Schar School of Policy and Government

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

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

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

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Hina Kazmi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Alumna Whitney Woods to Lead Denver Domestic Violence Survivor Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whitney Woods Alpha Xi Delta’s 2006 recruitment event

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

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

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

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

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

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

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From the White House to Borough Council: Brandon Ledford Makes Local Government Matter

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:02:59 +0000

From the White House to Borough Council: Brandon Ledford Makes Local Government Matter Andrew J Schappert Wed, 06/11/2025 - 11:02

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Brandon W. Ledford doesn’t do things halfway. By day, he’s the senior vice president and general manager of MGT, a public-sector consulting firm that helps state and local governments tackle everything from cybersecurity to compensation fairness.

Brandon Ledford: ‘You can have a much bigger impact locally … It doesn’t take, literally, acts of Congress to get things done.’ Photo provided.

By night—well, evenings and weekends—he puts his 2011 Schar School of Policy and Government master of public policy (MPP) degree into practice as vice president of the Borough Council in Dormont, Pennsylvania, a community of 8,000 bordering Pittsburgh.

As it happens, the borough manager, John Stinner, is also a Schar School graduate. (See Stinner’s story on this page.) The two did not know each other at �鶹��Ƶ.

“When he said we had the same degree, I thought he meant an MPP, not necessarily an MPP from George �鶹��Ƶ,” Stinner said.

For Ledford, being a councilmember is personal.

At age 9, Ledford was diagnosed with the African form of Burkitt’s lymphoma, an incredibly rare and aggressive cancer. He was the third known case in the United States—and the first to survive.

But survival came with consequences. His mother, forced to miss work to care for him, lost her job. That was just as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was being passed, and a pro bono attorney helped her fight for reinstatement.

“We were on public assistance because of medical bills,” Ledford said. “So, growing up, I got to see government protecting folks in their neediest, and I wanted to dedicate my life to this.”

While earning an MPP degree with concentrations in science and technology policy at George �鶹��Ƶ, he interned for a semester at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, a perfect fit.

After graduating with his degree, Ledford, 41, spent years in federal government consulting, working for Deloitte U.S., Booz Allen, and now MGT. But he never lost his belief in the power of local government.

In Dormont, as a councilperson (there are seven) and chair of the public safety, building and code enforcement committee, he’s championed initiatives such as a façade grant program to revitalize the town’s business district and, particularly, a robust family leave policy for borough employees.

“You can have a much bigger impact locally,” he said. “The time from idea to implementation is way shorter. It doesn’t take, literally, acts of Congress to get things done.”

Ledford has lived and worked in the highest levels of government. But in a town where he knows his neighbors and can see change happen firsthand, he’s found where he can make the biggest difference.

“It started with wanting to be involved in politics,” he said. “But when we had our first daughter, I really liked the community we were in. I thought, ‘We can do great things here.’”

The Schar School is working to assist those considering careers in government, nonprofit, and government-adjacent organizations by offering application fee waivers, discount pricing, flexible and customizable courses, and other programs. Find out more about “upskill” and retooling certificate and degree programs at this webpage.

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�鶹��Ƶ Korea undergrads publish research in international environmental journal

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:44:09 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea undergrads publish research in international environmental journal Katarina Benson Mon, 06/02/2025 - 10:44

An undergraduate student-led �鶹��Ƶ Impact project at �鶹��Ƶ Korea results in a co-authored article published in the peer-reviewed international journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. “Accessible water quality monitoring through hybrid human–machine colorimetric methods” stems from the �鶹��Ƶ Impact project focused on environmental conditions in the Seunggi-cheon stream in Incheon.

Under the mentorship of Soyoung Kwon, associate dean of external affairs and professor of global affairs, and Dakota McCarty, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, �鶹��Ƶ Korea students collected and analyzed water samples, tested an innovative low-cost method for monitoring water quality, and contributed new insights to the field. Their approach combined colorimetric testing with human-guided digital analysis, producing data that closely aligned with laboratory results.

Students test the water samples. Photo provided

The project gave students valuable, hands-on experience in all stages of academic research—from fieldwork and data analysis to writing and publication. It introduced them to the world of scientific inquiry and academic publishing, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and credentials to pursue future research and graduate study.

“Working with Dr. McCarty and the other Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) Fellows gave me new insight into environmental security concerns like access to clean drinking water,” said Sam Sims, a junior global affairs major. “Now it’s an important part of how I think about security as a whole.”

CSPS, founded by director Ellen Laipson, is a unit of the Schar School of Policy and Government.

“[This paper] highlights the power of collaborative inquiry and the real social impact of student research,” Kwon said. “Mentoring these emerging scholars was incredibly rewarding, and I hope it inspires future student-led projects.”

McCarty agreed. “I’m incredibly proud of the students. Moving from a local project to a peer-reviewed international publication is a rare achievement at the undergraduate level,” he said. “It not only gives students a glimpse into real research but also strengthens their academic profiles for graduate school and beyond.”

Students with their research poster. Photo provided

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A Place to Belong, A Space to Grow: Learning Communities at the Schar School

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 28 May 2025 17:26:43 +0000

A Place to Belong, A Space to Grow: Learning Communities at the Schar School Andrew J Schappert Wed, 05/28/2025 - 13:26

When it comes to preparing students for the complex, unpredictable world of public service, the Schar School of Policy and Government at �鶹��Ƶ is not content with conventional classrooms. Instead, it has invested in a transformative model of undergraduate education known as “learning communities” (LCs).

Learning Communities take students beyond the classroom and into the key institutions of Washington, D.C., for firsthand experience where policy is created. Above, the First-Year Democracy Lab poses at the U.S. Capitol after meeting lawmakers and their staffs. Photos provided

These immersive, yearlong programs offer cohorts of students a mix of academic rigor, real-world experience, and faculty mentorship, all within an environment designed to feel more like a home base than a lecture hall. In addition to academic growth, these communities emphasize professional development—helping students build critical skills, networks, and experiences that position them for success in internships, graduate school, and careers in public service.

Across four distinct communities—International Relations Policy Task Force (IRTF), First-Year Democracy Lab (FY Dem Lab), Upper-Level Democracy Lab (UL Dem Lab), and Jurisprudence Learning Community (JPLC)—students are not only learning policy and governance but living it.

Launched as a virtual program in fall 2020, the first learning community evolved into what is now the First-Year Democracy Lab. Since then, the initiative has expanded rapidly, driven by strong student interest in experiential, community-centered education. The LCs give participants the benefits of a small college atmosphere while taking advantage of the considerable advanced resources of a Carnegie R1 research institution with more than 40,000 students, the largest public university in Virginia. George �鶹��Ƶ is also a Carnegie Opportunity College, indicating proven accessibility, return on investment, and upward mobility for graduates, and these programs showcase those features.

A Task Force That Tackles the Real World

To understand how to better create and communicate policy, the International Relations Policy Task Force traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border, seen as a fence in the middle distance.

In the IRTF, students are charged with identifying and addressing some of the world’s most intractable problems. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey, they craft policy solutions rooted in deep research and human experience. This isn’t armchair theorizing—it’s engagement with the real world.

“Professor McGlinchey’s ability to foster a sense of community, guide discussion, and lead us helped me flourish as a student,” said senior government and international politics (GVIP) major Nicholas Chervenak, a combat engineer in the U.S. Army who graduated from George �鶹��Ƶ in May. He was particularly pleased with how well the content of the community supported his future goals. “After this year together, I feel confident in my understanding of the government, philanthropy, think tanks, immigration, and foreign policy.”

Both Chervenak and fellow GVIP major Sofía Lorenzo, a Student Government senator, echoed how transformative the policy paper writing process was, offering an energizing mixture of constructive criticism and encouragement.

“It was so fun to hear about my peers’ findings and be involved throughout the process with one another. It was such an uplifting experience,” said Lorenzo, winner of the Women and Gender Studies Program’s 2025 Feminist Leadership Award and an intern for the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connelly (D).

“I loved the community it created—it was like a village. It takes a village to raise an IRTF scholar,” she joked.

McGlinchey points to how the students connect their classroom learning with the networking opportunities he creates.

“In the fall semester, we met with colleagues at [Ukrainian nonprofit] Razom,” he said. “In the spring semester, we traveled to the United States-Mexico border and learned from counterparts in El Paso and Juárez how changing U.S. immigration policy can profoundly impact deeply interconnected communities.”

Demystifying the Law

Taking advantage of the Schar School’s proximity to Washington, D.C., Upper-Level Democracy Lab students visited the renowned think tank, the Cato Institute, and met with policy researchers.

The JPLC, directed by Assistant Professor Shea Holman, offers a law school-like experience for undergraduates. Students don’t just read about the law, they simulate jury selections, analyze real Supreme Court cases, and meet judges and prosecutors. It’s more than an education, the students said, it’s a revelation.

For GVIP May 2025 graduate Madison Quick, one moment stood out.

“The most impactful experience I had in the JPLC course was volunteering at the Fairfax County General District Court,” said Quick. “I watched my first civil proceeding, specifically a protective order. That experience made me realize that I wanted to practice civil law—and become a judge.”

Holman, a lawyer and policy advocate specializing in workplace harassment reform, gender equity, and civil rights, notes how JPLC demystifies the legal profession through mentorship and real-world exposure.

“Our GOVT 301 course mimics the intensity and structure of a [first year] 1L law school curriculum,” she said.

One student, Holman said, leveraged her class experience to secure an internship at the Legal Services Corporation, the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.

This example of a direct bridge from classroom-to-career is not an accident, it’s an intentional ambition of the LCs.

Building Democracy, One First-Year at a Time

The First-Year Democracy Lab was the Schar School’s first foray into learning communities, with more than 60 incoming students signing on for the first in-person cohort in fall 2021.

Led by Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor, FY Dem Lab introduces incoming students to the foundations of democratic engagement and research. Just as important, it connects them to a network of mentors, faculty, and peers that continues long after the first year.

“The FY Dem Lab is the gateway learning community,” said Victor. “The community, connections, and access to Schar School and George �鶹��Ƶ resources keep many of them looking to reinforce these experiences as they continue their education.”

For 2025 GVIP graduate Ruthu Josyula, the FY Dem Lab was catalytic.

“As a freshman, I worked with Professor Victor on the First-Year Democracy Lab voter turnout study,” she said, referencing a research project intended to understand voting patterns among young voters (hint: campaigns relying on digital platforms are misguided).

“I had the incredible opportunity to present preliminary findings of this research,” she said. Conferences give students experience in presenting in front of practitioners from higher education, community organizations, nonprofits, foundations, and small businesses, all dedicated to encouraging student involvement in research.

The impact of these beyond-the-campus relationships ripples outward.

“Being a part of First-Year Dem Lab connected me to Dr. Victor and many other students and faculty,” said Josyula, who the next year joined the IRTF community for deeper engagement. “I owe many of my collegiate experiences to the different things I learned and experienced in Dem Lab.”

Rising sophomore GVIP sophomore Emebet Neale discovered newfound confidence in Dem Lab.

“Dr. Victor has had a major influence on me,” said the Student Government senator. “From the start, she’s created an environment where students feel heard, supported, and encouraged. That kind of mentorship, especially so early in college, is rare.”

Neale emphasized the human connection that makes FY Dem Lab unique, including the Peer Pathways program that links First-Year and Upper-Level Dem Lab students in mentorship relationships. It’s an outreach program that provides academic and personal guidance, highlighted by an advice-laden panel discussion and breakout conversations about goal setting, dealing with stress, and overcoming failures.

“The Peer Pathways event was a wonderful and meaningful experience for me,” Neale said. “It helped create a supportive network of peers and mentors who want to see each other succeed.”

Upperclassmen, Deeper Dives

The Upper-Level Democracy Lab, taught by Associate Professor Lucas Núñez, builds on the freshman LC experience with advanced student-directed research. Students tackle issues such as redistricting, creating their own maps using real data, and presenting their findings with professional polish.

“Students developed their critical thinking and a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between law, ethics, politics, and geographical realities,” said Núñez.

Just as important, the yearlong cohort model builds lasting relationships and trust.

“As a faculty member, this continuity allows me to better get to know students as individuals,” Núñez added.

That deeper connection made all the difference for GVIP major Neelam Gurung.

“The most impactful experience I had in the Upper-Level Dem Lab course was meeting guest speakers, especially during the alumni dinner,” she said. “These conversations helped me reflect on my own goals and gave me a clearer picture of what paths align with my interests and values.”

Rising junior international security and law major Georges Saade, another UL Dem Lab student, highlighted the personal attention. “Professor Núñez is not just a great professor, but a great resource and mentor to have,” he said. “He really cares about all his students and makes everyone feel included.”

More Than Coursework

The common thread running through all these stories is confidence. By developing relationships among participants, students gain a strong sense of purpose and direction, and are positioned for success during their time on campus and after graduation.

“The impact of JPLC is most clearly reflected in our students’ achievements and evolving sense of self-efficacy,” said Holman. “They have discovered a belief in their ability to succeed in law school and beyond.”

Victor agrees. “When I see Dem Lab alumni in my other classes, they are often the most enthusiastic students in the room. They are ready to learn from their peers, contribute constructively, and share the depths of their knowledge.”

McGlinchey puts it simply: “IRTF students provide real-world solutions to real-world challenges and graduate from the learning community ready to apply their newly honed skillsets in diverse policy environments.”

Clearly, these learning community “villages” aren’t just innovations in teaching, they are platforms for transformation. For students, they represent the difference between getting by at a university and thriving within it.

During a two-day visit with justices in Richmond, members of the Jurisprudence Learning Community found themselves literally in the seats of power at the Supreme Court of Virginia.

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Jennifer N. Victor

Eric McGlinchey

Lucas Núñez

Shea M. Holman Kilian

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Graduating Senior Anna Garren: Commencement, Leidos, Hopkins, and Beyond

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 05 May 2025 16:17:31 +0000

Graduating Senior Anna Garren: Commencement, Leidos, Hopkins, and Beyond Andrew J Schappert Mon, 05/05/2025 - 12:17

It’s going to be a whirlwind week for graduating senior Anna Garren.

Anna Garren: ‘The Schar School degree really helped expand my worldview.’ Photo by Jennifer N. Victor/Schar School of Policy and Government

On May 10, she moves into her first apartment. Five days later, she’ll don cap and gown at �鶹��Ƶ’s EagleBank Arena to receive her bachelor of science degrees in public administration, from the Schar School of Policy and Government, and computational and data science from the College of Science.

Three days after that, she starts her new job at the Reston, Virginia-based government contracting giant Leidos, where she’ll work in the Artificial Intelligence Accelerator.

And the very next day, she begins her master’s degree program in artificial intelligence at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering.

Garren, 21, is used to managing big transitions with poise and purpose. She grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, home of George �鶹��Ƶ, but she began her college career more than 200 miles away, at Roanoke College, where she was a third-generation student and her grandfather, Kenneth R. Garren, had been a dean (he retired in 2001).

Initially a computer science major, she quickly realized she wanted a broader, more interdisciplinary focus. She transferred to George �鶹��Ƶ as a sophomore and declared a double major in computational and data sciences and public administration.

“I always knew I wanted to go into STEM,” she said. “But after taking government classes in high school, I added the political science aspect.”

She was further inspired by the passing of her high school legislative bill project—regarding a special needs indicator on state vehicle registration—actually being passed into law by the Virginia legislature.

That hybrid identity—analytical and civic-minded—has been her hallmark at George �鶹��Ƶ. And at the Schar School, Garren found not just challenging coursework but a welcoming and supportive community. In fact, the community she found was a higher education highlight for her.

“Definitely the relationships I made with my professors and peers,” she said when asked what stands out from her time there, adding that her two terms as part of Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor’s Politics Research Lab was a particular highlight.

Anna Garren, left, and mentor Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor. Photo provided.

In that setting, Garren, who was also a teaching assistant, was part of a collaborative environment where undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty work on real-world political science research—sometimes for credit but always for impact.

Not surprisingly, Garren has made an impression on one of her professors.

“Anna’s eagerness to meet the world’s challenges head-on should make the world’s challenges very nervous,” said Victor, the university’s 2025 Faculty Mentor Excellence Award winner. (An aside: Garren is the 2025 OSCAR Student Excellence Award winner.)

“She is a remarkable student,” Victor added. “Her combination of deep knowledge and interest in politics and government combined with her incredible skills in computational and statistical programming make her one of the most sought after students I’ve ever worked with.”

Outside the classroom, Garren took her passion for technology and education into the community, volunteering as coach for the robotics team at Centreville High School, her alma mater. During peak season, the team, a certified nonprofit organization that offers STEM training to middle and elementary schools, consumed about 20 uncompensated hours a week. The squad also competes in the prestigious international FIRST Robotics competitions.

“It’s a lot,” she agreed in a tone that mixes understatement and pride, adding that she also substitutes on occasion as a teacher at the school.

In addition to her double-major course work, her volunteer hours with Victor’s lab, and her high school robotics club, Garren completed four summer internships at various units of the Department of Defense.

Ask her what she’ll miss most about George �鶹��Ƶ and her answer is fast—“the Schar School,” specifically the people and the intellectual exploration of government and politics, even as she pivots into the sharper tools of data science and AI.

“The Schar School degree really helped expand my worldview,” she said. “The type of brainwork in data science is different than in political science classes, and I’ll miss that.”

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Jennifer N. Victor

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From Vietnam to Virginia: Duy Vu’s Remarkable Journey to the Commencement Stage

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:38:56 +0000

From Vietnam to Virginia: Duy Vu’s Remarkable Journey to the Commencement Stage Andrew J Schappert Mon, 04/28/2025 - 11:38

As the rows of soon-to-be graduates fill EagleBank Arena in a sea of green and gold at the May 15 Commencement ceremony, all eyes will turn to senior Duy Vu, who will take the podium as the student commencement speaker. For Duy, the honor to represent the graduating �鶹��Ƶ student body is the culmination of a seven-year journey that began half a world away.

Student Commencement speaker Duy Vu: ‘During my studies I learned about looking at things from different perspectives, how to think about decision-making, beliefs, and ideologies.’ Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

His story—and his advice to his graduating classmates—is worth listening to.

Duy came to the United States as a 15-year-old high school student, following his father, a deputy defense attaché for the Vietnamese government, to Washington, D.C. The transition, Duy admitted, wasn’t easy and his command of English was rudimentary.

“My grammar was strong,” Duy said of his language training in Vietnam, “but I could barely communicate when I first got here.”

He resolved to come to George �鶹��Ƶ with a new attitude and develop the confidence to make the most of his time as a college student.

“I told myself I would make college a worthwhile experience,” he said. “I’d try everything. I’d step out of my comfort zone.”

The start was slow—Duy and his undergraduate classmates are likely the last cohort to have endured the COVID-19 campus shutdown—and by his junior year, Duy realized time was running short.

“That’s when it hit me: I have two years left. If I don’t do something now, I might not get another chance,” he said.

Duy transformed his campus experience. He dove into extracurricular student life by joining campus organizations, including serving as treasurer of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and vice president of finance for Beta Theta Pi, before starting his own Registered Student Organization (RSO), George �鶹��Ƶ’s first-ever Pool Club. Pool, as in billiards.

“I just started enjoying the game,” he said. “There wasn’t a club, so I made one.”

The Pool Club quickly evolved into more than a casual hangout, with the team meeting at the tables at the Hub’s Corner Pocket game room, hosting tournaments, and traveling to other schools for competitions.

Joining organizations, besides being fun, expanded Duy’s world view. As treasurer for ALPFA, he learned the ropes of networking and professionalism. “It helped me understand the etiquette and skills needed in the business world,” he said. “And I got to learn from peers who were already finding success.”

Duy Vu majored in two bachelor of science programs, public administration and finance. Photo by Julia Conway/Schar School of Policy and Government

On top of his nonclassroom activities, Duy is a double major graduating from two bachelor of science degree programs: The Schar School of Policy and Government’s comprehensive public administration program and the Costello College of Business’s robust finance program.

He signed on to public administration thanks to his father’s suggestion.

“I wasn’t sure about it at first,” he said of the public administration major. “But during my studies I learned about looking at things from different perspectives, how to think about the way beliefs and ideologies play into a government’s decision-making.”

The Schar School professors also revealed to him a new-found fascination with “the financial and economic side of things,” he said, which is vital to creating successful public policy. “And that’s when I declared a second major in finance.”

Throughout his time at George �鶹��Ƶ, Duy balanced a double-major’s-worth of classes—and all the reading, writing, and exams that go along with two majors—with organizational leadership activities with classmates and a part-time job at the Schar School’s Aquia headquarters on George �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus, where he supported students for nearly four years as an office assistant.

“I’ve worked with Ms. Colette since my sophomore year,” he said of K. Collette Lawson, the longtime Schar School administrative and technical coordinator. “It was my first ‘real’ experience outside of school. It’s going to be hard to leave.”

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Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:55:13 +0000

Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:55

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Gregory Koblentz

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For Army Major Geoffrey Mattoon, the path to and through higher education wasn’t a straight line; it was a deliberate decision shaped by years of military service, a background in science, and a desire to meet the rising challenges of national security in a tense world.

Army Major Geoffry Mattoon: ‘I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training. The Schar School offered that balance.’ Photos provided.

“I’ve always had an interest in chemistry,” he said. “But once I realized that the math side wasn’t where I wanted to focus, I started looking at how science could be applied more practically. I eventually found that the military and higher education could give me that path.”

Mattoon started his career through a four-year Army scholarship and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His first 10 years of service saw him take on various roles, such as logistics, until he found his way to a field that was both intellectually challenging and urgently relevant: the Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) functional area and its Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense and response efforts.

“CBRN really caught my attention because it requires a different level of critical thinking,” he said. “It’s science through the lens of national security, and that intersection has always fascinated me.”

After a decade of field experience, he was selected for Advanced Civil Schooling, an Army program that allows officers to pursue graduate education in specialized fields aligned with military needs. �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government stood out when choosing where to study.

“I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training,” Mattoon said. “The Schar School offered that balance.”

Mattoon received his diploma at the 2024 Schar School Degree Celebration.

Unlike other programs in the area he considered, the Schar School’s master of biodefense program provided a curriculum that combined the technical depth of biodefense with the broader strategy of international security. It wasn’t just about how biological threats work; it was about how governments respond, how policy is made, and what happens when things go wrong.

“The reality is, biological defense is one of the hardest CBRN domains to detect and respond to,” Mattoon said. “It’s ambiguous. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. And that makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important.”

The transition from full-time service to graduate school could have been jarring, but for Mattoon, it was energizing. He credits the Schar School with providing an environment where real-world experience wasn’t just welcomed but essential.

“I didn’t come in with a deep academic background in policy,” he said. “But I found a program that helped me bridge my experience in the armed services with deeper insight.”

That bridge started with foundational courses in nonproliferation and strategy, taught by faculty with both academic and operational experience. Professors including Master of Biodefense graduate program Director Gregory Koblentz helped frame current and future biological threats within a historical and geopolitical context, giving Mattoon tools he could immediately apply—not just in theory but in future roles that directly impact national readiness.

“I remember working on a literature review about postattack biodetection systems,” Mattoon said. “It was my first time looking at open-source analysis from a policy angle. That process helped me get back into academic writing, and more importantly, it grounded me in how programs work—or don’t work—at the federal level.”

The Schar School’s location in Northern Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., was another key advantage. Evening classes and hybrid course options allowed Mattoon to balance academic demands with ongoing professional development. Being close to federal agencies, think tanks, and laboratories gave him a clearer sense of how policy is made, debated, and implemented.

“You’re not just studying theory,” he said. “You’re meeting people who are doing the work.”

Mattoon received his master’s degree in May 2024. He is now serving as an Army CBRN plans officer for the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is in a position where everything he has studied will translate directly into the defense of the homeland through management of the CBRN Response Enterprise (CRE).

“We talk a lot in this field about preparedness—about saving lives, minimizing human suffering, and ensuring our forces are ready for what comes next,” he said.

He also pointed out that the journey isn’t only for those already in uniform. One of the things he hopes prospective students take away from his story is that there’s no wrong time—or background—to pursue occupations in CBRN defense or response or for the military.

Topics

Master of Biodefense

Military

Government and International Politics

A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:28:40 +0000

A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/09/2025 - 08:28

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Christine Peretik is no stranger to hard work and unexpected opportunities. A senior at �鶹��Ƶ in the Schar School of Policy and Government, she is majoring in government and international politics with minors in both history and criminology, law and society.

Christine Peretik: ‘You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.’ Photos provided.

But it was her passion for the past that landed her a fascinating internship at the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center in Fairfax, Virginia, a role she initially applied for on a whim.

“I had applied for it, not expecting much,” Peretik said. “I was very interested in it, but I didn’t know if it was going to turn up. And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.” (Let that be a lesson to all students considering internships. Help is here.)

Peretik’s work at the Historical Records Center placed her directly in the midst of history—literally. Housed in what was once the clerk’s office, the center holds an extensive archive of documents, from land records to court proceedings, and even a Fairfax Court Slavery Index compiled by a former �鶹��Ƶ student.

“We have obituaries and just about every court proceeding you can think of,” Peretik said. “Even crimes that were committed back in the day, just about everything people went through.”

One of her main tasks was analyzing old court cases, which appealed to her higher ed interests, from government to history to law.

“My manager asked me to identify who was the victim in these cases,” she said, explaining how she often had to interpret the documents handwritten in the 1800s on the fly. “I had to go back over each letter, like, ‘Okay, this is how they write an A. This is how they write a T.’”

Beyond deciphering faded vintage calligraphy and researching legal documents, Peretik also contributed to the center’s public exhibits, which are displayed around the historic courthouse and judicial center. She helped create content for a walking tour that takes visitors through key sites, such as the Legato School, one of Virginia’s early schools, now a museum. Students attended the school between the 1870s and 1930 and is now furnished to mimic the look and feel of an 1870s schoolhouse.

“We also have a little stone slab from the Spanish-American War era,” Peretik said. “People believe it marks a grave, but neighbors say it was actually a cat named Clem.”

Peretik’s enthusiasm for learning and history is palpable.

“I am a huge, huge history nerd, for lack of a better word,” she admits. “I watch documentaries for fun. That’s one of my things.”

Christine Peretik: ‘And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.’

Despite her love of history, Peretik’s academic focus remains on government and law.

“I want to work in the government someday,” she said. “Maybe the Department of Justice, or Homeland Security. I’m keeping my options open.”

Among her outside-the-classroom experiences at George �鶹��Ƶ include working as a telecounselor for the Admissions Office. She’s also been an active member for three years of the International Buddy Program, which pairs domestic students with international students “with the whole purpose of forming connections between the two.”

Peretik’s decision to attend George �鶹��Ƶ was an intentional one. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her family relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, over a decade ago. She considered other universities but ultimately chose George �鶹��Ƶ for its unique balance.

“It’s the hub for government,” she says. “You’re right near D.C., but also far enough away to have a real college experience.”

As she prepares to graduate in May, Peretik reflects on her time at the Schar School and the internship that deepened her appreciation for history.

“It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. “You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.”

Topics

Schar School BA in Government and International Politics

Graduation