politics, sophomore) — 1st Overall Seed, undefeated, Tournament Champions
Ashley Wright (Government and International Politics, junior) and Ben Witkov (Economics, freshman) — 2nd Overall Seed, Tournament Co-Champions
Reet Taxali (Criminology, junior) and Dean Richter (Government and International Politics, senior) — 4th Overall Seed, Elite Eight
Brenda Reyes (Conflict Analysis and Resolution, senior) and Amira Shananier (Computational and Data Science, senior) — 7th Overall Seed, Elite Eight

George �鶹��Ƶ debaters also triumphed as individual speakers, winning four of the top five speaker awards, with Davis taking first place.

Students from George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate team accepting the West Point Sword. Photo provided.

“I told my coaches last year after losing in the finals that it was ‘Sword or bust’ this season. To win it with Del and to do it for George �鶹��Ƶ Debate, it’s a dream realized,” said Davis, who is also a teaching assistant for the writing-intensive course COMM 300 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism.

Other students placing individually were Witkov at 3rd, Gorman at 4th, and Wright at 5th.

Reyes also serves as the team’s social events coordinator.

“We've been going to this tournament every single year, and our director has always been our biggest supporter. I’m so proud of my team's hard work and dedication. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy,” said Reyes, who is in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

“My partner Amira and I centered our debate on marginalized populations often neglected in labor rights,” said Reyes, who also serves as vice president of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law and Government Fraternity. “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act] therefore, do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases. This makes teams start to question what they can do for migrant laborers who are undocumented, who we believe are the backbone of America.”

One of Reyes’ takeaways from this experience is that as a senior, her time on the team is winding down.

“The moments of working together to achieve our team's goal of earning the West Point Sword will always be a special core debate memory,” said Reyes. “These memories from supporting our George �鶹��Ƶ team, no matter the results, are what matter the most.” “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act]; therefore, they do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases."

George �鶹��Ƶ’s performance was described by tournament officials as “one of the most comprehensive team showings in recent memory.”

“This win means everything to our students,” Poapst said. “They have proven that teamwork, resilience, and belief in each other can quite literally make history.”

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Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research

Shayla Brown — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:40:07 +0000

Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research Shayla Brown Mon, 12/01/2025 - 10:40

In This Story

Alyssa Bivins

Makayla Johnson

Rania Zaied, a fourth-year PhD student in �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Communication, has won first-place at the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, an engaging event that showcases the innovative research of doctoral candidates. She will advance to the 2026 regional competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hosted by the Council of Southern Graduate Schools. 

3MT first place winner Rania Zaied (left) with Stephanie Bluth. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

The competition took place on November 7, 2025, and was organized by the Graduate Division of the Provost’s Office. The competition invites PhD students from various schools and colleges within the university to present their research in a concise and compelling format. 

Students from the College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Humanities and Social Science, College of Public Health, and College of Science participated, presenting their chosen research topics with a single slide and a strict three-minute time limit. A panel of eight judges evaluated the presentations. 

This year, the doctoral candidates explored a diverse range of topics, including the integration of Gen-AI in K-12 classrooms and novel approaches to combating bacteria and biofilms. The competition concluded with the following winners: 

First Place: Rania Zaied (CHSS): “Decoding the Joke: Muslim Representations in Comedy and Their Impact on Internalized Anti-Muslim Racism.” 
Second Place: Mahmood Almosuli (COS): “Designer Phage: The Way to Beat Bacteria and Biofilms.” 
Third Place: Rooshna Mohsin (CPH): “Balancing the Risks: Dietary and Social Predictors of PFAs Exposure and Associated Health Outcomes in Hispanic Children.” 
People’s Choice: Oakley Thomas Hill (Carter School): “The Justice Languages of America.”

The winners of the 3MT competition. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

Zaied had previously competed in a 3MT competition at James Madison University during her master’s studies and found it a rewarding experience.  

“It truly helped me share my research clearly with any audience in a way that was simple, and to the point, regardless of their background. So, I really wanted to do it again for my doctoral dissertation, and train myself to talk about my research simply and concisely,” Zaied explained. 

Zaied is conducting a qualitative study involving online interviews with Muslim audiences, utilizing thematic analysis to identify and interpret recurring themes in participants' experiences.

She attributes much of her success to the constructive feedback received from various resources at George �鶹��Ƶ, including workshops led by Graduate Professional and Career Development Program Coordinator Alyssa Bivins, preliminary round feedback from judges, and consultations with her mentor Melissa Broeckelman-Post and Communication Center staff.

“I also attended a practice session with Dr. Bivins and Makayla Johnson, who provided valuable feedback regarding clarity for a general audience, body language, and word choices in my speech,” said Zaied, who has a concentration in strategic communications.

With the support of George �鶹��Ƶ’s resources, Zaied polished her presentation through continuous practice and refinement.  

“Some feedback might have been small tweaks here and there, but all of it together truly brought my speech a long way from where it had started and really made a huge difference,” she said.  

“I’m very excited to move forward to the regional competition and represent �鶹��Ƶ there,” she said. 

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Veteran alumna pays it forward after soaking up 'great' college experience

Katarina Benson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:32:49 +0000

Veteran alumna pays it forward after soaking up 'great' college experience Katarina Benson Mon, 11/10/2025 - 14:32

When Tiffany Taylor, BS Criminology, Law and Society ’20, enrolled at �鶹��Ƶ, she expected her college experience to look different than most.

An Army veteran and single parent with three school-aged children, Taylor was responsible for multiple schedules. But, over the next two years, she was still able to capitalize on the opportunities at George �鶹��Ƶ—attending classes on campus, getting involved in her program and classmates’ projects, participating in internships, and embarking on two study-abroad trips.

Not only did she soak up every minute of the college experience, but today she mentors current College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) students, advocating for nontraditional students.

“I often say that because I was a nontraditional [student] and had outside responsibilities with my children, a lot of times it felt like I was just on campus for class and I would leave,” Taylor said. “But when I sit and reflect on it, I had a great experience at �鶹��Ƶ, and I tapped into almost everything that was available.”

Taylor, BS Criminology, Law and Society ’20. Photo provided

Originally from New York, Taylor served as an intelligence analyst in the Army for more than seven years. She briefed senior-level commanders and staff for both Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Stateside, subsequent trainings moved Taylor and her family to bases in Missouri, Arizona, Georgia, and finally, to nearby Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

She imagined herself making a career out of the military, but, in 2011, she was forced to medically retire due to kidney complications.

“It was bittersweet having to leave the military and readjust to civilian life,” she said. “But I believe everything happens for a reason.”

After earning her associate’s degree at Northern Virginia Community College and working several odd jobs to help her family, Taylor decided to return to school and pursue her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer.

Taylor enjoyed being able taking classes on campus—both during the day and in the evening. She also appreciated how accommodating her professors in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society (CLS) were with her schedule as a single parent, understanding if she had to miss a class because of a conflict or welcoming and interacting with her two younger sons, who were in elementary and middle school.

Being on campus also gave her access to a variety of programs and projects, including an internship in the D.C. Office of Police Complaints and a role in a research study. She played a prosecutor in a guilty plea negotiation research study conducted by a PhD candidate in the Modeling Decision-Making in the Legal System (MoDiLs) Laboratory.

She heard about the opportunity from Allison Redlich, Distinguished University Professor and associate chair of Department of Criminology, Law and Society, who runs the lab. Redlich served as a mentor to Taylor, opening her eyes to a new career path in her capstone writing class.

“That capstone writing research class on wrongful convictions really opened my eyes and changed the whole trajectory of my law career and future,” said Taylor, who originally wanted to pursue entertainment law. “It just geared me toward public interest.”

Taylor’s curiosity, willingness to learn, and desire to improve made her an ideal student, Redlich said. The two stay in contact, with Taylor often reaching out to her former professor for advice or help on her writing.

“She had very clear career goals, and she did so much to achieve those goals even when life throws you a bunch of curves,” Redlich said. “She just kept going. I always found that extremely impressive.”

But perhaps just as impactful as her program was the opportunity to study overseas. A visit from members of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Global Education Office to one of Taylor’s classes showed her that studying abroad was a possibility.

Over the holiday break two years in a row, and with her parents able to watch her children, she participated in two three-week experiences. First, she went to Tanzania and Zanzibar for a course on human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The next year, she traveled to Germany, Hungary, and Austria for a course on post-war and justice that focused on art recovery after the Nuremberg Trials.

On the heels of challenging medical issues, in what she described as an emotional time in her life, Taylor called the trips “life-changing” and expressed gratitude toward the Veteran Affairs scholarships she received to help pay for the trip.

Now, she looks to give back as she starts the next chapter of her career. She graduated from law school at Drexel University in Philadelphia in May and recently took the uniform bar examination with aspirations to practice law in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, perhaps as a public defender.

“I’m a big advocate for nontraditional students and older individuals going back to school, individuals like myself, from underserved or impoverished neighborhoods that never would have thought they could have gone to college,” said Taylor, who serves as a friend of the CHSS alumni chapter board. “The opportunities I have had at George �鶹��Ƶ, the doors it has opened... I’m a big advocate for letting people know. I’m very grateful for going the extra step.”

Learn more about George �鶹��Ƶ Alumni

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum and Marine Corps veteran enters new role as president of University of West Georgia

Shayla Brown — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:02:59 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum and Marine Corps veteran enters new role as president of University of West Georgia Shayla Brown Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:02

�鶹��Ƶ alumnus and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Christopher Michael “Mike” Johnson, MAIS ’11, was recently appointed University of West Georgia’s ninth president. He stepped into his new role on August 1.

Johnson’s selection followed a national search led by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which named him the sole finalist in May before appointing him in June.

“It’s always a bit of a transition period having a new president come to a university with new goals and visions, but the north star will always be our students. Student success is our no-excuse priority,” said Johnson.

Michael Johnson. Photo by the University of West Georgia,

This role is the culmination of Johnson’s 20+ year career in higher education. In addition to his work at George �鶹��Ƶ, where he started a program that became the university’s Office of Military Services, Johnson has held leadership roles at Purdue and Northern Virginia Community College. Most recently he served as chief of staff at the University of Houston System and the University of Houston, where he also earned a PhD in higher education leadership and policy studies.

George �鶹��Ƶ was Johnson’s first job after transitioning out of the military.

“There was a wave of veterans like myself starting to come back to college campuses. The Office of Military Services allowed me one foot into the military space and one foot in the higher education space,” said Johnson.

“Although it was a transition period, I was still able to engage with a body of people that I felt comfortable around while helping them navigate their college experience. I feel honored to be a part of that growth of the university towards supporting veterans,” he said.

Johnson, a first-generation college graduate, accomplished a lot as a student and an administrator during his time on the Fairfax Campus, and he said his perspective as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps has influenced his leadership style and approach to service and resilience.

While he and his wife, Beth, MA Strategic Communication ’12, raised their family, they also took classes while working full-time at George �鶹��Ƶ. While Mike was advocating for veterans, Beth worked as a communications manager for the university’s fund-raising efforts in the office now called the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations.

“Beth and I pursued grad school at the same time. We had a small child and had to move in with her parents, but I think that work-life balance was certainly made easier by George �鶹��Ƶ,” said Johnson. “Because the university had one of the best education benefits for its employees, they basically took away all of the reasons for me to say ‘I don’t have time.’”

Recently the College of Humanities and Social Sciences recognized Johnson for his dedication to student success, institutional advancement, and strategic leadership with the 2025 MAIS Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I can’t think of a greater honor than to come back to my alma mater and be recognized for the excellent work that I’ve been doing. The College of Humanities and Social Science provided a critical base of knowledge for me to draw upon as I was pursuing my PhD work,” he said. “And even today, I think those lessons learned have served me well in my current role.

“I don't think I truly appreciated my time at George �鶹��Ƶ fully until I stepped into this role,” Johnson said. “And I find myself from time to time reflecting on those experiences with my leadership team and the lessons that I observed as the university was maturing and have brought those experiences here to the University of West Georgia.”

Reporting by Jerome Boettcher contributed to this article.

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