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Democracy Lab students meet the governor on Richmond trip

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:44:12 +0000

Democracy Lab students meet the governor on Richmond trip Andrew J Schappert Wed, 09/23/2026 - 10:44

While in Richmond, Upper-Level Democracy Lab students met with Governor Abigail Spanberger. Photo provided

Just two weeks into the semester, members of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community in 911��'s Schar School of Policy and Government traveled to Richmond, Virginia, for a full day of immersive education featuring history, government, advocacy, and public service—and interactions with both the governor and lieutenant governor of the commonwealth.

Students participated in a roundtable session with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi. Photo provided

David Ramadan, BA Government and Politics ’93, MAIT International Transactions ’95, director of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab and a professor of practice in the Schar School, organized the packed itinerary, which included visits to the State Capitol Building and Executive Mansion and meetings with government officials.

“I wanted students to experience several dimensions of Virginia government and public policy in a single day—from the executive branch and advocacy to the history, institutions, and physical spaces where the legislative process takes place, including the House and Senate chambers,” he said. “This was the first of two Richmond trips; next semester, we’ll return while the General Assembly is in session so students can see the lawmaking process in action and engage directly with delegates and senators as legislation moves through the legislature.”

The day began with a tour of the Virginia Capitol, including the House of Delegates and Senate chambers, giving students an up-close look at the spaces where Virginia’s legislative process takes place. Next, students met with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi and her team for a roundtable discussion. The group then gathered in the Patrick Henry Building to engage with Governor Abigail Spanberger, who spoke about her experience governing Virginia and answered students’ questions about issues facing the Commonwealth.

Secretary of Administration Traci Deshazor encountered the students during their tour and spent a few moments chatting with them. From there, the group lunched with the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association and lobbyist Don Hall to discuss how advocacy and the lobbying process work. The students finished the day with a tour of the Executive Mansion.

The day in Richmond concluded with a tour of the Executive Mansion, led by Deputy Butler Martin Townes. Photo provided

“The day’s events allowed them to connect what we discuss in class with the people, institutions, relationships, and processes involved in governing,” Ramadan said.

Sophomore Riley Fariss, a public administration major with a minor in public health and a concentration in public policy, joined the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community to build on her experience with the First-Year Democracy Lab, where she made strong connections with Schar School peers and faculty.

The highlight of the Richmond trip for Fariss, who is from Lynchburg, Virginia, was meeting Governor Spanberger, asking a question about how her office handles rural health care issues, and listening to her thoughtful response.

“It's really important to me to remind our statewide representatives of the issues facing rural Virginia,” she said. “It meant a lot to me that the governor responded very knowledgeably on the issue. She told me about how she was working on providing more incentives for physicians to work in these areas.”

Senior Nia Christy, a political science and international politics major, who is a member of both the Upper-Level Democracy Lab and the Pre-Law Learning Community, appreciated the opportunity to ask Lieutenant Governor Hashmi about dealing with sexism and Islamophobia. Originally from Pakistan, Christy says Hashmi’s answer really resonated with her.

“What stayed with me most was the message that responding to hateful comments is about more than defending yourself; it's about showing younger girls who share similar backgrounds that those comments should not simply be accepted or normalized,” Christy said. “As an immigrant woman, I thought it was powerful to hear directly from someone who has faced those challenges while continuing to pursue public service.”

For Christy, the visit meant even more because, growing up, she never imagined walking through government buildings or speaking directly with state leaders. “I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity because I know that access to spaces like these is not something everyone gets to experience,” she said. “It reminded me how much opportunity I have been given and made me even more motivated to eventually use my education to serve and advocate for others.”

Experiences such as the trip to Richmond and the chance to make high-level connections early in students’ careers are at the heart of what the Upper-Level Democracy Lab is intended to do, says Ramadan.

“There is only so much students can learn about government from textbooks and lectures,” he said. “Experiential learning allows them to see government up close, ask difficult questions directly of practitioners and public officials, and better understand how democracy and public policy actually work. My hope is that they come away not only better informed, but also more confident about engaging with government and considering careers in public service, politics, policy, advocacy, or related fields.

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public administration

Public Service Drives Schar School Graduate in State House of Representatives Race

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:35:48 +0000

Public Service Drives Schar School Graduate in State House of Representatives Race Andrew J Schappert Wed, 08/26/2026 - 13:35

A year after graduating from 911��'s Schar School of Policy and Government with a degree in public administration, Dylan Morse found himself a candidate for Vermont House of Representatives.

Dylan Morse, BS Public Administration ’25, is running for state representative in Vermont.

He had been working in local elections and writing on his Substack page, which attracted some attention with readers who encouraged him to get involved in local politics.

“I wrote for fun to keep up with the habits I built at the Schar School, researching and writing,” he said. “It started to grow and I had some people reach out to me and that lit a spark in me. [Getting into politics] has always been a goal of mine, but I didn't imagine that I would do it so soon.”

Morse filed for his candidacy in May and won the August 11 primary for his seat representing the Windsor-1 district, which includes his hometown of Hartland, as well as the towns of Windsor and West Windsor. (The general election is November 3.) He spent his summer knocking on doors and attending all kinds of community events meeting and engaging with voters. Exhausting work to be sure.

“It’s one of the hardest things I've ever done because it takes a lot of work to do it right,” he said. “It's a really big time commitment and I've had to make some sacrifices elsewhere in my life. There's always the constant stress in the back of your mind, Am I doing enough?”

When he meets with constituents, Morse sometimes faces skepticism given his young age. He knows that experience is a valuable part of governing and he stresses his internship experience at the Schar School, which included working for both Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott and Senator Peter Welch.

“One of the main jobs from both of those internships was talking with constituents and trying to help them, and that’s been the entire campaign this summer,” he said. “My job is to talk to voters and learn what’s working for them, what isn't working for them.”

More often than not, Morse has been welcomed on the campaign trail.

“It's seen as a great positive that a young person is getting involved,” he said. “People are excited when I come to their door and can offer a different perspective. It's one way I’ve differentiated myself from other candidates.”

Morse’s platform focuses on securing a Vermont where everyday people can live their lives comfortably, which is getting harder to do because of costs and lack of affordable housing.

“I’m a ninth-generation Vermonter,” he said. “My family is a 9-to-5 working family. I see and hear that that life is getting harder to do. I want to do all I can to make that not be the case.”

He credits his family for instilling his passion for public service and a desire to give back, a commitment he continued to develop through his studies and internships at the Schar School. The son of a career firefighter, Morse remembers his father teaching fire safety or picking up people in an ambulance.

“I saw the meaning behind being an active part of the town and the community,” he said. “I want to chip into that. I don't want to do a job just to earn a paycheck. I want to do something that means something.”

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Schar School Graduate—and Grandmother—Reaches Goal of Bachelor’s Degree

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:16:10 +0000

Schar School Graduate—and Grandmother—Reaches Goal of Bachelor’s Degree Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/29/2026 - 15:16

At 72, Irma Garcia will walk across the stage to receive a bachelor’s degree decades in the making. For her, earning a bachelor's degree in public administration degree from the Schar School of Policy and Government at 911�� was never a straight path. But it was always a goal; education is very important to her family.

Irma Garcia earns her bachelor’s degree at age 72.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Garcia moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1978 to raise her three young daughters. Settling in Virginia, she worked many different jobs—mainly in local government and nonprofits—after earning a general studies degree from Northern Virginia Community College.

“What I really wanted to do was to help people,” she said. “I started getting jobs closer to what I enjoyed, which was giving services to people in need.”

Garcia also took a couple of classes at 911�� while she worked—sometimes two jobs—and took care of her family. But she had to hit pause.

“I stopped because it was just too hard for me,” she said. “I was just tired.”

Life continued but circling in the back of Garcia’s mind was the goal of earning a bachelor's degree. Five years ago, she enrolled in the Schar School choosing public administration as her major. Her eight grandchildren, five of whom have graduated from college, encouraged her.

“They gave me all kinds of tips,” she said. “They were very happy to see me go to school.”

Garcia says she never felt hesitant about returning to the classroom as a nontraditional student.

“I love school,” she said. “I had a great time with my classmates. I was accepted and I made friendships. I just felt like I was in a room full of grandchildren. I was the abuela.”

Irma Garcia (far left) with her three daughters

Garcia notes that many of her classmates came from a similar background as hers and they too juggled jobs with academics.

“Half of my friends who go to school with me, most of them are either immigrants or their parents are,” she said. “They are working but you see them in school every day.”

Garcia took classes through the Senior Citizen Waiver Program and praises her advisors, Ann Ludwick and Jana Biever, and the Registrar’s Office for assisting her and keeping her on track.

“I had a lot of questions about what classes to take and they were very supportive,” she said. “They were very informative and always processed my requests quickly and easily.”

Now, Garcia looks forward to the Schar School's Degree Celebration on May 16. She will have her own cheering section, with one of her daughters and three grandchildren in attendance.

Even though she is semi-retired, Garcia would like to continue to give back and find a part-time position at a nonprofit organization.

“That has been what I’ve enjoyed the most,” she said, “helping people use the resources available to them to become self-sufficient.”

Garcia’s educational journey has now come full circle. While the route to a bachelor’s degree sometimes challenged her, the achievement of earning it feels wonderful.

“For me, as a single mom raising three daughters by myself, it was very hard,” she said. “But if you want to do it, you can find ways of doing it. Maybe it won’t happen immediately. I would just tell people whatever they dream, try to achieve it. It can be done.”

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For more information about the National Security and Public Policy cohort program, visit this website.

Schar School Launches New Yearlong Master’s Program

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:09:35 +0000

Schar School Launches New Yearlong Master’s Program Andrew J Schappert Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:09

In August 2025, 911��'s Schar School of Policy and Government launched the National Security and Policy cohort program and welcomed its first group of students to campus. The newest addition to the school’s programmatic offerings, the NSPP offers students a full-time, one-year master’s degree experience with a group of like-minded peers who support and challenge each other’s intellectual growth. The inaugural cohort will graduate in August 2026 with a Master of Public Policy degree with an emphasis on national security.

NSPP students toured the Defense Intelligence Agency and had lunch with Schar School alumni who work there.

“Our cohort students bring a new dynamic to the program,” said NSPP Program Director Justin Gest. “They’re hustlers who have decided to devote more time to their studies to expedite their education and entry into the world of public policy. And perhaps most importantly, they value the community that our MPP program engenders among students.”

The NSPP program pushes boundaries in its exploration of national security, integrating a focus on economic statecraft and transnational crime along with the traditional study of international relations and intelligence. Students take four courses each semester and are trained in the fundamental skills of policy—economic and statistical analysis, program evaluation, and policy communication—while applying these skills to national security problems.

A unique feature of the program combines classroom learning with the Schar School’s expert faculty and a robust co-curricular program that introduces NSPP students to a variety of security-related careers and organizations.

Cohort members met with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine while in Washington, D.C.

In its inaugural year, cohort programming has included a winter study-abroad session in Brussels, Belgium, to visit NATO Headquarters and the EU Commission; a trip to New York to observe the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty negotiations; a tour of the Defense Intelligence Agency and lunch with Schar School alumni working there; a day on Capitol Hill with the Senate Armed Services Committee; lunch with a former governor of Virginia, a meeting with a member of Congress, and a visit to a security-related think tank led by its CEO.

Students have also met with leaders and managers at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and national security consulting firms and defense contractors.

Elaina Ryan, a member of the first cohort, had taken a summer course at 911�� as an undergraduate student, so she was familiar with “the unique expertise that Schar School faculty bring,” she said.

The small size of the NSPP program also appealed to Ryan. “It’s nice that all of my professors know who I am and could speak to my abilities in the classroom,” she said. “It's also enlightening hearing from the others in my cohort, who bring a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. We learn from each other as much as we learn from our professors. It also brings more accountability to group projects—everyone goes above and beyond because we have personal relationships with each other and don't want to disappoint.”

Former Ambassador Richard Kauzlarich describes the students in his POGO 750 Energy in a Turbulent World course as dedicated and driven to succeed. “They develop a team-centric approach that is important in making the cohort-based program work,” he said. “I hope the students come away from my class with a strong sense of why energy—the major public policy challenge facing the U.S. and other countries as well—represents a key building block in their national security studies.”

Nikki Forry teaches POGO 646 Policy and Program Evaluation in the NSPP program and has enjoyed teaching the group and observing the close ties they’ve formed. “The small class size allows for more interaction and personalized instruction,” she said. “The cohort approach allows for stronger bonds to be developed between students and these bonds enhance the learning community.”

To round out the program, students meet regularly throughout the year with Schar School Career Development Office staff and develop a tailored plan for securing internships and their first job in the field, along with a framework for continued professional growth.

“The program has repeatedly offered us experiences with networking and also did a mandatory resume review last fall,” said Ryan, who landed an internship at the Niskanen Center think tank. “I spoke with Duane [Bradshaw] and Brian [Bar] at the Career Development Office, and it was their advice that was primarily responsible for landing my current internship.”

Other recent internship placements include the U.S. House of Representatives, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Cohort programs like the NSPP offer students a distinctive educational and professional development experience that they can’t get elsewhere, Forry says.

“The rich curriculum targeting national security provides students with the skills they will need to graduate and find employment,” she said. “The cohort program offers an intensive learning environment beneficial to highly motivated students.”

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Justin Gest

Richard Kauzlarich

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Four Former Virginia Governors Weigh in on Virginia’s Next Four Years

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:51:39 +0000

Four Former Virginia Governors Weigh in on Virginia’s Next Four Years Andrew J Schappert Fri, 01/23/2026 - 11:51

From left: moderator Bob Holsworth with former governors Bob McDonnell, Ralph Northam, Tim Kaine, and George Allen on stage in Richmond. Photos by Drew Precious

On the Friday before the historic inauguration of Abigail Spanberger (D) as Virginia’s first female governor, 911��’s Schar School of Policy and Government hosted “The Governors’ Roundtable: The Future of Virginia.”

The four former governors gather with David Ramadan and 911�� President Gregory Washington.

The event, held in Richmond, Virginia, brought together four former governors of the commonwealth—George Allen (R), Senator Tim Kaine (D), Bob McDonnell (R), and Ralph Northam (D)—for a lively, collegial, and substantive discussion.

Former Virginia Delegate David Ramadan, professor of practice in the Schar School and a member of Governor Spanberger’s transition team, opened the panel, acknowledging the 120 attendees. The audience included Virginia business and civic leaders, representatives from 911�� and Schar School centers, Schar School faculty, students, and alumni, and a strong contingent from Virginia’s political community including current and former members of the General Assembly.

Ramadan noted that 2026 is the 10th anniversary of the naming of the Schar School after businessman and philanthropist Dwight Schar and the event kicks off a yearlong celebration of the school. He also mentioned that McDonnell, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, and former Vice President Mike Pence currently serve as professors at the school.

McDonnell offers reflections from his time as governor during the discussion.

“The Schar School is interested in nonpartisan engagement,” Ramadan said.

911�� President Gregory Washington welcomed the audience and briefly described the university and the Schar School and its mission.

“This event embodies Dwight Schar’s vision,” he said.

Noted Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth served as moderator and asked four questions of the panel who, for an hour, reminisced about their own inauguration days, offered advice to the new governor, and discussed how she might navigate the next four years.

(The following are edited excerpts from the conversation.)

Holsworth: What advice do you have for Abigail Spanberger in the first days of her administration?

Allen: It will be exhilarating for Abigail Spanberger. I remember my inauguration day. The weather was so cold. I grew up in a football family. I was thinking, It’s game day. Your adrenaline is just going. I wanted the world to know that Virginia was open for business. She, like all of us, will work to keep her promises. As governor, you’ll learn a lot. Make decisions that will make Virginia more affordable, safer. If yes, then yes. If no, then no.

Tim Kaine shares a lighter moment during the collegial exchange.

Kaine: My inauguration was in Williamsburg. (The Richmond Capitol was under renovation.) Only three Virginia governors have been inaugurated in Williamsburg: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and me. The weather was awful. I had four main objectives, one for each year. Abigail needs an agenda. She will get knocked off her agenda. But don’t let the urgent take over. Savor the good days and get ready for the bad.

Northam: It’s great that everyone is coming together to support Abigail. She has done a great job putting together a good team and they are ready to get to work. I recommend Abigail build relationships with members of the General Assembly to get things done.

McDonnell: Whether you win by ½ a percent or by 18 points, you are governor for all the people. She’s an incredibly capable person. She’s the youngest governor since George Allen. She’s up to the task. In Virginia, we transition power well. Relationships mean results. Go to the General Assembly and make house calls. See how you can work together. Know that budget and work it hard.

Allen listens as his colleagues offer their advice for the new governor.

Holsworth: How will she tackle the affordability issue?

Allen: Know the budget. Prioritize. People and businesses are not trees. They do move. Virginia is in strong competition with other states like North Carolina and Florida. Energy policy is going to be really important. That’s an affordability issue.

Platitudes are great, but you have to act. She needs to work with everyone to find solutions to make things affordable for Virginians. You can make decisions that really have an effect on people.

Kaine: Do it where people feel it: health care, housing, child care, the big ticket items that hurt the pocketbook.

McDonnell: Time is money. Reduce regulations that take permits 200-300 days for building. Virginia is in really good shape.

Northam: Jobs are the most important things. Make sure Virginia is strong for business. The cost of energy is so important. The Hampton Roads offshore wind project needs to be finished. Our ports. I worked with President Trump to deepen and widen our channels. We need to get our ports back up. Tariffs have hurt.

Allen: What we need are leaders who care about the people.

Bob McDonnell (left) listens as Ralph Northam (right) reflects on lessons learned from governing.

Holsworth: How should Spanberger respond to President Trump?

Northam: There are going to be areas where she can work with Trump. She should focus on Virginia. Rely on people you put in place. Stand back and let them do what they do.

Kaine: Call your senators and ask for help. When I was governor, I had George W. Bush for three years and Obama for one year. Bush was pulling the plug with the [Metro] silver line to Dulles and moving ships from Virginia to Florida. His brother was governor of Florida. I called John Warner.

McDonnell: It’s a transactional relationship with Washington. Maybe connect on energy, solar, wind, and fossil fuels. Embrace that. All of these types of energy. She’s the daughter of law enforcement. She might go against type. Find common ground.

Holsworth: What do you think of redistricting?

McDonnell: It would not be good. The net effect is bad for the nation and it will make the tone of politics a lot worse.

Northam: There’s a domino effect. The president should put a stop to this. You have to fight fire with fire.

Kaine: Do it and do it better. You can’t open Pandora’s Box and expect states to sit on their hands. Get back to redistricting that will be done the right way.

Allen: People should elect their leaders and not rig elections. Not one party or the other running roughshod over each other.

A reception followed the program, allowing attendees a chance to continue the dialogue and Schar School students to network. The event illustrated the Schar School’s role as a forward-looking policy institution that convenes scholars, practitioners, students, and the broader community to address pressing public policy challenges.

This event marks the beginning of the Schar School’s yearlong series commemorating its 10th anniversary and reaffirming its mission. On Tuesday, February 3, the program continues with an alumni breakfast. More events will be announced in the coming weeks, culminating in a 10th anniversary gala in fall 2026.

Additional reporting by Buzz McClain

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Robert McDonnell

David Ramadan

Gregory Washington

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Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:19:03 +0000

Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position Andrew J Schappert Wed, 10/22/2025 - 08:19

Cameron Chambers likes a plan. As a high school senior, the Bethesda, Maryland, native already had his career path mapped out.

Cameron Chambers: “I 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.”

Now a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) student majoring in accounting in the Costello College of Business, Chambers chose 911�� specifically for the BAM pathway and the opportunity to jumpstart his education and achieve his goal of practicing tax law.

“People always said, ‘Think of education as an investment,’ so I just researched it,” he said. “911�� 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.”

As an undergraduate in the Honors College, Chambers explored avenues that would enhance his interest in a future law career. He is a member of the 911�� Academic Standards Committee and an editor for the Undergraduate Law Review, part of the Schar School Patriot Pre-Law Program.

He also discovered the Jurisprudence Learning Community (JPLC), one of four faculty-led communities, each with its own academic theme, housed in the Schar School of Policy and Government. JPLC is open to any sophomores, juniors, and seniors who plan on pursuing law school following graduation or are interested in learning how the law pertains to a career in public administration, policy, or politics.

“I 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,” he said.

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.

“We were assigned a lot of legal research projects,” he said. “I don’t do that as an accounting major.”

The experience of doing research served Chambers well when he interned for eight weeks last summer at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) doing mergers and acquisitions.

“There’s a lot of tax code I had to go through,” he said. “That legal research skill set that I got was invaluable. Other people didn’t have it. And I thought ‘Why am I not struggling?’ Because I did this.”

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 Shea Holman, director of JPLC, to share the good news.

“I told her that the [JPLC] class prepped me for this perfectly,” he said. “It was that legal research ability that differentiated me and definitely helped me get that return offer in a competitive space.”

For more information about the Jurisprudence Learning Community or any of the Schar School’s other learning communities, visit the Schar School Learning Community webpage.

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Shea M. Holman Kilian

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Passion for International Development Drives Double Alum

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:36:49 +0000

Passion for International Development Drives Double Alum Andrew J Schappert Mon, 10/28/2024 - 08:36

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From a young age, Annie Tulann always had her sights on 911��. As a resident of Arlington, Virginia, she was familiar with the school and its reputation.

“I remember thinking early on when I was younger, ‘I am going to go to 911��,’ which seems funny looking back now,” she said. “But it was a great school—close to D.C., close to my family, and really diverse. I just knew I’d feel comfortable there.”

‘I’m thrilled that I got my MPP. It’s really set me on the right path forward and it’s become such a huge stepping stone for my career.’

After graduating in 2014 with a degree in biology, Tulann realized that she no longer wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Instead, she joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and began working as a program assistant. Within two years, she moved to a new position in the Office of Afghanistan Affairs and the Office of Pakistan Affairs, where she assisted on gender issues, education, water sanitation, and hygiene, traveling to each country multiple times.

In 2018, while still working full time in the Afghanistan and Pakistan offices, Tulann enrolled in the Master of Public Policy program at the Schar School of Policy and Government. At first, she felt nervous entering the program given her science background.

“I didn’t take any development classes or any of that like my peers did,” she said.

Attending orientation and hearing other students talk about their experience helped quell her nerves. A consultation with Jill Deering, senior assistant dean for student and academic affairs at the Schar School, eased any remaining jitters.

“She just made it so comforting for me and made sure that I would have everything that I need,” Tulann said. “It was such a validating experience in the sense of like, you will be OK and you will get through and you will do what you need to do.”

Once classes began, the connection between her coursework and her job was immediate.

“Every single class I had completely correlated to the work that I was doing,” she said. “I took a terrorism class and I was working in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which really worked out well for me, and I started understanding issues deeply.”

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Tulann was recruited to work on the agency’s COVID-19 task force to make sure rules and regulations were in place.

“At the time I was taking an emergency preparedness class, so every single thing that I was doing was completely aligned,” she said.

In 2021, Tulann graduated with her master’s degree and transitioned from the Office of the Administrator working directly with Administrator Samantha Power to the Executive Secretariat as a program analyst. In her position, she daily navigates through multiple high-stakes projects and works with the agency’s multiple bureaus to ensure that Power has everything she needs.

“I work with the bureaus to make sure that she’s well prepared,” she said.

Tulann’s position affords her the extraordinary chance to attend most of the agency front office and administrator meetings. She has been in rooms with presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, and celebrities.

“It’s a really great opportunity that not everybody in the agency gets to experience,” she said. “I learn directly from the administrator but also from other leaders around the world.”

Earning her MPP, while difficult, was worth it and one of the greatest experiences she’s had, Tulann says.

“I’m thrilled that I got my MPP,” she said. “It’s really set me on the right path forward and it’s become such a huge stepping stone for my career.”

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Earning a master’s degree and graduate certificate online worked perfectly for neurosurgeon Nick Marko

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:59:27 +0000

Earning a master’s degree and graduate certificate online worked perfectly for neurosurgeon Nick Marko Andrew J Schappert Mon, 06/24/2024 - 12:59

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There are lifelong learners and then there are individuals like Nick Marko, who recently graduated with a Master of Biodefense and a graduate certificate in illicit trade analysis from the Schar School of Policy and Government at 911��.

Before earning his degree in May, Nick Marko (left) received the Outstanding Biodefense Student Award. Pictured here with his advisor Gregory Koblentz. Photo by John Boal Photography

Marko also happens to be a board-certified neurosurgeon who currently serves as director of neurosurgery for LewisGale Health System in Salem, Virginia.

“I am someone who has a hard time not continuing to learn,” he said.

Marko decided to pursue a master’s in biodefense at the Schar School because of an interest in the history of biological and chemical weapons development, proliferation, and use, including both the science and the policy/political dimensions.

“I had read as much as I could on my own in my spare time, but there is always the situation of ‘You don’t know what you don’t know,’” he said.

Marko was familiar with 911��’s reputation, having attended college and medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and was aware of the school’s online offerings.

“I knew that 911�� had one of the first departments in this [biodefense] space and that it had a great faculty,” he said. “Also, the ability to do the work online was a big plus for me, because I have a full-time day job and had to do coursework on nights and weekends in a bit of a protracted fashion. Ultimately the fit was perfect for my needs.”

Initially planning to earn a graduate certificate in biodefense, Marko’s coursework piqued his interest and led him to earn both the master’s degree and certificate.

“Things got a little bigger in scope than I had initially planned, but it was a great experience,” he said.

Because he completed his degree and certificate coursework completely online (with a few in-person campus visits), Marko appreciated the Schar School’s flexibility.

“The Dean's office was accommodating to my somewhat unique situation and was open to facilitating solutions that allowed me to pursue the degree,” he said. “I was grateful that such an opportunity was available because I couldn’t have made it work otherwise.”

He also praises his professors and advisors, Louise Shelley and Gregory Koblentz.

“They were absolutely terrific,” he said. “I met with them personally several times, and we traded a lot of emails. Both are incredibly knowledgeable and well-connected in their fields. I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of mentors.”

Before earning his degree in May, Marko earned the Outstanding Biodefense Student Award, a testament to his academic efforts and love of learning.

“I am proud of the work that I have done as part of the program,” he said. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to explore some topics of personal interest at this stage of my life and my career, and the biodefense master's was an example of how I intend to keep doing that.”

Topics

Master of Biodefense

Illicit trade analysis

Schar School News for June 2024