Elliott School of International Affairs – Page 2

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

Alumnus Utilizes Higher Education to Effect Local and Global Change

In honor of Black History Month, we caught up with Kyle Farmbry, ESIA BA ’92, GWSB MPA ’94, PhD ’99, to learn how GW and the Elliott School influenced his career in higher education.

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

KF: I’m currently serving as the 10th President of Guilford College, a small liberal arts college in Greensboro, North Carolina. In my role, I am able to not only influence the lives of the college’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni, but also situate Guilford as an entity that can impact the greater community of Greensboro and the lives of people in communities around the world.

I think higher education institutions can have tremendous roles in societies. They can be places of innovation, social change, and economic enhancement. Being in this position as a college president has enabled me to reflect deeply on how my institution can build opportunities for Guilford students, faculty, and staff, as well as other people whose lives we touch.

GW: What drew you to GW and the Elliott School for college and later your graduate degrees?

KF: I was very interested in international development when I was a teenager. I had spent several years as a high school student volunteering for the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, and actually had an opportunity to visit UNICEF, CARE, OXFAM, and Save the Children projects during the summer between graduating high school and my first year at GW. At the time, a university in the middle of Washington that was a few blocks from the State Department, the World Bank, the White House, and scores of organizations engaged in international development policy seemed like a natural place to go to school.

After finishing my undergraduate studies in the Elliott School, I had an opportunity to remain at GW and participate in the Presidential Administrative Fellows program, created by then-President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. Through this program, I was able to complete my master’s degree at GW. I then decided to continue with my Ph.D. studies, again at GW.

GW: How did GW and the Elliott School influence your professional choices and successes? Who helped you on your career path?

KF: GW and the Elliott School provided me with mentors who helped me to envision all of the possibilities that life might hold for me. I will always be grateful to people such as Ambassador Ronald Palmer (who taught at the school for a number of years), then-Dean Mickey East, President Trachtenberg, and so many others who I encountered during my time as an Elliott School student, for providing me with guidance and insight at different stages during my time at GW.

The most beneficial thing was that I was able to learn about international policy first-hand – both in and out of the classroom. Many of the most impactful professors were those who were working closely with institutions making some form of difference in the world. They were professors who weren’t just studying international development, but were also engaged in international and broader policy-making activities. I also had the opportunity to be a part of the larger DC international studies community myself. Truly an #OnlyatGW experience, though we didn’t call it that back then.

Kyle Farmbry with Guilford students at a Greensboro Grasshoppers game.

GW: How has diversity and inclusion impacted or influenced your career? How can alumni promote DEI and DEI efforts?

KF: I firmly believe in finding ways to create opportunities for others – particularly when people are from communities where there have historically been limited opportunities. If we have enough people thinking strategically about how they can open doors, and in doing so, build toward institutions that reflect the demographics of the nation, then I think we will see the changes that we need for achieving a more equitable society. I really believe facilitating such equity should be part of everyone’s aspirational goals.

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

KF: Just get started. Take advantage of the time you have in DC and at GW to make a difference and get involved. Study abroad. Get an amazing internship. Then get another amazing internship. Develop an innovative idea for addressing a major problem in the world, then find a way to implement that idea. GW provides so many opportunities for its students – far more than many other colleges and universities – to be part of the GW community, and the Elliott community is such an exciting opportunity. Appreciate every single moment that this opportunity presents you.

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

Elliott students travel to Senegal to explore culture, foreign influence

Authored by: Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor at The GW Hatchet

Elliott School of International Affairs students traveled to Senegal over winter break and met with foreign service officers, professors and locals in a short-term abroad course launched this year.

Sixteen undergraduate and graduate Elliott School students spent nine days of winter break attending conferences, focus groups and lectures on foreign influence in the country. Matthew Kirwin, a professorial lecturer who taught the course, said he wanted to give students a deep understanding of an African country because policymakers are interested in foreign influence on the continent and chose Senegal because it’s politically stable and easy to navigate.

“It was a dream come true for me to be able to do this, to see the students see Africa through my eyes because I was able to put together a program that I thought would be very insightful,” Kirwin said.

Kirwin, a division chief at the State Department, said he submitted the short-term abroad program proposal during the 2019-20 academic year. The three-credit course, Foreign Influence in Senegal: Exploring the Effects and Senegalese Perceptions, counted as credit for Special Topics in African Studies, a course offered to Elliott School undergraduate and graduate students.

He said about 37 undergraduate and graduate students applied in October 2023 for 16 spots.

Kirwin created the trip itinerary with the help of the West African Research Center, a group that connects American researchers with West African countries. He said the center connected him to Senegalese professors and helped him plan trips to significant cultural and political locations like Gorée Island, a former outpost for the slave trade located off the coast of Dakar, and Touba, a town with the biggest mosque in West Africa.

“We went back and forth on what things made most sense to do, keeping in mind trying to make it affordable for students,” Kirwin said.

He said through connections from his job at the State Department, he also coordinated a meeting with several foreign service officers to explain the U.S. relationship with Senegal. The U.S. trades with Senegal and views the country as a stable democracy in Africa and a “model” for religious and ethnic tolerance, according to the Bureau of African Affairs’ bilateral relations fact sheet.

Kirwin said the class met on campus several times before the trip to learn about Senegal and hear student presentations on aspects of Senegalese culture like food, religion, politics and water sports like surfing. He said during the first pre-departure meeting, he brought in the principal deputy assistant secretary for global public affairs Kristin Kane, who previously served as a foreign service officer in Senegal, to provide insight into U.S. foreign influence in Senegal.

Before the start of the trip, Kirwin said he created an Instagram page for students to document the trip. He said he required students to upload pictures with captions that summarized what they learned on a given day at least three times during the trip.

Kirwin said students talked with local Senegalese people in focus groups to learn about the culture and how foreign influence is viewed by locals. He said students also attended lectures on relations between the United States, Russia and China to learn about how different countries approach foreign affairs.

“There’s this foreign power competition that’s going on where every country is trying to promote their values and promote their interests,” Kirwin said.

Kirwin said foreign influence in Africa often looks like “soft power,” meaning countries like the United States, Russia, China, France and Turkey attempt to form relationships with African countries through infrastructure projects and by asserting their culture, music and sports in cities. He said countries like the United States work to appear as partners with Senegal by bringing Senegalese basketball players to play in the NBA while other countries like China build roads and bridges.

“Turkey, for example, built the new soccer stadium in Dakar, and the Senegalese are very passionate about soccer,” Kirwin said.

He said the group will not meet in person again but students will work together on a 15 to 20-page policy paper due in February that incorporates information collected from panel discussions, academic lectures and daily interactions with Senegalese people. He said the final project is an opportunity for students to synthesize the cultural, historical and political information they learned on the trip and create a paper that American policymakers could use to better understand Senegalese culture.

“We talked about what are all the data points that we’ve collected and how can we refine our research question to write something that’s going to be of interest,” Kirwin said.

Christopher Zrazik, a junior studying international affairs and public policy, said he learned how countries like China, Turkey and the United States exert influence on Senegal through foreign investment in infrastructure projects.

“Through our lectures, through the focus groups that we engaged in and even observations as we drove through Dakar and in the surrounding areas, it really revealed the extent to which foreign powers are establishing themselves in the country,” Zrazik said.

Bryson Handy, a first-year studying international affairs and economics, said his favorite part of the trip was when the group saw a rally for Senegal’s upcoming presidential election in February while visiting the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar. He said the experience launched him into Senegalese politics and presents an example of the benefits of visiting an African country and learning through first-hand experience about the political system.

Deseree Chacha, a senior studying international affairs, said she learned about cultural diplomacy and development from the group’s tour guides and driver. She said during the two focus groups with students and people in the workforce she learned about Senegalese lifestyles, perspectives on foreign influence and Senegal’s upcoming presidential election.

“The whole group took a step back, we were there mainly just to listen to observe, to kind of be one with the Senegalese people,” Chacha said.

January 5, 2024January 5, 2024

The Role of Unity in Advancing Democracy in Iran and the World

Nazanin Boniadi visited GW to talk about about the status of women in Iran. (Photos by William Atkins/GW Today)

Iranian born actor and activist Nazanin Boniadi provided an Elliott School audience an update on the progress and status of Iran’s freedom movement.

Authored by: B.L. Wilson

It’s been more than a year since Mahsa Jina Amini died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for not properly wearing a veil, the hijab that is mandatory under the Islamic Republic’s laws.

The Elliott School of International Affairs invited Iranian born actor and activist Nazanin Boniadi for a conversation not only about the status of women in Iran since Amini’s death, but also on the “The Role of Unity in Advancing Democracy for Iran.” The conversation was led by Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School, and was held at the Jack Morton Auditorium Tuesday.

In opening remarks before the start of the discussion, Mary Ellsberg, executive director and founding director of the George Washington University’s Global Women’s Institute, said the 22 year old’s death sparked protests that gave rise to the Women’s Life Freedom Movement in Iran and across the diaspora. It prompted thousands of Iranian women to flood the streets, remove their veils and cut their hair, and inspired women across the globe to raise their voices against the repressive and dangerous regime, said Ellsberg, who also is a professor of international studies at the Elliott School.

Boniadi, who has been featured in television shows and movies from “How I Met Your Mother” to “Lord of the Rings,” said her “first protest” was in the womb of her 19-year-old mother who was heavily pregnant but had “the foresight to see what was happening to Iran during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.” Her parents joined a minority of Iranians protesting the newly formed government and were forced to flee or risk execution.

The Women, Life, Freedom Movement, said Boniadi, transcends women’s rights though women were the spark and engine. “It is a declaration of opposition to a regime that is not only misogynistic, but murderous and repressive, a perfect rallying cry for democracy, for representative and accountable government that includes women,” she said.

Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres (l) led the conversation with actor and activist Nazanin Boniadi.

When Ayres asked what toll activism has taken on her, Boniadi mentioned the death threats she has received and the time it has taken away from her career but added that that “pales in comparison to what the Iranian people are going through.”

“The artists and activists, my counterparts in Iran saying these same words lose their careers, they get sent to prison, they get lashed, they get killed, blinded, raped, tortured, forcibly disappeared,” Boniadi said. “The list goes on and on. That puts it in perspective for me.”

Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch report that more than 500 Iranians have been killed (the vast majority of whom were men) and thousands more arrested since the protests began. Boniadi said she is invited to speak, write articles and receives accolades including membership in the Council on Foreign Relations, the leading think tank on U.S. Foreign Policy and national security. She has been awarded the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s international prize that recognizes leading global voices that promote peace, justice and nonviolence.

“Though victories are few and far between,” she said, “every time a family is reunited after a hostage has been taken or someone is freed after being wrongfully imprisoned or an execution is stayed or an unjust law is overturned, it provides fuel to keep going.”

Setbacks have come on the heels of victory. Members of what Boniadi calls the community of democracy took the unprecedented step of getting the Islamic Republic of Iran ousted from the UN Commission on the Status of Women, something they were told could not be done. They fought for it, she said, to prevent the regime from using the UN system to legitimize themselves on the global stage and to give hope to people in countries like Afghanistan. The democracy community won only to face two major setbacks months later. Iran’s envoy to the United Nations was elected Vice President of the UN General Assembly and chair of the UN Human Rights Council.

She said the member states had been working in concert with the Islamic state while dissidents from Russia, Venezuela and Iran were fractured and fighting each other. Autocrats and oppressive governments united in their objective to stay in power and found influential voices among the opposition to divide and rule. “Democracies failed to be as united,” she said.

“Until we understand that we are inextricably bound, all democratic people, democratic loving people, inherently tied to each other, and we have to work on common objectives and safeguard democracy not only in our countries but also ensure that democracy prevails worldwide, we will fail,” she said.

The event was co-sponsored by the Elliot School for International Studies, the Global Women’s Institute, the Institute for Middle East Studies, the Elliott School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Gender, Sexuality, and Studies program.

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Elliott Alumnus Earns Prestigious Rhodes Scholarship

Congratulations to recent Elliott School alumnus Yosef Bukhari, MA ’23, who has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to attend the University of Oxford in England beginning in Fall 2024. He plans to pursue a PhD in international relations, focusing his research on nuclear deterrence.

“We are all so thrilled that Yosef has received the distinction of a Rhodes Scholarship. It is a testament to his hard work and his leadership qualities. I have no doubt that Yosef will go on to excel in his work on nuclear deterrence,” Dean Ayres said. “This honor not only reflects his abilities, but it also brings immense pride to the Elliott School and the faculty and advisors who assisted him.”

The Rhodes Scholarship provides all educational and living expenses for 2-3 years of postgraduate study at Oxford. Scholars are chosen based on outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated leadership potential, and a commitment to “fighting the world’s fight” through potential social impact.

The Rhodes Scholarship is considered one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors. Bukhari joins an extensive network of influential Rhodes Scholar alumni making an impact in fields like government, science, and the arts. Rhodes Scholar alumni include astronomer Edwin Hubble, President Bill Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice, Senator Cory A. Booker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and journalist Rachel Maddow, to name a few.

Elliott faculty applauded Bukhari on his achievements. “Yosef is an excellent student and was always insightful in my Transnational Security class,” Rollie Lal, Associate Professor of International Affairs, said. “He is a model Elliott graduate, and I am so glad that he will represent us through the Rhodes Scholarship in the future!”

Bukhari describes feeling excitement and some disbelief upon learning of his selection, “I began to imagine myself as a Rhodes Scholar—as already a part of the community. So I definitely began to feel excitement at the realization that I did not need to imagine that anymore,” he said.

Bukhari hopes his research at Oxford will contribute even small steps towards nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. “I aim to answer the question of what size and type of nuclear arsenal is sufficient to deter,” he said.

Bukhari credits GW and the Elliott School faculty for their support during the highly competitive application process. He advises current students to utilize available resources like the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research (CUFR) and the Office of Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships (OGASF) for assistance with applications to many fellowship and research opportunities like the Rhodes Scholarship.

“Dr. Jacob English at the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research; Dr. Lakeisha Harrison, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ESIA; and Joshua Lissauer and Meg Wurm in Graduate Student Services at ESIA have all supported me in my application. In short, be sure to contact the relevant resource and also your professors. GW and ESIA are well-equipped to support you,” noted Bukhari.

CUFR serves all GW undergraduates and alumni pursuing intellectual development through scholarship, fellowship competitions and undergraduate and postgraduate research participation. OGASF does the same for graduate students.

“The resources at the Elliott School and GW are there to help you,” Bukhari said.

After his Oxford studies, Bukhari plans to return to Saudi Arabia to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, striving for nonproliferation in the Middle East.

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Elliott Faculty and Students Attend 28th Annual Climate Change Conference

Light green (left) and dark green (right) hand holding a globe. The water on the globe is light green and the continents are dark green.

Robert Orttung, research professor of international affairs and the director of research at Sustainability GW was there as some of the world’s biggest oil companies announced an unexpected pledge over the weekend that they would slash methane emissions from their wells and drilling by more than 80 percent by 2030 in an effort to curb methane gas emissions. The announcement came during the UN’s annual climate conference, COP28, happening in Dubai.

Orttung leads two National Science Foundation grants focused on promoting urban sustainability in the Arctic and is the editor of the forthcoming publication, Sustaining Russia’s Arctic Cities.

Orttung is attending COP28 this week as part of a GW delegation along with GW students, where they will present their research findings around climate change.

Orttung says there’s great opportunity to work with oil and gas companies in finding productive ways to combat the climate crisis.

“Obviously, it’s a little ironic to have a climate change conference in a Petro state, which depends heavily on selling oil and gas, but that might be the actual solution is trying to find a way to work with these companies that make their money now from selling fossil fuels. They might be the main people blocking progress, but it might also be a useful way to think about how they can use the enormous leverage and resources that they have, incredible financial gain from fossil fuels, and put that into renewable energy. That’s something we’re seeing in the Middle East starting to happen.

One strategy could be to constantly attack [these companies]. The other strategy would be to figure out ways to work together, and I’m hoping we can do something like that.”

WATCH: Hear more from Prof. Orttung about GW’s role at COP28 and the key themes he’ll be paying attention to at this year’s UN climate conference in this video here.

October 31, 2023October 31, 2023

Connecting cultures: A workshop on building cultural diplomacy programs

By Yvonne Oh and Alexis Posel

IPDGC kicked off its workshop on cultural diplomacy programming “Connecting Cultures: Cultural Diplomacy and Engagement Workshop”, collaborating with the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. The workshop was conceived with the two-pronged purpose of broadening awareness about cultural diplomacy, and encouraging GW students to consider how their fields of study can be part of U.S. global engagement.

Highly experienced trainers with nonprofit, American Voices, John Ferguson and Amr Selim – both acclaimed musicians – will be conducting this free, hybrid workshop. American Voices is the implementing partner for the U.S. Department of State’s American Music Abroad Program and the Arts Envoy Program.

On Friday, September 29, the in-person session was held at a beautiful at the Flagg Building, home to the Corcoran School (originally the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1869). John and Amr led discussions with GW student participants about navigating foreign environments, the importance of sustainable programming, and exploring different avenues for funding.

In different sessions of the workshop, participants met with cultural specialists who Zoomed in to share their expertise in cultural programming – dancers, singers, filmmakers, and other creative talents from all over the globe. They also met with former U.S. diplomats who encouraged their efforts as part of U.S. engagement and shared tips on funding and building networks.

At the end of the workshop. participants will present their proposals for a cultural program using the ideas and guidance from the sessions.

Dean Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School, dropped in for a quick visit and expressed her enthusiasm for the workshop; sharing how cultural diplomacy programs dovetail well with international development work.

The Walter Roberts Endowment has provided support to the “Connecting Cultures: Cultural Diplomacy and Engagement Workshop”.

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For more about cultural programming and American Voices, listen to John Ferguson on Public Diplomacy Examined (PDx). IPDGC summer intern Adeniyi Funsho interviewed John in 2021 – PDX podcast: Connecting Cultures through Performance

October 31, 2023November 1, 2023

Elliott Student Amplifies Community Voices in Local Government

When senior Dasia Bandy first moved to Washington, D.C. to start her college career at GW, she knew she wanted to get involved in the local community. Having grown up watching her parents dedicate themselves to civic engagement, Dasia felt a calling to public service from a young age.

Eager to get involved in her new community, Dasia became an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for the Foggy Bottom area. In this role, Dasia acts as a critical liaison between residents and local government, advising on issues from public safety to transportation.

“I was inspired by the opportunity to serve my entire community and to leave a sustainable and long-lasting impact,” Dasia said. “I have a passion for policy issues related to safety, homelessness, community engagement, and our military community within Foggy Bottom.”

In her role, Dasia advises local government agencies on issues like zoning, transportation, and public safety that impact her constituents. She provides recommendations to influence policy based on the interests and concerns of community members.

Dasia also holds public meetings where residents can voice their opinions and learn about new proposals that could affect their neighborhood. By engaging constituents and amplifying their voices, she hopes to foster a spirit of participation in local government.

“My primary responsibility and most crucial role is to represent the interests and concerns of my constituents,” Dasia said. “At its core, I am a liaison for community members and government agencies and oversee the delivery of community needs.”

For Dasia, the most valuable part of this experience has been witnessing firsthand the intricacies of D.C. governance and seeing how interconnected agency operations can be. She says it has given her a greater appreciation for the impact individuals can have on policy outcomes.

Beyond her role as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, Dasia has seized other opportunities for leadership and growth during her time at GW. As the student speaker at President Ellen Granberg’s first convocation, Dasia had the opportunity to practice public speaking before a large audience.

“Serving as the student speaker has significantly impacted my personal and professional development by requiring me to overcome self-doubt and develop self-confidence that has spilled into various aspects of my life,” she said.

From networking events to academic challenges, Dasia’s passion for service continues to grow stronger.

“While being away at college is often students’ first time away from family for an extended period of time, it can be very easy to forget who you are and to lose your passions that lead you to a very different path,” says Dasia. “However, with all the classmates, professors, mentors, and faculty members at GW, I have been continuously reminded of my passion for public service.”

September 29, 2023October 4, 2023

New Program Helps Elliott School Alumni Navigate the Job Market

Amidst the ever-changing landscape of today’s job market, the transition from student life to a professional career frequently proves to be a nerve-wracking journey.

Recognizing and supporting the unique needs of alumni and recent graduates in this journey, the Elliott School’s Graduate Student Services (GSS) has introduced Job Stormers, a resilient support network meticulously designed to address the demands of the present job climate and the complexities brought about by the pandemic.

Led by Joshua Lissauer, a Senior Career Coach at GSS, Job Stormers serves as both a career support program and offers a community for alumni facing a range of challenges. It specializes in supporting alumni seeking an opportunity to reinvent their professional lives or change career directions.

Job Stormer alumni have gone on to work at the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defense and other employers. Elliott alum Nicole Wright Patrick shared, “I felt as though I had reached a dead end in my job search when I found Job Stormers. After years of sporadic job searching, I lacked momentum and became discouraged. I joined Job Stormers hoping to connect with others in a similar situation and to find an added layer of accountability. I found all of that and more through this team of supportive individuals. I am now two days into what I can only describe as my dream job, having gone through the application and interview process feeling fully supported and prepared to put my best self forward. I can’t say enough about the experience of being in a cohort and the coaching I received throughout this entire process.”

“I think Josh’s design and delivery had just the right balance of job search and career content, peer support, and motivation,” James Wylde, Former Director of Graduate Student Services, said. “The first year of Job Stormers was a success; we look forward to fine-tuning the program for next year.”

One striking aspect of the Job Stormers program is its focus on recent alumni. Many new graduates often find themselves at a crossroads, and this program has become a valuable resource for them.

Associate Director of GSS, Meg Wurm, added, “Job Stormers serves as a great opportunity for alumni who are interested in more than just the one-on-one support we offer to alumni. Josh has worked hard to build a program that creates a collaborative support system for those individuals.”

Beyond just job hunting, Job Stormers provides a safe space for participants to reflect on the stressors and anxieties surrounding their job searches. “It’s a support group for individuals who are lost, stuck, or stressed out about their job search, and we serve the unemployed, those that are laid off, and those that are trying to get everything back on track—supporting alumni is the cornerstone of what we do,” Lissauer said.

This support group meets biweekly for six weeks during each semester, allowing participants to voice their frustrations, share experiences, and work on individual action goals. For information on how to apply, please email esiagss@gwu.edu.

September 29, 2023October 4, 2023

New Middle East Study Abroad Program Partners with Howard University

In a new partnership, the Elliott School’s Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) is collaborating with Howard University to offer a Middle East Studies Abroad Program in Oman, offering GW students an immersive experience in the heart of the Middle East’s rich culture and history.

IMES’s latest project is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This partnership between the Elliott School and Howard University underscores IMES’s commitment to expanding access to Middle East-focused resources within ESIA, enriching the experiences of students and faculty alike.

The Elliott School is known for its standalone degree program in Middle East Studies.

Leading the program is Dr. Attiya Ahmed, the Director of the Institute for Middle East Studies. Collaborating on this effort is Dr. Shana Marshall, the Associate Director of IMES.

Dr. Ahmed’s leadership has been instrumental in crafting an immersive educational experience for students, set to take place in Oman during the upcoming Spring semester.

At the heart of this project is Professor Mohssen Esseesy from GW, an authority in Middle East Studies. His expertise promises an engaging and intellectually stimulating experience for all participants. Collaborating closely with him is Raslan Moutraji, an Arabic instructor at Howard University, who has played a pivotal role in identifying advanced Arabic students from Howard, ensuring a diverse and enriching learning environment.

IMES’s Middle East Studies Abroad Program in Oman offers an exceptional opportunity for GW students, alumni, and faculty to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture, language, and history of the region. This partnership with Howard University underscores GW’s commitment to providing a well-rounded education and global experiences to its community members.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to fostering global perspectives within the ESIA community and providing our students with transformative educational experiences,” noted Dr. Shana Marshall, Associate Director of IMES.

This partnership demonstrates the value of collaboration between academic institutions in enhancing the educational journey of students, alumni, and faculty members. As the Spring semester approaches, members of the GW community are preparing for an adventure that will broaden their horizons and deepen their appreciation for the cultures of the Middle East.

For more information about this collaboration and updates on the Middle East Studies Abroad Program in Oman, please reach out to Dr. Shana Marshall, Associate Director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at GW. IMES continues to serve as a valuable resource within the ESIA community, promoting academic growth and cultural understanding.

September 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Meet the GW Institute for International Economic Policy Executive Circle’s New Chairs

Lisa Schroeter, BA ’92, and Carl Richardson, MA ’99, are stepping up to co-chair the IIEP Executive Circle, which offers strategic guidance to the GW Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP), located at the Elliott School. The global group also mentors and supports students in the Elliott School’s MA program in international economic policy.

Carl A. Richardson is a partner at Richardson Capital LLP.

Based in London, Carl jointly leads the Richardson business, a multi-generational, international investment firm with a business portfolio embedded across the world.

The independent family business was founded more than 70 years ago in the West Midlands, the heart of the United Kingdom. Current growth capital investments include an award-winning Swiss technology company, a UK financial services business, a US-based medical real estate company, and the largest avocado grower in New Zealand.

Real estate holdings encompass significant office and residential holdings, distribution centers, and leisure, and infrastructure properties.

Real estate holdings are significant in scale and content, encompassing office, residential, distribution centers, leisure, and infrastructure properties.

Carl is also Trustee of the Richardson Brothers’ Foundation, and recent past posts include Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy Reserve and Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands (representing the Royal Family in the region).

Earlier in his career Carl was an International Officer at HSBC Bank, working in London, the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong. Carl was educated at King’s College London, the Sorbonne, and the George Washington University.

“As a proud alumnus of the Elliott School of International Affairs, I am delighted to now serve as co-chair of the IIEP’s Executive Circle alongside Lisa Schroeter,” Carl noted.

Lisa Schroeter, who joins Carl as co-chair, is also a passionate leader in the business world.

GW has been a formative part of Lisa’s DC experience and launched her lifelong commitment to international affairs, especially when she studied abroad in Paris and Brussels during her junior year. Living on her own in the City of Light, Lisa says, led her to “a level of independence and cultural curiosity that has been an essential part of my success, personally and professionally.”

All these experiences have contributed to Lisa’s long-standing career in trade, including the current position as Global Director of Trade & Investment Policy at Dow. In that role, Lisa sees firsthand the opportunity to bring communities together, to create development opportunities through access to innovative products and technologies, and to promote circular economy approaches for a more sustainable world.

Along with her day job, Lisa chairs the Association of Women in International Trade Trust, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is a senior docent at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Her colleagues know her as an outstanding thought leader with a contagious passion for trade policy, a champion for gender equality, and a generous mentor.

“I am truly honored to co-chair the IIEP Executive Circle with Carl,” noted Lisa “We welcome the opportunity to bring our private sector perspective to the executive circle, especially engaging across the GW community – in DC and around the world. This is a unique opportunity to create dialogue for action.”

Lisa and Carl step into shoes recently worn by Deborah Lehr, MA ’89, and Frank Chi-Hong Wong, BA ’79, who, as the executive circle’s first co-chairs, established a robust dynamic for the group.

Since 2021, the executive circle’s two dozen members from around the world have become trusted advisors to IIEP’s faculty director, as well as to Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres. Through its philanthropy, the IIEP Executive Circle contributes to student employment at IIEP and student research with an emphasis on geo-economic policy.

In particular, IIEP Executive Circle members have supported six fellowships for students in the Elliott School’s MA program in international economic policy and 10 doctoral-level student research assistants to faculty, as well as thought-leadership programs in business, development, climate, and trade policy.

“With Deborah and Frank as inaugural co-chairs, the IIEP Executive Circle deepened our alumni community’s connection to IIEP, strengthening the institute and providing opportunities for student engagement – a consequential accomplishment,” Dean Ayres said. “We are immensely grateful to them.

“As we move ahead, I am delighted and excited that Lisa and Carl are the new chairs. Their inspiring leadership will help us to strengthen the IIEP Executive Circle and deepen interactions across the GW and Elliott School global community – students, faculty, alumni, parents, and other school leadership groups.”

The executive circle kicked off the year with the “GW International Economic Policy Breakfast” in New York on September 26. Lisa was instrumental in developing the program, which features a high-powered panel of senior financial leaders. “Bringing people together is a catalyst for great ideas,” Lisa said.

Carl also is focused on forging new global relationships that will enhance opportunities for members of the GW and Elliott School community. “The co-chairs will build synergies and create more international networking opportunities,” he said.

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Interested in joining or supporting the GW IIEP Executive Circle? Please contact Joe Strodel, assistant vice president for development, at jstrodel@gwu.edu .