The Graduate School of Political Management

GW's GRADUATE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL MANAGEMENT
CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY

Nation's First Graduate School for Professional Politics Boasts More Than 1,500 International Alumni

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 - Sen. Hillary Clinton's senior campaign spokesperson, Condoleezza Rice's senior speechwriter, and a Maryland public school teacher may appear on the surface to have very different careers, but they share one common bond. They all are alumni of The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. The school celebrates 20 years of educating political leaders and hopefuls in the principles and values of participatory democracy.

"Our Graduate School of Political Management is a cornerstone of GW's reputation as the university for politics and public policy," said GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. "The program continues to offer innovative experiential learning opportunities for professionals involved in all aspects of politics and policy making--from lobbying and advocacy to international politics, campaigns, and public relations. Congratulations to the faculty, students, staff, and alumni who have contributed to the school's success over the past two decades."

GW's Graduate School of Political Management has grown from 24 students in a New York classroom to three master's degree programs, two graduate certificates, and more than 1,500 alumni from around the world at GW's Foggy Bottom Campus located in the heart of the nation's capital. The school trains U.S. political leaders and has succeeded in sharing the values of participatory democracy through seminars and partnerships in Latin America and Europe, as well as the Native American Indian and semester in Washington programs.

Alumni Illustrate the School's Accomplishments

In January 2007, alumnus Mo Elleithee was named Senior Spokesperson for Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) presidential campaign. As a founding partner of the firm Hilltop Public Solutions, Elleithee boasts 10 years of political experience, including presidential campaigns, two winning gubernatorial races in Virginia, and interest group communications.

Janelle Carter earned a master's degree in political management and went on to serve as speechwriter for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), former Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans, and former Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), before becoming senior advisor and speechwriter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Carter credits GW's Graduate School of Political Management professor Dan McGroarty with encouraging her to parlay a journalism background into a speechwriting career.

A passionate community leader, graduate John Olszewski began his political career in high school as a hand-picked student member of the Baltimore County Board of Education. Olszewski continues his commitment to education as an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates and as a teacher of American government and history at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Maryland.

"These impressive alumni exemplify the new crop of political leaders the school has been developing throughout our 20-year history," said Christopher Arterton, dean of the Graduate School of Political Management and founder of the program. "Our goal is to infuse politics with a new brand of professionals who employ ethical practices alongside cutting-edge tactics in political management."

The school was founded in 1987 as the emergence of politics as a profession brought the need for a dedicated school of applied politics, not theory-intensive political science, public policy, or public administration, to set norms and ethical responsibilities for the field. As the first school of applied politics in the United States , the school's curriculum integrates the analytic science and the practical art of politics, taught by a diverse group of leading career professionals in campaigning, communications, advocacy, polling, lobbying, and legislation.

"Learning political skills in a university setting allows sharing of knowledge across party lines, facilitates respect and cordiality between those who disagree politically, and creates a greater sense of professionalism among those who work in politics," said Arterton. "The political world used to be dominated by schmoozing and back-slapping, but now what you know has become as important as whom you know. We have found that studying politics systematically can accelerate the gains of experience and, increasingly, success in politics depends on the acquisition of expertise taught at places like the Graduate School of Political Management."

Originally chartered in 1986 by the New York State Board of Regents and housed at the Manhattan campus of Baruch College, the school opened a degree program in Washington, D.C., in 1991. The George Washington University acquired the school in 1995. Initially part of GW's College of Columbian Arts and Sciences, in January, 2006, the school joined GW's College of Professional Studies, which offers master's degree programs for working professionals.

The school has grown to include several nationally recognized research programs, such as the GW-Battleground Poll, a highly regarded, bi-partisan election survey conducted by top polling firms The Tarrance Group and Lake Research Partners. The Institute for Policy, Democracy, and the Internet helps to shape the role of technology in the modern political landscape. The Young Voter Strategies project housed within the school plays a significant role in mobilizing the 18-to-30-year-old electorate and educating the public, candidates, and consultants on ways to engage young voters, and succeeded in registering over 500,000 young voters during the fall 2006 election cycle. The Council on American Politics, the school's advisory board, brings together leaders at the forefront of politics, government, communications, and the media to address issues facing the growth and enrichment of the school and the next generation of political leaders.

GW's Graduate School of Political Management will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a series of events on Saturday, July 28, 2007. Alumni have been invited to participate in seminars on timely political topics featuring faculty and fellow alumni. The school will hold its annual commencement Saturday afternoon, followed by a gala dinner on Saturday evening featuring a keynote address by former President of Mexico Vicente Fox.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Racine Tucker-Hamilton; (301) 922-8417; rthmedia@comcast.net
Monica Parham; (202) 994-4717; mparham@gwu.edu