kamalibeth.joseph – Elliott360

December 3, 2024February 11, 2025

Interview With Dr. Renata Avelar Giannini

We recently interviewed Dr. Renata Avelar Giannini, the Elliott School’s new Assistant Dean of Executive Education and Special Initiatives. With 15 years of experience in the think tank and international organizations sector, Giannini has been at the forefront of international affairs, providing technical expertise and supporting national governments in developing innovative policy solutions.

Dr. Giannini has extensive experience in data visualization and consulting with national governments and international organizations and has designed and delivered numerous executive education programs specifically tailored to the security and diplomacy sectors, addressing critical societal challenges such as conflict resolution, civil-military relations, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, as well as gender mainstreaming in climate change strategies.

Q. What are your plans for enhancing Elliott’s online learning and executive education portfolio?

Over the past decade, higher education enrollment has declined, yet the demand for quality credentials beyond a high school diploma remains strong, highlighting what individuals and employers prioritize in professional development during economic uncertainty.

To meet this challenge, we are expanding our online learning and executive education portfolios in a complementary manner. The pandemic underscored the feasibility and desirability of remote learning and working. However, as remote fatigue sets in, we must rethink how we deliver online education. The Office of Online Education is actively expanding its offerings beyond the current two master’s programs, providing students with the opportunity to pursue both degree and non-degree programs through a hybrid model that integrates in-person and online learning experiences.

Hybrid formats strike a crucial balance: they combine the scalability and convenience of online platforms with the interpersonal connections of in-person education. This approach allows students to customize their schedules while benefiting from our prime location in the nation’s capital.

In executive education, interest in credentialing and micro-credentialing has surged. At the Elliott School, we are leveraging an unbundling approach to offer short, skills-focused courses and stackable credentials aligned with various career paths. With ten master’s programs, five undergraduate programs, and numerous initiatives, we can create modular programs that address specific regions, themes, or competencies.

By integrating and complementing online learning with executive education, the Elliott School remains at the forefront of higher education innovation and meets evolving societal and workforce demands.

Q. How do you see emerging technologies (i.e. AI or VR) enhancing and/or harming higher education and remote learning in particular?

Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) have the potential to transform higher education and remote learning by enhancing accessibility, personalization, and engagement. However, their integration must be approached thoughtfully to address ethical and practical challenges.

Two key enhancements are personalization and accessibility. AI can tailor educational content to individual students’ needs and learning styles, improving outcomes. Meanwhile, AI-driven translation tools and VR can broaden access to education by breaking down language barriers and providing immersive experiences that enrich learning environments.

Despite these advantages, challenges remain. Inequality is a critical issue, as these technologies may exacerbate disparities for students lacking adequate infrastructure or technical skills. Additionally, over-reliance on technology could undermine foundational educational practices, potentially eroding critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This raises an important question: how can we integrate emerging technologies to enhance learning without compromising equity or educational rigor?

November 6, 2024February 11, 2025

Elliott Graduate Reflects on Prestigious Leadership Fellowship

Daria Howard, M.A. ‘23, is in her second year of the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF), a highly selective leadership development program where fellows work for a federal agency. Students can apply during their graduate school program in the Early Fall Semester but cannot begin the fellowship until post-graduation. Following her graduation from GW with a masters in global communication with a concentration in public diplomacy, she is currently a digital outreach specialist for the International Trade Administration (ITA) through PMF.

In this position, she manages the ITA’s social media, video, and photography. She works with different offices and teams to promote conferences, events, and trips that highlight the work that is being done.

Howard said the courses she took at Elliott helped prepare her for her current position. “My coursework was very helpful and relevant to my work now,” she said. “Particularly the Public Diplomacy class I took with Professor Kabra. A lot of the assignments and topics that we learned in that class are very relevant to the work I do.”

Since the PMF is a two-year program, fellows are able to explore what interests them in the field and what does not. Howard said that she is still exploring what her niche might be.

Howard worked at the United Nations in the Department of Global Communication as Public Information Assistant prior to her time at Elliott, which sparked her interest in pursuing public affairs as a career.

“I still feel quite strongly about communications and public affairs, but I’m definitely learning that that kind of work can look quite different based on the position you hold. You can do anything from multimedia work to press relations to writing and editing. As a PMF, I just focus on learning and exploring and seeing what I like more or less,” she said.

The fellowship is intensive, requiring 80 hours of training a year and the successful completion of their “performance plan,” which must receive a good rating according to their website page. Some PMF’s are able to maintain their positions permanently following completion of the program.

Howard emphasized what a big commitment the program is and recommended that applicants take the time to ensure that they are choosing the office and position that would be the best fit and provide the support needed to help them reach their professional goals.

“PMF is a great program, and you will definitely get a lot out of it,” she concluded.

November 6, 2024February 11, 2025

Alumna Advocates for Women in International Business and at GW

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we caught up with Ana M. Guevara, BA ’85, co-chair of GW’s International Women of Elliott.

GW: Tell us about what you are doing now and why it matters to you?

AG: I am passionate about executing strategies that lead to more efficient, prosperous enterprises by integrating business, public policy, and socially responsible initiatives that create shared value for all stakeholders. In 2009, I started a global management consulting business where I could leverage my global network and use my experience in government policy, international business, global supply chains, economic development, and good governance. I love this work because it gives me flexibility and opportunity to get involved in very diverse projects that all have one thing in common: helping communities that need it most. It lets me be a creative collaborator, connecting dots, people and talents. I get to build strategic alliances to catalyze change and drive organizational goals, fostering prosperity in communities across the globe. Some examples where I’ve made an impact:

A project in Asia to bring advanced technologies to airports, enabling better economic connections between small islands and isolated towns.
A project in the Caribbean to help airports be more resilient to natural disasters, speeding up aid and trade in the islands.
A project to connect women-owned enterprises in Latin America to qualified corporate buyers and their supply chains, empowering women to create inclusive prosperity.

GW: Why is the International Women of Elliott (I/WE) important to you?

AG: I was thrilled when the Elliott School reached out to me to become a founding member of the I/WE network. As a former board member of The World Bank Group, vice president of two Fortune 50 companies, and a senior U.S. government official, I have been in many strategy meetings and international negotiations. One thing that has stood out is how few women were in the room with me. Women make up 50 percent of the world’s population, but we are not where decisions are being made. Women need to participate fully in society and global affairs. I/WE raises that awareness and champions Elliott students to ensure those who choose to lead have the resources and tools to do so. This is a very important initiative to get women toward greater participation in careers that can positively affect the world and local communities. Being involved in I/WE has also given me an opportunity to network with amazing women who are alumni and friends of the Elliott School.

GW: What drew you to GW and the Elliott School for college?

AG: When my mother was a teenager in Colombia, her mother sent her to study in Virginia and New York. My mother wanted me to have a similar experience and sent me to “finishing school” in Switzerland and then to study at La Sorbonne in Paris. While in Europe, I gained a real curiosity for international affairs and how culture and geography affected the state of the world. I would read a lot of the political magazines and kept seeing professors from the George Washington University being quoted. I did some research on the school and loved the idea of living in the center of Washington, D.C., close to all the organizations that I was reading about. Another thing that attracted me was that the school had such a large international student community. In those days, the Elliott School was called the School for Public and International Affairs, and I knew that would be the next chapter in my life.

GW: Are there particular classes and professors who stand out in your mind? Who helped you on your career path?

AG: My academic concentration at the Elliott School was economics. It was not an easy subject for me, and I had to work hard to fully understand the concepts. Yet, it gave me a strong and essential base for the negotiations I became involved with, including free trade agreements, international aviation rights, global economic development initiatives, and with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“East Asia Past and Present” was amazing and opened my curiosity with the region and ancient cultures. Armed with just enough knowledge “to be dangerous,” I have been able to grow my expertise and work on projects in Japan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, and with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

I am grateful to Professor Cynthia McClintock who helped me understand the cultural and political intricacies in my native country of Colombia and throughout Latin America. It was a great help when I was charged by an employer with setting up aviation rights and domestic operations across the continent. An impactful lesson that I learned from her was that “subsidizing farmers growing potatoes” was not an effective or lasting solution to poverty. As such, my work in economic development has always focused on the private sector and providing lasting self-reliant solutions.

GW: What would you say to current GW and Elliott School students who want to make a positive difference in the world?

AG: Don’t be an independent hero. Build teams and strategic alliances to catalyze change and drive goals. Acquire strong knowledge and technical skills as a base. Cultivate your leadership, negotiation and networking skills. Start building your networks now, by reaching out to organizations that you would want to work with, to participate in internships, and get information for your research papers. You may feel like you are an expert, but as one of my mentors said, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Be open to learning, proving yourself, and working your way up.

A lesson learned from my days as a coxswain on GW’s crew team is to lead by example, always doing your best and encouraging and coaching others to do the same. In your endeavors, empower your team to unlock creative solutions and challenge the status quo to drive ideas and goals. Be the leader with a solution, not just the person identifying the problems. As my mentor would tell us, “Don’t think what it is, think what you could make it be.” Create a vision and make it reality through executing innovative strategies and impactful implementation with goals and measurements. Remember that what gets measured gets done. Focus on integrity and inclusivity, and strive for excellence.

Most importantly, enjoy your time at GW and the Elliott School, make wonderful memories, and build lifelong friendships. Now go Catch the Vision!

September 27, 2024February 11, 2025

Elliott Student Wins Prestigious Japanese Studies Scholarship

Nicholas Bird, a junior majoring in Japanese Language and Literature and International Affairs with a minor in Economics was selected as the 2024 recipient of the MEXT scholarship. The Japanese government awards this highly competitive reward and provides airfare to Japan, tuition for the university, and a stipend for the cost of living for one school year to study in Japan.

“I have only gotten this far due to the amazing support of all of my professors at GW,” said Bird. The applicant screening process consists of a written examination, an interview, and a final screening in Tokyo. Bird spent his sophomore year at Waseda University in Shinjuku, Japan, which is considered a “Japanese Ivy”. Bird also spent time in Japan over the summer for an internship through Elliott’s Freeman Foundation Scholarship.

“My dream is to be in a role where I can work to build bridges between Japan and the U.S., as well as be a bridge myself. I hope to be another piece in helping to create a continued good relationship in our vital international partnership,” Bird said.

Bird plans to apply to the Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) position through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program following his anticipated Fall 2025 graduation. This position requires fluency and is based on translation and interpersonal communication.

“Receiving thoughts and ideas from people with completely different upbringings will help me see things from different perspectives and think more imaginatively. I think this is important in our increasingly globalized world,” said Bird.

Dr. Takae Tsujioka, a Japanese language associate professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, expressed her excitement and how impressed she is by Bird’s accomplishment. “It was an incredible accomplishment after just two years of Japanese study. The MEXT scholarship is a further testament to his hard work and dedication to Japanese study.”

The MEXT scholarship is highly competitive, with hours-long exams and a particularly selective process for U.S. undergraduate students. The Embassy of Japan congratulated Bird via Instagram.