Schar School News June 2023

New Name, More Meaningful Mission: Schar School Unveils ‘Intelligent Automation Initiative’

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 16:59:54 +0000

New Name, More Meaningful Mission: Schar School Unveils ‘Intelligent Automation Initiative’ Andrew J Schappert Thu, 06/29/2023 - 12:59

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David Rehr

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David K. Rehr: ‘The technology continues to quickly evolve around us…”

The groundbreaking Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Initiative at the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��ӽ紫ý has changed its name to the Intelligent Automation (IA) Initiative. The new name better reflects its mission as the world’s technological ecosystem, particularly all things AI, continues to evolve.

The Schar School’s Center for Business Civic Engagement unveiled RPA in early 2021 in partnership with UiPath, a leading enterprise RPA software company, to develop technology that enables users—particularly governments and universities—to configure computer software to emulate and integrate the actions of a human interacting within digital systems to execute and automate business processes.

The IA Initiative builds on that early work by incorporating “other digital technologies beyond the robotic process automation, and including in its overall mission the advancement of successful automation practices and the tools already in practice,” said Schar School Professor David K. Rehr, co-founder of the RPA Initiative. “The technology continues to quickly evolve around us, and our original name no longer represents our contributions in their entirety.”

Dorin Munteanu: AI ‘is becoming the foundation for business operations, economic competitiveness, and national security…’

The newly branded IA Initiative will continue its partnership with Virginia colleges and universities to improve effectiveness and efficiency through the adoption of software automation. That program is now called the Virginia Academic Intelligent Automation Community of Practice, or VA Academic IA CoP.

“The use of intelligent automation at scale is becoming the foundation for business operations, economic competitiveness, and national security,” said Dorin Munteanu, co-founder of the RPA Initiative. “We want to make sure our work value aligns with the public sector and, particularly, academia stakeholders’ needs.”

The vision and mission, added Rehr, “remain the same—to become the nation’s prominent academic initiative for the study of intelligent automation’s complexities and its ramifications on society.”

“We are making terrific progress through the initiative, but there is much left to do to ensure our nation gets the full positive benefits of intelligent automation in the digital age,” Munteanu said.

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Schar School News June 2023

Research

It’s a Match! Schar School Grad’s Business Puts Students with Compatible Tutors, Online

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:39:54 +0000

It’s a Match! Schar School Grad’s Business Puts Students with Compatible Tutors, Online Andrew J Schappert Tue, 06/27/2023 - 11:39

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Arya Rashidian: His business connects students with online tutors who are compatible ‘based on the style of learner they are.’

The sudden pivot to online learning and distance teaching during the dramatic pandemic lockdown in March 2020 sent students and professors to Zoom sessions on laptops in spare rooms instead of face-to-face gatherings in university classrooms. While some managed to maintain their progress, others, confronted with a new way of learning and instructing, struggled amid unforeseen challenges.

Arya Rashidian saw a business opportunity during the pandemic pandemonium that has little to do with his advanced degree—he’s a recent graduate of the Master of Political Science program at the Schar School of Policy and Government—or his ��ӽ紫ý undergraduate studies in criminology, with a minor in intelligence analysis. He is the CEO of TutorDudes, an online learning platform that connects students with tutors who are compatible with their learning styles.

“I don’t know about you,” Rashidian said, “but it’s very hard to learn computer science on a video. You don’t get that same interaction with a professor. Even if you are a political science student, you are dealing with a lot of philosophical questions and heavy policy making and you need more assistance to help make difficult decisions.”

TutorDudes, along with TDULTRA.com, are designed to suit subscribers’ specific needs, individual students or companies, he said. Clients go to the website and choose the tools and tutor “based on the style of learner they are.” He said mildly autistic students can be accommodated as well.

While the service is underway and accepting clients, “new features are being added to make sure TDULTRA is being crafted with a variety of tools for the student and faculty to really engage and teach,” Rashidian said.

Rashidian said he was assisted early in the development of the platform with Mason’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), and the University Career Services office, including making internships available for degree credit.

“We had a lot of Mason students come on board” as interns, he said. “I made sure to give them interesting opportunities to learn different tools they could use to succeed. And we learned from the students because interns always brought in a fresh perspective.”

The student interns included Saira Amjad, chief financial officer; Folabomi Bolarinwa, chief technology officer; Imtiaz Ahmad, TDULTRA chief technology officer; and Yuching Hsieh, chief operating officer.

At this point in the business’ development, Rashidian said he would like the Mason Nation to continue assisting the development of TutorDudes, particularly because his team is a small one.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done, and I’d like Mason to be informed about TutorDudes, and TDULTRA to inform their friends and families that might be interested in the service.”

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Mason’s AI Strategies team holds inaugural summer institute

Colleen Rich — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:35:48 +0000

Mason’s AI Strategies team holds inaugural summer institute Colleen Rich Thu, 06/22/2023 - 12:35

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J.P. Singh

Amarda Shehu

Jesse Kirkpatrick

Antonios Anastasopoulos

Michael Hunzeker

The transdisciplinary AI Strategies team examines how cultural values and institutional polices shape AI infrastructures in national and global contexts.

From left, the AI Strategies team: Antonios Anastasopoulous, Manpriya Dua, Jesse L. Kirkpatrick, Caroline Wesson, Vasilii Nosov, Amarda Shehu, Michael Hunzeker, and J. P. Singh/ (Not pictured: William “Webby” Applegate) Photo by Melanie O'Brien/CHSS

In May, a cohort of 20 selected AI and Tech fellows gathered at Mason Square for ��ӽ紫ý’s AI Strategies first AI and Tech Policy Summer Institute. The event, which was also sponsored by Mason’s Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the Institute for Digital Innovation, and the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnership, brought together scholars, industry experts, government officials, and civil society activists from multiple academic disciplines, backgrounds, and research interests.

The cohort convened to introduce Mason master’s and doctoral students in the social sciences, humanities, and select professional schools to the fundamental engineering concepts about how artificial intelligence (AI) works, policy and regulatory frameworks that are evolving to govern AI, debates on AI ethics, and issues surrounding security, economic, and human rights concerns from local to global levels.

"AI now impacts every kind of work and even play, from writing an email to ordering a book,” said Schar School of Policy and Government Distinguished University Professor J. P. Singh, who leads the AI Strategies team. "The knowledge from the summer institute is important for students who will eventually be responsible for using and controlling AI, which is already considered an existential threat in some quarters.

"The institute demystified how AI works, whether in 'recommender systems' that prompt words in emails, or algorithms that drive users on social media,” Singh continued. “The interdisciplinary work in this field is just beginning."

AI Strategies is funded by a three-year, $1.39 million Department of Defense grant to study the economic and cultural determinants for global artificial intelligence infrastructures—and describe their implications for national and international security. The grant was awarded by the DoD’s Minerva Research Initiative, a joint program of the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy that supports social science research focused on expanding basic understanding of security.

Researchers from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy (i3p) played a key role in the project, from the pre-proposal stage to the present, providing insight on the ethical, social, and policy implications of emerging technologies. At the institute, i3p Acting Director Jesse Kirkpatrick, a member of the AI Strategies team, presented “Responsible Innovation and National Security,” which addressed existing efforts, challenges, and opportunities in responsible AI, and drew on his involvement in responsible AI research, policy, and practice across such sectors as academia, industry, and government.

“It’s no secret that there is a vital need for transdisciplinary mentorship and training in AI for our graduate students. What may be less obvious is that this [training] must occur across disciplines,” said Kirkpatrick, who is a research associate professor of philosophy. “By engaging nearly 30 speakers and faculty, our 20 AI & Tech fellows got just that—a broad and deep look at the cutting-edge of AI, inclusive of numerous perspectives.”

Kirkpatrick said that from the composition of the research team to the design and structure of the project and its research outputs, the people, process, and products have been thoroughly transdisciplinary. “This is a testimony to the team’s leadership; the support we have from our respective academic units, schools, and colleges; and the wonderful constellation of research centers and institutes,” Kirkpatrick said.

The cohort of fellows will participate in a year-long fellowship through Mason’s Center for Advancing Human Machine Partnership.

Buzz McClain contributed to this story.

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Schar School News June 2023

Reunion of MPA Fellows Celebrates 20 Years of Educating Public Leaders

Jessica Bates — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:21:18 +0000

Reunion of MPA Fellows Celebrates 20 Years of Educating Public Leaders Jessica Bates Thu, 06/22/2023 - 10:21

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James N. Burroughs

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Attendees of the Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows reunion. Professor James N. Burroughs is near the center in red tie.

A few minutes before guests arrived at the Cabrera Global Center at ��ӽ紫ý’s Fairfax Campus, Schar School of Policy and Government Associate Professor James N. Burroughs glanced down at the RSVP list for the evening. “Twenty years of memories are on this list,” he said wistfully.

The occasion was a reunion of graduates of the Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows program, a Master of Public Administration degree program led by Burroughs and designed for mid-career professionals employed by regional governments. Applicants are nominated and sponsored by their employing agency and vetted by a panel of public human resources managers before acceptance.

The goal of the degree is to prepare tomorrow’s local government leaders with specific skills for key roles in a wide range of agencies. Graduates include chiefs of police, budget directors, equity and inclusion officers, environment officials, mental health administrators, public safety and courts managers, and state legislators, among other positions. (Three recognizable names include District of Columbia Police Spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, Fauquier County Sheriff Jeremy Falls, and Virginia State Senator Jeremy S. McPike [D-Prince William].)

Class of 2024 cohort members pose with their professor: From left, Marwa Hajahmed, probation officer and mediator for Fairfax County’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court; Burroughs; Yousri Ben Slimane, code enforcement supervisor for Arlington County; and Jennifer Poppino, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue battalion chief.

Those graduates are doing well, not just for themselves but for the public they serve: A 2019 survey by news outlet 24/7 Wall Street calculated that five Northern Virginia jurisdictions led by cohort graduates were in the top 20 best places to live in the country.

More than 50 graduates attended the June 16 reunion, with members ranging from Cohort No. 2, from 2004, to Cohort No. 16 (Cohort No. 18 starts in late August). More than 300 have graduated from the program since its inception, in class sizes ranging from 15 to 25.

“What’s remarkable is the classmates end up as friends,” Burroughs said. “They become a support network for each other as they advance in their careers.”

“The friendships endure after graduation,” said Darcy Kipp Kim, director of outpatient services for HCA Healthcare and vice president for alumni engagement with the Mason Alumni Association. “This is much more than a community service commitment. It has been the best part of my professional life.”

Mallory Stribling graduated with Cohort No. 16 in May and recently began a new position as director of management and budget for Fauquier County. She was wrapping up her studies when she was interviewed for the position that serves a growing suburban and rural population of about 75,000. The MPA degree and the insights she was gaining from the classes were topics of conversation during the comprehensive interview process, she said.

Burroughs with Thea Pirnat (Class of 2019) and David Prinat (’16). David is a police officer with Fairfax County; Thea will be sworn in as chief of police for the Town of Leesburg in August.

“It was a huge part of my interview, talking about all the courses and the leadership skills that I gained,” she said. “And truly, it was the confidence I gained from the program over the last 3 years that, I think, prepared me to step into the role.”

And what was her favorite part of the MPA program?

“The cohort,” she said. “The relationships we formed. I’m very close with people from different jurisdictions,” even to the point of “pulling in one of my cohort classmates to help solve a recent county issue.”

During his remarks, Burroughs admitted to being genuinely touched by the reunion and the ongoing relationships among the classmates and himself.

And as it happens, Burroughs is a graduate of the program he leads. He graduated from Mason with an MPA degree in 1994.

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Schar School News June 2023

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Soto-Harmon: Schar School Alumna Named Leader of National Conservation Nonprofit

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:59:15 +0000

Soto-Harmon: Schar School Alumna Named Leader of National Conservation Nonprofit Andrew J Schappert Tue, 06/06/2023 - 12:59

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Alan J. Abramson

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Lidia Soto-Harmon: She hopes to connect fellow MPA grads ‘to the work we are doing to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.’

When Lidia Soto-Harmon graduated from ��ӽ紫ý in 1991 with her Master of Public Administration degree, she knew her education had “set the stage for me to become an effective leader,” she said.

She wasn’t kidding: Soto-Harmon’s resume spans decades as she’s served with public-facing organizations including the Fannie Mae Foundation, literacy nonprofit First Book, and the President’s Interagency Council on Women established by President Bill Clinton. In addition, she spent 18 years at the regional council for Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, including 12 years as the chapter’s CEO.

But most recently, the Schar School of Policy and Government alumna was named the next president and CEO of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a national conservation nonprofit founded in 1957 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that provides hands-on environmental conservation programs to more than 2,000 youth and young adults each year.

Speaking of her time at Mason, Soto-Harmon, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, said that her Schar School degree provided “a comprehensive understanding of the tools needed to thrive in the nonprofit space and make an impact.”

Her conviction to shape the future of nonprofit leadership is self-evident: She chairs the MPA Advisory Council at the Schar School and returned to Mason during the pandemic to teach a graduate-level nonprofit management seminar.

Now at the helm of one of the largest conservation nonprofits for youth in the country, she said she’s looking forward to connecting “MPA students at ��ӽ紫ý to the work we are doing to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.”

The admiration between alumna and alma mater is mutual.

“The Schar School's MPA program is very proud to call Lidia Soto-Harmon an alumna and wishes her well in her new position at the Student Conservation Association,” said Alan J. Abramson, director of the Schar School’s Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise. “The association is fortunate to have this smart, passionate, warm leader as its new executive.”

Soto-Harmon received the 2014 Wayne F. Anderson Award for Distinguished Public Service from Mason, an honor reserved for those dedicated to “embodying the spirit of public service.”

If you’re interested in what a Master of Public Administration degree could do for your career, click here.

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Schar School News June 2023

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