Alumni

A Life Without Borders: Mark Flanigan’s Global Career in Teaching and Service

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:32:44 +0000

A Life Without Borders: Mark Flanigan’s Global Career in Teaching and Service Andrew J Schappert Mon, 02/02/2026 - 16:32

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Mark Flanigan never set out to build a career defined by borders. Over time, however, teaching and volunteering overseas became the connective thread in a life shaped by service, curiosity, and reinvention.

Mark Flanigan worked in Costa Rica as a refugee resettlement officer with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). He also was posted by IOM to Qatar, Bangladesh, Ecuador, and the United States.

Eventually, his years abroad led him to graduate study at �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government, where he enrolled in the Peace Operations Program, now a concentration within the Schar School’s top-ranked Master of International Security program.

He graduated in 2006. But before that, the Pittsburgh native served as an Army officer in the 1990s, an experience that left him eager to see more of the world postmilitary.

That impulse carried him first to Mexico, where he earned a teaching certification and taught English at a small private school. It was his first extended period living outside the United States and his introduction to education as a form of cultural exchange—an experience that would quietly redirect his professional life.

Japan followed. Through the Japanese government’s Japan Exchange and Teaching program, Flanigan taught in public schools in Nagasaki, working alongside Japanese teachers to design lessons that paired language instruction with cultural context. What began as a one-year commitment became four.

“It wasn’t just about grammar,” he said. “It was about connection.”

The cohort-based experience at the Schar School, he recalled, was rigorous and serious, yet grounded in practical preparation. For Flanigan, it offered “the best of both worlds,” he said: affordability combined with training for real careers in government, nongovernmental organizations, and international work.

Mark Flanigan, right, served as a volunteer with recovery operations following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. Photos provided

Flanigan credits Schar School faculty and staff with actively guiding students through competitive pathways such as the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program, a leadership development program for the U.S. federal government. (The program was terminated last year by the Trump administration.) Selected as a PMF in 2006, Flanigan worked at the Department of Health and Human Services, spent time at the State Department, and ultimately returned to HHS, where his fellowship transitioned into full-time employment.

True to form, he did not stay still for long. Flanigan later returned to Japan, this time for graduate studies in Tokyo, followed by a year of teaching abroad in Bangladesh and a three-year stint in Arizona with AmeriCorps VISTA, before coming back to the East Coast and settling in the Washington, D.C., region.

Today, back in Arlington, Flanigan is once again in the classroom as a substitute teacher, carrying with him a global perspective shaped one lesson—and one country—at a time.

He is also reconnecting with the institution that helped launch his international career as a board member of the Schar School Alumni Chapter. “It’s a great opportunity because I’ve wanted to get reconnected to George �鶹��Ƶ,” he said.

Now, as he balances teaching, public service, and alumni engagement, Flanigan’s career comes into focus as a coherent arc—one defined by learning across cultures and giving back wherever he lands. The borders have changed, but the work remains the same: building connection, one classroom at a time.

“George �鶹��Ƶ is the best of both worlds,” he said. “A diverse, affordable university that prepares its students to bridge theory and practice while making a real, lasting difference in the world. We need that now, more than ever.”

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Master of International Security

Schar School Featured Stories

Schar School of Policy and Government

Alumni

CVPA Announces Recipients of the 2026 Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards

Emily Schneider — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:40:21 +0000

CVPA Announces Recipients of the 2026 Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards Emily Schneider Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:40

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Rick Davis

Learn �鶹��Ƶ the Young Alumni Commissioning Project

�鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announces the recipients of the seventh round of its Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards.

Two alumni were chosen based on the artistic excellence, career impact, and feasibility of their proposals and will receive financial, marketing, and production support to have their projects presented by the College at a �鶹��Ƶ Arts venue during the 2026–27 season.

“The Young Alumni Commissioning Project is one of my favorite things within the broad spectrum of �鶹��Ƶ Arts. Every year we are lucky to be able to support, from among a very competitive group of applicants, some strong and compelling works of art, and this year’s are no exception,” stated College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis. “They both happen to live in the film area this time, a testament to the vitality and accomplishment of that program and its graduates.”

Kenge BaNikongo (BA Theater, BA Film and Video Studies '21) Photo provided.

Kenge BaNikongo

BA Theater, BA Film and Video Studies ’21

Kenge BaNikongo received the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for Wingz. A comedy-drama television series about fairies in the modern world, the script centers on a second-generation fairy grappling with the impacts of her magical abilities on her and her family as they navigate everyday life. The script explores the complexities of family and identity within the immigrant experience through a new lens, while incorporating a lighthearted element of fantasy. A storyteller at heart, BaNikongo wrote and directed three successful short films as a student at George �鶹��Ƶ, including Ring Ring, which was nominated for Best Writer and Best Lead Actress at the 2021 Couch Film Festival. The pilot episode script for Wingz was well-received at numerous industry festivals and competitions and will be filmed with the support of this new funding. Beyond her personal projects, she is currently a Production Coordinator for National Geographic, where BaNikongo collaborates on the development and creation of programming for National Geographic and Disney+. Thinking back about her experiences at George �鶹��Ƶ and what shaped her the most, BaNikongo remembered working to find and then refine her voice in a scriptwriting class with Professor Heather McDonald. “For the first time, I decided to write a dramedy just for fun. To my surprise, Professor McDonald really enjoyed it, and so did my family. I realized I knew what my ‘voice’ was; but I didn't think people would enjoy it. After being turned into a short film, that dramedy went on to do well in competitions and encouraged me to continue my writing journey! Now writing, acting, and directing are my passions as I continue to pursue projects that are true to my ‘voice’.”

Taj Kokayi (BA Film and Video Studies '22). Photo provided.

Taj Kokayi

BA Film and Video Studies ’22

Taj Kokayi received the Young Alumni Creative Development Award and $2,500 in commissioning support for The Ghost Writer, an Afrofuturistic body-horror short film examining the seductive and corrosive influence of generative AI on the creative process. Kokayi’s success in the Afrofuturism genre is well-documented; his 2020 experimental short, Woken From A Dream, won awards for Best Experimental and Best VFX and was selected for 15 international festivals. His follow-up film, White Mirror won awards including Best of Fest, Audience Award, and Best Short Screenplay. Kokayi is a fierce advocate for community and cooperative work, and founded an independent production company and writers group that gives young creatives an avenue to tell their own stories. Kokayi worked at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah before graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, and followed that role with a stint as an NBC Page working at Focus Features and The Tonight Show. Community was an integral element of Kokayi’s experience of George �鶹��Ƶ, “Whether it was in Black Student Alliance (BSA); the Black, African-Heritage, and Caribbean Coalition (BLACC); the Film Advisory Board; or as a Resident Advisor, I always felt like I had a family on campus. I had countless memorable experiences at �鶹��Ƶ, and it's why I considered campus a second home. That's why I felt strongly about applying to the YACP program. I know that �鶹��Ƶ takes care of their own, whether they're still on campus or not.”

Over the past six years, 20 CVPA alumni have been granted awards anywhere from $2,500–$5,000 to support the creation of a new artistic work for projects in film, dance, visual art, music, and game design. To be considered for this year’s award, applicants must have graduated from CVPA from the class of 2015 and after. Proposals could include original new work in any art form suitable for performance, exhibition, or screening in a �鶹��Ƶ Arts venue. The size, length, duration, magnitude, and content are at the artist’s discretion. Potential venues include George �鶹��Ƶ’s traditional theater spaces, galleries, and cinemas, but proposals for non-traditional venues, including digital spaces, were also considered.

During the 2024–25 award cycle, Brianna Camp (Art and Visual Technology ’23) received the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill Body. This work will consist of a series of large-scale oil paintings, each accompanied by documentary photographs and poetry and will be exhibited on campus in Fairfax during 2026. Marina Vianello (Dance ’18) received the Young Alumni Creative Development Award and $2,500 in commissioning support for Three Generations of Bach, an intergenerational multimedia dance work. Vianello is working with her mother, Andrea Skowronek, a retired professional dancer, to recreate and blend together inspiration from an original dance work that Skowronek developed early in her career, set to music accompaniment from her own father. A performance of this work will premiere on campus in Fairfax during 2026.

The Young Alumni Commissioning Project is made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of Linda E. Gramlich for the support of young artists, and by donors to George �鶹��Ƶ’s previous Giving Day, including Shugoll Research.

�鶹��Ƶ the 2026 Award Recipients

Kenge BaNikongo(she/her) is a writer, producer, actor, and director who has a deep love of storytelling, which drew her to becoming a filmmaker. She gained a degree in Film Directing and Producing from �鶹��Ƶ in 2021, and her films have garnered her several accolades over the years. Through writing and directing comedy-dramas, she has found her voice in storytelling. Her fiction style is influenced by several directors and writers, such as Issa Rae and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. After graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, she has been working for National Geographic/Disney, telling dynamic true stories based on history, culture, science, food, and exploration. Her passion for storytelling expands to all aspects of media as a freelance writer, director, and producer. She also works as an interviewer for Young Entertainment Magazine. During her time at George �鶹��Ƶ, she also received her Bachelor’s in Theatre Performance - Acting, and continues to act in short films and do voiceovers. No matter what, she is always creative!

Taj Kokayi (he/him) Taj Kokayi is an award-winning filmmaker and producer. His 2020 Afrofuturistic short film, Woken From A Dream, made the official selection for 15 film festivals across the world, winning five awards, including Best Experimental Film. His follow-up sociopolitical drama, White Mirror, has won awards including Best of Fest, Audience Award, and Best Short Screenplay. During his time at �鶹��Ƶ, he was a finalist for the Princess Grace Award for Film, was named George �鶹��Ƶ’s Black Artist of the Year (2020) and Social Media Activist of the Year (2021), and in 2022, he received the Spike Lee Directing Award. In 2022, he worked as an Intern and Production Assistant for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, before becoming an NBC Page at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He has worked on the sets of features films, documentaries, music videos, corporate shoots, and alongside Academy Award-nominated directors.

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

Alumni

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

Young Alumni Commissioning Project. alumni support

Campus News

The George �鶹��Ƶ alumni behind SOSS Bros and their secret sauce

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:30:05 +0000

The George �鶹��Ƶ alumni behind SOSS Bros and their secret sauce Katarina Benson Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:30

For the �鶹��Ƶ alumni founders of SOSS Bros, it wasn’t necessarily love at first sight—but it was lunch.

In their first year, Hesham Hafez, BS Community Health ’09, and Lance Ahmadian, BS Finance, Management ’12, went head-to-head in an eating competition at the Taco Bell in the Johnson Center. “We had a competition for who could eat the most chalupas. And we both ate, like, eight, and then we died,” Lance said, laughing.

Despite the pain, the experience cemented their friendship, which grew to include Hesham’s brother Karim Hafez, BS Civil and Infrastructure Engineering ’12, MS ’13. Along with being fraternity brothers at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, the three bonded over food.

“We’re all foodies,” Hesham said. “When we sit and eat a meal, we see it as kind of a sacred moment.”

From left, Lance Ahmadian, Hesham Hafez, and Karim Hafez in the Johnson Center Market with their SOSS. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

That pursuit of a perfect meal—and the perfect accompanying sauce—was the initial spark behind SOSS Bros. The recipe for SOSS—which stands for smoked original secret sauce—originated with Hesham, who’d perfected it over the years and would often share it with family and friends. Lance was immediately hooked: “It was unhateable.”

It took a few more years to convince Hesham to take the product commercial, but once he and Lance committed, they were all in—and they leaned on Karim to corral and guide their creativity.

“I’m the part of the business that is more coming from an engineering background,” Karim said. “I put all the operational and logistics stuff together.”

Still, challenges awaited, especially as the trio looked for partners to scale up production. “Ninety-nine of them said ‘No, we can’t do this the way that you guys want to do it. It’s not going to work,’” Karim said. But the trio refused to compromise on ingredients or their recipe. Their grit and persistence paid off when they at last found a bottler willing to do it their way.

Their first public event was in May 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. “We did over 2,000 samples,” Lance said. “And I can count on one hand how many people said they didn’t like it.”

And they gained even more fans when they brought the sauce along to a Patriots men’s basketball game at EagleBank Arena. Fast forward six months and many conversations with George �鶹��Ƶ’s Intercollegiate Athletics and David Atkins, executive director of brand development and licensing at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Branding, and the Brave & Bold blend of SOSS was born. An official collaboration between SOSS Bros and �鶹��Ƶ, the blend can be found online and at on-campus convenience stores. A percentage of sales go back to the university.

SOSS Bros couldn’t be more homegrown. All three grew up in Northern Virginia, and their existing roots in the area played a major role in their decision to come to George �鶹��Ƶ. They also cite the university’s ample and diverse social opportunities. “I wanted to be part of a community,” Lance said.

Karim credits opportunities through the Volgenau School of Engineering for his career after graduation. “I spent about seven years with Turner Construction, and I think George �鶹��Ƶ really set me up,” he said, mentioning hands-on experiences like concrete testing and bridge design that gave him the skills he needed as a civil engineer.

He continues to use these skills as a consultant while working for SOSS part-time. Lance works full time in commercial real estate as a senior investment associate for the Greysteel Company, where he’s worked since graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, and Hesham works for SOSS full time.

Asked about their advice for current Patriots, all three mention patience and determination. “You have to give a minimum of six months…to what you’re doing,” Lance says. “You can't just do something and give up and try something else, because you haven't given it time.”

As for the secret sauce that makes up SOSS Bros? “We're a team that has a ton of fun,” Karim said. “I think we're truly the definition of work hard, play hard, but we really do play first—I mean, eat first.”

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Costello College of Business

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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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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Alumni News: Accolades and Appointments for Schar School Graduates

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:01:29 +0000

Alumni News: Accolades and Appointments for Schar School Graduates Andrew J Schappert Wed, 01/14/2026 - 13:01

In This Story

James N. Burroughs

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A roundup of recent news about the alumni of the Schar School of Policy and Government Gerica Goodman has been named director of legislative affairs by Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Goodman, who earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from �鶹��Ƶ in 2012 and a Schar School 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.

Director of Legislative Affairs Gerica Goodman, BS Psychology ’12, MPA ‘15 Photo by Creative Services

Goodman, who worked in George �鶹��Ƶ’s admissions and alumni relations offices as a student and after graduation, in 2020 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 the MPA program. “She has earned her position through intelligence and hard work.”

Goodman said in a 2020 interview that her Schar School master’s degree comes in handy on a daily basis.

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.

French Medal of International Security

Jude Sunderbruch, PhD Public Policy ‘08 Photo provided

Jude Sunderbruch, who earned his PhD in public policy from the Schar School in 2008, has been awarded the French Medal of Internal Security at the Gold level, one of France’s highest recognitions for contributions to public safety and security. The medal was presented during a ceremony late last year in Washington, D.C.; the award recognizes his longstanding role in advancing Franco-American cooperation in homeland security and law enforcement.

The award, conferred by France’s Minister-Counsellor Agnès von der Mühll, highlights Sunderbruch’s work building durable operational ties between U.S. and French security institutions. French officials noted his contributions during his tenure as executive director of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and later as director of the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3)—two roles central to counterintelligence, cybercrime, and international security collaboration.

According to French representatives, as reported by the media outlet Homeland Security Today, the ceremony also underscored Sunderbruch’s close engagement with France’s direction de la coopération internationale de sécurité (DCIS), the country’s international security cooperation directorate, and his consistent efforts to deepen bilateral and multilateral coordination across agencies.

Sunderbruch, managing director at the Dallas-based cybersecurity consulting firm OakTruss Group, will serve as an adjunct at the Schar School in the summer semester. He will teach POGO 750 Consulting Practicum.

Leading Idaho’s Hispanic Affairs Agency

Annette Tipton, MA International Commerce and Policy ‘11 Photo provided

Annette Tipton, a 2011 graduate of the Schar School’s International Commerce and Policy master’s program (now the Global Commerce and Policy program), has been appointed by Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) to be executive director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA).

The state commission serves Idaho’s Hispanic community of some 271,000 by acting as a liaison between the community and the government. According to its website, the commission provides recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding issues facing the state’s Hispanic population. It also plays an important role in connecting people with resources and collecting data about Hispanics in Idaho.

Tipton has long been familiar with the commission’s mission. As a teenager, she attended one of the first Idaho Hispanic Youth Leadership Summits, an annual event organized by ICHA to engage young people with workshops, a college fair, and a keynote speaker.

“It’s really exciting to see that program has continued,” she said. “I know it has evolved recently. There’s a genuine desire to keep moving forward and to continue those collaborations with academic institutions here in Idaho.”

Born into a family of agricultural workers in Rupert, Idaho, Tipton comes from a lineage of perseverance and hard work. Her grandparents emigrated from Mexico and worked on farms across the United States before settling in Idaho.

After becoming the first in her family to earn a master’s degree, Tipton worked in government relations for major financial institutions including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch.

While working in finance, Tipton also volunteered with nonprofits such as the Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation, a college migrant assistance program, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

“It’s a good blend of what I’ve done,” she said. “From a more strategic perspective in business or finance, to deeper community involvement, strengthening relationships, and understanding that these are families, they are Idahoans, and they have needs.”

COO of Oregon’s Most Populus County

Christopher Neal, BA Government and International Politics ‘07 Photo provided

Christopher L. Neal, a 2007 government and international politics graduate, is the new chief operating officer (COO) of Oregon’s most populous county, Multnomah County, home of the state’s largest city, Portland.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously confirmed Neal as the COO and director of county management from a pool of 84 applicants following a national recruitment and hiring process.

Neal oversees the county’s daily operations and its more than 6,000 employees, guiding the county’s senior leaders to ensure effective administration, financial management, and operational consistency. He is also charged with continuing to roll out the county’s Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and developing the county’s strategic plan.

Neal acknowledged he arrives at a difficult time in county history amid significant budget shortfalls in the general fund and homeless services.

“But we all know that during these times of adversity, we become our most creative, bold, and daring,” he said. “These qualities have carried us through to the other side before, and they will again.’’

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Master of Public Administration

PhD in Public Policy

Global Commerce and Policy

Government and International Politics

Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School Featured Stories

From Navy technician to Micron Technology: How Nano Boot Camp helped one veteran launch a semiconductor career

ckearney — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:29:37 +0000

From Navy technician to Micron Technology: How Nano Boot Camp helped one veteran launch a semiconductor career ckearney Wed, 01/07/2026 - 15:29

For seven years, Charles Stewart’s world revolved around highly technical Navy systems, such as combat systems, anti-ship missile defense operations, radar-jamming technology, and electronic intelligence. In civilian life, he needed to find out how his skills could carry over.

Charles Stewart at Micron Technology. Photo provided

“I’d always been a technician,” said Stewart. “But I didn’t fully understand semiconductor technology. I knew I wanted something different, but I wasn’t sure which way to go.”

After leaving the Navy in 2013, Stewart moved into information technology and infrastructure roles. His days were spent making sure key systems didn’t go offline. The experience taught him how to read a problem quickly and respond with the kind of calm focus the job required. Along the way, he earned an associate’s degree in information systems technology from Northern Virginia Community College before completing his bachelor of applied science degree at �鶹��Ƶ in 2023, where his concentration focused on cloud computing.

It was that blend of precision and technical experience that made Stewart a strong fit for Nano Boot Camp, George �鶹��Ƶ’s free week-long training program that introduces veterans, career changers, and emerging talent to the fundamentals of semiconductor manufacturing.

“The Navy is all about maintaining equipment that can’t fail,” said Stewart. “Everything comes down to attention to detail. Nano Boot Camp brought all of that together, from the science and the process to the hands-on work.”

Charles Stewart (center, blue suit) on a tour of Micron Technology in Manassas with his Nano Boot Camp cohort. Photo provided

The program is taught in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Nanofabrication Facility (NFF) on the Science and Technology Campus, which anchors the Innovation District created in partnership with Prince William County and the City of Manassas. Both Nano Boot Camp and the Innovation District are supported through GO Virginia funding, which helps expand workforce training initiatives that meet industry needs and create opportunities that help attract and retain top talent in the region. Nano Boot Camp is one example of that investment in action.

Time in the NFF gave Stewart a better sense of the field. It helped him notice which roles matched his strengths.

“Once I got into the lab and started doing the work myself, it kind of shifted,” said Stewart. “I didn’t feel like a student at that point. I felt like someone who could do the job.”

On the final day of Nano Boot Camp, participants visited Micron Technology. The company is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, creating more than 1,200 jobs in the City of Manassas. This visit was transformative for Stewart.

“You get to see the robots, the equipment, the scale,” said Stewart. “It’s a very cool place to be.”

During the tour, he spoke with managers, engineers, and workforce development staff. He walked away with contacts and, soon after, an interview.

“I’ve always been good at fixing things,” said Stewart. “My resume showed reliability, readiness, and technical consistency across every environment I’ve stepped into.”

Micron agreed. The job offers him a foothold in a field he once knew little about.

“We see real value in training pathways that immerse people in the actual work they’ll be doing from day one,” said Michael Guttman, a strategic program manager at Micron. “What makes Nano Boot Camp stand out is its hands-on approach. Participants don’t just learn concepts; they practice real-world tasks and experience the expectations long before they apply.”

Micron’s experience reflects the kind of positive attention George �鶹��Ƶ’s program is receiving, including from Virginia leadership.

“Advanced manufacturing is accelerating statewide, and that brings both potential and urgency,” said Megan Healy, senior vice president of talent and workforce strategy at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “George �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to developing targeted, industry-aligned training shows how education and economic development can work hand-in-hand to prepare Virginians for the jobs waiting for them.”

For Stewart, Nano Boot Camp was more than an educational experience. His story shows why efforts that connect universities with industry partners matter, and he hopes to see more of them introduced.

“Programs like Nano Boot Camp build real connections with employers,” said Stewart. “They attract veterans, career changers, and people from the trades who perform well under pressure and are looking for new opportunities.”

He urges anyone interested in the camp to come ready to learn. Pieces of that training continue to follow him into each new step of his career.

“It gave me a sense of purpose,” said Stewart. “Now I know where I’m supposed to be.”

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Science and Technology Campus

Nanofabrication Facility

workforce

Military

Innovation District

Commencement Speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri’s remarks to George �鶹��Ƶ’s winter 2025 graduates

Katarina Benson — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:02:13 +0000

Commencement Speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri’s remarks to George �鶹��Ƶ’s winter 2025 graduates Katarina Benson Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:02

As prepared for delivery

Good morning, Patriots!

Two things I want to get out of the way:

Hi mom! You see, “C” students can stand here on stage; and Meila, happy 15th birthday. I love you and can’t wait to see how you change the world.

I want to thank the distinguished faculty and staff of �鶹��Ƶ, the parents, guardians, families, and friends, our amazing President Washington, and Board of Visitors who made today possible and, of course, the most important people in the “Arena,” the graduating class of 2025!

Ali Reza Manouchehri. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Today is about more than what you’ve achieved, it’s about how you got here.

I want to talk to you about the power of curiosity—that thing that sparks you to ask why?, what if?, and what’s next?

And today, I want to share a few personal stories, moments from my own journey where curiosity shaped who I became and the lessons I hope you’ll carry into your own stories ahead.

We often wonder—why me?

For me it was about why do my parents keep moving across revolutions, wars, liberties, and continents?

Why did I survive a horrific accident?

And I’ve realized—maybe it was so that I could share a few stories, with you, today.

To tell you this:

Curiosity creates change. Boldness inspires action. Transformation changes the world.

That’s been the rhythm of my life—sometimes my shield, sometimes my compass – but always my light.

I was born into a revolution.

My grandmother came to the United States in 1976 when the Eagle and the Lion—America and Iran—were best friends. My parents later returned to Iran for my birth. By the age of 4, the Shah had fallen, the dream of democracy had been stolen by Islamist revolutionaries, and the country was plunged into war.

As a little boy, I remember car rides with my mom in her 1979 Land Cruiser truck delivering first aid kits, taping windows, learning why we had to store water and food, and taking shelter when the sirens went off.

My mother taught me at an early age not to fear and to be prepared. At the age of 5, I was contributing and learning to survive.

I wasn’t just watching; I was doing. And that gave me something powerful at an early age—independence and curiosity.

My mother was a concert pianist. My father was an entrepreneur, a third-generation textile industrialist and a man who prayed and sipped his whiskey. (Not exactly the combination the regime encouraged!)

Every morning before school, my mom would sit me down and try to explain (it was more like interrogation) that the world around us had changed overnight. She would say, “At school, don’t mention the piano or the whiskey.”

It wasn’t about shame—it was about survival.

But to a curious child, those warnings became questions:

Why…Who are these people? Why do they hate and use fear to control? Why do I have to hide who we are?

That curiosity became a quiet rebellion. Instead of fearing people, I wanted to understand them. I grew up in a community of Armenian Christians, Persian Jews, my Muslim classmates, teachers, and agents of the revolution. I learned that even in chaos, connection was possible if you stayed curious long enough to listen and learn.

That lesson shaped me—not just as a child, but as a leader later in life.

Because I realized something:

Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions. It’s about learning to blend, to see, and to lead in a very complex world.

It taught me that curiosity is not passive—it’s ACTIVE. It’s what helps you observe before reacting, understand before judging, and connect before dividing.

So, lesson ONE for you:

Be curious about people, even those who seem different or opposed to you. Curiosity helps you connect where fear divides.

Years later, my parents decided to come back to the United States—to Virginia, where my grandmother had moved from Pennsylvania. We settled in Falls Church, Virginia.

Once again, I had to blend in—this time as a kid from Iran in a post-hostage-crisis America. The language, friends, and culture—everything felt new again.

I went through three different elementary schools, shifting from Persian to French to English, each one a crash course in starting over. But in the middle of all that change, I found an escape: Sketching. I’d sit for hours drawing bunkers, gadgets, inventions—things that existed only in my imagination. I didn’t know it then, but I was designing the future I wanted to build.

And then came Mr. Clark, my middle school science teacher at Glasgow.

He was eccentric, brilliant, and mysterious, and he had lived in Iran. He never said exactly what he did there, but his stories sounded like something out of a spy novel.

He saw something in me. He took my curiosity and gave it direction. He used to tell me, “You should sell that idea to DARPA!”

At the time, I had no idea what that meant—but looking back now, I smile.

Today, MetroStar sells over a quarter-billion dollars’ worth of innovations, solutions, and services to the Department of War and intelligence community.

Mr. Clark planted a seed—one that took decades to bloom.

I still remember watching MacGyver on Monday nights and the next day, Mr. Clark would say, “All right, let’s test it. Could MacGyver really make that work?”

He’d turn a TV show into an experiment. He made us curious about what we watched and to think critically and try it ourselves.

Curiosity asks “What if?”

Experimentation says “Let’s find out.”

That’s when curiosity took on a new meaning for me.

It wasn’t just about wondering why—it was about testing how.

Mr. Clark made me curious about science, physics, and technology, but also about people and possibilities. Here was an American who made me feel proud of my Persian heritage.

His stories connected two worlds I thought could never meet.

And he taught me a lesson that feels even more important today—in a world overflowing with information, opinions, politics, and technology, don’t just consume what you see. Explore it for yourself. Research it. Understand it.

Because the truth isn’t always what’s the loudest or highest likes on social, it’s in what you take the time to discover.

So, lesson two for you:

Be curious enough to question. Don’t just react—explore. Curiosity and experimentation are like mind and motion—one is the spark, the other is the flame.

Just as I had finally found my place again in America, my parents decided to return to Iran. It was 1991. My father needed to care for my ill grandfather, and my mother wanted to return to teaching music and supporting the youth within her community.

When we arrived, I was stepping into a world that felt both familiar and foreign, a home filled with the echoes of family stories and the rhythm of rebuilding.

The stories of my family’s hardship, resilience, and curiosity were always around me.

My great-great-grandfather was a merchant along the silk routes, then my great-grandfather’s curiosity led him to open a shop to sell the textiles. My grandfather’s curiosity took it further—he built and operated the factory that produced it. My father modernized it, introducing new machinery and processes to bring the family business into a new era.

And for me?

My curiosity pushed me to define a new identity, one that began not with textiles, but with technology.

Each generation faced uncertainty—wars, revolutions, and reinventions. But what connected them all wasn’t just survival. It was curiosity, the same curiosity that asks: What’s next? How do we rebuild? What can we create from the ashes?

My father used to tell me stories at night about how our family kept moving forward, even when logic said stop, how my great-great-grandfather died young, but his son, just 15 years old, kept the family alive through sheer grit and curiosity.

And that’s when I learned:

Resilience isn’t inherited—it’s practiced. And curiosity is always at its heart.

Because curiosity keeps you moving when the world stands still. It lets you imagine new beginnings when others only see endings.

So, lesson three for you:

Be curious about your own journey. Ask “Why me?” not with doubt, but with purpose.

Every challenge is a chance to redefine yourself. Curiosity isn’t just about discovery—it’s about reinvention.

By 1995, curiosity brought me back to the United States again—this time to continue my education.

The plan was to study polymer technology to honor my family’s legacy in textiles.

But life, as it often does, had other plans.

After missing application deadlines for both George �鶹��Ƶ and Clemson, I was about to enroll at Northern Virginia Community College to stay on track. I told myself, “Study hard this semester, and wait and see.”

But a friend said, “Don’t rush. Wait until next semester, something better might happen.”

He was right.

On January 6, 1995, I opened a letter that changed my life: I had been accepted to �鶹��Ƶ.

Clemson went on hold, and suddenly the plan I thought I was following shifted completely.

When I arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, I told myself, “Just one semester. Then I’ll transfer.”
But that one semester became a lifelong connection.

At �鶹��Ƶ, my curiosity finally found its home.

I met friends from all over the world — people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and dreams.

At the same time, the dot-com revolution was happening. Curiosity about this new thing called the Internet became an obsession. I met my future business partners and started building our first company right here at George �鶹��Ƶ.

Looking back, I realize I was simply manifesting the sketches of a curious child—the bunkers, the gadgets, the inventions, now coming to life through code, creativity, and innovation.

And like other entrepreneurs, I lived that delusional optimism, believing that failure wasn’t final; it was just feedback.

But here’s the part that matters most:

Curiosity didn’t just shape my career, it shaped my purpose.

Because as MetroStar was being founded, I was also discovering the greatest role of my life: becoming a husband, a father, and a man grounded in something bigger than business.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the people who are here with me today: My incredible wife, Kat, and our four amazing children—Michael, Meila, Max, and Melody.

You are the reason I chase meaning, not titles.

You are the reason I stay curious. �鶹��Ƶ love, about family, about the kind of man I want to be.

To my dad, mom, friends, and family here today, thank you for giving my life depth, joy, new family, and direction.

And that brings me to the heart of this final story:

Never let go of the curious kid in you.

Because that kid, the one who draws, dreams, questions, and believes
is the one who will build your future.

So, the final lesson for you:

Be curious enough to build.

Be curious enough to love.

Be curious enough to grow beyond who you are today.

Because curiosity doesn’t just shape your journey.

It shapes your destiny.

Congratulations, Patriots. Now go make the world wonder.

Q&A with Ali Reza Manouchehri

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Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning

ckearney — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:49:46 +0000

Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning ckearney Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:49

�鶹��Ƶ honored more than 4,900 graduates at Winter Commencement on Thursday, but before they turned their tassels, President Gregory Washington wanted them to know the caliber of university from which they were earning their degrees.

George �鶹��Ƶ is one of only five very large universities in the country that the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education have cited as excelling in opportunity, outcomes and research.

“I want each of you to leave here today knowing that you didn’t just earn your degree from any old place,” Washington said. “You actually earned your degree from a special place.”

More than 4,900 students received their degrees December 18 at George �鶹��Ƶ's Winter Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The ceremony at EagleBank Arena, livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel, occurred the same month that the university’s namesake turned 300, another distinction for a graduating class with students from 87 countries and 38 states. In addition to the 4,900 graduates, more than 300 students received certificates. �鶹��Ƶ 27% of the bachelor’s degree recipients identified as first-generation graduates.

Washington in his remarks noted the scrutiny the university has been under in recent months and how he and his leadership team have relied on George �鶹��Ƶ’s core values in their management and response to these challenges. He encouraged the graduates to determine their core values to help guide responses to the complex issues they will encounter.

“When facing trials and tribulations of life, lean into who you are—who you really are,” Washington said. “Like the old saying goes, an honest man’s pillow is his peace of mind. If you make choices and decisions rooted in your core values, rooted in who you are, that peace of mind will sustain, inspire, and comfort you and those who you lead.”

Washington and George �鶹��Ƶ rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented guest speaker Ali Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ’99, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Manouchehri’s George �鶹��Ƶ experience began with a missed application deadline but concluded with him co-founding a business from his room in Dominion Hall at the onset of the dot.com boom.

From left, Rector Charles Stimson, Commencement speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri, and President Washington during the 2025 Winter Commencement at EagleBank Arena. Manouchehri was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

That business, MetroStar, now has more than 500 employees and is a major source of innovation and services in the government and intelligence sectors. Manouchehri, the company’s CEO, credits the power of curiosity as a factor in his success because “it lets you imagine new beginnings when others only see endings” and it “helps you connect where fear divides.” He encouraged the new graduates to see how far their own inquisitiveness can lead them.

With an anecdote that no doubt warmed the hearts of the educators in the audience, Manouchehri recalled an inspiring Fairfax County middle school teacher who stoked his relentless curiosity and ability to dream big.

“He taught me a lesson that feels more important today in a world overwhelming with information, opinions, politics, and technology,” Manouchehri said. “Don’t just consume what you see. Explore it for yourself. Research it. Understand it. Because the truth isn’t always what’s the loudest or the highest likes on social media, it’s about what you take time to discover for yourself.”

Student speaker Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student graduating with a degree in bioengineering, said an introductory course group project that entailed designing a 3D-printed prosthetic hand fueled his interest in the humanitarian impact of that field. One of his two George �鶹��Ƶ study-abroad trips was to Ecuador, where a group of student and faculty volunteers assembled 22 prosthetic legs for amputees.

Elayan, who also has interned at a pharmaceutical company, acknowledged bouts of self-doubt during his time in college but encouraged his fellow graduates to always focus on the future. He is the fourth child in his family to attend George �鶹��Ƶ.

“Don’t get stuck in chapters that have already closed, because you can’t change what’s been written in ink,” Elayan said. “Because there’s blank page upon blank page ready to share the new untold chapters of the stories of your lives. But the real kicker is that you hold the pen.”

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors accounted for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees at Winter Commencement as well as 37% of students earning advanced degrees.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Sciences ’85, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to an alumni network of more than 250,000 worldwide. He encouraged the Winter Class of 2025 to follow him on LinkedIn to further build the alumni network, attend their first homecoming this winter, and to volunteer at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“The strength of our university is built on accomplishments and engagement by alumni like you,” Hine said. “Your success strengthens the George �鶹��Ƶ degree for all who hold it and for all who will earn it in years ahead.”

Learn more about the Alumni Association

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Kennedy Solomon, MPP ‘14, Named Manager of State Affairs for RV Industry Association

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:46:49 +0000

Kennedy Solomon, MPP ‘14, Named Manager of State Affairs for RV Industry Association Andrew J Schappert Wed, 12/17/2025 - 15:46

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Master of Public Policy alumnus Kennedy Solomon has been tapped as the new manager of state affairs for the RV Industry Association (RVIA), the national trade association for the recreational vehicle industry in the United States.

Kennedy Solomon: His experience at the Schar School is ’what got me interested in advocacy work.’ Photo provided

The 2014 graduate represents the membership association’s more than 500 manufacturers, suppliers, and other industry firms to state legislators, regulators, and recreational vehicle industry stakeholders around the country. The Northern Virginia-based organization’s federal and state affairs teams champion the RV industry on Capitol Hill and closely follow relevant legislation and policies.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Solomon earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from San Francisco State University before moving across the country to earn his master’s degree in public policy from �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

His experience at the Schar School, he said, is “what got me interested in advocacy work,” Solomon said.

Solomon began his career in politics during his time at the Schar School, interning for U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay Jr. (D-MO), where he gained vital exposure to federal issues.

Soon after graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, Solomon returned to California, where he interned for State Assembly Member Bill Quirk (D).

“I gained a fundamental understanding of how state governments move faster than Congress,” Solomon said. “For instance, a bill could be introduced in January, and then by June, it’s implemented into law. I like the pace. That’s what essentially sparked my interest in state government affairs.”

In his current role as manager of state affairs, Solomon collaborates with industry stakeholders, educates lawmakers about industry issues, and works with RV Industry Association members to advocate for legislation nationwide that will help the RV industry continue to grow and thrive.

“As a policy enthusiast, the best part of my role is learning the key legislative issues and regulations that will impact the RV industry as a whole,” he said.

For Solomon, the RV industry is meaningful because it allows individuals to easily access the outdoors and its many resulting benefits.

“I’m passionate about some of the key issues that the RV industry touches on,” he said. “It gives people the ability to explore and create memories with their family and their friends. RVs also give people the ability to travel and experience the outdoors in unconventional ways, and spending time outdoors provides meaningful physical and mental health benefits. I’m happy to be a part of that.”

Solomon added that bipartisan support for outdoor recreation is another aspect he values.

“The outdoors brings people together, regardless of their political ideology,” he said. “I’m proud to be a part of an organization that helps foster unity so consumers can continue creating memories and enjoying the outdoors.”

The Master of Public Policy program at the Schar School teaches students to address a vast range of public concerns, including terrorism, human trafficking, gender studies, environmental hazards, and hunger. The program prepares students to move into influential positions in the policy world after developing skills in policymaking and analysis necessary to understand and solve critical problems.

Reprinted with permission of RV Pro.

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George �鶹��Ƶ honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement

ckearney — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:10:19 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement ckearney Mon, 12/15/2025 - 14:10

�鶹��Ƶ will honor nearly 5,300 students graduating or earning certificates at Winter Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

The event will be livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel. Doors open an hour before the ceremony.

The winter graduates hail from 87 countries and 38 states, and 27% of bachelor’s degree recipients identify as first-generation graduates.

The guest speaker will be Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a George �鶹��Ƶ student. The student speaker is Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student earning a bachelor’s of science in bioengineering.

Degree celebrations for nine George �鶹��Ƶ schools and colleges also will take place this week at EagleBank Arena and those too will be livestreamed.

Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement and degree celebration ceremonies.

The top five majors among the 3,107 undergraduates in the winter Class of 2025 are business; computer science; psychology; information technology; and criminology, law and society.

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors account for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees and 37% of students earning advanced degrees, indicative of how George �鶹��Ƶ is a top producer of tech talent for Northern Virginia and the state.

For the 1,647 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, special education, computer science, accounting, and business administration.

The top majors for the 190 students earning doctoral degrees are education, computer science, psychology, biosciences, economics, and statistical science.

The winter graduating class also includes three law school graduates.

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