Elliott 360 – Page 4

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023

Exploring Extremism: Elliott School Alum’s Research Contributes to International Advocacy Efforts

Grant A. Silverman, Research Assistant at the Elliott School’s Illiberalism Studies Program

Grant A. Silverman is a Research Assistant at the Elliott School’s Illiberalism Studies Program. Studying the rise of illiberal and extremist movements in the United States and Europe, his research emphasizes the role of digital media and disinformation in the rise of political violence. He earned a master’s degree from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where he studied conflict and conflict resolution, disinformation, and right-wing extremism.

Silverman examines how anti-democratic, far-right movements are connected globally, and he pays special attention to how a uniquely American brand of right-wing ideology is being exported through international allies. He analyzes the history of American right-wing organizing to explain how the American right has always been concerned with the international sphere.

Silverman considers Dr. Marlene Laruelle as a mentor at Elliott School, crediting her for positively influencing his academic and professional development. “Her leadership of the Illiberalism Studies Program has provided me with learning and career opportunities to pursue the work that I am currently engaged in,” says Silverman.

Dr. Laruelle is a Research Professor of International Affairs and the Director of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES). The Institute’s mission is to “promote and support the study of Europe and Eurasia through research, courses, events, and publications,” according to their mission statement.

Dr. Laruelle’s research focuses on illiberalism, the transnational far-right, and the Russian ideological landscape. She is the author of Is Russia Fascist? Unraveling Propaganda East and West, in which she explores accusations of fascism toward Russia and expertly examines the Russian domestic scene and the Kremlin’s foreign policy rationales.

Silverman’s research underscores the importance of studying illiberal and extremist movements and their impact on international politics. The Elliott School’s programs provide students and alumni with the tools and resources to pursue careers in this critical area of study. Silverman further credits the Elliott School with providing him with time and space to conduct his research, as well as access to exhaustive library resources.

August 25, 2023September 1, 2023

GW Elliott School Celebrates 125th Anniversary

This academic year, the Elliott School of International Affairs proudly commemorates the 125th anniversary of teaching international affairs at GW. Since 1898, the George Washington University has offered an unbroken succession of international affairs programs of study, beginning with the School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy.

The school’s opening ceremony was an auspicious affair with U.S. President William McKinley and his Cabinet attending. Since then, the school has gone through 10 iterations before becoming the Elliott School, named in 1988 to honor former GW President Lloyd Elliott.

Then, as now, students received instruction from both leading scholars and policy practitioners, including Supreme Court justices, U.S. and foreign ambassadors, as well as officials in government, business, and nonprofit organizations.

Thanks to research conducted by Elliott alumnus Stephen Wyman, BA ’85, we know some interesting history about how the school evolved at GW. According to Wyman, “the school’s earliest graduates played a huge role in the transformation and professionalization of the U.S. State Department. It is clear that GW was the nation’s trailblazer in educating students for diplomatic and consular careers.”

The first woman to become a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), Lucile Atcherson, a Smith College graduate, prepared for the FSO exam at GW, finished third, and was appointed in December 1922. In 1937, four of the 16 ambassadors and ministers with the longest tenures in the Foreign Service were GW alumni, including U.S. Ambassador Fred Morris Dearing, who received his Master of Diplomacy degree from GW in 1904.

During its first year of existence, the school counted 90 students. Today, the Elliott School boasts more than 28,000 living alumni, representing 113 countries, with an impressive record of achievements across all career sectors. Over the past 125 years, the study of international affairs has gained stature — and the Elliott School continues to be at the forefront.

For a full history of the school, check out “Engaging the World: The Study of International Affairs at the George Washington University.” This narrative offers a comprehensive look at how the school has evolved, through its many transformative milestones.Whether you’re a student, an alum, or simply curious about the school’s journey, this reading promises a compelling glimpse into the rich tapestry of the Elliott School’s history.

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The Elliott School’s mission is to develop the next generation of international leaders: leaders with knowledge, character, and skills; to conduct research that advances understanding of important global issues and contributes to the public debate on issues to advance understanding; and to help foster solutions to the world’s most challenging problems.

August 8, 2023August 16, 2023

Elliott School’s New Data Literacy Initiative: Revolutionizing Policy through Evidence-Based Approaches

Professors making presentation to staff in conference room.

Professors Emmanuel Teitelbaum and Laila Sorurbakhsh discuss data visualizations with Elliott School graduate students and International Affairs practitioners: (left to right) Chris Markiewicz, Chiara Evelti, Uugangerel Bold, and Briana Doyle.

The Elliott School is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative, Data Analytics for Policy Professionals, beginning Fall 2023. Led by Dr. Laila Sorubakhsh and Dr. Emmanuel Teitelbaum, the aim of the initiative is to provide a much-needed bridge between the world of public policy, international affairs, and data analytics. While traditional policy practice may focus more on qualitative or contextual data, the use of quantitative data in reports, presentations, dashboards, and other media are becoming increasingly common in the policy space. Through Data Literacy in International Affairs, our goal is to cross-train both traditional analysts and data scientists to combine their analytic strengths to inform innovative approaches to evidence-based policy.

As part of the initiative, the Elliott School is offering a series of courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive level that provide an understanding of which tools are most useful for both specialized and everyday policy practice. Through partnership with organizations and agencies, we seek to better serve our student body and the greater policy community by upskilling our current and future policymakers to respond to a dynamically changing world. These courses will provide students the opportunity to become empowered with the relevant data tools to improve daily operations, better understand policy, and provide evidence-based recommendations for best policy practice.

At the executive level, students, alumni, and practitioners can sign up to take our 1.5 credit weekend workshops offered both in person and online. Credits can be transferred to an Elliott School Masters program or graduate certificate. Fall 2023 offerings include IAFF 6505 Visualizing and Modeling International Politics with Dr. Emmanuel Teitelbaum (ESIA) and IAFF 6505 Expert Policy Decision Making Using Data with Dr. Leonardo Antenangeli (ESIA) and Dan Spokojny (CEO, fp21). Our hands-on approach combines technical training with guest speakers and networking events to put new technical skill sets into practice. Classes are open to beginners with no-coding experience to seasoned analysts looking to add to their skill set or understanding of its applications to the policy world. Information about the courses can be found in more detail here.

The introductory fall 2023 class will receive a special offer for the Initiative’s launch: $1,500 per 1.5 credit workshop in lieu of the standard non-degree student rate of $2,080 per 1 credit.

To apply, please submit your application here . Applications are considered on a rolling basis depending on workshop timing.

For any questions, please reach out to sorurbakhsh@gwu.edu

For additional information on the course offerings, please visit our website at https://elliott.gwu.edu/data-analytics-policy-professionals

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.”

June 20, 2023June 21, 2023

Elliott Undergraduate Research Fellow Presents at Arctic Science Summit

Anissa Ozbek, a third-year student in the Elliott School of International Affairs and an undergraduate research fellow, traveled to Vienna, Austria, this February with the GW delegation to the 2023 Arctic Science Summit Week. There, joined by Professor Marya Rozanova-Smith she presented findings from the COVID-GEA Project, which seeks to understand the gendered impacts of COVID-19 in the Arctic.

“I have been a research assistant on the project since 2022, so I was very excited to share the COVID-GEA Project’s preliminary results alongside our Principal Investigator, Dr. Rozanova-Smith at the Arctic Science Summit Week(ASSW) before world-class scholars in the field of Arctic studies,” said Ozbek.

Ozbek’s topic, “Gender Equality for Sustainable Arctic Communities Amid and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic,” focused specifically on the case of Alaska, examining initiatives passed in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Nome, and Juneau, as well as by the Alaska state legislature.

At the conference week, Ozbek assisted Dr. Rozanova-Smith in presenting the COVID-GEA project’s audio-visual exhibit, titled “Arctic Women’s Voices:Standing Strong in the Face of COVID-19,” which gives Arctic women a platform to discuss how the pandemic affected them.

Conference attendees at the ASSW heard from experts across the natural and social sciences on a range of topics, from the effects of light pollution on Arctic ecosystems to Indigenous stewardship practices.

As Ozbek considers a career in research, attending the ASSW provided her with the invaluable opportunity to learn about key aspects of scholarship, including presentation skills and collaboration, firsthand.

June 8, 2023July 5, 2023

Elliott Student was Awarded the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Payton Beaumier, who recently graduated from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University, was awarded a 2023 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide contest.

The Pickering Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. Beaumier was chosen out of 600 outstanding candidates.

Beaumier, who grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, said that since high school, she’s dreamed of having a career that would allow her to work towards advancing human rights on a global scale.

One of her teachers in high school once said, “What makes this country great is little people doing little acts of love.” Beaumier said it is a quote that continuously sticks with her and serves as a source of motivation to dedicate her life to public service.

After completing her graduate program, Payton will become a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She hopes to serve as a political officer working to address matters of human security and strengthen U.S. relations with countries across the globe. Payton credits her time and experience at GW for setting her on this trajectory.

When Beaumier arrived at GW, she was searching for a way to turn her passions into a career, and GW provided an incomparable sense of direction and an environment for curiosity and growth. She stated, “I had amazing academic and experiential learning opportunities at GW. It is a wonderful place to jumpstart your interests.” Specifically, she expressed her gratitude for the unique courses she took, her engaging and influential professors, the Career Services Center, and her time as part of the Elliott School Dean’s Scholars Program.

While at GW, Payton served as the recruitment officer for the Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority and was president of the Women in International Security Branch at GWU.

She participated in the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program and interned with the Bureau of Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru, focusing on international narcotics and law enforcement affairs. She has completed internships at the White House with the Gender Policy Council, the U.S. Department of the Treasury with the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Payton became aware of her selection for the Pickering Fellowship during her time as an intern for the White House Gender Policy Council, and she aspires to continue advocating for gender equity and equality in foreign policy during her career.

This fellowship will allow Beaumier to pursue a two-year master’s degree in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service. It will also connect her to extensive professional development opportunities, including internships, mentors, and skills training.

As part of the program, Beaumier will work at the U.S. Department of State for their domestic internship, and the U.S. Department of State will send her overseas to intern in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service.

“I am excited for the opportunity to dedicate my future and my career to promoting peace and supporting our citizens abroad while living a life of public service.”

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.

April 5, 2023June 21, 2023

Elliott School Receives Endowment to Enhance African Studies

The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University received an endowment gift from The Bridges Institute to support a new lecture series, as well as periodic meetings of Bridges’ Africa Policy Group.

The gift will support the newly named Bridges Institute Vivian Lowery Derryck Africa Lecture Series, an annual lecture series on U.S.-Africa engagement featuring a keynote address by a senior African leader.

The gift will also support the Elliott School’s convening of the Africa Policy Group (APG), a diverse group of influential voices from civil society, academia, and the U.S.-Africa policy community. The Bridges Institute’s Africa Policy Group meetings become part of the GW Elliott School’s Institute for African Studies portfolio of activities supported by the endowment.

The Africa Policy Group (APG), formed in 2011, is a non-partisan coalition of 30 senior Africa experts that shapes a more robust U.S. Africa policy by deepening knowledge and discussing new findings about Africa among group members, and then sharing informed APG perspectives with Members of Congress, senior Administration officials, and the private sector, as well as African colleagues.

“We are so grateful for this endowment, which will allow us to showcase Africa’s growing strategic importance to the United States and the global community and support a robust dialogue among civil society leaders, academics, and policymakers from both the U.S. and Africa on how best to advance our partnerships and common interests,” said Jennifer Cooke, director of the GW Institute for African Studies, headquartered at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

The donation was spearheaded by Vivian Lowery Derryck, founder and president emerita of The Bridges Institute, and an incoming member of the Elliott School Board of Advisors.

“It is my hope that this gift will provide inspiration for future generations of students, faculty, and policymakers focused on forging strong connections with African nations and working to strengthen African democracies,” Derryck said. “I am thrilled to partner with GW’s Elliott School to continue the important work of The Bridges Institute and delighted to join the school’s leadership board.”

March 29, 2023April 11, 2023

Peace Corps Director and Elliott Alumna will Address Students at Graduation

As graduation season approaches, universities and colleges are gearing up to celebrate the academic achievements of their students. The Elliott School is excited to announce Carol Spahn, MA 00, as the keynote speaker for the upcoming 2023 Elliott School graduation celebration.

As a graduate of the Elliott School in international development studies, Spahn was recently sworn in as the 21st director of the Peace Corps. Spahn has a long and distinguished career in public service, dedicating herself to promoting global understanding and cooperation, and brought more than 25 years of public and private sector experience to the role. She has worked in countries around the world on issues ranging from small business development, infectious disease prevention to women’s empowerment.

Under Spahn’s leadership, the Peace Corps implemented new initiatives to support volunteers’ safety and well-being, including increased mental health resources and improved communication protocols. She also oversaw the development of new programs in areas such as climate change, disaster response, and entrepreneurship, expanding the Peace Corps impact and relevance in the 21st century.

As this year’s commencement speaker, Spahn will bring a unique perspective and valuable insight to the graduating class. She follows other illustrious Elliott graduation speakers such as Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y, in 2022, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Founder and Executive Director of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security in 2021; Robert Nicholas Burns, an American diplomat and academic who currently serves as the United States ambassador to China in 2020; and Cindy McCain, the widow of former U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., in 2019.

The Elliott School is honored to welcome Carol Spahn as the 2023 commencement speaker, and we look forward to hearing her experiences and guidance in international development and public service. It promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking address, and a fitting tribute to this Elliott School graduating class of 2023!

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023

Celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day

As the U.S. Department of State prepares for the 17th annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony, the Elliott School is also gearing up to host a select group of the Women of Courage awardees for an event where students can meet the women, hear their individual stories of courage, ask questions, and seek advice.

The Women of Courage Awards celebrate women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in acting to improve the lives of others. It’s a great chance to bring attention and support from around the world to women who have put their lives or personal safety at risk to help their communities.

The awardees are taking part in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which is the premier professional exchange program run by the U.S. Department of State. Current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts.

Join the Elliott School, the Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs (GEIA) and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC), in recognizing the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2023 International Women of Courage (IWOC) awardees for a panel discussion. The event will be held on March 10th in the City View Room at the Elliott School. Doors open at 4:30 pm and the event begins at 5:00 pm. Click on the link here for details and registration. For information about other International Women’s Day events and Women’s History Month events click https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/gwtodo-all-month-celebrating-womens-history