internships / en Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills /news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills <span>Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</span> <span><span>Sarah Holland</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-01T14:26:47-05:00" title="Monday, December 1, 2025 - 14:26">Mon, 12/01/2025 - 14:26</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">麻豆视频 knows the value of hands-on experience in the workplace for all students. An internship can lead to the experience of a lifetime. And that includes 麻豆视频 LIFE students who are interning on Capitol Hill.</span></p> <p>Established by former Representative Gregg Harper in 2010, the <a href="https://masonlife.gmu.edu/news/stories/news-congressional-internships">Gregg and Livingston Harper Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities</a> matches <a href="https://masonlife.gmu.edu/">麻豆视频 LIFE</a> students with House and Senate congressional office internships. Students start their internships in their second year and continue them through completion of the program.</p> <p>鈥淲e鈥檙e helping them gain the skills needed to seek a fulfilling career when graduating from the program,鈥 explained Linn Jorgenson, director of 麻豆视频 LIFE, a four-year nondegree educational transition program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of 麻豆视频 LIFE鈥檚 core curriculum requirements that supports this development is the <a href="https://masonlife.gmu.edu/employment">internship</a>.</p> <p>鈥淲e鈥檙e helping them learn what they like and don鈥檛 like, how to make decisions on their own, and developing their ability to advocate for themselves,鈥 Jorgenson added.</p> <p>This fall, eight 麻豆视频 LIFE students interned across 16 different congressional offices on Capitol Hill. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淢y favorite part is getting to see what happens behind the scenes of the government,鈥 said Madison Gulley, a third-year 麻豆视频 LIFE student and one of the congressional interns.</p> <figure role="group"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/extra_large_content_image/public/2025-12/img_0615_1.jpeg?itok=tDB7McmY" width="1000" height="750" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>麻豆视频 LIFE students and peer support staff in Washington, D.C. Back row: Nehal Gundawar, Ankit Borle, Shane Sorensen, and Nick Ortega. Front row: Amar Malik, Max Gulley, Noah Coon, Shreya Adusumilli, Sofia Puritano, Eli Zhou, Madison Shaw, Leah McDuffie, Vrushali Vijay Patil, and Varsha Ponnaganti. Not pictured: Aryaa Bhole and Riya Stanly.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Every Friday, 麻豆视频 LIFE students and their peer support staff鈥擥eorge 麻豆视频 students who travel with the students to their workplaces to provide support and guidance鈥攖ake the Metro into Washington, D.C., complete their internship assignments for the day for their two congressional offices, eat lunch, and take the Metro back to Fairfax. Students in the program tackle a variety of work for their assigned congressional offices: answering phones, researching bills, delivering mail, giving tours, and doing data entry, to name a few.</p> <p>鈥淭he students working on the Hill are part of a team, completing work that is essential and meaningful to all parties involved,鈥 emphasized Jorgenson.</p> <p>鈥淲hen our students come to their internships, our peer support staff are there to facilitate inclusion and support students in successfully completing tasks,鈥 said Melissa Chabot, employment and community involvement coordinator for 麻豆视频 LIFE. 鈥淪o not only are these necessary jobs done, you know they鈥檒l be done well.鈥</p> <p>Through the internship program, 麻豆视频 LIFE students learn independence, confidence, and social and cultural competencies; they build valuable resume skills; and they explore their interests to see if they鈥檙e the right fit for a long-term career. And for the peer support staff, the benefits are just as important.</p> <p>Ankit Borle, one of the newer peer support staff, is working toward a master鈥檚 in data analytics engineering. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned to listen actively, communicate clearly, and tailor support so people can be independent鈥攕kills that build trust with teammates, clients, and stakeholders...Most importantly, I鈥檓 taking forward an inclusive mindset鈥攎aking sure every voice is heard鈥攚hich will make me a stronger colleague and leader wherever I work,鈥 Borle said.</p> <p>Madison Shaw, a graduate student in the Master of Social Work Program, has worked with 麻豆视频 LIFE for three years. 鈥淚t can be so important to focus on abilities versus disabilities. Each student carries so many strengths within themselves and has a lot to offer,鈥 she said.</p> <p>There鈥檚 a similar benefit to the employer. 鈥溌槎故悠 LIFE students bring an important perspective to the office,鈥 said Chabot. 鈥淓mployers get an opportunity to reflect on their inclusivity. What are the employers doing that helps everyone be successful, and where can they improve?鈥</p> <p>And the joy of watching their fellow students succeed is perhaps the greatest reward of all.</p> <p>Peer coach Nehal Gundawar, a master鈥檚 student in computer science, works with one of the Capitol Hill interns. 鈥淚n the beginning, they [the 麻豆视频 LIFE student] were nervous about interacting with staff and unsure how to approach tasks without guidance...after a few weeks they began initiating tasks on their own and even asked for additional responsibilities. Their supervisor complimented their improvements,鈥 he said. 鈥淲atching them grow into a more confident and independent employee was incredibly rewarding.鈥</p> <p>The congressional interns see the changes in themselves as well.</p> <p>鈥溌槎故悠 LIFE helps me with the skills that are required to be an independent man,鈥 said Amar Mailk, a third-year student.</p> <p>鈥溌槎故悠 LIFE has changed my life,鈥 said Aryaa Bhole, a second-year student. &nbsp;鈥淏ecause of the lessons and skills, I know to stand out and inspire others and to lift them with my voice.鈥</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="8b3cb297-67de-46be-99ac-c170ff4624ac"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://masonlife.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about 麻豆视频 LIFE <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="b78a38df-0368-44b5-a560-3dea6ae2d15d" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related news</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-8fdd875b2926bd05e8766c4caebee066af261916883b2922ac92e94a233afdaf"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/fulbright-enables-tourism-professor-share-her-expertise-tajikistan" hreflang="en">Fulbright enables tourism professor to share her expertise in Tajikistan </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 25, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/2025-family-year-enjoys-life-campus" hreflang="en">The 2025 Family of the Year enjoys life on campus</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 24, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/principal-registered-apprenticeship-program-hopes-grow-future-school-leaders" hreflang="en">Principal Registered Apprenticeship Program hopes to grow future school leaders </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 12, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/access-academy-freshmen-become-dual-enrolled-college-students-spring" hreflang="en">ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 3, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7616" hreflang="en">麻豆视频 LIFE Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18571" hreflang="en">Washington D.C.</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14521" hreflang="en">Capitol Hill</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/191" hreflang="en">College of Education and Human Development</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:26:47 +0000 Sarah Holland 344526 at This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all /news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all <span>This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-11-13T15:30:10-05:00" title="Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 15:30">Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:30</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">There are few 麻豆视频 students as busy as senior Rakibul Alam. A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the </span><a href="https://business.gmu.edu/"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Costello College of Business</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was among the speakers welcoming the community at Fuse鈥檚 grand celebration in September at 麻豆视频 Square.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">But when you hear Alam talk about his campus experiences, it is surprising to learn that his first week of college was rocky. As a first-generation student commuting to campus from Centreville, Virginia, Alam said </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">wasn鈥檛 he</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> sure how he would fit in.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚 remember thinking, I need to get involved if I want to have the best George 麻豆视频 experience,鈥 Alam said, and that he did.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Within weeks, Alam joined </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Student</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> Government and soon co-founded the student organization Collective Organization of South Asia. A semester later, he joined another student organization, 麻豆视频 Consulting Group. As vice president of the 麻豆视频 Consulting Group, he has worked to ensure that other students have access to experiential learning opportunities.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-11/rakibul_alam_at_fuse_250925547.jpg?itok=tp3WAFrl" width="560" height="374" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Alam spoke at the Fuse鈥檚 grand celebration in September. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淕eorge 麻豆视频 has such unique individuals with so much talent,鈥 said Alam, who is also a member of the Honors College. 鈥淲e need to go out into the community and show what we can do. My goal has been to create those opportunities for others.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">麻豆视频 Consulting Group is open to George 麻豆视频 students of all majors. Alam said about </span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">210</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> students are registered, but there is a core group of about </span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">70+</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> who are the most active members.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Under his leadership鈥攈e is now president of the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">group,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the 麻豆视频 Consulting Group has grown into more than just a student organization. Over the past few semesters, the organization has brought in representatives from Northern Virginia companies, such as KPMG, one of the area鈥檚 top four accounting firms, to talk to students about careers.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">And those connections are paying off. He said seven of the group鈥檚 members secured high-profile internships in consulting this past summer</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, including Alam himself who served as a </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">human resources</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and change management advisory intern at KPMG.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭hat says a lot about the kind of pipeline we鈥檙e building,鈥 Alam said. 鈥淕eorge 麻豆视频 students are competing head-to-head with students from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard鈥攁nd we鈥檙e ending up in the same places.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That pipeline is expanding beyond the corporate world. </span>Through a formal partnership with the 麻豆视频 Consulting Group, Fairfax City Economic Development supports experiential learning opportunities for George 麻豆视频 students who consult with local businesses. Program funding is provided to George 麻豆视频, which administers the initiative, ensuring students benefit from real-world experience while businesses gain strategic insights.</p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭hese are the ripple effects,鈥 Alam said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e being recognized not just as students, but as professionals making an impact.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-11/240411843.jpg?itok=l-Ji9Rbg" width="560" height="365" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Rakibul Alam presenting at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Alam himself has a r茅sum茅 that reflects both ambition and a deep commitment to service. Last year, his summer internship with the U.S. Navy reinforced his interest in government consulting.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淎fter my Navy internship, I realized how much I wanted to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">serve</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the public sector,鈥 he explained. 鈥淎dministrations change, but the government will always be here. Consulting allows me to use my skills to support the American people.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That sense of purpose also extends globally. Alam was the recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which allowed him to study international development in Morocco in January 2025. He also represented George 麻豆视频 at a United Nations Cooperatives Youth conference in India, where he worked alongside students from across disciplines, including public health and business.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚t was incredible to see George 麻豆视频 represented on the world stage,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hese experiences showed me how interconnected business, policy, and global development really are.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Alam鈥檚 drive has earned him recognition closer to home as well. Early in his George 麻豆视频 career, he won Costello鈥檚 Patriot Pitch competition with a social entrepreneurship project. He has since served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs in the annual competition, paying forward the guidance he received from faculty mentors.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淓very opportunity I鈥檝e had, I had to pitch myself for it,鈥 Alam said. 鈥淏ut when I get to the top, I want to throw the rope back down for others. Because there鈥檚 always room at the top.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That mindset鈥攑aired with his relentless schedule鈥攈as required discipline. Between taking 18 credits, leading a student organization, and juggling multiple internships, Alam relies on strict time management.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚 learned </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">early on</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> that I needed structure,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 use calendars, I set boundaries, and I make sure to take mental breaks. And I also have mentors鈥攕ome older, some younger鈥攚ho keep me grounded.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In turn, he also mentors undergraduate business students.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Despite his packed calendar, Alam said he finds balance through pickleball, which he plays religiously, and painting, which fills his home with his own watercolor and mixed-media creations. 鈥淪ports and arts keep me well-rounded,鈥 he said with a smile.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Looking ahead, Alam is weighing whether to finish his bachelor鈥檚 degree early or pursue an accelerated master鈥檚. Either way, he plans to remain in Northern Virginia after graduation, contributing to the same business and government ecosystems that shaped his education.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;鈥</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Businesses</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> in Northern Virginia should know they don鈥檛 need to look far for talent,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e right here, and we鈥檙e ready to make an impact.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0"> &nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="0c75c7ac-6c3a-43d1-a7c0-3ecc91525537"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://gmu.edu/internships"> <p class="cta__title">Explore internships at George 麻豆视频 <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="00d35c5e-acb6-44e8-81c6-e1a11cd637ed" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-2aa0382b2ff47b2f446504a1bcf753bb6cb0fe576aeff2ee3cbe974e48d49fd9"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/george-mason-and-metrostar-launch-partnership-fuel-federal-tech-talent-and-innovation" hreflang="en">George 麻豆视频 and MetroStar launch partnership to fuel federal tech talent and innovation </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 12, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/mba-student-already-putting-her-degree-work" hreflang="en">This MBA student is already putting her degree to work</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 12, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/ajay-vinze-costello-college-business-dean-appointed-interim-provost" hreflang="en">Ajay Vinz茅, Costello College of Business Dean, appointed interim provost </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 10, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/patriot-profile-jaylin-lott" hreflang="en">Patriot Profile: Jaylin Lott</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6836" hreflang="en">student organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20341" hreflang="en">Mentoring</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/821" hreflang="en">Honors College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1061" hreflang="en">Costello College of Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12501" hreflang="en">Costello College of Business News</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:30:10 +0000 Katarina Benson 344351 at Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair /news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair <span>Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-23T16:56:29-04:00" title="Thursday, October 23, 2025 - 16:56">Thu, 10/23/2025 - 16:56</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW138970090 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Over the three days of this fall鈥檚 Career Fair, more than 5,000 麻豆视频 students filled Dewberry Hall in sharp professional attire and with polished r茅sum茅s in hand鈥攔eady to take the next step toward their careers.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW138970090 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">George 麻豆视频鈥檚 Career Fair, held each fall and spring semester, is the university鈥檚 largest on-campus recruiting event, connecting students with representatives from more than 100 companies and organizations. The event offers students opportunities to explore internships, part-time roles, and full-time positions across a range of industries.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-10/picture1-2-768x512.jpg?itok=KkpdyL8l" width="560" height="300" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Wilkerson and fellow staff members at the career fair. Photo by Emily Campos/University Life</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭hese are opportunities to get right in front of the employers,鈥 said Phillip Wilkerson, employer engagement consultant at </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW21384652 BCX0" href="https://careers.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">University Career Services</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> (UCS). 鈥淚 like to tell students this is not a place where you can automatically get a job or a magic ticket; it鈥檚 a great way to build relationships, get business cards, and stay in touch.鈥&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">While the fair is about connections, success begins long before students step into Dewberry Hall. University Career Services offers one-on-one advising to help students refine r茅sum茅s, craft cover letters, and practice introductions before the career fair.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淐onfidence comes with preparation,鈥 Wilkerson said. 鈥淭he more prepared you are, the more confident you are.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-10/picture2-1-768x512.jpg?itok=BuLyq-sr" width="350" height="233" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>A students converses with an employer. Photo by Emily Campos/University Life</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mary Claire Kraft, employer outreach manager for University Career Services, recommended that students research before the fair to be even more prepared. 鈥淣umber one, check </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW21384652 BCX0" href="https://gmu.joinhandshake.com/login" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Handshake</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, George 麻豆视频鈥檚 job search web site,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen students meet an </span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">employer</span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> they鈥檙e interested in, they can then share one thing they already know about them.鈥&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Each day of the fair is focused on a different area or industry. Day one was focused on science, technology, engineering and health; day two was a general day for all companies; and day three was mainly attended by business, government, education and nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Iman Chaudhry, a sophomore majoring in management information systems, approached the fair with an open mindset, something she credits with helping her make the most of the fair. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important not to limit yourself, even if you have a specific major,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here are benefits to attending all days of the Career Fair.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">First-year student Lilliana Russell attended her first fair this </span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">fall</span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> eager to learn. The civil and infrastructure engineering major arrived early with a list of employers to meet and a curiosity about what her field has to offer. 鈥淚鈥檓 really just trying to scope out what the different companies in my field are and maybe score an internship,鈥 she said.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-10/picture1-1-e1760623785570-1.jpg?itok=tolW31gt" width="350" height="261" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Students meet with potential employers. Photo by Emily Campos/University Life</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Russell added that her nerves faded once she began speaking with recruiters. 鈥淥nce I got to know everyone and saw how excited they were to talk with students, I let go of any preconceived notions I had about the event,鈥 she said.</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW21384652 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">University Career Services hosts a wide variety of career fairs throughout the year. Students can keep the momentum </span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">going</span><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> a Clearance Ready event on October 28 at noon. Engineering Careers Week kicks off November 10. &nbsp;</span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW21384652 BCX0" href="https://careers.gmu.edu/events" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Learn more about these and other career opportunities</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW21384652 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW21384652 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:feature_image" data-inline-block-uuid="d70cedac-38a9-47ff-99cb-c0c825db84b7" class="block block-feature-image block-layout-builder block-inline-blockfeature-image caption-below"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt" srcset="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_small/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=CT4U-0_9 768w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt 1024w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_large/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=NmBYvS-B 1280w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 80vw,100vw" alt> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="b82ad2ec-f9bd-4c92-a645-6d59fdc4b6c8"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://gmu.edu/internships"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about internships at George 麻豆视频 <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="385b25a0-db9d-43fb-a5ba-36b6bd897ebe" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-a9c1e29dc7cdbefc3ceebedcb31aa5efca3ea5288798dd4cf9554ce8f17eaa41"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey" hreflang="en">Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/366" hreflang="en">University Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/516" hreflang="en">University Career Services</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15126" hreflang="en">workforce</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:56:29 +0000 Katarina Benson 343961 at Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position /news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position <span>Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-22T08:19:03-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 08:19">Wed, 10/22/2025 - 08:19</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Cameron Chambers likes a plan. As a high school senior, the Bethesda, Maryland, native already had his career path mapped out.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-10/cameron_dc-600x600.jpg?itok=Ui6e4IJA" width="350" height="350" alt="A young man wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses stands in front of a glass fence overlooking Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Capitol in the distance." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Cameron Chambers: 鈥淚 was looking at any opportunity as an undergraduate to get my foot in the door and also investigate law as a practice and see if it was something I would do.鈥</figcaption> </figure> <p>Now a <a href="https://business.gmu.edu/programs/bachelors-accelerated-masters-programs">Bachelor鈥檚/Accelerated Master鈥檚</a> (BAM) student majoring in accounting in the <a href="https://business.gmu.edu/">Costello College of Business</a>, Chambers chose 麻豆视频 specifically for the BAM pathway and the opportunity to jumpstart his education and achieve his goal of practicing tax law.</p> <p>鈥淧eople always said, 鈥楾hink of education as an investment,鈥 so I just researched it,鈥 he said. 鈥淕eorge 麻豆视频 offered the BAM program and I could apply to be a CPA. It lets me do that faster so I can go to law school. It gave me a good place to do all those things.鈥<span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p>As an undergraduate <span>in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://honorscollege.gmu.edu/" target="_blank" title="http://honorscollege.gmu.edu"><span>Honors College</span></a>, Chambers explored avenues that would enhance his interest in a future law career. He is a member of the George 麻豆视频 Academic Standards Committee and an editor for the Undergraduate Law Review, part of the Schar School Patriot Pre-Law Program.&nbsp;</p> <p>He also discovered the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-learning-communities/jurisprudence-learning-community">Jurisprudence Learning Community</a> (JPLC), one of four faculty-led communities, each with its own academic theme, housed in the <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a>. JPLC is open to any sophomores, juniors, and seniors who <span>plan&nbsp;on pursuing&nbsp;law school&nbsp;following graduation or&nbsp;are interested in learning how the&nbsp;law pertains to a career in public administration, policy, or politics.</span></p> <p>鈥淚 was looking at any opportunity as an undergraduate to get my foot in the door and also investigate law as a practice and see if it was something I would do,鈥 he said.</p> <p>In addition to joining a community of peers interested in law and attending field trips in and around the Washington, D.C., area, Chambers gained something unexpected in the JPLC.</p> <p>鈥淲e were assigned a lot of legal research projects,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 do that as an accounting major.鈥</p> <p>The experience of doing research served Chambers well when he interned for eight weeks last summer at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) doing mergers and acquisitions.<span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p>鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of tax code I had to go through,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat legal research skill set that I got was invaluable. Other people didn鈥檛 have it. And I thought 鈥榃hy am I not struggling?鈥 Because I did this.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Chambers, slated to graduate in December and begin next semester as a graduate student, credits JPLC with helping him secure a full-time offer from PwC as a tax associate starting in the summer. He reached out to <a href="https://genderandpolicy.gmu.edu/partners/shea-holman/">Shea Holman</a>, director of JPLC, to share the good news.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 told her that the [JPLC] class prepped me for this perfectly,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was that legal research ability that differentiated me and definitely helped me get that return offer in a competitive space.鈥</p> <p><em><span>For more information about the Jurisprudence Learning Community or any of the Schar School鈥檚 other learning communities, visit the </span></em><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-learning-communities"><em><span>Schar School Learning Community webpage</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/sholman3" hreflang="en">Shea M. Holman Kilian</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="306865fd-671a-4f16-8b8d-995393b83c75"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <p class="cta__title">Request Schar School program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform data-fa-mask style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="79949dfe-188b-409f-b1a5-f678c4712596"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-question-circle" data-fa-transform data-fa-mask style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="2c2dbaf2-77a4-46de-8129-adf4de335e67" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="6e1d70b1-fa94-4434-bcce-6148ff5ec164" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-fa229d7c8ddfae88e3fd8bd8b3c6300196e22793013041bd6f16da3219ec871c"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey" hreflang="en">Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="6cab1b6e-8348-4ef2-a603-0d00e4edd8f7" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:feature_image" data-inline-block-uuid="5f0f77f2-1b2c-4d43-b05a-3f225586200a" class="block block-feature-image block-layout-builder block-inline-blockfeature-image text-overlaid"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt" srcset="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_small/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=CT4U-0_9 768w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt 1024w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_large/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=NmBYvS-B 1280w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 80vw,100vw" alt> </div> <div class="headline-text"> <div class="feature-image-link"> <div class="field field--name-field-feature-image-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://gmu.edu/internships">Learn more</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/21346" hreflang="en">BAM program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16901" hreflang="en">Jurisprudence Learning Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1061" hreflang="en">Costello College of Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18821" hreflang="en">Schar School Student Spotlight</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/821" hreflang="en">Honors College</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:19:03 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 343941 at Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey /news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey <span>Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-15T15:35:51-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 15:35">Wed, 10/15/2025 - 15:35</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW90203517 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">麻豆视频 </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW90203517 BCX0" href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/environmental-science-policy" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW90203517 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Environmental Science and Policy</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW90203517 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US"> major Melanie Medrano has long aspired to work in the federal government, ideally on the front lines of creating meaningful environmental change. She took a major step toward that goal by starting an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), where she will assist in their communication efforts through December 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW90203517 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">USGS provides a range of data and expertise on earth sciences, water, biology, and mapping to aid decisions on environmental and public safety issues. At USGS鈥檚 National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Medrano supports two principal investigators working on the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework. This decision-making tool helps resource managers develop informed strategies for responding to ecological transformations within landscapes caused by climate change.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2025-10/img_1210.jpg" width="436" height="311" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Melanie Medrano (center) with her mentors Abby Lynch (left) and Jackson Valler (right) at the Reston office. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In her communications role, Medrano is helping expand the reach of the RAD framework beyond the USGS by supporting the launch of newsletters, producing case studies that highlight real-world applications of the RAD framework in different transforming landscapes, and interviewing scientists and managers who are implementing or researching RAD.</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Although her internship, which started in February, is fully remote鈥攚hich Medrano said aids in the balancing of her workload with coursework鈥攕he met the team in-person this past summer at the USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Medrano said her mentors have taught her a great deal about the importance of engaging in interagency conversations and how to communicate science in ways that are both clear and meaningful. Her experience with USGS has so far reinforced a key lesson: learning never stops.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">One of the most significant takeaways, she noted, is the greater understanding of how science informs decision-making across various branches of the federal government, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of War. Medrano鈥檚 work with the USGS, combined with her environmental studies, offers her a comprehensive view of what鈥檚 possible when classroom learning is applied to real-world challenges.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Medrano said Department of Environmental Science and Policy professor </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/younsung-kim"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Younsung</span><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> Kim</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> played a central role in securing her internship, helping with the application process and facilitating communications between her and USGS.</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚t was definitely an opportunity I couldn鈥檛 miss,鈥 Medrano said. 鈥淒r. Kim always pushes students to gain real-world experience. She would constantly share opportunities with us, and one of those opportunities was the USGS program.鈥&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Just as impactful, she said, was the encouragement she received from a close friend and fellow George 麻豆视频 student already in the program. 鈥淪he gave me the push I needed to apply,鈥 Medrano said. 鈥淭hat kind of peer support reflects the culture at 麻豆视频.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">A first-generation college student, Medrano chose to study at George 麻豆视频 because of its diversity and proximity to Washington, D.C. She is actively involved on campus, serving as the multimedia director of the Hispanic Latina Leadership Alliance, handling outreach to Hispanic students on campus.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">She is also the social media director for the Sycamore Institute branch at George 麻豆视频, the first undergraduate Think </span><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Tank</span><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> run entirely by undergraduate students, focused on foreign policy and issues of international security.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">When reflecting on her experience with USGS, the only regret Medrano has is the doubt she had for herself before applying to the internship. Her advice for others who are applying for internships is not to self-restrain based on the skills you feel you might be lacking.</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚t鈥檚 important to network, especially with your professors,鈥 Medrano said. 鈥淟et them know what you鈥檙e interested in, because you never know what opportunities might be out there.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Medrano hopes to gain additional field experience and further her research before completing her undergraduate degree this fall. She is eager to continue her work within the federal government, with a particular interest in remaining with the USGS.</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚 love what I do right now,鈥 she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW191553159 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Since beginning her internship, Medrano has published member profiles for </span><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">RADish</span><span class="TextRun SCXW191553159 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and written a case study on applying the RAD framework to Alaska鈥檚 Kenai Peninsula.</span><span class="EOP SCXW191553159 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="86095a71-f4c9-4ad9-b78f-2f0ef86bb055" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="76a08c7e-f0c2-42a3-bae5-1d2f1b28195e"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://gmu.edu/internships"> <p class="cta__title">Explore Internships at George 麻豆视频 <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="ea539002-c5b4-46d2-b868-73596c21847e" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="2d1df992-a17c-4ece-b1d7-d7a27a3f40ad" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="943afe7e-208f-40c7-b158-d39acdcf3c61" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-ad314e7917f3d50db78bd4367620b521f5d3744305f728d0777308ca7da406d8"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey" hreflang="en">Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/546" hreflang="en">Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:35:51 +0000 Katarina Benson 343866 at Commonwealth Cyber Initiative NoVa Node nurtures next-gen cyber sleuths /news/2025-10/commonwealth-cyber-initiative-nova-node-nurtures-next-gen-cyber-sleuths <span>Commonwealth Cyber Initiative NoVa Node nurtures next-gen cyber sleuths </span> <span><span>Nathan Kahl</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-08T14:38:00-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 14:38">Wed, 10/08/2025 - 14:38</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/ldurant2" hreflang="und">Liza Wilson Durant</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">A cyber-physical systems testbed, cutting-edge research projects across AI and next-gen networks, a cybersecurity apprenticeship program, and a cybersecurity accelerator are just a sampling of the outcomes from 麻豆视频鈥檚 role as the NoVa Node headquarters of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), Virginia鈥檚 main access point for workforce development cybersecurity innovation, and research.</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4 intro-text"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">This is the first of a three-part series about the NoVa Node鈥檚 three </span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">foci</span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">: workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and research.&nbsp;</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span><br><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span><br><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">According to Jordan 麻豆视频, NoVa Node program manager, all programs in the node check at least two of those boxes, but he emphasized that NoVa Node is particularly strong in workforce development. From traineeships to internships for different ages, the NoVa Node has opportunities for people interested in learning more.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span><br><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭here are more than 50,000 cybersecurity job openings in Virginia and the existing pipeline of cybersecurity-related degree-seeking candidates is not enough to fill the demand,鈥 said Liza Wilson Durant, CCI NoVa Node director and associate provost for strategic initiatives at George 麻豆视频. 鈥淐CI NoVa Node programs widen the pipeline and present new sources of talent, including those with degrees outside of the typical cybersecurity pathway, but with hands-on skills developed in the field. Our programs have touched thousands, and we know we are having an impact.鈥&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The node features a cybersecurity traineeship targeting people who, at the end of the program, will be ready for full-time, entry-level cybersecurity positions. The traineeship builds a bridge for people with non-technical or non-cybersecurity backgrounds, typically either recent grads or career transitioners looking to enter the field.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">麻豆视频 said, 鈥淲e pay them to go through a seven-week, full-time cyber fundamentals boot camp. And then we work to place them in 12-week apprenticeships. CCI trainees have been placed with </span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Peraton</span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, one of the first adopters of the program, as well as other government contractors and some small businesses. One graduate from our program landed a position with TikTok and another with Amazon Web Services.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">"The node also runs a subsidized internship program," said 麻豆视频, with a sliding scale determining level of support based on company size. 鈥淪mall and start-up companies have limited resources to support interns and yet they are excellent training </span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">ground</span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, providing roles with significant responsibility and opportunities for technical training,鈥 said Durant. NoVa Node鈥檚 support </span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">of</span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> startups and early-stage companies provides secondary reinforcement of the innovation and entrepreneurship foci.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-10/tech_duels.jpg?itok=Z_Nw_-OM" width="350" height="263" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>NoVa Node interns participate in "Tech Duels." Photo courtesy CCI.&nbsp;</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins stressed the need for a skilled technical workforce in the region. 鈥淲e have five times the data center capacity of Silicon Valley. We have three times the data center capacity of&nbsp;Singapore. So, when you look at what our global competitors would be, we are way ahead of them in terms of their infrastructure capacity. And when you get ahead in the infrastructure, you also must have the talent to run it.鈥</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span><br><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4" lang="EN-US"></span><br><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Recognizing the importance of filling the pipeline when the talent is still deciding on a career path, NoVa Node runs a summer high school internship program partnering with the Children's Science Center, part of the Northern Virginia Science Foundation. The competitive application process yielded 45 students in a recent cohort. 麻豆视频 said, 鈥淭he candidate interns go through a two-week professional skills boot camp and are then placed in a five-week paid internship.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Xin-Wen Wu, an associate professor at the University of Mary Washington, said CCI was instrumental in the university鈥檚 growth in cybersecurity education and research. "We have hosted summer camps for high school students, funded faculty-led research involving undergraduate CCI Scholars, and provided students with access to paid internships and experiential learning opportunities. These initiatives have significantly advanced UMW鈥檚 research capabilities and contributed to the development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW170938627 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><em><span class="TextRun SCXW170938627 BCX4 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Coming up next: Innovation and Entrepreneurship</span><span class="EOP SCXW170938627 BCX4">&nbsp;</span></em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4186" hreflang="en">Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/966" hreflang="en">Workforce Development</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:38:00 +0000 Nathan Kahl 344456 at Practicum and research empower this future public health leader /news/2025-09/practicum-and-research-empower-future-public-health-leader <span>Practicum and research empower this future public health leader </span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-19T20:28:03-04:00" title="Friday, September 19, 2025 - 20:28">Fri, 09/19/2025 - 20:28</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun CommentStart intro-text" lang="EN-US">麻豆视频 m</span><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">aster of public health (MPH) student Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH 鈥25, describes her practicum experience at Culture Care Collective as a launchpad into the public health field.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-09/janelladdo-boatengmph25_2_sm.jpg?itok=m2lyimfX" width="420" height="560" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH '25, Photo provided.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭his experience helped solidify my interest in policy and program evaluation for maternal and community health, which is an area of interest I hold dear to my heart,鈥 she explained. 鈥淚 strengthened my skills in policy writing and stakeholder engagement, which are all important skills for working in public health policy and advocacy.鈥&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">For Addo-Boateng, a first-generation student who graduated in May, her practicum provided a strong foundation for a career in the public health field. She participated in research, evaluation, and communication initiatives at </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW266029766 BCX0" href="https://culturecareco.com/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Culture Care Collective</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥攁 health equity program aimed at integrating community health workers into university and clinical environments to improve care for underserved populations. During her time with the collective, she wrote a policy brief and a case study, supported the design and analysis of qualitative data on program impact, and co-authored a manuscript summarizing her findings.</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Beyond her practicum, Addo-Boateng worked as a graduate research assistant, supporting research led by CPH faculty </span><a href="/profiles/rmhonde"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Rochelle Davidson Mhonde</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and </span><a href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/profiles/mwill29"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Michelle S. Williams</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> on fertility desire among women living with HIV. The role allowed her to sharpen her writing, data analysis, and time management skills, while also learning how to communicate research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In addition to supporting faculty-led projects, Addo-Boateng pursued her own research at George 麻豆视频, conducting a policy analysis for the March of Dimes on closing Medicaid postpartum care gaps and addressing maternal mortality disparities. She evaluated three policy approaches through the lenses of effectiveness, efficiency, and feasibility, with an emphasis on justice-oriented solutions, and presented her findings in testimony and peer presentations on how strategic policy changes could reduce costs, strengthen care coordination, and improve maternal health outcomes.</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">She further demonstrated her skills at the national level by participating in the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW266029766 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/news/2025-09/george-mason-college-public-health-students-bring-home-gold-silver-and-bronze-national" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">2025 National Case Study Competition in Health Education,</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> where her team earned the silver award for their solution to address rising rates of sexually transmitted infection among young adults.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-09/janelladdo-boatengmph25_1_crop.jpg?itok=IoXhyi1y" width="307" height="350" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH '25. Photo provided.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚 learned how to put research into actionable policy tools that will resonate with diverse stakeholders,鈥 explained Addo-Boateng. 鈥淚 also learned how important it was to be adaptable, especially when working on interdisciplinary teams and navigating real-world timelines. In my case, I was completing full time studies as a graduate student, working on my research assistant position with my professor Dr. Rochelle Davidson Mhonde, and contributing to my practicum responsibilities.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Addo-Boateng says she is incredibly grateful for the opportunities she had at the College of Public Health, especially the mentorship and hands-on experiences that helped bring everything together. She believes her time at 麻豆视频 has truly prepared her to step into the next phase of her career with confidence and clarity.</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW266029766 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW266029766 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">For fellow students, she offers this advice, 鈥淐hoose a practicum that aligns with both your values and your long-term goals. Also, don鈥檛 be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, as it鈥檚 often where the most growth happens! Lastly, take initiative because from my personal experience, my practicum was a launchpad into getting experience in the public health field.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW266029766 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18401" hreflang="en">MPH</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/606" hreflang="en">Student Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15201" hreflang="en">Master of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19556" hreflang="en">GCH Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6756" hreflang="en">first-generation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:28:03 +0000 Mary Cunningham 344196 at Field of career dreams: Grad student spends summer identifying and protecting native plants /news/2025-09/field-career-dreams-grad-student-spends-summer-identifying-and-protecting-native <span>Field of career dreams: Grad student spends summer identifying and protecting native plants</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-02T13:48:10-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - 13:48">Tue, 09/02/2025 - 13:48</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Growing up in Winchester, Virginia, Jordan Edlich would often visit Blandy Experimental Farm on field trips as a child. Now a graduate student in </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/environmental-science-policy/environmental-science-and-policy-ms"><span class="intro-text">environmental science and policy</span></a><span class="intro-text"> at 麻豆视频, Edlich just spent a summer interning at the farm, which is also the State Arboretum of Virginia, cataloging native plants. One of Edlich鈥檚 main goals for their master's research is to create a local floristic survey to help the rehabilitation and revitalization of native plants in Northern Virginia.&nbsp;</span></p> <h5><strong>Why did you choose George 麻豆视频 and how did you decide your major?</strong></h5> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-09/jordan_edlich_1.jpg?itok=IIR8pAM4" width="350" height="264" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Graduate student Jordan Edlich surveyed the arboretum鈥檚 native meadow by sections, documenting populations and locations of plant species. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p>I chose this program because it provides students with both the background of environmental science and the political and social tools to address environmental problems. I also grew up in the area and have always been passionate about conserving our local biodiversity. I am looking forward to helping preserve and strengthen regional biodiversity.</p> <h5><strong>What projects have you been assigned during your internship?</strong></h5> <p>My main project <span>at the State Arboretum of Virginia, also called Blandy Experimental Farm,&nbsp;</span>is closely related to my master's research. Using old maps and a GPS device, I surveyed the arboretum鈥檚 native meadow by sections, documenting populations and locations of plant species in each section. I was also able to rediscover a rare plant species that the arboretum curators can now conserve and collect seeds from. <span>These include the Green Fringed Orchid (</span><em><span>Platanthera lacera</span></em><span>) and the Green Milkweed (</span><em><span>Asclepias viridiflora</span></em><span>), native plants not originally planted at Blandy. After I conducted the plant survey, I also wrote up a management plan of how best to conserve native plant communities in the meadow and tactics for establishing more of these communities in the future.&nbsp;</span></p> <h5><strong>How have your courses at George 麻豆视频 helped prepare you for the internship?</strong></h5> <p><span>My courses at George 麻豆视频 have allowed me to think about my work at Blandy from various points of view. While I was studying plants from a scientific botanical lens, I was also helping in restoration projects that related to my studies of the logistics of solving conservation-related problems. Practicing ecology from different scientific, political, social, and economic views has helped me understand more about how Blandy is able to successfully work as an arboretum and a conservation entity.&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-09/jordna_jack_2025.jpg?itok=ZiWegdJZ" width="350" height="264" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>George 麻豆视频 graduate student Jordan Edlich (left) working at the Blandy Experimental Farm. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <h5><strong>How does this internship tie into your career goals?</strong></h5> <p>My career goals include working in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. This internship directly helped me better understand how to survey and maintain native biodiversity. I could even see myself returning to Blandy in the future, continuing to work in curating and conserving the arboretum's native habitats. This internship gave me both the hands-on skills in how conservation and restoration projects are done, and the resources for understanding the logistics behind these projects. I hope to use these skills to conduct similar projects of my own in the future.</p> <h5><strong>What advice would you give to students starting an internship?</strong></h5> <p>Don't be afraid to explore a field or a type of career that you know little or nothing about. Not only did this experience allow me to become more of an expert in native plants, but it also helped me realize that this was a field I wanted to pursue and continue working in. I would not have been able to know how much I enjoy this field of work and research without trying it first as a beginner. Just the ability to be adaptable and willing to learn new things is a strong ability to have in your career.&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>You mentioned you鈥檝e had a long relationship with Blandy. What have you done with them over the years?</strong></h5> <p>On summer breaks during my bachelor's, I volunteered at Blandy Farms and assisted with maintaining their native plant trails. <span>Volunteering in projects to remove invasive species and protect native habitats gave me a way to make a direct beneficial impact on my local environment.&nbsp;</span>It was nice getting to know the local arboretum curators and other volunteers who had the same passion for protecting our regional biodiversity. This would ultimately help guide me further toward a career in conservation work. <span>When I applied for the internship, those same curators remembered me and were excited to have me back as a summer intern. Everyone at Blandy was passionate about their work and always willing to teach me something new.&nbsp;</span>I am grateful for how much Blandy has taught me over the years and how it has inspired my academic and career path.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:feature_image" data-inline-block-uuid="32b2813f-e025-4a26-b8fd-294bc54f4a91" class="block block-feature-image block-layout-builder block-inline-blockfeature-image text-overlaid"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt" srcset="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_small/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=CT4U-0_9 768w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=6rzEswHt 1024w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_large/public/2024-09/all-1080x1080_internships.jpg?itok=NmBYvS-B 1280w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 80vw,100vw" alt> </div> <div class="headline-text"> <div class="feature-image-link"> <div class="field field--name-field-feature-image-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://gmu.edu/internships">Learn more</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="38688a56-c823-4a29-b759-dd83c15a2c96" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="06031f90-8a72-4564-b785-55b1813e83d8" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-d8a6beab628d885932804e951ed48066325fb5a91476b4d421ae2dfec1123faa"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey" hreflang="en">Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17696" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:48:10 +0000 Colleen Rich 343036 at Cybersecurity student hopes to use his powers for good /news/2025-08/cybersecurity-student-hopes-use-his-powers-good <span>Cybersecurity student hopes to use his powers for good </span> <span><span>Shayla Brown</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-29T11:49:25-04:00" title="Friday, August 29, 2025 - 11:49">Fri, 08/29/2025 - 11:49</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">When 麻豆视频 cyber security engineering major Connor Wadlin learned about ransomware attacks on organizations, such as the one on the Health Service Executive in Ireland</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US"> in his CYSE 445 System Security and Resilience class, it confirmed his commitment to dedicating his educational and professional career to protecting and preserving human lives.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing more important than protecting and defending others. As an engineer, I鈥檓 driven to get important work done by thinking about complex problems and finding suitable solutions,鈥 said Wadlin, who is from Leesburg, Virginia.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Since winter 2024, the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="https://honorscollege.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Honors College</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> student has been interning at the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="https://cyberinitiative.org/about/regional-structure/northern-virginia-node.html" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Commonwealth Cyber Initiative</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> (CCI) Northern Virginia Node, George 麻豆视频鈥檚 branch of the statewide network dedicated of excellence in cybersecurity research. CCI鈥檚 mission includes workforce development through training the next generation of cybersecurity experts.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-08/250819602.jpg?itok=gVKY2IIJ" width="560" height="374" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>CEC student and Commonwealth Cyber Initiative intern Connor Wadlin. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚t鈥檚 a super exciting job because I get to work with </span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">AprilTags</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, which are on objects that the drone's camera then sees and scans. Instead of sharing data, the tags utilize location information for navigation, tracking objects, or pathing purposes,鈥 he said.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Wadlin is also simulating drone flight with the Microsoft tool Air Sim, a project he presented at the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="https://cyberinitiative.org/events-programs/events-for-2025/cci-symposium-2025.html" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">CCI Symposium</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> in April. 鈥淚 created a model with a 98% accuracy, really high F1 score鈥攈igher than what we could find on the market鈥攄etecting collisions so the drones would be able to respond to anomalous factors such as objects that get too close</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> environmental variables, cyber-attacks, and more,鈥 he explained.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Wadlin learned about many of the tools he鈥檚 currently using for CCI in his classes with </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="https://cec.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Highlight Underlined SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">College of Engineering and Computing</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> professors</span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, such as his </span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">mentor </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/mgebril" target="_blank"><span class="SCXW140835998 BCX0 TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange TextRun Underlined NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mohamed Gebril</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, an associate professor in the Department of Cyber Security Engineering.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淕eorge 麻豆视频 supports people where they are to get them where they want to be,鈥 Wadlin said.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The skills Wadlin has acquired during his time at George 麻豆视频 and in his work with CCI have enable him to help other students in their studies.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Connor is a very skilled student and has been able to develop different programs, as well as 12 labs for sophomore- and freshman-level students at George 麻豆视频. He even assists the students during our workshops,鈥 said Gebril.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Wadlin is participating in George 麻豆视频鈥檚 </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW140835998 BCX0" href="/admissions-aid/accelerated-masters" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Bachelor鈥檚 to Accelerated Master鈥檚 Program</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and will to pursuing a master鈥檚 degree also in cyber security.</span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> Gebril said he鈥檚 looking forward to having Wadlin in his classes again as a graduate student.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淚t will be a smooth transition from the undergraduate to the graduate level because the curriculum aligns well with the CCI mission, which is to equip our students with the tools to conduct research activity and develop cutting</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">edge technology,鈥 said Gebril.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Wadlin鈥檚 team is also working to develop</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> a first</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">of</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">its</span><span class="TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW140835998 BCX0 TextRun NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">kind cyber drone race that incorporates cybersecurity challenges and artificial intelligence for undergraduate students.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Wadlin was diagnosed with autism at 19 and sees this diagnosis as working to his advantage by allowing him to see things from different perspectives and approach problems with his own unique ideas.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW140835998 BCX0"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW140835998 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淎s an engineer, you have to ask yourself 鈥榟ow is this making the world a better place?鈥 That's always got to be the end goal,鈥 said Wadlin.</span><span class="EOP SCXW140835998 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="0cea7810-3f69-41bb-a54e-947fabf8f245"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://cec.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Explore the College of Engineering and Computing <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mgebril" hreflang="und">Mohamed Gebril</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="f48742ce-f36a-4b68-9a09-4ea4555c6ffb" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-415d4f9a0c16933c982864f921d27f0d00c1af379a0e706a57d2512a3234d272"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/commonwealth-cyber-initiative-helps-launch-new-start-ups" hreflang="en">Commonwealth Cyber Initiative helps launch new start-ups </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 4, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3071" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/821" hreflang="en">Honors College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4186" hreflang="en">Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3056" hreflang="en">Cybersecurity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/21256" hreflang="en">CEC students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:49:25 +0000 Shayla Brown 342981 at George 麻豆视频 student finds his voice through dream internship鈥 /news/2025-08/george-mason-student-finds-his-voice-through-dream-internship <span>George 麻豆视频 student finds his voice through dream internship鈥 </span> <span><span>Shayla Brown</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-27T14:20:11-04:00" title="Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 14:20">Wed, 08/27/2025 - 14:20</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">For 麻豆视频 sophomore Nathan Ferraro, summer hasn鈥檛 been about taking a break鈥攊t鈥檚 been about chasing his dream job. The Honors College student and communication major, who鈥檚 concentrating in both journalism and political communication, spent his summer interning as a staff writer with Trib Total Media, a multimedia news network in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he wrote two to three stories a week.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">鈥淢y favorite assignment so far was about a local state representative in Westmoreland County trying to reform a tax-collecting agency,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 got to interview both the representative and the agency to understand the challenges people are facing and what鈥檚 being done to fix them.鈥濃</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">For Ferraro, the assignment was more than a writing exercise鈥攊t was a glimpse into his future. 鈥淚 hope to work in communications for a political campaign one day,鈥 he explained. 鈥淕etting to talk with a state representative and explore that side of the political world was really exciting.鈥濃</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-08/nathan_ferraro.jpeg?itok=FimuNB-A" width="560" height="370" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Ferraro on assignment in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Photo by Massoud Hossaini/TribLive.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, native recently returned from a semester abroad in Madrid through George 麻豆视频鈥檚 Global Gateway Program. Jumping into local reporting has been the perfect way to reconnect with home. 鈥淭his internship has been a great way for me to re-immerse myself in the community,鈥 Ferraro said. 鈥淚 love getting to talk with people from local organizations and share their stories.鈥濃</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">At George 麻豆视频, Ferraro is already immersed in storytelling and civic engagement. He writes for the Fourth Estate, 麻豆视频鈥檚 student-run newspaper, and is active in the Society of Professional Journalists and the Public Relations Student Society of America. He is also a member of the Bonner Leadership Program, a civic-engagement initiative that connects students with community organizations.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Through Bonner, Ferraro works as a development coordinator for </span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Britepaths</span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, a Northern Virginia nonprofit focused on financial literacy and workforce development. 鈥淩ight now, we鈥檙e working to expand services beyond Fairfax and into all of Northern Virginia,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to see the real-world impact of that work.鈥濃</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The connections he鈥檚 made at </span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Britepaths</span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> have already opened doors鈥攈is supervisor wrote him a recommendation that helped him secure the Trib Total Media internship. Ferraro also credits his Honors 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry course for preparing him for success. 鈥淭hat class really strengthened my research and inquiry skills, which are essential to journalism. It also pushed me to get comfortable with feedback, which has been invaluable for the roles I鈥檓 in now.鈥濃</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Faculty and mentors have noticed his drive. 鈥淲hat I appreciated about Nathan is his attention to detail, strong aptitude for academic discourse, and really excellent critical thinking skills,鈥 said Honors College professor Caroline West, who taught Ferraro in Honors 110.鈥</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW254652177 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW254652177 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Ferraro sees writing not just as a career skill, but as a calling. 鈥淚 just love writing and sharing people鈥檚 stories,鈥 he said. 鈥淲herever I end up, I hope that鈥檚 always at the heart of what I do.鈥濃</span><span class="EOP SCXW254652177 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/cwest9" hreflang="en">Caroline West</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="5db566fd-1241-4e0d-ad6c-35f843573fdd" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="773561ab-da1c-497d-aa53-38407bea80b3"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/internships"> <p class="cta__title">Internships at George 麻豆视频 <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="1d43bdde-e96b-459d-9e92-e01270df4770" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="881800e1-f86d-40b6-9339-8af1889ceb5f" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-585f48a5fd6feda0596bb3b3eb49da72247cb64f1b0c7e24d30f6ec092382f6d"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-12/congressional-internships-teach-mason-life-students-independence-resume-skills" hreflang="en">Congressional internships teach 麻豆视频 LIFE students independence, resume skills</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">December 1, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-11/costello-student-leader-working-create-opportunities-all" hreflang="en">This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">November 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/confidence-meets-opportunity-fall-2025-career-fair" hreflang="en">Confidence meets opportunity at Fall 2025 Career Fair </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 23, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/skills-learned-jurisprudence-learning-community-help-student-land-full-time-position" hreflang="en">Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 22, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-10/environmental-science-major-lands-internship-us-geological-survey" hreflang="en">Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 15, 2025</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/721" hreflang="en">internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17371" hreflang="en">Communication Department</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">College of Humanities and Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/821" hreflang="en">Honors College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:20:11 +0000 Shayla Brown 342961 at