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    • About Dwight Schar
    • A Message from Dean Mark J. Rozell
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Schar School in the News
Schar School’s Terrorism Center Joins International Conservation Union to Combat Wildlife and Conservation Crimes
January 19, 2021
Schar School Adds Intelligence Expert, Author, TV Commentor David Priess to Faculty
January 13, 2021
Schar School Partners with UiPath for Robotic Process Automation Initiative
January 11, 2021
Despite Life’s Daunting Challenges, Schar School Senior Cassidy Whitehurst Thrives at Mason
January 06, 2021

Upcoming Events
Hayden Center Event - The Assault on Intelligence: After Trump (1/26)
January 26, 2021
George Hutchinson Oral Defense of Dissertation Proposal in Public Policy (1/28)
January 28, 2021
Race and Social Justice Colloquia (2/4)
February 04, 2021
Virtual Resume Clinic (2/4)
February 04, 2021
Recent Tweets

#Arizona is putting the economy over public health, says @ScharSchool's @SaskiaPopescu. Too bad for citizens the state's leaders can't work it out. @WSJ: https://t.co/hsvddpXL0d pic.twitter.com/xnYVnlVCjA

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 25, 2021

This just in! Award-winning Actor, Activist, and Humanitarian @mrdannyglover is talking with the @GMUCarterSchool on Feb. 3 at 5pm. Register: https://t.co/gsELuRsKYp pic.twitter.com/BH21HjsJp0

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 25, 2021

The #COVID19 #pandemic has taken a heavy toll on restaurants. @ScharSchool’s Terry Clower sees brighter days ahead, reminding @InsideNoVa “once we feel that there is some measure of safety, customers will surge back to restaurants.” https://t.co/JkqGUCWLb1 pic.twitter.com/8oSN3Ha4Hw

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 25, 2021

#Maryland is facing some hefty costs if the plan on I-270 stalls. @ScharSchool’s Johnathan Gifford tells @washingtonpost that this type of thing can be avoided. “The earlier you get the contractor involved the more options for innovation you have.” https://t.co/NgDPwFbkWj pic.twitter.com/IBCeYAZTOT

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 25, 2021

Just because you got the #COVID19 #vaccine doesn't mean you can stop wearing a mask! @ScharSchool's @SaskiaPopescu tells the @ajc researchers need more time to figure out whether vaccines prevent transmission. (Pic, Popescu practices what she preaches.) https://t.co/szyp5Ek5HQ pic.twitter.com/lNCiJAggM2

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 22, 2021

Experts are relieved at #Biden's plan to combat #COVID19. @ScharSchool's @SaskiaPopescu tells @YahooNews: "For the better part of a year now we’ve seen virtually no COVID-19 response from the White House." https://t.co/dgrrni08bI pic.twitter.com/LvIng8Tit9

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 22, 2021

#Biden’s inaugural address linked prosperity to civic virtue. @ScharSchool’s @StevePearlstein analyzed the address in an op-ed for the @washingtonpost. “The pluralistic ideal lies at the core of Biden’s summons to national unity.” https://t.co/UXIeUJabx4 pic.twitter.com/kMD6pffwI9

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Will the same happen to #Trump? @ScharSchool’s @jomaburt discussed #Peru’s ex-head of state being held accountable in court with @newrepublic. Peru showed “its citizens that its system of justice is capable of prosecuting even the most powerful.” https://t.co/WC5VSpUsO3 pic.twitter.com/KYH96ASO9R

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Under #Biden, America has rejoined the @WHO. @ScharSchool’s @SaskiaPopescu tells @Forbes: “I’m truly happy to see that the Biden-Harris administration has prioritized rejoining the WHO.” It’s a good signal to our global partners. https://t.co/J5uGBnNROW pic.twitter.com/ODyGFuLfyj

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

As #Biden takes office, he’s expected to issue many orders during his first 100 Days. @ScharSchool’s @MarkJRozellGMU writes in @thehill that this will “showcase that their elections resulted in meaningful and nearly immediate change.” https://t.co/hWWvrorMZR pic.twitter.com/WwRd1ZBnNP

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021
Home » News & Events » Latest News » Schar School offers Military Family Opportunity to Focus on Service-Oriented Careers

Schar School offers Military Family Opportunity to Focus on Service-Oriented Careers

By Rob Riordan January 27, 2017

Marjorie Thomas, student working on a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and her husband Henry Thomas, student working on a Master of Social Work (MSW). Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University

Marjorie Thomas’ husband, Henry, was wounded in Afghanistan in 2011. He was awarded a Purple Heart and subsequently received a medical retirement.

The couple’s experiences led each of them to forge a new career path. In 2015, Marjorie enrolled as a part-time student at the Schar School of Policy and Government to pursue a master of public administration degree, with the hope of working in policy or advocacy for veterans’ issues. After a few semesters, she made the difficult decision to give up her job as an administrative professional to focus on the couple’s four young children and her studies.

“I want to be on the fighting side of enacting changes that are for the greater good,” says Marjorie.

Forgoing her income is a challenge for the couple, whose children—Tiara, Jayden, Ava and Olivia—range in age from 14 to 3. It would be out of the question without the support that Marjorie receives from the ERPi Patriot Scholarship,  which provides $2,500 per semester for her studies. The Thomases cover the rest using student loans.

“I really want to make this work and to give it my all. I’ve had to rearrange my life to be sure I’m with the kids,” says Marjorie, who expects to graduate with a MPA in May 2017. “Now I just want to make it to the finish line.”

Henry, who requires ongoing rehabilitation therapy for his injuries, has also found opportunity within adversity. He is completing his undergraduate degree at Mason this year, and plans to enroll in the two-year master’s program in social work offered by the College of Health and Human Services.

“I’ve had some great social workers who helped me with my recovery, and I’d like to do something similar for others,” he says. He is working 20 hours a week for his required practicum at YearUp, a nonprofit group that aims to “close the opportunity divide” among low-income young adults.

Scholarship opportunities and career advancement are among the many services offered by Mason, which was named one of the nation’s top school for military- and veteran-supported education. The need is great: nearly one out of every 10 students at the university—about 3,200 in all—is a veteran, a current military service member, or the dependent of one.

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A Dynamic Education for an Evolving World

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