George Mason The Pulse

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HAYDEN CENTER RECORDS PODCAST ‘JACK’ IN THE FLESH

SCHAR SCHOOL MPA STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH COUNTY LEADERS— GRADUATES OF THE SAME PROGRAM T he 2024 edition of Local Government Night, a cornerstone event of the Schar School’s George Mason’s Master of Public Administration program for over two decades, took first-year MPA students to Arlington County’s government headquarters where they met with department leaders, many of whom, as it happened, are graduates of the MPA program. Th meeting immerses MPA students in the workings of local government, offering them a chance to learn firsthand about its operations, understand the challenges faced by its employees, and gather insights that could aid their career in public service. A central part of the evening was a meeting with the county manager, Mark Schwartz, who engaged in meaningful dialogue with the students, addressing their inquiries about leadership development in public service. Another highlight was a session on combating the opioid crisis, where Arlington County Police Department Lieutenant Steven Proud, a 2023 MPA graduate, and Suzanne Somerville from the department of human services, shared their experiences. “My biggest takeaway from the event is that you had to be competent, quick to adapt, and be able to show empathy to the people you work with,” said Tanzia Amreen Haq, an international student with nongovernment organization experience. “And, although I already knew this, I also learned the importance of having a good leader in order to make a high-pressure environment also a place where individuals who want to serve the public can thrive.” —Schar School Staff

S ome 135 audience members were joined by another 260 witnesses watching on livestream in May as “Jack: A Special Counsel Podcast” cohosts Allison Gill, an award-winning podcaster, and Andrew McCabe, Schar School Distinguished Visiting Professor and former deputy director of the FBI, took the Van Metre Hall stage with special guest Brian Greer, a former attorney for the CIA and chief of staff for the agency’s general counsel. Lawfare’s legal fellow and courts correspondent Anna Bower was the moderator of the 90-minute conversation about the numerous charges federal prosecutor Jack Smith has brought against former president Donald Trump. The event, hosted by the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, was recorded as the 76th “Jack” episode. —Abigail Danfora

ANNA BOWER, LEFT, AND ALLISON GILL

LEARNING COMMUNITIES EXPAND I n the fall of 2021, the Schar School introduced its first faculty-led learning communities (LC) , Democracy Lab and the International Relations Policy Task Force. First-year students accepted into the LC program work, study, attend special events, hear guest speakers, and travel on field trips together.

Since the LCs’ debut, the school has added Pillars of Research LC and the Jurisprudence Learning Community to the list, and most recently, by popular demand, created a residential Democracy Lab for upper-level students. Zach Lincoln, a Schar School and Honors College junior majoring in public administration, first heard about Democracy Lab from Congressional staffers on Capitol Hill. Through the variety of experiences in Democracy Lab, he says he was able to better prepare for his future career in Virginia state and local politics. “[Dem Lab] taught me bonus tips to succeed in college and life,” he said. Specifically, he cites collaborating with the “You’re the

Voter” team on its website establishment. With that project, he gained problem-solving and adaptability skills that will benefit him in the fast-paced environment of American politics. Dylan Morse, a senior majoring in public administration, served as one of three resident assistants for the learning community. He has seen Democracy Lab evolve over the past three years. The learning community enjoys a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs that contribute to its sense of community. “We enjoy our experiences together,” he said. —Gabriella Grabovska

ARLINGTON COUNTY MANAGER MARK SCHWARTZ TAKES QUESTIONS FROM MPA STUDENTS.

“ [Dem Lab] taught me bonus tips to succeed in college and life”

12 | The Pulse Winter 2024

The Pulse Winter 2024 | 13