Inaugural classes and building renovations underway; faculty awarded two prestigious grants.
WASHINGTON, DC – Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government & Public Service is pleased to announce its inaugural classes as part of the Master of International Policy (MIP) program are underway. After starting virtually on January 19, 2021, due to the current coronavirus pandemic; recent violent protests in the downtown Washington, DC, area and the U.S. Capitol; and inclement weather, in-person classes began in the Bush School’s building at 16th and L Streets, NW.
The inaugural class represents a diverse group of professionals with international experience in over twelve countries, including Africa, Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Jordan, Mexico, South Korea, and Venezuela. They currently work in congressional offices, federal agencies (DOD, DIA, DHS), research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and consulting firms.
The class includes veterans and active duty officers with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and National Guard. Three are Aggies (TX A&M undergrad), and three completed course work at the Bush School in College Station. They hail from California to New York to Texas. Their research interests include China, Russia, intelligence, national security, space security, and foreign policy.
Bush School DC faculty were recently awarded two prestigious grants. Research Assistant Professor Dr. Yuval Weber, along with Dr. Michael Jojeim of Prairie View A&M, was awarded Texas A&M University’s President’s Excellence Fund Presidential Transformational Teaching Grant. Plans for the two-year grant include co-teaching a class on race and international relations. Undergraduate students from Prairie View A&M will then come to Washington, DC, for meetings with diplomacy and policy professionals.
Dr. Yuval Weber and Dr. Edward Lemon, along with principal investigator Dr. Marlene Laurelle of George Washington University, were recently awarded a three-year Minerva Research Initiative grant by the Department of Defense to investigate hierarchy and resilience in great power politics. Their project will focus on how great powers build hierarchal orders in the world and how smaller powers carve out space in those orders.
“I simply could not be more proud of the students and the team here in Washington,” said Executive Director Jay Silveria. “Their enthusiasm and drive have enabled us to get off to a great start, despite a pandemic, violent protests, and a presidential election—all of which had an impact on our DC location. I know this is only the beginning of some really great accomplishments and things to come, and we’re moving the needle forward every day.”
Lt. General (Ret.) Silveria was recently interviewed by Bush grandson Sam LeBlond on the George and Barbara Bush podcast All the Best.
Bush School DC faculty also were interviewed by the BBC, Radio Free Europe, and WUSA-TV (CBS Affiliate in Washington, DC). Renovations on the existing downtown Washington, DC, building began in early January and were only briefly interrupted by recent closures in the nation’s capital. Demolition and construction has since resumed and is on schedule for completion this spring. Once completed, the 47,000 square foot building will include new classrooms, conference rooms, and student and faculty lounges, as well as a state-of-the-art theater, catering kitchen, and ample event space.
For additional information on the Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington, DC, please contact Communications Director Robyn Small at 202-465-0333 or rsmall@tamu.edu.
