Alumni

The basking shark receives protected status thanks to the work of a Mason PhD student

Colleen Rich — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:19:28 +0000

The basking shark receives protected status thanks to the work of a Mason PhD student Colleen Rich Tue, 10/04/2022 - 15:19

The basking shark is now a "protected wild animal" under new legislation that came into effect in Ireland this week. It is now an offense to hunt or injure them or to willfully interfere with their breeding or resting places, thanks to an international collaboration between United States, United Kingdom and Irish researchers, including George Mason University alum and current doctoral candidate Chelsea Gray.

Photo by the Irish Basking Shark Group

This legislation was heavily supported by the Irish Basking Shark Group (ISBG), an international network of researchers, educators, and community representatives founded in 2009. In 2021, this group organized an international consortium of scientists and conservation organizations to sign an open letter to the Irish government, calling for legal protection of basking sharks in Ireland. Simultaneously, the IBSG also ran a “Save Our Sharks” campaign, resulting in 12,000 signatures in support of this new policy.

U.S. representatives Alexandra McInturf, co-coordinator of the IBSG and a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University, and Gray have been working alongside their Irish and UK partners to conduct vital research for basking shark conservation.

“This is a great example of the importance of diversifying research methods and collaborating with as many people as possible,” said Gray, who is working on a PhD in environmental science and public policy at Mason. Her research on social attitudes helped demonstrate strong public support for basking shark conservation.

Chelsea Gray on the beach in Donegal, Ireland in 2018. Photo provided

McInturf has been conducting field studies on basking sharks in Ireland and recently published a study on the basking shark population along the U.S. West Coast. She believes international collaboration is critical to ensuring the persistence of this species worldwide.

“Basking sharks are highly mobile, capable of moving across entire ocean basins. In doing so, they pass through the jurisdiction of many different countries,” said McInturf, who also sits on the scientific steering committee for the SeaMonitor Project, an international research initiative designed to study basking sharks and other marine species. “It is estimated that Irish waters host 10-20% of the global population of this shark species year-round. Their presence in Ireland also appears relatively steady. This suggests that Ireland offers important habitat for the species.”

While shark tourism is popular worldwide, protections for sharks are often considered controversial because of perceived impacts to fisheries. In her research, Gray wanted to find out if there was any interest in basking shark tourism and if that impacted support for legal protections. In July 2018, Gray traveled to Donegal, Ireland, to interview local residents and tourists about their perspective on sharks and shark conservation.

Although basking sharks grow up to 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, these slow swimming plankton eaters are generally harmless to humans. Gray said their docile nature and habit of feeding at the surface of the water make basking sharks an ideal candidate for shark-viewing, as they can be viewed from land or a boat, and many ocean-goers have had peaceful encounters with this type of shark.

Chelsea Gray diving with blue sharks off the coast of South Africa. Photo provided

Gray’s findings, which were the basis for her 2019 master’s thesis, showed that basking sharks are a potentially untapped tourism market and that there was widespread support for legal protections for basking sharks in Ireland. And her article, “Basking shark tourism in Donegal, Ireland—A case study of public interest and support for shark conservation,” was published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems at an ideal time, as a member of the Irish Parliament had just introduced the legislation to protect the sharks.

“The IBSG has provided me the opportunity to take an active role in shark conservation and has shown me the challenge and reward of achieving conservation legislation,” said Gray, whose appreciation for sharks began in early childhood. “This new law is a major step forward in basking shark conservation, but this is only the beginning of a long road to crafting comprehensive, science-based marine policy. I am honored to be part of a group that continues to build key relationships and push for important changes.”

Topics

Students

College of Science

Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)

Meet the Alumna: Lisa Greenhill, Bringing Minorities to Veterinary Medicine Schools

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 17:10:31 +0000

Meet the Alumna: Lisa Greenhill, Bringing Minorities to Veterinary Medicine Schools Andrew J Schappert Tue, 04/13/2021 - 13:10

Lisa Greenhill: ‘I certainly use content from my MPA program on assisting colleges of veterinary medicine to plan long-term funding to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.’

Schar School alumna Lisa Greenhill has never let not being something stop her. The 1995 Government and International Politics and 2000 Master’s in Public Administration grad is not a veterinarian and she’s not White, yet she is a top executive at a leading veterinary education agency in a decidedly non-minority profession. Greenhill is Senior Director for Institutional Research and Diversity at the Washington, D.C.-based Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, where she develops initiatives to increase minority representation in the field by working with veterinary school leaders.

How was your Mason experience?

As an undergraduate I was a Mason Scholar and there was a very strong close-knit community that I was able to call home. I'm still in contact with a lot of the friends I made during those formative adult years. The folks I met while I was a student were driven and wanted to accomplish great things which helped push me forward and write my own accomplished story.

Being a full-time student, and being immersed in my studies, made me realize that I could accomplish more than just good grades, that life was bigger than just academia. Mentorship and building a network with my professors were major takeaways for me. Having the guidance from one-on-one time with my professors paid dividends over time, and it helped me land internships and opportunities I wouldn’t have been able to land without them.

How did you benefit from the generosity of others?

As a first-generation college student, I applied to many institutions. I visited [and was impressed by] Mason's [Fairfax] campus, and as the eldest of three children, I applied for Mason's full-ride scholarship and thankfully received it. The scholarship opened so many doors for me—it allowed me to be immersed in my studies, and all the additional opportunities that Mason provided, including internships on Capitol Hill. It also allowed me to take on the debt to do my advanced degrees, including my doctoral degree.

How did your time at the Schar School prepare you for your career?

I knew I wanted to work in policy while a student at Mason. Early on, I worked as a lobbyist, and as I shifted into advocacy and inclusion—I still give credit to the work I did early on while a student at Mason. Currently, I still draw on the education I received from Mason in my day-to-day work. Having a basis of understanding about different funding methodologies early on helps me work with individual colleges more successfully.

I certainly use content from my MPA program on assisting colleges of veterinary medicine to plan long-term funding to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. With more than 50 institutions in my portfolio, each college does budgeting in different ways. Who knew there were so many ways to count a dollar?

What motivates you every day?

I care about students, and I care about people. I want everyone in this profession to have the best experience they could have by being their whole selves. I want to continue to build on the foundation that's been built in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and that goal helps me wake up every day and do the best I can for the community I serve and represent.

What is one piece of advice you’d give a college student today?

Go to office hours. Don't just text or email, make an appointment and meet with your professors in person or over Zoom. Build a network of relationships with your professors and mentors in your circle. Having access to community learning outside of the classroom is key in succeeding as a student. By cultivating relationships, I was able to receive two internships through faculty recommendations. Step outside of the digital space when you can, and build intentional relationships.

Schar School fact: The Schar School is ranked No. 22 in the world, No. 11 in the U.S, and No. 1 in the Washington, D.C, region for public administration programs (ShanghaiRanking, 2019).

Topics

Schar School News April 2021

Alumni

Graduate Education

Double Mason alum leads Africa Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace

Mariam Aburdeineh — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:09:20 +0000

Double Mason alum leads Africa Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace Mariam Aburdeineh Mon, 04/05/2021 - 16:09

In This Story

Terrence Lyons

Joseph Sany was named one of the vice presidents of the United States Institute of Peace, where he leads the Africa Center. Photo provided.

Growing up in the slums of Cameroon, Joseph Sany said he witnessed urban violence and police oppression regularly. He heard about genocide in Rwanda, and he saw more violence firsthand when he worked with NGOs and visited countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone during civil war.

“What drives me is making sure that at the end of the day, everything I did, I helped a woman, a man, a child live in a community where they don’t have to worry about violence,” said Sany, who earned his master’s in conflict analysis and resolution (’05) and his PhD (’13) in public policy from George Mason University.

In October 2020, Sany was named one of the vice presidents of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where he leads the Africa Center, following a more than 20-year career working at the forefront of peacebuilding with civil society, governments, businesses, and international organizations in Africa.

Sany and his colleagues at the center, which is committed to peace and security in Africa, regularly meet with and inform U.S. policymakers, including the U.S Congress, he said.

“It’s about, how do we listen to African voices? How do we work with our African partners in that spirit of humility and co-learning?” Sany said, adding that the center informs policies and shapes peacebuilding practice by supporting those working on the front lines of conflict in Africa.

Whether it was training thousands of peacekeepers in Africa on conflict resolution, advising diplomats of the Economic Community of Central African States with USIP, or providing guidance to multimillion-dollar peacebuilding and civil society development programs in Africa and Asia with the nonprofit FHI 360, Sany said Mason laid the foundation for his success.

“The [Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution] allowed me to think through the issues in a systematic way and find approaches to frame them to facilitate the emergence of conflict sensitive solutions,” he said, adding that his public policy degree also provided insight and a foundation for his policy work.

Originally drawn to the school because of its reputation as a leader in conflict resolution, Sany said he also benefited from learning from Mason professors who are peace practitioners with real-world experience, and from international classmates who contributed diverse and inspiring perspectives to class discussions.

“Sany was always probing and seeking fresh answers to the complex challenges of conflict analysis and resolution, with a particular passion for the potential for a peaceful Africa,” said Carter School professor Terrence Lyons. Sany said Lyons served as a mentor to him and provided connections that led to his first contract as a consultant in the conflict resolution field.

“What made [Sany] stand out was how he straddled the worlds of grassroots everyday peacebuilding and the graduate seminar, always looking to understand how the two can be linked in order to build a more just world,” Lyons said “His well-deserved position at the USIP will allow him to continue that work and to make sure we never ignore those working in the trenches to build peace in Africa.”

“Most of my classmates are now out there in the world making a difference because we were exposed to solid theoretical foundations, the world of work, the nature of the international cohort, and the proximity to Washington, D.C.,” Sany said. “That is a winning combo.”

Topics

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Driven by service, Mason alum lands job at CDC through prestigious government fellowship

Mariam Aburdeineh — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 20:13:00 +0000

Driven by service, Mason alum lands job at CDC through prestigious government fellowship Mariam Aburdeineh Fri, 03/12/2021 - 15:13

In This Story

James K. Conant

Mason alumnus Louie Al-Hashimi is a Presidential Management Fellow, currently working at the CDC. Photo provided.

Louie Al-Hashimi is driven by service. It started in high school, he said, when his history teacher encouraged him to get involved in community service and he began volunteering at a local food pantry, supporting road cleanup projects, and organizing school concerts for charity.

“That, coupled with my studies, encouraged me to pursue public service,” said Al-Hashimi, who earned his master’s in public administration from George Mason University in 2020. “Having the opportunity to build or facilitate a connection with other people—that’s what I’m drawn to.”

In November 2019, the Pittsburgh native learned he was a finalist for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF), administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Through the fellowship, he also secured a position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2020.

“It’s a great honor to be able to serve my country in this way, to be in a position of public service, and to be part of a program to grow within the federal government,” said Al-Hashimi, who works as a management and program analyst at the CDC, helping with staffing and human resources, data management, and process improvement efforts.

“The PMF is the premier fellowship program within the federal government and carries a lot of prestige with it,” said Duane Bradshaw, director of career development at Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

The two-year program designed to mentor and bring graduate-level talent into federal service is also highly competitive. In 2019, nearly 8,000 people applied, with around 600 becoming finalists, Bradshaw said, adding that Mason had eight finalists.

“[The fellowship has] been really valuable, and Mason paved the way for me to be part of it,” Al-Hashimi said. “I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am now without the support of [the Career Development Office].”

In mid-December Al-Hashimi said he also had the chance to work on the CDC’s COVID-19 response, providing operational support for the Vaccine Task Force.

It was insightful and eye-opening, Al-Hashimi said, to see a pivotal response in action, and to witness how changes in presidential administrations influence the approach to the response.

“Having the chance to contribute to the broader efforts that are addressing the current pandemic and be a part of the solution to hopefully bring it to an end, that’s what was most appealing to me,” he said.

Al-Hashimi’s Mason experiences have also been influential.

“Since starting the MPA program, my understanding has grown both in the way government works and in my own approach to public service,” said Al-Hashimi, who has also worked for Fairfax County in the Department of Family Services and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.

In particular, he enjoyed courses by Schar School professor James Conant, with whom he partnered on policy research projects.

Conant said he was impressed by Al-Hashimi’s intellectual curiosity, and his diligent work collecting and analyzing data on their research regarding local governments and Virginia’s Medicaid expansion program.

“I had the pleasure of recommending Louie for a position in the CDC,” Conant said. “It is a good position for Louie, and I am confident he will be able to make important contributions.”

Topics

Alumni

Schar School of Policy and Government

graduate fellowships

Students

Graduate Education