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If you're a new graduate student joining the Elliott School this fall take a moment to get to know the Fall 2015 Elliott School Orientation Leaders. These current graduate students have been selected as ambassadors to their programs  and will be present at Graduate Student Orientation to welcome you to the Elliott School.


Sheila Dollard 1Sheila Dollard is a second year master’s student in the Global Communication program at GW, concentrating in International Economics. A DMV native, she completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Spanish at the University of Maryland. Sheila has worked for the Department of State since 2011. She enjoys exploring the city, connecting with friends, and volunteering in her free time.


noraNora Hassan is a student in the International Development Studies program. She currently works as a Fellow in the Office of Graduate Enrollment. Nora's academic interests are in WASH, the environment, and climate change.  When she's not studying or working, she enjoys spending time outside- hiking, kayaking, at the beach, etc! She also loves being crafty in her free time. Nora welcomes all new students to the Elliott School and GW!


IMG_1865Michael Nair is a current graduate student in the M.A. Security Policy Studies program specializing in Transnational Security Issues and Non-State Actors. Before graduate school Michael was a congressional relations intern at the German Marshall Fund and an analyst intern at GardaWorld. He received his Bachelors in International Affairs from the Elliott School with a concentration in Conflict & Security. During his undergraduate studies, David was on the varsity squash team for three years and interned on the Hill for Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and loves to travel, try new foods, play/watch soccer and is an avid snowboarder.


DavidOkun_photoDavid Okun is a rising second year in the M.A. Latin American and Hemispheric Studies program and a Brazil Initiative Fellow, with specializations in Security and Economic Development. He serves as an associate editor on the GWU International Affairs Review and is active in the DC performing arts community. While at the Elliott School, he has interned at a democracy & human rights non-profit, the Organization of American States, and is currently at the State Department transitioning into a Pathways position. David is excited to welcome the Class of 2017 to Foggy Bottom!


Jan Schwarzenberg is a second-year Security Policy Studies student, focusing on Emerging Transnational Threats. Jan is currently a senior federal officer with the DoD. Combining his military and civilian government careers, Jan is working primarily in special operations, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. He has lived, studied and worked in numerous countries.

Yuxuan Shen is a rising second year student in the M.A. International Trade and Investment Policy program with a concentration in Yuxuaninternational business. She graduated from the Elliott School in 2013 with a B.A. in International Affairs. Currently, as a GWU Presidential Administrative Fellow, Yuxuan works in the GW Finance Division.

lindsey informal bio picLindsey Spanner is a student in the M.A. Global Communication focusing on International Development. Her main areas of interest are education, women's and gender issues, and humanitarian settings, specifically how communication can be used as a solution to problems in these areas. She currently tutors international students as part of the Elliott School's International Dialogue Program, and has interned at the American Red Cross, Institute of International Education, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She came to GWU directly after graduating from Ohio University in May 2014.

Alexa Stroh
Alexa Stroh is pursuing a M.A. International Affairs with concentrations in U.S. foreign policy and global gender policy. She is from Arizona and received her bachelor's degree in international affairs from Northern Arizona University. She has studied abroad in Denmark, Egypt, Spain, and at sea. In addition, she interned in the consular section at U.S. Embassy Reykjavik in Iceland.

Lebanon Picture

Anne Wagner is a student in the M.A. International Affairs program with a concentration in Conflict Resolution. Anne's  research interest is the Middle East, and she is currently on an Elliott Exchange with the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where she is taking classes on Social Inequality, Middle East Studies, and Arabic language. Currently, Anne is working with a small NGO in Lebanon dealing with educational inequity, and last semester she interned on the Hill with her Congressman. Anne feels both opportunities have been incredibly valuable experiences.  Feel free to reach out to Anne anytime or say hello when you get to DC in the Fall--she's happy to help!


DD
DD Wu is a student in the M.A. Asian Studies program at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Her research interests center around East Asian topics. She worked as an editor in an influential market-oriented daily newspaper in China before she came to the United States to pursue her master degree.

Orientation Leaders not featured above include:
Meghan Gable, M.A. International Development Studies
Timothy Jensen, M.A. Middle East Studies
Maya Sharma, M.A. International Science and Technology Policy
Lev Vladimirsky, M.A. European and Eurasian Studies

The most commonly asked question among incoming students this week was about enrolling in language courses at GW. Here's more information on that topic:

All language courses at GW, with the exception of the professional skills language courses (IAFF 6504) are undergraduate courses, but graduate students can enroll in these courses.

To enroll in professional skills language courses, you will need to take an online diagnostic test and follow the process outlined here.

To enroll in a traditional language course, you will need to take a placement exam offered through that language's department:
Department of Romance, German, and Slavic languages
Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations
Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures

As a reminder, not all programs allow language courses to count for credit toward the degree, and not all programs allow the foreign language requirement to be met through coursework. Check your program's Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement page for more information on meeting the requirement.

21770combined_0The Office of Academic Advising & Student Services Summer Office Hours are as follows:

May 18- August 21, 2015: 9:00am- 5:00pm

University Closed: May 25, July 3

*Online Advising hours are not held when the office and/or University is closed (May 22 after 2:00 pm; May 25; July 3)

The most commonly asked question among incoming students this week was regarding preparing for economics coursework and/or meeting the micro- and macrcoeconomics admissions requirement. Here is one available option to review economics prior to your first semester:
The Institute for International Economic Policy will offer two separate sets of economics review sessions immediately prior to the fall semester, located on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Introductory economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have only taken one or two previous economics courses. The introductory sessions are particularly appropriate for those students preparing to take ECON 6250 (Survey of Development Economics) and ECON 6280 (Survey of International Economics). If you can only attend one, micro is more helpful for ECON 6250.Intermediate economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have a more extensive economics background. The intermediate sessions are more helpful for students planning to take ECON 6283 (International Trade Theory and Policy) and ECON 6284 (International Macroeconomics Theory and Policy). Also note, Micro sessions are a better preparation for ECON 6283 and the Macro sessions are better for ECON 6284.Students will not receive graduate credit for these sessions.

Students who are required to complete an introductory OR intermediate Micro and Macroeconomics requirement may do so by passing a proficiency exam, offered on the afternoon of September 12th.

(Note: The Security Policy Studies program's economics requirement cannot be fulfilled by taking the summer review sessions and passing the proficiency exam).

Review Session Dates:

August 17-22, 24-27, 29 (a total of 11 sessions of review)

Proficiency exams will be offered on Saturday, September 12.

For more information, visit the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP) website.