Meet a Student

Explore student and alumni stories to see where the Schar School experience has taken them—whether it's participating in research projects, founding a nonprofit organization, or interning on Capitol Hill.

Research May Help Your Health When Flying

Nereyda Sevilla created a computer model for tracking and stopping suspected pandemics transmitted by airplanes.

Photo of Schar School Biodefense student Nereyda Sevilla

Student body president Shelby Adams on the left with vice president David O'Connell

Meet Student Body Vice President David O'Connell

David O’Connell, Government and International Politics major and Mason student body president, has interned on Capitol Hill and been an active part of campus government.

Finding Political Uprising in the Bolivian Uprising

Yasser Aburdene, Government and International Politics major, was involved in protests at the Bolivian embassy in Washington, DC against Evo Morales’ questionable election victory.

Yasser Aburdene Marcos, BA in Government and International Politics '19

Schar School Masters in Biodefense student Stephanie Smith

Putting her Stamp on Postal Investigations Job with a Biodefense Innovation

Already a forensics scientist and chemist, soon-to-be Mason master’s grad Stephanie Smith studied biodefense and policy to help better protect the nation’s mail.

Undergraduate Student Liaisons

Schar School student liaisons are undergraduate students who are interested in supporting prospective and current students in finding a home at Mason and in the Schar School. They are here to answer your questions about the Schar School and Mason as you navigate the undergraduate application and admissions process.

Liaisons can help you learn about great opportunities in your areas of interest, explore university resources, and develop connections with faculty, students, and staff. We’d love to hear from you! To set up a conversation with a Schar School liaison, email us at scharuaa@gmu.edu.

Fyzah Islam

Government and International Politics major with a concentration in International Relations

In addition to being a Schar student, I am also an Honors College student. I am a former Global Politics Fellow, and I’m the former webmaster of the Bengali Patriots Association.

Gerardo Valladares

Government and International Politics major with a concentration in American Institutions and Processes and a minor in Legal Studies

I am the sitting president of Destino and am involved with Cru. I am also a Patriot leader and a Global Politics Fellow.

Sydney Kosztolnik

Government and International Politics major

I recently joined the International Relations Policy Task Force and have participated in the international buddy program. I am also a member of the Mason chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honors Society.

“The program at Mason just simply made sense. With D.C. in our backyard, the opportunities are endless. Research at the Schar School is abundant, and our faculty does the best at trying to connect students in fields they are interested in!”

—Jenna Pan, BA in Government and International Politics student

Ask an Ambassador

The Schar School Student Ambassadors are current graduate students who voluntarily devote time and energy to sharing the student perspective with prospective students. Whether at a Master’s Open House, over phone, or email, they are a resource to learn more about the student experience at the Schar School.

To be connected to an ambassador, please email schar@gmu.edu.