aaldrich – Elliott360

August 29, 2024September 10, 2024

Elliott School Launches New Fellowship Focused on China Studies

The Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Graduate Fellowship provides stipends for field research, study abroad, and more.

Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, a distinguished diplomat and the first U.S. ambassador of Asian descent, has established a new Elliott School graduate fellowship, which will launch this month. The fellowship provides an annual stipend to support graduate-student projects largely focused on the relationship between China and the United States.

Ambassador Bloch is founder and executive chair of the US-China Education Trust (USCET), which works to promote stronger and more stable US-China relations through education. The trust has been affiliated with the Elliott School since 2021.

The ambassador’s life story and dedication to educating the next generation of China experts is remarkable. With her family, Ambassador Bloch moved to the US at the age of nine. She went on to earn a master’s degree in government and East Asia regional studies from Harvard University—and then to a distinguished career spanning six decades.

Serving in senior-level government, private, and non-profit positions, Ambassador Bloch witnessed the power of person-to-person experiences to forge genuine cross-cultural understanding.

Now, she seeks to nurture the next generation of leaders with both expertise and a nuanced understanding of East Asian countries, China in particular. “There is a need for universities to do much more with student-to-student exchange between the two countries if we want to move the [US-China] relationship to firmer ground,” she said.

Consequently, the Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Graduate Fellowship provides support to two graduate students per year in the Elliott School, notably students with an expressed interest in China, US-China relations, and/or East Asia.

“We are excited to launch this new fellowship, which adds yet another opportunity for our students to deepen their knowledge of China, and further strengthening our school’s academic offerings centered around the US-China relationship and related topics,” said Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School.

June 5, 2024June 10, 2024

Ashli Boxley took the road less taken

Terryl Ashli Boxley, MA ’24

Ashli Boxley’s quest to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese began in sixth grade, when she enrolled in a Chinese language course that led to her resolve to master this challenging language, which requires, at minimum, a knowledge of about 3,000 characters and an ear for the different intonations that determine the meaning of many Chinese words.

“Everyone was taking Spanish or French, so I decided to take Chinese,” Boxley said.

By her sophomore year of high school, she was passionate about the language. Consequently, while studying for her graduate degree in Asian Studies, Boxley leapt at the chance to apply for a new student award, the David Gitter Fellowship for Advanced Chinese Language Study. The fellowship was established by Elliott School alumnus David Gitter, MA ’15, to support immersive Chinese language study in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or Taiwan.

Gitter, who lived and studied in Beijing in the early 2000s, saw first-hand how essential proficiency in the Chinese language is to a full understanding of this major world power—an understanding that lays the foundation for informed U.S.-China policies.

Dean Alyssa Ayres wholeheartedly agrees with Gitter. “Given China’s role on the world stage, there is a critical need to strengthen our cadre of U.S. experts who understand contemporary China—and are proficient in Mandarin,” she said.

In April, Boxley, who dreams of becoming an attorney focused on immigration law and US-China relations, was selected to be the inaugural recipient of the David Gitter Fellowship. From September 2024 through May 2025, she will be a fulltime student in the highly-regarded International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) on the campus of National Taiwan University in Taipei.

In a twist of fate, David Gitter also will be an ICLP student, honing his Chinese language skills in conjunction with his doctoral program at Princeton University.

The two met recently for a conversation about their shared passion for Chinese language, culture, history, and politics. Gitter had experienced life in the PRC during a time of expansion and openness. “It was such a dynamic time to be in Beijing, just before the 2008 Summer Olympics, a time when U.S. citizens were part of the boom in China’s development,” he said.

In more recent times, the U.S.-China relationship has stumbled, with a shift away from the more positive, bilateral ties that prevailed earlier in the century. Yet there are diplomatic pathways to a renewed and productive relationship between the two world powers.

Fortunately, David Gitter and Ashli Boxley (along with others) are poised to take up the mantle with a command of the modern Chinese language and a nuanced understanding of China’s long history, rich culture, and complex politics.

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023

GW Elliott School receives $1 million gift to advance contemporary China studies

Dean Alyssa Ayres with David Gitter, ESIA ’15, at the Elliott School in June 2023.

The Elliott School of International Affairs has received a $1 million endowed gift from the Center for Advanced China Research, a Washington DC think tank founded by David Gitter, ESIA MA ’15, to advance contemporary China studies. Resources from the David A. Gitter Endowment for Contemporary China Studies will create an annual fellowship for immersive language study in the People’s Republic of China.

The endowment also enables the school to expand course offerings focused on contemporary (post-1949) China.

GW’s prominent Sigur Center for Asian Studies, situated at the Elliott School, will oversee the use of resources provided by the new endowment. The Sigur Center draws on the expertise of 60+ faculty throughout GW whose reputation has helped the university to have the only East Asia National Resource Center in Washington, D.C.

“This exceptional gift recognizes the field-defining work that the Sigur Center for Asian Studies is doing, and it will strengthen our offerings for students focused on China,” said Dr. Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School.

While a graduate student in Asian studies, David Gitter took full advantage of GW resources. These included the China Documentation Center (CDC), part of Gelman Library’s special collections. The CDC is widely known as one of the premier Chinese language collections in the world.

The hours that Gitter spent with the collection’s Chinese-language books and journals helped to shape his conviction that “advanced proficiency in the Chinese language, both written and spoken, is essential to a true understanding of Chinese culture, history, and politics.”

Gitter also has lived, worked, and studied in Beijing. As an expert on contemporary China, he has first-hand knowledge of the major role that the Chinese language plays in helping professional China-watchers make sound assessments and offer informed advice. Accordingly, the central purpose of the Gitter Endowment is to enable Elliott School graduate students with a focus on China to undertake immersive instruction in Mandarin where it is spoken.

“The People’s Republic of China is a major world power and of extreme importance to the United States,” Gitter said. “I want this endowment to help American scholars and practitioners acquire a deep and granular understanding of the PRC.”

Gitter founded the Center for Advanced China Research after graduating from the Elliott School in order to advance US understanding of China’s domestic politics, foreign affairs, and security policy. The organization quickly became an important resource for China specialists and media outlets. The David A. Gitter Endowment for Contemporary China Studies will extend the center’s work and secure its legacy.

“Given China’s role on the world stage, there is a critical need for a new cadre of experts who understand contemporary China—and are proficient in Mandarin,” Dean Ayres said.

“We also look forward to bringing experts to campus to teach new courses that will broaden understanding of the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and cultural aspects of modern-day China.”

May 3, 2023June 21, 2023

GW Elliott School Receives Anonymous Gift

Speakers and guests gather during the “International Conference on Preservation of Uyghur Studies,” hosted by the Elliott School (in partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Uyghur Academy) in December 2022.

Strengthens Uyghur Studies

The Elliott School of International Affairs has received one of the largest gifts in recent years, a $900,000 anonymous donation that will enhance the school’s Uyghur Studies Initiative, to be headquartered at the school’s Sigur Center for Asian Studies.

The George Washington University is one of the leading institutions in the United States for research and teaching on Uyghur studies, with two full-time faculty members—professors Eric Schluessel, a historian, and Sean Roberts, a cultural anthropologist—working in this academic space.

The donor, a scholar who wishes to advance the study of Uyghur history and culture, recognized GW’s prominence in this academic area and decided to offer significant philanthropic support to the Uyghur Studies Initiative.

“This exceptional gift recognizes the field-defining work that Professors Schluessel and Roberts are doing, as well as our school’s long history of engaging closely with the Uyghur diaspora,” Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres said.

More than 11 million members of the Uyghur community live in the Xinjiang region in northwestern China, and they are under duress. Articles in the mainstream press often highlight what Schluessel explains is “a systematic campaign of human right abuses in Xinjiang, directed at Uyghurs and other Muslim-majority groups.”

Less visible, however, is the Uyghur people’s rich intellectual history—and the danger that much of this knowledge will be lost as Uyghur scholars’ voices are silenced. Some scholars who have spoken out in China are now in prison, while others have been forced to flee. In the U.S., the Washington area has become home for a number of these displaced scholars.

The Elliott School has been actively engaged with the Uyghur diaspora in the U.S. for nearly a decade. In 2014, the school’s Central Asia Program, directed by Research Professor Marlene Laruelle, organized GW’s first major conference on Uyghur culture; there have been several subsequent conferences, and these important forums will continue.

Uyghur studies also are increasingly popular among students. A recent class on Uyghur history, for example, reached capacity almost immediately. Other classes at the Elliott School have addressed Uyghur issues as they relate to global development, including “Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Minorities, and Development” and “The Belt and Road Initiative: China’s Approach to International Development.”

According to Sigur Center Director Gregg Brazinsky, the Uyghur Studies Initiative is a substantial complement to the school’s popular programming on China, Taiwan, and Tibet. The Sigur Center has been recognized by the U.S. Education Department as a National Resource Center in East Asia, the only school in Washington with this distinction.

“Thanks to this generous gift, the Elliott School will be able to further enhance its standing as the best place to study China and the Uyghurs in the Washington area,” Brazinsky said.

Specifically, this timely gift will enable the Elliott School to develop additional courses focused on Uyghur culture and identity, as well as to expand faculty research into these topics. As the initiative gains momentum, the Elliott School plans to bring larger numbers of Uyghur scholars, writers, and activists to campus.

“We are very grateful to the donor for this catalytic gift,” Dean Ayres said.

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Would you like to support the Uyghur Studies Initiative at GW’s Elliott School? Your gift of any size will make a significant difference! Please contact Joseph Strodel Jr. at jstrodel@gwu.edu for information on how to direct your gift to this important area of study.

March 3, 2023March 10, 2023

GW Elliott School confers first Elliott Equity Fund Awards

The summer after her first year at GW – entirely online – Deseree Chacha spent three weeks in Tanzania, to visit her grandmother and other family members. “I am a first-generation Tanzanian-American, and I think of Tanzania as home,” she says. “I definitely have taken an international journey to the Elliott School.”

Chacha began her studies thinking she would major in psychology, yet even in the first year she found herself drawn to classes that focused on African history, culture, and politics. This interest crystalized as she traveled across Tanzania, from Dar es Salaam to Arusha to Zanzibar. By the time she returned to GW for sophomore year, she knew she would change course and study international affairs at the Elliott School.

“I am the type of person who wants to take an academic route to learn more about my identity,” Chacha says. “The trip was the moment when I realized I could actually pursue this.”

As the oldest of three children, Chacha was sensitive to the financial burden her parents took on when she started her undergraduate studies. In November 2022, part of this burden was lifted when Chacha received a scholarship through the Elliott Equity Fund, established in spring 2022 to encourage students from all walks of life to pursue their dreams.

“I was so elated to tell my parents I got this award. I knew this would relieve some of the pressure on my parents and even my siblings,” she says. And there is another dimension, as well. “This award shows that the Elliott School recognizes the need to take specific action in regards to equity.”

The field of international affairs benefits greatly from diversity among its ranks, says Rebecca
Brown Thompson, MA ’91. Thompson, a member of the school’s Board of Advisors, went from
the Elliott School to a distinguished 28-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the US State
Department. Over the years, she continually sought to develop inclusive teams.

“The more diversity we can bring to the table during policy deliberations, the more we can be
confident we’re developing foreign policy that is well thought out,” she said, and added, “When
we have diverse teams representing the United States overseas, it reflects the values of our
country.”

For Thompson, the Elliott Equity Awards are one way to remove barriers to equity and inclusion
and ensure that the “best and brightest students out there, no matter what their backgrounds,
choose the Elliott School.”

The view from inside the classroom mirrors Thompson’s experience in the field. “To resolve the most pressing challenges facing our interconnected world, we need to tap into the full measure of talent available, bringing to the debate the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking,” says Elliott School Professor Jennifer Brinkerhoff.

With more than 40 percent of GW students qualifying for need-based aid, the Elliott Equity Fund Awards are a powerful game changer – for Deseree Chacha, her fellow awardees, and future award winners.

Or, as Chacha puts it, “the advancement of diversity in international relations will greatly assist key advisors and global leaders to foster peace and unity.”

Visit the Elliott Equity Fund webpage to learn more and donate today.

December 1, 2022October 25, 2023

Elliott School Confers First I/WE Student Awards

I/WE Award winners share their excitement with Dean Alyssa Ayres (middle row, fourth from right) and members of the I/WE Executive Circle.

When Elliott School of International Affairs senior Carla Dell’Angelica headed to the George
Washington University from her hometown of Los Angeles, she had already decided to focus
her career on advancing women’s rights around the world. In pursuit of this goal, she has taken
classes on women in Africa, women in Latin America, and on the anthropology of gender.

Carla has held work-study jobs each semester to help fund her education. But this semester,
Carla decided to take a risk. She accepted an unpaid internship with a non-profit that protects
rights and promotes opportunities for women in Latin American nations. “Internships provide
essential career experience, but they can be an added stress for students who, like me, usually
spend the semester working a paid job to help make ends meet,” she explained in her
application for the award.

On November 14, Carla breathed a sigh of relief. She is one of 25 Elliott School students to
receive a new award supporting students dedicated to advancing the role of women in the field
of international affairs. The I/WE Student Award, established by the International Women of
Elliott (I/WE) Executive Circle, provides assistance to students with financial need whose career
goals align with the group’s mission: to expand the role of women in the international affairs
profession.

To that end, all gifts to I/WE are dedicated to support graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships for Elliott students committed to the advancement of women in international affairs. There are no restrictions on eligibility, and applicants are asked to write about their interest in advancing women’s leadership in international affairs.

“I’m extremely honored to receive this award to support my unpaid internship at the League of
United Latin American Citizens,” Carla said. “It will allow me to focus on my studies and
internship, so that I can be the best candidate for my post-graduation job and future
endeavors.”

The awards are competitive: more than 90 undergraduate and graduate students applied. The
Elliott School was able to offer awards to nearly a third of applicants, for a total of $118,300 in
support. Those chosen are students who demonstrate a clear commitment to amplifying the
voices of women in the foreign policy space, as well as financial need.

The awards also are a milestone in the work of the I/WE Executive Circle and a landmark
moment for the Elliott School.

“We are so thrilled to see our growing I/WE community champion the role of women in
international affairs,” said Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres. “The I/WE Student Awards are
central to this goal, with direct impact on the next generation. This is National Scholarship
Month, and we are delighted to be able to offer assistance to 25 outstanding Elliott School
students – all thanks to the support of our I/WE members.”

Members of the International Women of Elliott Executive Circle, a group of more than two
dozen leaders in international policy and economics, also had a chance to talk with this next
generation of women leaders.

“I was truly impressed with the quality of the applicants, and I particularly enjoyed learning
about the goals they have for their careers – especially the impact they hope to have on
increasing women’s participation in international affairs policymaking or bettering the
livelihoods of women all around the world,” noted Alexandra Garcia, MIPP ’14.

Tanya Haden, a graduate student concentrating on global communications, is one of 11
graduate students who received an I/WE fellowship. In her application, Tanya wrote that she
joined an Asian-interest sorority as an undergraduate, “because I strongly believed in their
work to help women struggling with domestic violence.”

At the Elliott School, “I am learning how to advance the role of women in global society through
media,” Tanya added. She plans to continue this pathway, earning a PhD and becoming a
professor. “Media has consistently characterized women in a manner that reinforces archaic
gender roles. I wish to use my position to inform women of how we can shape our global
society to enhance gender equality.”

Contributions to the I/WE Awards build on GW’s commitment to opening doors to higher
education and make a world of difference for students to pursue their dreams at the Elliott
School.

November 28, 2022December 2, 2022

Faculty Spotlight: A Former Elliott Student Returns to Teach

Sina Azodi is a lecturer at the Elliott School specializing in the Middle East. He is a non-resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and a PhD candidate in International Affairs. His research interests include international security, nuclear non-proliferation, and US-Iranian relations. Sina previously worked as a Research Assistant at Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Sina earned his BA and MA in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

You received both your BA and MA from the Elliott School. Now, you teach here. What’s that like?

When I was a student at GW, my dream was to come back to GW and teach here. So, it is really a great pleasure to be able to come back and teach to a great community of talented students.

Were there any Elliott professors who influenced your decision to pursue a career in international affairs?

I had several professors who played an important role in my intellectual foundation, but I am always grateful to Ambassador Skip Gnehm who was not only a fantastic professor but also a great mentor. I am always indebted to his kindness, and generosity. I’m also thankful to Professor Charles Glaser, who set the foundation of International Relations theory for me, in a sense converting me to a Realist!

Do any significant moments stand out during your experience as a student at the Elliott School?

There are significant moments that stand out for me, but perhaps one that I will never forget is when I received my admission letter from ESIA for my undergraduate degree in 2007. George Washington University was the only school that I had applied to for my undergraduate education because I really wanted to attend GW. In retrospect, perhaps applying to only one school was not the smartest decision, but it was one of the most joyful moments in my life.

You are currently pursuing a Ph.D. while also teaching undergraduate and graduate courses here at Elliott. What is your area of research and specialization?

My dissertation focuses on the historical development of Iran’s nuclear program which began in the early days of the Cold War. Specifically, I look at the program from the angle of continuity, and how even after the 1979 revolution in Iran, the program continued because the factors that influence the program did not lose their significance to Iran’s decision makers. Overall, however, my focus is on US-Iranian relations and Iran’s foreign policy

How would you describe your philosophy of teaching? How was this philosophy influenced by your time as a student at Elliott?

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned during my academic career has been the ability to think critically. I encourage both my undergraduate and graduate students to think critically and “out of the box.” As a student, I came to know and appreciate its impact on producing research. As a professor, I seek to encourage students to think for themselves and demonstrate the willingness and ability to bring new perspectives into the classroom. Another important aspect of teaching philosophy is to encourage students to engage with the lecture and the class. I believe that this is very effective both in producing knowledge and creating a positive experience.

Any advice for Elliott students considering pursuing academia?

My only advice is to never give up trying and don’t get discouraged because being a student is not easy. There are many issues that a student must deal with, and the only solution is perseverance and determination to achieve one’s goals. I would also say that don’t try to plan too much, because there are many accidents along the path.

November 2, 2022November 21, 2022

Three, Two, One — Network!

At a special speed-networking event held on October 19 at the Elliott School, 20 forward-
thinking Elliott students had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with high-powered alumni
who serve on the Elliott School Board of Advisors.

Speed networking combines the speed-dating model with business networking – allowing for
brief, targeted conversations with a number of professionals. The Elliott students were asked to
meet in pairs with board members in five-minute intervals, forging connections with nearly a
dozen executives – who also encouraged the students to stay in touch after the event.

Participation for students was first come first served; the eight undergraduates and 12 graduate
students in the room had been the first to reply to an all-school invitation to the event.

Students had a range of reasons for participating. Professional development was number one,
understandably. “It’s rare that you get a chance to speak with people that accomplished in their
fields,” said one student.

Medha Prasanna, a second-year graduate student, also was eager to gain deeper perspective
into the Elliott School. “I wanted to meet the people shaping the long-term vision of the
school,” she said.

At 11 a.m., students and board members gathered in the State Room on the seventh floor of
the Elliott School. There was an energetic buzz in the room as the students, in teams of two,
took seats next to individual board members, then, when the timer went, rotated to the next
member.

Any anxiety – for students and board members alike – was quickly dispelled, according to Ethan
Vosper, a senior concentrating in security policy. “It was a very welcoming, experience. They did
a really good job of putting us at ease,” he said.

Thomas Nielsen, a graduate student who plans to start his career working in international
trade, was there to hear first-hand accounts of what an Elliott School degree can lead to,
especially from those in his field. “I got that,” he said. “A lot of the advice was related to my
interest in private-sector business. A majority of the members had done exactly that.”

Nielsen – a member of the GW Track and XC teams – found the speed-networking format
especially effective. “It eliminated the small-talk aspect of networking,” he said.

What were the key takeaways from the event?

For senior Ethan Vosper, the “biggest thing [I learned] is not being afraid to put yourself out
there. When you’re a college student the idea of networking can be daunting, but don’t be
afraid to reach out to a person whose work interests you.”

In a similar vein, board members encouraged students to approach their careers – and their job
searches – with open minds. “I was encouraged to take risks and apply for jobs that don’t
necessarily match up with the international affairs field and direction,” Nielsen said.

Another important piece of advice, according to the students: don’t underestimate the value of
an international affairs degree; the world needs more individuals trained to work in an
interdisciplinary space.

As one board member told Vosper, “You can teach a person how to do the job, but you can’t
teach a person to be interested in history.”