Schar School of Policy and Government

With the launch last year of the nonprofit Rise Above & Be Relentless Foundation, graduating Master of Global Policy and Commerce’s Sumeya Gibril created the support she wishes had been there for her. The inspiration for the charity, she said, “is me.”

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: April 6th to 10th, 2026

The Schar School welcomed its first cohort into the newly launched National Security and Public Policy master’s program.

The Virginia General Assembly is currently in session, and it is laser-focused on making big changes that will impact the lives of every citizen. Joining David Ramadan and co-host Commander Greg Brandon is the General Assembly’s chairman, Marcus Simon. Together, they discuss the state’s efforts to bolster public safety, from improving work relations with ICE to changing regulations about gun ownership. Marcus also explains their plans for redistricting, as well as why it is highly similar but still vastly different from gerrymandering. Find out what your elected officials are doing for everyone’s sake and what you can do as a citizen to let your voice be heard.

The American Society of Public Administration has named Associate Professor Alan R. Shark’s book on AI’s use in government as the 2026 Thought Leadership Award winner. No surprise: Shark used AI to help create it.

Gabriella Grabovska came to the United States in 2022 just after Russia invaded her homeland of Ukraine. The Kyiv native’s first visit to the United States was as a George Mason University student in the Schar School of Policy and Government. Now, four years later, she’s leaving with ambition, experience, and a clear mission.

Members of the Schar School Pre-Law Learning Community visited Richmond, Virginia, for two days of immersive, experiential learning.

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: March 23rd to 27th, 2026

Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns. In the case of George Mason University lacrosse twins Kaitlyn and Regan Bestick, that road has split and come back together several times. Now, as they compete in their final season together and prepare to separate again, they reflect on their time in the Mason Nation.

Since ODKM’s inception, Learning Community events have been the root of the program, providing students with an opportunity to plan and execute a day-long event while also opening a space for dialogue with alumni and other organization development and knowledge management professionals.