July 2, 2010

The George Washington University has tapped Michael J. Feuer of the National Research Council of the National Academies to be the next dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

“Michael Feuer brings to this position an extraordinary record of intellectual and administrative leadership at the intersection of education research and policy,” says President Steven Knapp. “He also brings a focus on building collaborative partnerships that will help the school rise to the next level of national prominence.”

He succeeds Mary Hatwood Futrell, who led the school for 15 years and solidified the school’s reputation as one of the top in the nation. During Dean Futrell’s tenure, GSEHD was ranked consistently as one of the top 35 graduate schools of education in the country.

Dr. Feuer currently serves as the executive director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education at the National Research Council of the National Academies, where he has been instrumental in shaping the National Academies’ prominent role in education. He previously served as a senior analyst at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, where he specialized in educational technology and measurement. He has held faculty positions at Drexel and Georgetown universities and has been a senior adviser to a number of foundations and educational institutions in the U.S., Europe and Israel.

Dr. Feuer is a member of the National Academy of Education, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a fellow of the American Educational Research Association. He has published widely in social science, economics and education journals. His most recent book, “Moderating the Debate: Rationality and the Promise of American Education,” was published by Harvard Education Press in 2006. He holds a B.A. in English from Queens College (CUNY), an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

“I am honored to lead the very fine Graduate School of Education and Human Development and excited about our prospects to play a major leadership role in the nation’s quest for improved education at all levels,” Dr. Feuer says. “I hope to help GSEHD become an even more influential force at the frontiers of education research, policy and practice at a time when the nation’s eyes are so sharply focused on the future of learning and human development.”

“Dr. Feuer is ideally suited to bring GSEHD to even greater academic excellence,” says Provost Steven Lerman. “His experience and relationships in the policy and research communities will further enrich the already strong and vibrant GSEHD and create new opportunities for our students and faculty.”

Janet Heddesheimer, professor of counseling and research professor of psychology and behavioral science, will serve as acting dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development until Sept. 1. Following a sabbatical, Mary Hatwood Futrell will return to the GSEHD faculty.

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Position Type: Full Time

The College of Professional Studies (CPS) at The George Washington University invites applications for appointment to a full time, 12-month, annually renewable, non-tenured Assistant/Associate Professor faculty position, with co-administrative appointment as Director of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Sustainable Urban Planning.

The MPS in Sustainable Urban Planning program offers a unique and exciting opportunity for graduate students to study the integration of urban planning and sustainability, by addressing such vital issues as sustainable urban development and climate change solutions. The MPS program is offered through the GW College of Professional Studies, which is located in the heart of the nation’s capital. CPS has access to and involvement with international institutions and government organizations, non-profits, industry, professional, and advocacy organizations, as well as those representing and interacting with the planning profession.

Responsibilities:

The teaching expectation is 4 courses per year, subject to annual review and adjustment. The position’s administrative tasks include leading student recruitment, participating in admissions decisions, and advising. The Director will also be responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with GW administrators, faculty, and staff both within and outside of CPS. In addition, participation and engagement on a regular basis with the program advisory board, which will include nationally and internationally recognized leaders in urban planning and sustainability, is also an expectation of the position.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

Applicants for this position must hold a terminal degree in urban planning or related fields. Applicants need to demonstrate potential for success in academic program planning, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment by citing direct experiences in these activities at institutions of higher education or equivalent organizations in a letter of interest. Applicants must have demonstrated potential for success in applied scholarship, as evidenced by research or professional achievement, as well as academic or professional service.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to those who demonstrate entrepreneurship with an enthusiasm for urban issues, sustainability, and student development.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should send their expression of interest including an application letter outlining their preferred rank, qualifications for the position and rank, along with a CV, a list of and complete contact information for at least 3 professional references.

Ms. Cassandra Phillips
College of Professional Studies
The George Washington University
805 21st Street, NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20052

Only completed applications received by August 1, 2010 will be considered, at which time applications will begin to be reviewed.

The George Washington University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The College of Professional Studies seeks to attract and encourage an active and culturally diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

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Well summer time is right around the corner, and while many people already have solid plans for their summer, a lot of us don’t. Not having any classes makes it easy to get lazy, and before you know it… September has arrived, and your entire summer is gone. A key lesson that I wish I had had instilled in me early on was the value in maximizing every aspect of the summer, not just to relax, but to also advance my educational and career goals.

With that in mind, there are a few things that both upper and lower classman should keep in mind before heading into the summer. While there are no hard and fast rules about what makes for a “good summer,” there are definitely a few different avenues that can help you fully capitalize on all of the opportunities the summer months can provide.

These are a few main points to keep in mind.

If you can, find a field-contextual job or internship.

Yes, this is always easier said than done. And seeing as it is already May, if you haven’t found a job or internship already you will probably have a difficult time finding one now. Nevertheless, as you approach the end of your college tenure, it is vital to use any and all opportunities you can to gain valuable work experience. It is this kind of work experience that can help set you apart when you enter the job in the near future. Anything that can help to set you apart from your peers when you’re going for that dream job right out of school is absolutely worth sacrificing a few lazy months for. Of course, on top of that, finding a great job or internship is a great way to have fun and involve yourself in the professional field you’re most interested in. It’s a win-win from every angle.

Keep up your foreign language!

I’ve personally found this to be one of the more challenging aspects of the summer months. For anyone studying a foreign language (and most of us in the Elliott School are), those few months of no classes in the summer can really do serious damage to language progress. There are a few ways to tackle the problem though: if you’re staying in D.C. over the summer, the city itself offers a number of opportunities to use your language skills with other speakers. A city with the diversity (and number of universities and colleges) of D.C. enables you to find others with which to practice your language in the summer months, giving you the chance to at least moderately stem the inevitable regression of your language in the absence of classes. Another option to is simply continue taking classes throughout the summer.

If you’re in D.C., GW obviously gives you the ability to keep taking classes to enhance your language skills. But if you go home, check out any local universities or colleges that might offer classes in your language. If you think you can pull it off, traveling to country/countries where your foreign language is spoken is perhaps the best way to practice your language. Bottom line: engaging in even a little bit of practice over the summer can help to keep you a step ahead of your peers when you get going again in the fall.

Study for graduate exams.

If you’re an upperclassman, the summer months provide no better opportunity than to brush up on the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, or whatever standardized test you might need before applying to grad schools. The abundance of extra time most people have in the summer makes for the perfect chance to get yourself ready to take that oh-so-critical exam that you’ll need to take the next step up to grad school.

These are just a few of many options available to students to utilize the summer in a way that advances your goals. Taking classes to kill those dreaded GCR’s, doing non-profit work, conducting field-contextual reading, writing, and research, along with a whole host of other opportunities ensure that no student has an excuse to let their summer slip away. Just don’t get to the end of your summer and look back and wonder what, if anything, you did that was at all productive.

The summer is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself from your peers, and prepare you for your post-GW life….don’t let it go to waste!

Alex is a junior majoring in International Affairs and Asian Studies.  He has studied abroad in Beijing, China, and hopes to continue studying East Asian relations in graduate school.

By Jenny Schuch

This year I was lucky enough to secure what I considered a dream internship at the U.S. State Department.  After almost four years of studying international affairs it seemed like the best way to culminate my experience in D.C. and apply what I have learned in the classroom about U.S. foreign policy.

The internship application was due about eight months before I planned to start the internship and involved an extensive process including a security background check – probably how they deter most prospective interns.  My year studying abroad in Japan and academic focus on Asian Studies earned me a position as the intern for the South Korea Desk in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

The State Department always seemed like a “cool” place to be with its high profile officials and diplomatic activity, and once I started I realized that it really was that and even more.  Not only have I been immersed in U.S. foreign policy towards a volatile region (my office includes North Korea), I have been able to actually contribute to foreign policy and meet people working at the highest levels.  While I may not choose to take the Foreign Service Officer Test immediately, this experience has been incredibly valuable as I plan my professional future and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in foreign policy.

Jenny is a senior in the Elliott School, majoring in International Affairs and double concentrating in Asia and Conflict & Security.  She is currently interning at the U.S. State Department and plans to conduct a fellowship with Volunteers in Asia while working for an NGO in Indonesia after graduation.

We hear it all the time: one of the biggest advantages of going to school at GW is the litany of field-contextual internship opportunities, especially for Elliott School students.  But even in a city with such limitless possibility as Washington, D.C., it can still be difficult to know the right path to take when it comes to finding the perfect internship.

Based on my own experience there are a couple things that every student should know about getting an internship in D.C.

First, if you’re a freshman or a sophomore, you’re probably not going to be able to get your ‘dream job’ quite yet. The simple fact is that employers are often looking for upper-classmen for the better positions if they’re even looking for undergraduates at all. However, this is not a reason to lose hope. We may joke about it here at GW, but Capitol Hill truly is in many ways a pre-requisite for higher positions in D.C. Getting an internship in your Congressman’s office is often possible regardless of what year you are as a student.  It gives you a solid base of experience from which you can build, a good reference for future positions, and something to fill up your resume.

Once you can establish your ability to hold down a job somewhere like a Congressional office, it greatly increases the chances of getting an extended look from other employers later on. I’ve found that some of the best opportunities an international affairs student can find in D.C. are with any one of the many think tanks that base their operations here. No matter what you’re interested in, D.C. will have a think tank specializing in it. This is a fantastic way not only to work in an area you are genuinely interested, but it also gives you field-contextual experience and contacts that could prove to be invaluable later in your career.

Different think tanks will have different application procedures and duties, but a quick visit to their web sites and maybe an e-mail or two here and there can have all your questions answered in no time. Seek out the ones that deal with subjects you are most knowledgeable and interested in (presumably the field that you’re studying). These organizations are always looking for a smart and enthusiastic helping hand, and will almost always be quite flexible with scheduling.

Starting with something small and menial like an internship on the Hill might seem boring or not worth your time, but just remember that everyone has to pay their due, and everyone has to climb the same ladder. Going from something like the Hill to a think tank can then lead to that phenomenal government agency or consulting firm job. The key is to always think with the future in mind.

Alex is a junior majoring in International Affairs and Asian Studies.  He has studied abroad in Beijing, China, and hopes to continue studying East Asian relations in graduate school.

Ed. Note: For more information about internship and job opportunities available to Elliott School students, visit the Career Center.