2016: A New Name, A Bold Vision
October 17, 2016
The Schar School of Policy and Government is formally dedicated, made possible by the generous support of real estate developer and philanthropist Dwight Schar. The naming marks a pivotal moment in the school’s trajectory and affirms its growing national presence.
October–November 2016
The Washington Post and Schar School Poll launches with a survey of Virginia voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The partnership quickly becomes a trusted source of political insight and analysis.
April 2016 and Forward
The Center for Security Policy Studies establishes its annual Gettysburg staff ride, creating a cornerstone experiential learning tradition for International Security students.
Fall 2016
Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey secures a three-year, $1 million grant from the Department of Defense’s Minerva Research Initiative to study the erosion of U.S. soft power in Central Asia, reinforcing the school’s growing research strength in global affairs.
2017: Experiential Learning and Research Excellence
April 2017
CSPS Associate Director and Associate Professor Michael Hunzeker leads students through a global crisis simulation exercise for the first time. The simulation becomes a signature experiential component of the International Security master’s program.
July 2017
Schar School offices relocate from Robinson Hall to Research Hall on the Fairfax Campus, reflecting continued growth.
September 2017
Public Policy doctoral student Lokesh Dani wins $50,000 from the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program to advance his research on the technical and spatial distribution of work in cities.
2018: Expanding Partnerships
April 2018
The Schar School hosts Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of Poland Lech Walesa for an address titled “Solidarity in the 21st Century,” bringing global leadership to the Mason community.
Fall 2018
The school welcomes its first cohort of United States Marine Corps Congressional Fellows into the Master of Public Policy program, strengthening ties between military leadership and public policy education.
2019: Leadership and International Reach
June 2019
Professor and former Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton is appointed interim president of George Mason University, serving through August 2020 and bringing Schar School leadership to the highest level of university governance.
August 2019
A 1+2+1 partnership with Nanjing Normal University launches, offering students in China a new pathway to earn a BS in public administration from George Mason.
2020: Resilience and National Recognition
March 2020
U.S. News and World Report ranks the Schar School #49 in public affairs and #10 in emergency management and homeland security, confirming the school’s rising national profile.
May 2020
Professor Jack Goldstone is awarded an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship to support his research on population trends, the international economy, and security. He joins Louise Shelley, who received an inaugural Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2015.
May 31, 2020
Associate Professor Bassam Haddad launches the Schar Conversations Podcast, addressing best practices in online teaching during a moment of global transition.
August 2020
Biodefense doctoral alumna Saskia Popescu returns to the Schar School as a term assistant professor. Her expertise in pandemic response appears in major national and international media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian.
August 2020
Independent research rankings place the Schar School among the top 20 public policy schools in the United States for research productivity, including high performance in books, citations, and upper-tier journal publications.
2021: Rising Rankings and New Communities
March 2021
Schar School master’s programs rank in the top 30 nationwide in multiple specialties, including emergency management and homeland security, international global policy administration, local government management, public management and leadership, and public policy analysis.
May 2021
Associate Professor Gregory Koblentz and a global research team launch Globalbiolabs.org, a public resource tracking Biosafety Level 4 laboratories worldwide to promote safe and secure pathogen research.
June 2021
Schar School offices relocate to Aquia Hall on the Fairfax Campus, reflecting continued expansion.
August 2021
The Democracy Lab launches as the school’s first in-person undergraduate residential learning community. The International Relations Policy Task Force and the Jurisprudence Learning Community also begin, expanding undergraduate engagement in policy and governance.
2022: Innovation and Research Investment
February 2022
Professor JP Singh and Associate Professor Michael Hunzeker secure a $1.39 million Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative grant to study the economic and cultural determinants shaping global artificial intelligence infrastructures.
July 2022
Virginia approves the BA in International Security and Law, the first undergraduate degree of its kind, expanding the school’s academic footprint.
September 2022
Associate Professor Jennifer Victor launches a multi-year study of election behavior on campus, engaging Democracy Lab students in research and civic participation initiatives.
November 2022
Government and Politics alumna Catherine S. Read is elected the first woman mayor of the City of Fairfax.
2023: Distinguished Faculty and Public Service Milestones
February 2023
Professor David Hart is named a lifetime fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his contributions to public policy and science governance.
June 2023
The Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows program celebrates 20 years of preparing local government leaders through its cohort-based MPA model.
Fall 2023
The Federal Workforce Initiative launches in partnership with the Partnership for Public Service, supporting students placed in federal agency internships.
2024: Expanding Academic Frontiers
January 2024
The Schar School launches a joint undergraduate degree in technology policy with the Department of Computer Science, preparing graduates for careers in technology while grounding them in regulatory and policy frameworks.
Spring 2024
Professor JP Singh appears in George Mason University’s All Together Different advertising campaign across the Washington metropolitan region.
April 2024
Schar School master’s programs continue to rise in U.S. News and World Report rankings, including #4 in emergency management and homeland security and #13 in nonprofit management.
June 2024
The Gender and Policy Center is selected as the sole NEW Leadership National Network Partner for Virginia and launches NEW Leadership Virginia, a residential summer program connecting undergraduate students with women leaders in public service.
2025: A Decade Mark and Forward Momentum
January 2025
The Northern Virginia Local Government cohort launches, providing a supportive pathway for local government employees to complete the BS in public administration.
January 2025
Dean Mark J. Rozell interviews C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb at Mason Square, highlighting the school’s continued engagement with national civic leaders.
April 2025
Public affairs programs rise to #36 nationally and #24 among public universities. Nonprofit management remains among the nation’s top programs.
August 2025
The International Security master’s program and the Undergraduate Research Assistance Program both celebrate 10 years of impact.
September 2025
Center for Regional Analysis Director and Professor Terry Clower is named one of the 50 most influential people in Northern Virginia by Northern Virginia Magazine.
October 2025
The Policy and Governance Perspectives podcast launches, hosted by Professor of Practice and former Virginia Delegate David Ramadan. The first episode features former Virginia Governors Bob McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe in a bipartisan conversation on leadership and governance.
November 2025
The MPA program hosts its 28th Local Government Night, connecting students with alumni serving in senior regional government roles.