Schar School Student Spotlight

As the saying goes “Once a Patriot, Always a Patriot,” and George Mason University is proud to have a large group of Patriots serving the Commonwealth of Virginia in the General Assembly.

A new master’s degree alum—and former professional basketball player from Lithuania—is spending the summer gaining experience on the Hill and beyond. Meet Livija Kaktaite.

Rona Jobe says her 2013 Master of Public Policy degree prepared her to help other women and minorities elevate their businesses. Now she’s a Rising Star winner from a major nonprofit.

Graduate student Nick Marko earned a master’s in biodefense and a graduate certificate while working full time as a neurosurgeon.

Enrolling in the Schar School’s Global Commerce and Policy program proved to be the right decision at the right time for Amber Pittman.

Seeking a more fulfilling career, Xhulia Rapo left the corporate world to earn her master’s degree in public policy.

Senior of the Year Celine Apenteng has made an impact during her time at George Mason, and she isn’t done. After graduating this spring, the Silver Spring, Maryland, native will continue to pursue her master’s through the university’s accelerated master’s program.

As a first-generation Guyanese American student, Zayd Hamid has found his calling in empowering his generation of student leaders with the education and experience they need to solve the world’s grand challenges.

Catherine Read is the first woman and first Mason graduate (BA government and politics ’84) to be mayor of Fairfax City, Va., the university’s hometown, and she isn’t shy about touting a university she says helped teach her how to think critically. Want to know why it’s good to “disrupt the system,” why it’s important to get more women into policy-making decisions, and why our educational system doesn’t reward bold ideas? Read tells you.

George Mason University students are working with the U.S. Department of State to find out what motivates students to study abroad, specifically in Southeast South Korea.