GW’s Public Interest Technology Scholars Will Raise the Bar on Conversations about Tech and Civic Interest

GW's Professors Gate

Elliott School’s Susan Ariel Aaronson, CCAS’s Alexa Alice Joubin and SMPA’s David Karpf comprise the university’s inaugural PIT Scholars cohort.

Authored by: Ruth Steinhardt

GW Professor's Gate

The George Washington University introduced its Public Interest Technology (PIT) Scholars program this week, supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research,  demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the study and application of technology that advances the public good by recognizing and empowering scholars contributing to that work. Three GW faculty members were named to the inaugural PIT Scholars cohort:

As PIT Scholars, Aaronson, Joubin and Karpf will facilitate cross-disciplinary research and teaching, seek new collaborations at GW and beyond and deliver a university-wide lecture. Their work also will raise awareness of the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN), of which GW has been a member since 2020.

“GW faculty can play an important role in facilitating technology in the public interest through research, education and service,” Vice Provost for Research Pamela Norris said. “In fact, there are many opportunities for GW to combine our historical strengths in fields like law, policy and international affairs with technology innovation to grow a new generation of civic-minded technologists and digitally fluent policymakers.”

At the PIT Scholars launch event in Science and Engineering Hall Wednesday afternoon, faculty from a range of disciplines gathered to discuss the definition of PIT, the opportunities and challenges its development presents and how to stimulate the collaboration necessary to promote it. Each of the three scholars gave a brief presentation on their ongoing PIT-related projects, as did Zoe Szajnfarber, director of strategic initiatives for the School of Engineering and Applied Science and professor of engineering management and systems engineering, and of space policy. Jack Goodman, a senior associate at government relations firm Lewis-Burke Associates, also presented on the range of federal funding available for PIT-related initiatives.

PIT is almost inherently interdisciplinary, speakers suggested, depending as it does on a variety of perspectives regarding both what the “public interest” or “civic good” actually is and also how a given product or initiative could affect that interest. Technology developed from a single disciplinary viewpoint, even with the best of intentions, may have unintended but major consequences in another arena.

Aaronson encouraged attendees to be “Johnny Appleseeds,” spreading the word about PIT and its potential in their own departments, and reminded the audience that TRAILS—the stated mission of which is to ensure the participation of diverse stakeholders in AI development so that future AI systems enhance human capacity, respect human dignity and protect human rights—opens its 2024 application season in April. “We are really eager to see proposals from people in departments that are traditionally underrepresented,” she said.

Karpf, currently on sabbatical, is working on a book based on his reading of the entire back catalogue of “Wired” magazine. Digital boosterism can have a distorting effect, he said, leading public enthusiasm—and research, in its wake—from one big idea to the next without evaluating the impact of previous zeitgeists. “I want to capture some sense of the stories that we tell ourselves about how our technologies change the world, and what we can learn from looking at contemporaneous predictions,” he said.

And, Karpf joked, “as somebody who spent the past six years sitting around reading old tech magazines and designing a class around old tech magazines,” he also appreciates the way the PIT Scholars program gives him a “deeply appealing” opportunity to “help build a community where that [work] is of some strange use.”

Joubin, who is working on multiple projects examining the interplay of technology, language, culture and the public interest, spoke passionately about the importance of involving humanities and arts scholars in conversations about tech, and vice versa. The written word, she pointed out, is itself a form of technology that no current scholarship has bettered. Where technology and the humanities intersect—which, increasingly, is everywhere—these intersections “force us to ask and rethink longstanding questions about moral agency, trustworthiness, the mind and body and the relationship between humans and machines.”

Such questions may seem esoteric, and projects on the borders of PIT may currently seem fringe. But, as Joubin pointed out, knowledge can only advance at the borders of what’s currently known. As PIT Scholars, she and her colleagues can “showcase the value of being atypical.”

“Atypical work is where breakthroughs are possible,” she said. “There is value in being a little bit of a weirdo.”

Elliott Alumni Reflect on Prestigious Presidential Fellowship

Two PMF Awardees and the PMF logo

The prestigious Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is opening doors for Elliott School graduates to turn their academic experience into impactful careers in the federal government.

Administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the PMF program is designed to recruit and develop the next generation of leaders for the federal workforce. The application process evaluates candidates’ leadership potential, with top candidates selected as finalists. Those finalists then have the opportunity to be appointed as two-year paid fellows at federal agencies.

In addition to the hands-on experience at federal agencies, Presidential Management Fellows receive mentorship from senior government leaders and the chance to drive innovation in public policy spheres.

The Elliott School prepares each new cohort of potential PMFs to master each part of the application process with great detail and prowess. Each year, the Elliott School celebrates having a large group of alumni and second-year students who have earned distinction as PMF Finalists.

Two Presidential Management Fellows, Daria Howard and John T. Lovinggood, shared their experiences working at agencies like the International Trade Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services through the PMF program.

Howard currently serves as a Digital Outreach Specialist at the International Trade Administration. She was motivated to apply to the PMF program by her desire to pursue a career in public service.

“For me, this meant using my skill set and interests to make others’ lives better,” Howard said. “Another motivation for me and also how I would characterize the program, is community. It’s amazing to be part of such a passionate and talented community, which you’ll continue to be a part of even after the program ends.” 

Howard encourages current Elliott students interested in the PMF program to maintain an unwavering focus on public service.

“Throughout the whole process and beyond, keep public service at the forefront of your mind and at the core of what you do,” Howard said. “It will guide you in the right direction and lead to a meaningful career.”

Lovinggood, who graduated from the Elliott School in 2022, was drawn to the PMF program as a means of continuing his career in public service. As a Presidential Management Fellow, he has held roles at the TSA and USCIS related to critical national security matters.  

Lovinggood reflected on his experience as a PMF and urged eligible Elliott students to apply to the program.  

“It has been a great experience for me that has opened many doors to a fruitful career,” Lovinggood said. “I would recommend to any motivated Elliott Student that there are many opportunities that you may not be aware of, so go ahead and apply!”

Elliott Students Earn Top Prize at Model G20 Summit

Students holding their awards
Three students holding awards from G20 Summit

GW students won the 2024 Model G20 Summit, beating delegations from universities across the country and earning the “Best Delegation” distinction.

The three-day Model G20 Summit simulates the annual forum where leaders of the world’s largest economies convene. Student delegations represent different countries and negotiate to draft a joint “Communique” detailing policies across major global themes.

“I am incredibly proud of everyone in the GW delegation,” said Hannah Spiegeler, who served as President and led the team to victory. “I knew our skills, cooperation, and talent would lead to success. I wanted to make sure that we won as a delegation – and we did!”

The GW delegation began preparing two weeks before the summit. The delegation researched China’s foreign and domestic policies and prepared talking points, speeches, and policy memos. 

In addition to the team’s overall first-place finish, the members of the GW delegation earned multiple individual awards:

– Nicholas Tappe earned “Outstanding Delegate” (2nd place) in the Sherpa Track

– Jonathan Kay received the “Outstanding Delegate” honor in the Finance Track  

– Hannah Spiegeler was named “Best Delegate” in the Leaders’ Track

Elliott Senior Jonathan Kay reflected on the professional opportunities stemming from the summit.

“The additional networking opportunities that have come to fruition because of this summit have primarily been networking with other promising young international affairs practitioners who will no doubt wield influence in the future,” Kay said. “I look forward to meeting with some of them again, and I am keeping in touch with some of them.”

Spiegeler echoed the long-term impact of the Model G20 summit.

“I have strengthened my skills in negotiation, research, as well as leadership,” Spiegeler said, “all of which would be very useful in future internships, research positions, or jobs in the field of international affairs.” 

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

Professors making presentation to staff in conference room.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.”

Elliott Undergraduate Research Fellow Presents at Arctic Science Summit

Anissa Ozbek

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.