Kristina Bell was one of three graduate students to receive the 2013 William K. Reilly Scholarship from AU’s Center for Environmental Policy. The new scholarship, named for the pioneering environmentalist and former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, will help Bell pursue her interests in the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development.

This honor sparkles atop Bell’s record of scholarship and a variety of learning experiences and challenges.

Bell, SPA/MPA’14, doesn’t see the world through a single window. Nor does she approach her own calling—helping create sustainable opportunities in the developing world—from a narrow path.

On her journey to a master’s in public administration, Bell has worked for an international nonprofit organization, the Egyptian arm of a private multinational company, and a local DC government agency – experiences she all sees as complementing her formal education.

“I’m interested in global policy and international development – for example how global governance structures can help promote international development through economic and social standards,” said Bell. “But there are many different routes to that. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s not to narrow my options or my outlook.”

Since arriving at AU, Bell has taken on three internships that have helped enrich her classroom learning with real-world experience. In 2011, Bell joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers Egypt, working as a corporate engagement manager on an initiative to encourage blood donations through corporate partnerships.

“It was challenging, being an American intern cold calling companies like Coca-Cola Egypt,” said Bell. “I had to work through language and cultural barriers, but it was a tremendous learning experience.”

Bell also interned for the Global Business School Network, a nonprofit that aims to level the playing field for higher education. Bell helped develop and implement a survey of about 300 schools worldwide to gauge the demand for an online PhD program.

To round out her experience, Bell took on an internship this spring at the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.

“I wanted to understand how the public sector operates. It was a totally different experience, working with a government bureaucracy,” said Bell.

Bell, who played Division I basketball as a business major at Fordham, also managed to find time to play on an intramural league to blow off steam in between classes.

“Basketball has taught me a lot of valuable skills. You have to know how to manage your time and energy, maintain your work-life balance, and plan ahead,” said Bell.

“Teamwork is also important, especially learning how to bring out your teammates’ strengths and help them realize their value. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle.”

This summer, she will pack her bags for Malaysia and Indonesia, as part of an SIS class, Globalization, Governance and Human Security in Southeast Asia. She and her classmates will spend three weeks in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, taking classes and conducting cultural and professional site visits.

These experiences have all enhanced the multi-faceted education Bell has received at AU.

“The diversity of professors and their eclectic professional backgrounds has been extremely valuable,” said Bell. “So has being in the classroom with students with experience and knowledge about different issues. I learn just as much from my classmates as from my professors.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2013, their families, and friends! We’ve created a list of all the details you need to know for this weekend’s commencement ceremonies.

When: On Saturday, May 11, ceremonies include School of Public Affairs at 9 a.m., School of Communication at 1 p.m., and College of Arts & Sciences at 4:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 12, ceremonies include Kogod School of Business at 9 a.m. and School of International Service at 1 p.m. On Sunday, May 19, the Washington College of Law will hold a ceremony at 1 p.m.

Where: American University’s commencement ceremonies are held in Bender Arena on campus.

Watching from home: All AU commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on american.edu/commencement.

Guests: Tickets are not required for admittance. In keeping with D.C. Fire Code regulations, AU asks that graduating students limit their guests to seven persons each.

Seating: Doors open 45 minutes before each ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A seating section, located next to the ground-level entrance to Bender Arena, will be available for senior citizens and persons with physical disabilities and their families. Please refer to the special needs section of the commencement website for more information on seating and other assistance for mobility and hearing impaired persons.

2013 Commencement Speakers: Lisa P. Jackson (SPA), Darryl Frank (SOC), Paul Farmer (CAS), Gary Veloric (Kogod), Moises Naim (SIS), and Harold Hongju Koh (WCL). Read more about the 2013 commencement speakers.

Social Media: Join us on Twitter using hashtag #2013augrad. Also, follow AU Commencement 2013 on Facebook for all the latest news.

Where to park: We recommend that graduates and guests park in the Nebraska Avenue parking lot or the Katzen Arts Center garage, although all parking areas on campus will be open during commencement weekend (except for spaces marked “Reserved”). Those who park in the Sports Center parking garage are advised that exiting traffic will not be permitted to turn into the tunnel in front of Bender Arena following the ceremonies. Cars parked in the Sports Center parking garage or on the south side of campus will exit via Nebraska Avenue.

How to get there: The campus map indicates shuttle stops, disability parking, and drop-off points for commencement. Driving directions to AU's Bender Arena can be found online through googlemaps.com. The university will provide complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the Tenleytown-AU Metro station, which is on Metro’s Red Line. Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes from the Nebraska Avenue and south-side shuttle stops. For information on getting to campus from BWI Airport, Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport, and more, follow instructions provided by the Office of Campus Life.

What’s not allowed inside: No large bags (backpacks, briefcases, duffel bags, etc.) will be permitted inside Bender Arena. Large signs, banners, noise makers, and other objects that hinder visibility or sound will not be allowed inside.

What should grads wear: In order to walk in a commencement ceremony you must wear a cap and gown designed especially for American University by Herff Jones. Caps and gowns must be picked up in the Campus Store on the second floor of Butler Pavilion during business hours from May 8 through May 11 and during the commencement ceremonies on May 11 and May 12.

Duration of ceremony: The ceremony is approximately two hours long and is immediately followed by a reception. Reception locations are listed in the printed program. If you are going to a restaurant after commencement, we recommend making reservations for approximately four hours after your ceremony's start. This will allow you time to attend your school's reception and return rental regalia (due by 6 p.m., Sunday, May 12). 

Diplomas: Most graduates will receive diplomas by early July. 

Photos: A selection of commencement photographs will appear on the AU website. Check the commencement website to view and download photos taken by the university photographers. Proofs of photos taken by the commercial photographer, GradImages, will be emailed to grads two weeks after the ceremony. Read more about purchasing photos and other mementos.

In a community of wonks, it can be hard to stand out, but 14 students have done just that.

In a tradition dating back to 1929 and the first University Honors Convocation, AU recognizes outstanding students at the graduate and undergraduate level each year. Like the recipient of this year’s president’s award, these wonks have distinguished themselves with achievements in the classroom as well as in the community.

Academic Honors

Lauren Barr and Andrey Verendeev have received nods for Outstanding Scholarship at the Graduate Level this year. Verendeev’s psychopharmacology research is the first of its kind to find predictors for opiate use in test subjects, while Barr has compiled a compelling conflict analysis of the situation in post-Arab Spring Morocco.

“I really appreciate all the opportunities and doors that AU has opened for me,” she says. “This is yet another example of the ways in which I’ve really benefited from being a part of the school.”

This year’s undergraduate winners are just as impressive. With an extraordinary 3.96 GPA studying outside his native language of German, honors student Robert Helbig majored in international affairs and minored in applied physics. Psychology student Andrew Merluzzi has received over $10,000 in funds to present his research at eight separate conferences across the country. As he leaves AU, he believes the best part of his studies was working alongside minds like Verendeev.

“The ability to do research alongside graduate students and faculty, just in terms of working together as a team towards a common goal, was really helpful and will be great experience for the future,” he says.

Outstanding Service

AU also recognizes those students who serve on campus, trying to make the university the best institution it can be. The efforts of this year’s Outstanding Service to the University Community Award recipients are both duly noted and duly awarded.

For his service, recent December School of Communication graduate Joseph Corcoran will be honored alongside former Student Government president Sarah McBride. Corcoran, who transferred to AU his sophomore year, advocated for more commuter and transfer student space now found in the library and the East Quad Building – success that has also landed him the Charles W. Van Way Award for building community at AU.

McBride’s policies as SG president established open-gender housing on campus as well as a new LGBT studies minor. As much as she gave to the campus, she believes she received more in return.

“AU has been so wonderful to me. I’ve gained so much. I’ve learned so much," she says. "I’ve been embraced by friends, administrators, and faculty to such a degree that it was really an honor to be able to serve this community."

McBride will also accept the Kinsman-Hurst Award for striving to make the university community as diverse, accepting, and inclusive as possible.

Student Achievement

Through its annual Student Achievement Awards, the university celebrates those undergraduate seniors that best represent the diversity of accomplishments possible at AU.

Described as one of the most talented soloists ever to graduate from AU, vocalist Carley DeFranco will receive the Evelyn Swarthout Hayes Award for using her gifts to support at-risk youth in DC. While AU has a strong reputation for international and public affairs, DeFranco’s recognition shows the university’s maintained emphasis on the arts.

“I feel honored and happy that my practicing and musical achievements have been noticed in a school where music may not necessarily be at the forefront but certainly thriving,” she says. “There are a lot of great musicians and programs here.”

ATV student television general manager Douglas Bell will receive the Bruce Hughes Award for doubling his organization’s membership, where reporters recently secured White House press passes. After establishing the Community Service Coalition, Stephen Bronskill – also selected for the coveted President’s Award – will accept the Stafford H. Cassell Award.

Recent December graduate Nazran Baba used his time at AU to create opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding through roles in International Student Orientation and the Muslim Student Association, making him the first Sri Lankan in 30 years to win the Carlton Savage Award.

Abdul Aziz Said Phi Epsilon Pi Scholar for Diversity Daniel Leon was selected for the Fletcher Scholar Award based on his academic achievement and commitment to the community through organizations like the William J. Clinton Foundation.

“I feel really honored. I’ve only been here for two years,” he says, “and the fact I would be recognized on any level really shows how focused they are on transfer students.”

School of Public Affairs Leadership Program student and outgoing Student Government president Emily Yu will receive the Cathryn Seckler-Hudson Award, named for SPA’s first dean. Yu advocated for what became AU’s lowest tuition increase in 40 years alongside a new $1.5 million in financial aid for students.

Parting Words

Kogod School of Business student Mercedes Beras-Goico dedicated herself to serving the university community through the 1955 Business Leadership Club before starting the Hispanic Business Association. She will accept the Charles C. Glover Award for combining business leadership and citizenship in service to AU.

Like the other student award recipients, Beras-Goico is more than honored for the recognition, but – above all else – she just wants to carry AU with her wherever she goes.

“I really would like to keep representing the AU legacy as I graduate,” she says. “I couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be here.”

Winning this year’s Harold Johnson Award for celebrating Caribbean culture on and off campus, Yanique Campbell has advice for hopeful underclass wonks looking ahead, hoping to stand out as she and her fellow recipients have.

“For me, it wasn’t about getting an award,” she says. “It was about finding a place where I’m comfortable on this campus and making that place available for other students…So, just do what you love, and the awards will come.”





Click here to learn more about the University Awards program and the awards ceremony, which will take place Friday, May 10th at 5:30pm in the Abramson Family Recital Hall in the Katzen Arts Center.

Visit the 2013 commencement ceremonies website for more information about this year's celebration.

Last year, American University rose from No. 7 to No. 5 nationally for its number of Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) finalists. This year, AU has one-upped itself, rising to No. 3 in the national rankings for both finalists—of which AU had 19—and semi-finalists—of which AU had 45. This year’s finalists, announced in early April, hail from all of AU’s schools and colleges. 

“We have some outstanding candidates,” says PMF and School of Public Affairs career advisor Robert SanGeorge. SanGeorge helped prepare all of AU’s semi-finalists and finalists for the application process. “This year, they came from all AU schools … and we’re glad they did, because we would like to see that kind of diversity and interest campus-wide in the program.”

For more than 30 years, the PMF program has attracted advanced degree-holders for positions within the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, USAID, and the Department of Transportation, among others. The application is a two-step process, beginning with an online test that gauges an applicant’s psychological profile; 12,120 people took the test nationwide this year, according to PMF’s website. Of that pool, the program selects roughly 1,600 semi-finalists who then participate in an intensive series of interviews and group activities. Selected finalists are then able to apply for jobs specifically set aside for them, with two-year appointments, competitive salaries, and benefits; PMF finalists—there were 663 this year—also receive “additional mentoring and training that is not available to other people,” notes SanGeorge. He trained ’AU’s semi-finalists with several workshops, one-on-one meetings, and various online resources.

“You are being groomed to be a future federal manager at a significant level,” adds SanGeorge. “Once you’re finished with those two years and you transition into regular federal employment, you have PMF on your resume, and that really is a big deal for people who want to pursue the federal government as a career.”

Of the 19 AU finalists, seven are from the School of International Service, five are from the Washington College of Law, three are from the School of Public Affairs, two are from the College of Arts and Sciences, one is from the School of Communication, and one is from the Kogod School of Business. But coaching for these students and alumni doesn’t stop after they have been named finalists: The Career Center will continue to provide guidance on crafting a federal resume, reaching out to certain federal departments, preparing for job interviews, and connecting with AU alumni of the program, SanGeorge says. 

Finalist Keri Sikich, SPA/PhD '13 and SIS/BA '02, is already emailing other AU alumni to discuss how she should present herself to various federal departments during the application process. Sikich, who studies juries and comparative legal systems, has taught many classes as an adjunct at AU. She hopes to parlay her background in public policy and experience working on Capitol Hill into opportunities with the Departments of State or Justice.

“It’s a great opportunity, especially now that I’ve seen other friends of mine try to get jobs after their PhD—I see how hard it is to get into the federal system,” Sikich says. “So it’s not an opportunity that I plan on passing up. The government is certainly a great place for me to be.”

Equally excited is Josh Jones, SIS/PhD '13, who, before attending AU, served a tour in Iraq during his four years in the U.S. Army and spent a summer with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Serbia. His experience in the Army was not only the inspiration for his dissertation, but the leadership and time management skills he learned while in the service became invaluable during the PMF application process, he says. 

“I think the benefit of the military is that it gives people the opportunity to lead, to take responsibility for people and goals in ways that may be harder to come by in other forums,” says Jones, who is keeping an open mind regarding which federal positions may interest him. “To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, I want to ‘work hard at work worth doing.’ I would like to find a position in which I can support a department or agency in accomplishing its mission and to add value to the organization.”

Similarly liberal about his ideal federal department is Brian Thompson, CAS/MEd '11, who became a teacher after being deployed to Afghanistan while serving three-and-a-half years in the U.S. Army; a care package from his mother with the book Teacher Man by Frank McCourt inspired him to join Teach For America (TFA) when he returned to the U.S. Thompson received his master’s through TFA’s partnership with AU; has taught 10th-grade world history at Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C., for the past four years; and has been awarded with numerous teaching awards from the District of Columbia Public Schools for his success with students. Thompson hopes to land a position with the Department of Education or Veterans Affairs, but he doesn’t plan to limit himself.

“I think I’ve always been committed to public service; in the military and in teaching, I’ve kind of been the boots on the ground, whether in the classroom or the battlefield,” Thompson says. “I’m just looking for something that blends my passion, and an opportunity to do something meaningful. I’m not looking to push paper all day long—I’m looking for an agency that will provide me with opportunities to grow and do great things.”

Congratulations to all of AU’s 2013 PMF finalists: Ann Mangold, Anna Naimark, Brian Thompson, Colin Bishop, Elena Green Feroz, Erin Swetland, Jason Whittle, Jennifer Flowers, Jessica Torres, Josh Jones, Kathleen Larkin, Keri Sikich, Lauren McCarty, Nicholas Beadle, Nicholas Fechter, Robert Brodell, Samuel Hedlund, Sheen Munshi, and William Daming. 

The application process for the 2014 PMF program will begin this fall, and will be open to students and alumni who hold advanced degrees earned between December 2011 and August 2014.

From his first few days on campus until now, Stephen Bronskill, from Seattle, has done more for the campus and the Washington, D.C., community than most people ever could dream of doing. 

At only 21, the senior's resume is longer than most people’s twice his age.

"Stephen exemplifies the idea that when you’re passionate about something, time expands," said Assistant Professor Margaret Marr, director of the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program, of which Bronskill is a part.

Bronskill isn’t just passionate about one thing. He will earn two degrees upon graduation, one in environmental science and one in political science. His interests span many disciplines including democracy, environmental sustainability, leadership, and public service.

As the winner of the President's Award, Bronskill will receive American University's highest undergraduate honor during commencement.

While at AU, Bronskill also won a national Udall Scholarship for his commitment to environmentalism and he was a national finalist for a Truman Scholarship for public service. 

In addition to the President’s Award, Bronskill will also receive the Stafford H. Cassell Award for his dedication to the university during commencement weekend.

A Natural Leader

Talk to anyone who knows Bronskill and they will tell you the same things about him. He’s motivated, engaging, a natural leader, and a community builder. This began even before he first set foot on campus.

In 2008, Bronskill, who was born in Toronto to Canadian parents, volunteered for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. It was his first taste of national politics and the enthusiasm surrounding then candidate Obama helped plant a seed.

"In 2008, I was seeing what we’re capable of," Bronskill said. "I still feel a lot of the themes of that time resonate now."

As a freshman, Bronskill took part in the SPA Leadership Program, which helps identify young leaders. He was also part of University College, where students live and take seminars together, as well as participate in community learning experiences. Associate Professor of Environmental Science Kiho Kim first met Bronskill through University College.

"He was one of those students whom you know right off the bat is special," Kim said. "It was clear right from the beginning that his level of thinking was very mature, like a senior or a grad student."

During that first year, Bronskill also participated in the College Democrats and Eco-Sense, a student environmental club that Bronskill would become president of. 

He also found time to intern with the environmental justice organization, Groundswell. It’s one of a handful of internships Bronskill has had while at AU.

"The beauty of being in D.C. is that there are so many organizations that need interns for things," he said. "This city is a laboratory."

It was in his freshman year that Marr, clearly impressed with Bronskill’s drive, took him to a leadership conference at the U.S. Naval Academy. There, Bronskill listened to journalist Tom Brokaw talk about the need for civilian leadership academies not unlike the service academies.

Brokaw’s speech ignited a fire in Bronskill and as a part of a project for the SPA Leadership Program, he instituted the Community Service Coalition on campus. The coalition includes about 40 campus groups. The CSC allows them to draw from each other and make use of varied resources for community service projects.

Bronskill served as the director of the CSC for a year and then turned over the reins to another student. Today, the CSC is still active and an important part of the campus community, which is a testament to Bronskill's work with the coalition, Marr said.

As part of the SPA Leadership Program, Bronskill interned at the White House during his junior year. He worked in the Visitors Office, which processes requests for tours. The experience was intense and time-consuming, but worth it.

"It was an amazing opportunity to see public servants at work," he said.

The following semester, Bronskill, encouraged by professors like Marr and Kim, went to Pune, India, with AU Abroad. He wanted to understand global environmental issues and India, with its rapidly expanding economy and population, seemed the perfect setting.

When he returned from India, Bronskill went to work for an organization called The Washington Bus, which helps young people in Washington State get involved in the political process. Because of his time at AU, Bronskill is more interested than ever in politics, he said.

"Here I saw the political and environmental realms coming together. I’m interested in the intersection of the two," he said.

Giving Back

Bronskill has accomplished much while at AU, but he is quick to acknowledge all the support he’s been given along the way. From Kim to Marr to Assistant Professor Simon Nicholson, who teaches global environmental politics, these professors and others have guided him as he’s blazed his path.

Bronskill views his final year at AU as a chance to give back to the programs that have helped him during his time here. As such, he has been a program assistant in University College, as well as the student director of the SPA Leadership Program.  

After he graduates, Bronskill is headed to the Mississippi Delta region to teach ninth grade biology through Teach For America. He first got a taste of teaching during an SPA Leadership Program project with a nonprofit that served African American boys in Wards 7 and 8.

"I want to learn how the policies I’ve learned over the last four years actually affect people," he said. "The opportunity gap in education is one of the biggest social justice issues."

Doing Teach For America is just one of the many things, Bronskill said he never thought he’d have a chance to do, but AU made a reality.

"AU really empowers students to figure out what it is they want to do," he said.  

The work of SPA's David Rosenbloom, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, will be the focus of a panel at the upcoming Public Management Research Conference. Rosenbloom's scholarship will be explored in a session, Defining Public Administration in Japan and Singapore: An Application of Rosenbloom's Three-Perspective Model, presented by Eric Boyer, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Jed Kee, George Washington University.

SPA will also be well represented by 10 faculty and 9 doctoral students who will participate in 15 sessions and panels at the conference to be held at the La Follette School of Public Affairs University of Wisconsin-Madison on June 20-22, 2013.

SPA Presenters

Susannah Bruns Ali
Where are They Going and Why? Middle and Upper Level Turnover Intent at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Susannah Bruns Ali* and Lewis Faulk
Smart Scaling: Ensuring Sustainable Human Services for Vulnerable Populations (with Jasmine McGinnis)

Anna Amirkhanyan
Going Beyond Service Delivery: Exploring Contractors' Stewardship Role in Promoting Citizen Participation (with Hyun Joon Kim and Kristina Lambright)

Chris Birdsall* and David Pitts
Performance Based Funding in the Higher Education Context: Empirical Evidence from Pennsylvania

Chase Bricker*
Decentralization's Push for Trust in Local Management: The Case of Uganda

Michael Hayes*
Budgetary Constraints and Employee Turnover: The Case of Binding School District Tax and Expenditure Limitations (TELs)

Jocelyn Johnston and Rebecca Yurman*
Outsourcing Food Safety: What are the Implications of Reliance on Third Parties for Regulatory Inspections?

Laura Langbein and Edmund Stazyk
Diversity, Tasks, and the Performance of Public Sector Employees (with Steven Kelman)

Gwanhoo Lee
IT Resources, Organizational Capabilities, and Value Creation in the Public Sector Organizations - Public Value Management Perspective (with Min-Seok Pang)

Jiaqi Liang* and Laura Langbein
Performance Management, Bureaucratic Accountability, and Pollution Emissions in China

Ned Malone*
Representing the Globe: The Determinants of Representative Bureaucracy in International Organizations

John Marvel*
Turnover, Vacancies, and Leadership Continuity: Does a 'Broken' Appointment Process Have Discernible Organizational Effects? (with William Resh and David Nixon)

Sarah Pettijohn*
Understanding Nonprofit Performance: The Case of Nursing Homes

David Pitts
The Pay and Status of LGBTs in the Federal Service (with Gregory B. Lewis)

Barbara Romzek, Jocelyn Johnston, and Jaclyn Piatak*
Examining Multi-Sector Service Delivery Networks: Informal Accountability, Goal Conflict, and Hierarchy (with Kelly LeRoux)

Jaclyn Piatak*
Sector Switching in Good Times and in Bad: Are Public Sector Employees Less Likely to Change Sectors

Edmund Stazyk
A Fresh Take on Affective Commitment: Applying a New Goal Ambiguity Taxonomy (with Randall Davis)

* PhD student

For most of Thomas Cheng’s 21 years, he’s felt disconnected from his Chinese heritage. Being a first generation American, he wanted to transcend his race and ethnicity.

As a result, his Mandarin skills aren’t great, even though it’s his parents’ native language and he travels to China yearly to visit family. Since his family speaks a mix of Chinese and English at home, Cheng hasn’t been forced to fully learn the language.

That will soon change when Cheng, SPA/SOC ’13, moves to rural China after graduation to teach English with a program called Teach For China.

He will be thrown in the cultural and linguistic deep end and will have to improve his language skills if he wants to succeed.

"I know it’s definitely not going to be a walk in the park. But I want to reconnect with my heritage," he said. "As uncomfortable as going to a new place can be, it’s often the most rewarding."

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If his experience at American University is any indicator, Cheng will do just fine. In his four years at the university, Cheng has taken advantage of many opportunities offered to him.

During his freshman year, he volunteered for DC Reads, worked as an AU Student Ambassador leading tours for prospective students, participated in TALK, an intercultural discussion group, and joined AU’s improv troupe, Mission: Improv-able. He’s performed with them for four years and has taken a leadership role in the group.

"When the auditions came around, I went by myself and said, 'Why not?'" he said.

During his time with Mission: Improv-able, Cheng has learned how to manage a budget and deal more effectively with people in the entertainment business. He performs in five to six shows on campus a year and a handful around the region. 

He’s even performed at the College Improv Tournament National Championships, something he never could have anticipated doing when he was a high school student in Columbia, Md.

"I like that when it goes really well, it’s the most rewarding thing. When it doesn’t go well, it’s a great learning experience," he said.

Improv isn’t the only activity Cheng has participated in since freshman year. In the years that followed, Cheng has worked as an orientation leader, a Freshman Service Experience Coordinator, and a program associate for University College. Currently, he’s a residential advisor for the Washington Semester Program. It’s his way of giving back.

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"Because I have done study abroad, I know how important it is to have those residential resources," Cheng said, explaining his decision to work for Washington Semester.

Cheng studied abroad his junior year in Copenhagen through AU Abroad and he participated in two alternative spring breaks — one in Cuba and one in Louisiana and Alabama.

 "I very much want to do everything and try everything," Cheng said. "I like being able to surprise people."

Despite his Justice, Law & Society and Public Communication double major, Cheng wants to try his hand at teaching. DC Reads is the only teaching job he’s had, but he’s hoping his other experiences at AU will fill in the gaps.

Cheng leaves for China in the middle of July. He’s not sure yet where he will be posted — either Yunnan or Guangdong province, he thinks. He’ll be placed in an elementary school to help close the education gap that has occurred over the years in rural China due to the exodus to large cities. Along the way, he’ll work on his language skills and learn more about where his family comes from.

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When he was younger, Cheng would travel to China to stay with his grandparents over the summers. They didn’t speak English and he didn’t speak Chinese. Communication was tough and Thomas had a difficult time connecting with his surroundings due to the language barrier.

"Now I’ll be really immersing myself in Chinese culture in a way I hadn’t before," he said.

The fact that he’s graduating soon doesn’t make him anxious since he’s already secured employment for the next two years. But he will be leaving the "luxuries and comforts of D.C. and AU" for a new environment.

"It’s a mixed bag" of nervousness and excitement, he said. "But I’m really looking forward to seriously having a substantive experience over there. I want to use these next two years to get a better idea of what I want to do."

The dedication in political talk show host Rachel Maddow’s new book, Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power, reads like this:

"To former vice president Dick Cheney. Oh, please let me interview you."

Cheney, Maddow said during her book talk Sunday at American University, stands as an example of the democratic process falling by the wayside when it comes to war.

For years, Maddow, an outspoken liberal and former activist, has tried to get answers from Cheney about his involvement in the changing face of American military power, but has been never gotten close to the former politician, or anyone in his family.

"I went to [the Conservative Political Action Conference] just to get Cheney to talk to me," she joked.

Maddow’s afternoon talk was sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union, AU’s student-run political lecture series. She is the fourth speaker KPU has brought to campus this semester. Former senator Olympia Snowe, reproductive rights activist Sandra Fluke, and senior political advisor David Axelrod also visited campus this year.

Maddow, dressed casually in sneakers, dark jeans, and a blazer, easily connected with the large crowd. All audience members received a copy of her book.

After KPU Director Alex Kreger introduced Maddow, the MSNBC host offered a peek into her book, noting that both sides of the political aisle are responsible for the breakdown of democracy when waging certain wars. She pointed to current events like the Obama administration’s use of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"One way to make it easier to wage war is to do it secretly," she said. "It’s easier to go to war if you send private companies instead of soldiers."

Maddow then spoke about how war is funded in this country and how advertising and other media obfuscates the real impact of conflict. The American people can’t see how the war machine operates and thus can’t push back against it, she said.

Despite her assertion that the legislative impediments for the U.S. going to war have "unraveled," Maddow ended her talk on a note of hope.

"I think we can fix it. And we ought to," she said.

Then she opened the floor to pre-selected questions from the audience. She spoke at length about her work as an AIDS activist and how she transitioned into broadcast.

She was working at a bed and breakfast in western Massachusetts when on a whim she took a job as a sidekick on a local morning radio show. That led to her own show and eventually her post at the now-defunct Air America.

Maddow admitted that she felt wistful for radio, despite her success on MSNBC, because of the intimacy of the medium.

“I miss radio in the sense that I miss not having to wear makeup and I miss that on radio you are speaking into someone’s ear,” she said.

The event ended with Maddow offering encouragement to the students in the audience. She entreated them to go into public service despite any discouragement they might experience.

"Oh please, run for something." Maddow said. "I really want people who feel earnest about public service not to be discouraged by the creeps who have gone before you."

The Center for Environmental Policy will recognize the contributions of leaders in environmental and energy policy with inaugural awards named for William K. Reilly, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The April 23rd invitation-only event will also include the presentation of scholarship awards to SPA graduate students selected for their promise in these areas.

Reilly will deliver the keynote address for the awards event, “Leadership in a Polarized Era.” Neil Kerwin, President of American University, will also make remarks.

Reilly’s career has spanned four decades of service to the nation in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. He is currently a Senior Advisor to TPG Capital, LP, an international investment partnership. During his tenure with TPG, he was the Founding Partner of Aqua International Partners (1998-2010), a private equity fund dedicated to investing in companies in the water sector. Reilly served as the first Payne Visiting Professor at Stanford University (1993-1994), Administrator of E.P.A. (1989-1993), president of World Wildlife Fund (1985-1989), president of The Conservation Foundation (1973-1989), and director of the Rockefeller Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth (1972-1973). As EPA Administrator, he led the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. In May 2010, Reilly was appointed by President Obama to co-chair the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Reilly will be introduced by Linda Fisher, Vice President at Dupont for Safety, Health & Environment, and Chief Sustainability Officer.

Leadership awardees

Reilly Leadership awardees are Deerin Babb-Brott, director of the White House National Oceans Council, and Jeffrey Leonard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment Fund. Award presentations will be made by Gail Bingham, President Emeritus of Resolve, and JoAnne Shatkin, CEO of CLF Ventures.

Scholarship awards will be made by Daniel J. Fiorino, Director of the Center for Environmental Policy, to Kristina Bell, SPA/MPA’14, Samuel Cramer, SPA/MPP’14, and Zachary Rybarczyk, SPA/MPP’14.

American University’s School of Public Affairs created the Center for Environmental Policy in 2010 with the mission of evaluating and improving environmental governance in the United States. The Center sponsors lectures and programs to promote the exchange of ideas, convene forums to encourage dialogue, and conducts research on how institutional approaches, policy strategies, collaborative models, and implementation tools that affect environmental outcomes. The Center is focused in particular in linking research and practice, promoting policy and technology innovation, and understanding the factors associated with environmental policy success.

During her three years at American University, Carla Faustino has met more celebrities than most people come across in a lifetime.

Singer John Legend, former senator Olympia Snowe, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and Rep. Paul Ryan are just a few of the many luminaries that have come into the AU junior’s orbit.

And then there was former president Bill Clinton.

"I just kept thinking, I’m in the same room as Bill Clinton. This is so crazy!" Faustino said. "I posted a picture with him on Facebook and everyone was asking how I met him."

The answer to that question is three words: Kennedy Political Union. Faustino, a double major in Communications, Law, Economics, and Government and political science, is the deputy director of KPU, the student-run political lecture series.

KPU has a long history on campus. Now in its 44th year, the organization has brought top political thinkers and activists from around the world to AU.

Faustino, who grew up in suburban Chicago, knew from a young age she wanted to be involved in politics. In high school, she volunteered for Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign. After that experience, she couldn’t see going to college in any other city but Washington, D.C.

"When I visited AU, it just seemed like everyone was into something. Everyone seemed motivated, like they were here to accomplish something," she said.  

Her freshman year, Faustino volunteered for KPU. The fact that such an important campus entity was run entirely by students piqued her interest.

One of the first KPU events that Faustino volunteered for was a town hall style Q&A with the self-proclaimed Republican "Young Guns" — Representatives Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who went on to become Mitt Romney’s running mate in the 2012 presidential election.

The event began with an interview with FOX News’ Greta Van Sustern for her show On The Record. The evening made an impression on Faustino.

"It was so cool that a group that’s just a bunch of students could do something like that," she said.

After her freshman year, Faustino wanted to become more active in KPU so she applied to be the organization’s publicity coordinator. In that position, she handled all the promotion and logistical support for the events.

MORE YOUR AU: Economic Research Drives Sophomore

Junior year, Faustino wanted to be more deeply involved in KPU and applied to be the deputy director. In that role, Faustino reached out to many elected officials and other notable names to schedule them as speakers.

This year, she’s helped land Snowe, former Obama advisor David Axelrod, reproductive rights activist Sandra Fluke, and MSNBC television host Rachel Maddow, who is speaking at AU on April 21.

Faustino’s experience as a legislative intern for Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has helped her navigate Washington politics and made it easier to connect with potential speakers. Her most recent internship at Crosby~Volmer, an international communication firm gave her a taste of public relations, which is part of her role with KPU.

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All of the speakers KPU brings to campus have an opinion. That’s why they’re invited, Faustino said. And that’s why AU students respond to them.

"We’re trying to get people to think critically," she said. "You don’t have to agree with the speakers politically. But you have to understand that they have something interesting and valid to say."

KPU isn’t Faustino’s only brush with leadership at AU. She’s also a member of the Phi Mu sorority and a delegate to the Panhellenic Council.

As deputy director of KPU during her junior year, it might make sense that Faustino seek the directorship her senior year. But she’s spending the summer studying abroad in Spain through AU Abroad's Madrid Summer Internship program and won’t be around to help plan the 2013-2014 series.

Still, she anticipates continuing her involvement in KPU. Being that close to D.C.’s power brokers and intellectual giants makes it nearly impossible to resist.

The experience of the past three years has certainly left an indelible impression. One of the speakers who resonated most with her was Snowe, a hero of Faustino’s for her commitment to compromise and moderation.

After working to secure Snowe as a speaker, Faustino was asked if she wanted to introduce the former lawmaker. It was an especially important event for her because her father came to see it.

"I freaked out. I was so excited," she said. "It’s such a cool opportunity to have as a student."

This article is the third of a four-part series called, "Your AU." The articles detail the experiences of American University students during freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year.

Alumna and trustee, Margery Kraus, SPA/BA ’67, SPA/MA ’71, was recently honored with the “Corporate Statesmanship Award” from the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) in recognition of her leadership in the philanthropic community. Kraus, founder and CEO of APCO Worldwide, was recognized at FMC’s 16th Annual Statesmanship Award Dinner.

Kraus says that fellow AU alumna and former Congresswoman Connie Morella, CAS/MA ’67, gave her the news that she would receive the award, “and that was as exciting to me as getting the award.” She says the event was a great reunion for her with many members of Congress whom she had known since they were freshmen on the Hill. “This was especially meaningful because it wasn’t just a group giving me an award. These were people I knew,” she says. “Having people rooting for you and on your side is a very special feeling.”

APCO Worldwide is an independent, global communication, stakeholder engagement, and business strategy firm with more than 600 experts in 30 offices around the globe. Calling her one of AU’s most successful alumni, Distinguished Professor Jim Thurber, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, says, “She is a wonderful example to all of our students, but especially women.” 

Kraus, who is keenly focused on empowering young women as she runs one of the largest independently-owned communication consultancies, says that her family is her support system. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she says that her personal brand of work-life balance would not work for everyone. “I try to be there for the most important things and make up for with experience what I lack in time,” she says. To that end, she has built a family tradition of taking each grandchild on an international trip with her when they turn 10 years old. 

Not surprisingly, Kraus says no day is ever the same for her. “I am up at 5:30. I check everything at home,” she says. “Since we’re a global company, I spend the morning catching up on what’s happening in Asia and Europe, then have meetings all day, and usually attend evening receptions.”  

Despite her intensely busy schedule, which sometimes includes weeks on end away from home, Kraus finds time to give back to AU. “Margery Kraus has been a strong and long-term supporter of American University, the School of Public Affairs, and especially the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies through her generous contribution to our benefactor’s awards, her guidance, and by sharing her wisdom and knowledge with our students and faculty,” says Professor Thurber. He adds that she speaks to students, opens her offices to them as interns and employees, and “has changed the lives of many students in countless ways.”

Duilio Correa, SPA/MPA '13, came to American University by chance, but stayed by design – for two degrees and counting.

The Peruvian-born student first came to AU in 2005 for a certificate in Spanish translation, but his advisor, the late Jack Child, encouraged him to stay on and pursue a master's degree in Spanish and Latin American studies.

“At first I was doubtful. I was already working as an information specialist for a government clearinghouse, and legally blind from birth – I didn't really know if I could pull it off,” said Correa.

After finishing his MA in 2008, Correa landed a job developing Spanish-language materials at the National Institutes of Health. Yet, he felt he needed a better foundation in management, and found himself again perusing AU's course offerings. SPA’s MPA program seemed like a good fit, but Correa had to think twice about saddling himself with a full load of night classes given his demanding job.

He took the bet, and it's paid off. Graduation is in sight, and Correa has landed a plum position as a management and program analyst at Health and Human Services, a job he says he wouldn't have gotten without his AU education. In his new position, Correa will be working with the human resources team at HHS to recruit people with disabilities and develop programs catering to disabled employees.

“Struggle is necessary for success,” says Correa, who came to the U.S. as a teen with his mother – his driving force and inspiration. “If the opportunity you're looking for doesn't arise, sometimes you have to create it.”

While Correa doesn't feel his disability – a congenital eye condition that limits his central vision – has impeded him personally or professionally, it has required him to be resourceful. The student relies on dictation programs to type documents, an iPad to zoom in on text and software to read passages aloud to him.

The classroom has been fertile ground to learn and grow, according to Correa. “The AU community is very supportive. Professors encourage independent thought, and give you a lot of room to explore academically and express yourself freely.” He feels more poised in the workplace and better equipped to handle difficult situations as a result of his coursework in management.

Ever ambitious, Correa is already thinking about returning for his PhD someday, and eventually becoming a professional coach for disabled individuals. It's hard to imagine a better career for someone so passionate about helping others thrive in the face of adversity.

“You can't focus on your physical challenges or concentrate on your flaws; you have to look at what you do well and how you can improve,” says Correa. “If you fail, there is always another day. The key is never to give up.”

Professors not only impact students, sometimes their work also can make changes at a national level. Case in point: Pablo Sanabria will put his SPA education to work as he leads a team to modernize Colombia’s public sector workforce.

Sanabria, SPA/PhD ’12, recently won a $700,000 grant from the government of Colombia to design the framework of a comprehensive policy that promotes innovative and effective human resource management in the public sector.

“Colombia's public sector gets a mixed review, with modern HR practices in some organizations and less desirable practices such as cronyism, political patronage, and clientelism in others,” explained Sanabria, a faculty member at the University de los Andes in Bogotá. “The purpose of this grant is to establish a new baseline for Colombia’s public sector and help modernize its human resource management system.”

SPA edge

There was strong competition in the selection process from other schools backed by seasoned researchers, but Sanabria says his doctoral studies in public administration at SPA “gave me the edge. I had state-of-the-art methods and literature at my disposal in developing our proposal.” Sanabria added, “Public administration research in Colombia does not have a strong empirical base, particularly in the use of quantitative and qualitative methods, which we were able to bring to the table with this project.”

After finishing his PhD in only three years last year, Sanabria joined the faculty of the Alberto Lleras Camargo School of Government at the University de los Andes, Colombia’s top-ranked university and one of South America’s top five. Sanabria’s research team will include nearly 20 faculty members and student research assistants from the schools of government, business, and law to develop a comprehensive view of human resource management in the public sector.

About the project

The two-year project will start with baseline research to understand the state of Colombia’s human resources in the public sector. Taking a bottom-up approach to the research, the team will work with public officials and human resources offices to document current practices and expectations in public sector employment. Simultaneously, the team will undertake a global review of best practices in both theory and practice. The research will culminate in recommendations for the design of a comprehensive human resources policy as well as evaluation methodologies that can be used to measure the policy’s effectiveness in the future.

The project is a natural outgrowth of Sanabria’s PhD dissertation, which analyzed the professional paths of former study-abroad students in Colombia to understand their career choices. Sanabria found that public service motivation, age, and previous experience were among the many factors playing a role in public sector career choice in Colombia.

“Younger workers are more inclined toward public sector, but that changes as people age,” he said. “Many young college graduates are interested in working in the public sector, but discover there is not an easy or well-defined route to getting these kinds of jobs, and they end up finding other ways to satisfy their desire to help society.”

On the other hand, Sanabria found that those who take the public service path can sometimes be demoralized by their work, feeling that their contribution is not significant enough, paid enough, or appreciated enough by society. “It’s important that we make sure that policies and practices are in place to keep public sector workers motivated and feeling valued,” said the researcher.

Service-driven career

Sanabria knows firsthand the lessons and challenges of a service-driven career path. After earning a master’s degree at the London School of Economics, the Bogotá-born professor spent several years in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors before returning to academia, where he felt he could have the greatest impact.

“I realized that I could have a multiplying effect as an academic scholar, especially by helping educate Colombia’s future leaders,” said Sanabria, who is designing two new master’s programs at the university and serves on the board of directors of the International Research Society for Public Management in addition to teaching and research.

Sanabria hopes to have the same impact on his students that AU had on his career trajectory and beliefs about public service.

“American University’s ideals of serving society and putting ideas into action have shaped me personally and professionally,” said Sanabria. “My PhD helped get me where I am today – teaching at a top university, doing research I love, and hopefully making a lasting contribution to public affairs in my country.”

When Mayra Rivera, CAS/BS ’13, was a senior at Bell Multicultural High School in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., she was No. 2 in her class of 173 students. But as the daughter of El Salvadorian immigrants and with her mother a small business owner, Rivera wasn’t sure if she was going to apply to college.  

“I never heard of American University, even though I live here in Washington, D.C.,” Rivera says. “But during my junior and senior year, we had a representative from AU come over and give us a presentation, and I started thinking about it.”

Rivera applied to AU, and, thanks to a competitive financial package, she accepted. Four years later, with multiple federal work study (FWS) positions under her belt and a passion for working with children, Rivera is taking advantage of an assortment of student employment and volunteer opportunities both on and off the campus. As a first-generation student, Rivera is changing her family’s expectations about a college education and blazing a trail for her younger relatives while still finding ways to give back to her community.

Rivera has plans to use her degree in health promotion to educate children about the power they have over their bodies and choices. The adaptability and individuality of the subject appealed to Rivera.

“You have the power to change your health—to eat healthier, to exercise—and I feel like the reason why a lot of people don’t stick to diets or don’t go and work out is because they don’t know, they lack the education,” Rivera said. “So with health promotion, I’m learning how to implement programs and ways to approach how to make changes today.”

Sharing those lessons with children has been the main thrust of Rivera’s FWS positions with DC Reads and Kid Power. Introduced to the organizations through the Career Center’s Student Employment Coordinator, Tasha Daniels, Rivera worked with DC Reads for a year and then transitioned to Kid Power, where she has been for the last two years.

Students looking for FWS positions or part-time jobs on campus should regularly check the AU Student Jobs website, www.american.edu/studentjobs, keep an eye on list-serv or department emails that may advertise positions, and should be persistent, Daniels says. Look often, both before and during the semester, to see what kind of opportunities are out there, she suggests.

“Finding any job is a process,” Daniels says. “Keep applying until [you] land a position. … Submit professional application materials—resume and tailored cover letter—to increase [the] likelihood of landing a position.”

With both of her FWS opportunities, Rivera has been able to stay local and focused on her educational goals. During her time at DC Reads, Rivera worked with students one-on-one at CentroNía, a bilingual charter school in Columbia Heights—a five-minute walk from her home. At Kid Power, where Rivera both works as a FWS employee and is conducting an internship, Rivera is applying her knowledge about physical health and nutrition while leading whole classes.

“I was able to give back to my community,” Rivera says, and her impact is still felt years later. “The mom of the girl who I tutored at DC Reads works at Target and I also work at Target, and we always talk, and I always ask her questions about her daughter—I just saw them, and she’s grown up. And it’s nice to see they remember me.”

Rivera ensures the students remember her lessons about health, too. Thanks to encouragement from her Kid Power supervisor Shaden Dowiatt, Rivera is involved in the program Veggie Time, teaching students about gardening and nutrition.

“She’s fantastic; the kids really, really love her,” says Dowiatt, SIS/MA ’10, LAMB Site Director for Kid Power. “I think she relates really well to the students; she’s always very positive, smiles a lot, is pretty easygoing. Her passion and her focus is obviously on health education. This year she’s been doing an internship with me—she’s helped develop some of the lessons about nutrition and I’ve encouraged her to share those lessons with the students.”

And Rivera isn’t the only AU student at Kid Power. The organization employed both university alumni and 44 FWS students in fall 2012—about five to six AU volunteers are located at each of Kid Power’s 10 sites, Dowaitt says—and that atmosphere creates an undeniable sense of camaraderie.

“This past summer, we had this close connection,” Rivera says of her AU peers who also worked with Kid Power at their summer camp. “We all hung out at night, we had dinner and stuff together—we created this little AU family.”

And as for Rivera’s own family, they’ve been affected by her college choice, too. Although her mother was initially skeptical of her decision to apply to AU and hoped Rivera would help her with her small business, she’s grown to appreciate that Rivera “wants to do more”—“she’s always encouraging me, and now she brags about me going to college,” Rivera says. And Rivera’s younger sister has followed in her footsteps, and is currently a student at Georgetown University.

With graduation coming up in May, Rivera hopes to volunteer with other health- or children-focused nonprofit organizations and eventually gain employment at one; graduate school isn’t out of the question, either. But for now, she’s staying with Kid Power, hoping to introduce students to healthy recipes and eating habits. Without these FWS opportunities, Rivera says she’s not sure how she would have been able to so effectively prepare for her career.

“I never heard of Kid Power or DC Reads before federal work study, but it’s my interest to work with kids and to help them,” Rivera says. “If it weren’t for [FWS], I don’t know how I would get this experience.”

Eric Fleddermann SIS/BA ’13 is proof positive you can have it all as an AU student. On any given day, you might find the senior preparing a mock trial case, helping a peer write a résumé in the AU Career Center, or laying down a drum beat for the Screamin’ Eagles Pep Band at a basketball game. It’s all part of the rich tapestry that has made up Fleddermann’s “American experience.”

“Being a student in D.C., I can attend court hearings, participate in political rallies, and take advantage of so many other opportunities on a daily basis,” said Fleddermann, a Missouri native pursuing a double major in international studies and business administration, and a minor in Arabic language.

A highlight of Fleddermann’s AU experience has been serving as president of the American University Mock Trial (AUMT) team, coached by School of Public Affairs professor Jessica Waters. The self-proclaimed underdog team made a splash this past semester, beating out national champions at a Columbia University invitational, considered one of the East Coast’s most prestigious tournaments. Fleddermann also took home a top attorney award at the tournament.

“Seeing our team blossom into such a success has been so rewarding,” he said.

His favorite class, Justice, Morality, and the Law, taught by Professor Waters honed his courtroom talent. “We debated controversial legal issues like terrorism, birth control, hate speech, and religious exemption,” said Fleddermann.

“The class taught me to consider all sides of an issue before presenting an argument.”

AU has also offered Fleddermann a gateway to the world. In 2011, he spent six months studying Arabic and business at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, arriving in the heat of the Arab Spring movement.

“I was a child of 9-11 and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, events that affected me deeply and made me want to better understand that part of the world,” said Fleddermann.

Real-world work experience has also been a part of Fleddermann’s life in D.C. He interned at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission among other workplaces, but he found job satisfaction working in AU’s Career Center. There, Fleddermann, a peer advisor since sophomore year, undertook data crunching, résumé writing, as well as marketing and outreach tasks.

“It’s been so rewarding to help other students reach their career goals. I also get to use my oral presentation skills I’ve developed through the mock trial team to speak to classes.”

Fleddermann now faces the exciting challenge of deciding where to apply the “arsenal of skills and knowledge” he has acquired at AU. The senior is contemplating government, law and national security among career paths – all great options for a new grad in the nation’s capital.

“My time at American has helped ground my ideals in reality,” said Fleddermann. “We can create change in the world, but it takes time, it’s hard work, and at end of the day, you may not make a grand change but at least you can change individual lives, and that’s what I hope to do.”

“My entire career has been devoted to public service, the law, and improving the administration of justice,” said Rainey Ransom Brandt, CAS/BGS ’89, SPA/MS ’90, CAS-SPA/PhD ’93, during her Senate confirmation hearing to become an associate judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court.

When announcing her nomination in March 2012, President Obama said, “Throughout her career, Rainey Ransom Brandt has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice. I am proud to nominate her to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.”

Although she is still awaiting confirmation from the Senate to become an associate judge of the D.C. Superior Court, Brandt was sworn in as a Superior Court magistrate judge on November 7 after spending 14 years as special counsel to the chief judge of the D.C. Superior Court.

As special counsel, Brandt was the in-house expert on criminal law and prisoners’ rights, handling sentencing issues and answering inquiries regarding law changes. In her new role as a magistrate judge, she will preside over preliminary hearings in domestic violence cases, including arraignments and child support.

While attending American University, Brandt had different plans. The popularity of the show “L.A. Law” piqued her interest in pursuing a career as an FBI agent. But research she conducted at the now-closed Lorton Prison while completing her PhD in justice with a specialization in corrections changed her mind. She decided to go to law school at Catholic University, but no longer wanted to join the FBI.

Brandt taught classes while she was a graduate student and has remained committed to AU as an adjunct associate professor for 21 years – including one year as a full-time professor – and teaches one criminal justice class every semester.

“I learn more from my students than they learn from me,” Brandt says. Moderating classroom discussions has shown her the value of integrating many opinions and points of view, and she hopes her experience as a professor in the classroom will translate to being a judge in the courtroom.

“My students have taught me how to deal with issues and controversy. As a professor, I have always tried to be a calming influence over their chaotic lives. … Having to deal with all those different scenarios over the years has taught me how to be calm and rational under pressure,” she adds.

No matter where her career goes next, Brandt’s dedication to AU and education is unwavering. She says, “I will always remain a professor at heart. … I won’t stop that just because I’m becoming a judge.”

Growing up as a fourth generation Appleton, Wisconsin citizen, Steve Wieckert, SPA/BA ’78, SPA/MPA ’81, loved his hometown but sought to expand his horizons during his college career. After landing a critical internship in Wisconsin Congressman Tom Petri’s office, Steve’s knowledge and love of effective legislation solidified.

Years later he was given the opportunity to return to Appleton and put knowledge he had learned in Prof. Bernie Rosen’s class to work in his community.

As a Wisconsin State representative for District 57, Steve fought tirelessly to protect the public health of his constituents. One issue Steve tackled head-on was the bureaucracy and inefficiency surrounding organ donations. He remembered Bernie Rosen’s concept of the Iron Triangle, wherein a worthy cause, legislature, and executive backing had to work in harmony for effective policy to pass.

Research shows that 95,000 Americans nationwide are on organ donation waiting lists and 6,000 die each year due to a lack of available organs. Steve saw an opportunity to provide better tax incentives for the travel and expenses associated with such a physically serious donation, and he believed that “the person donating shouldn’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses.” He now had his cause.

Legally, there were countless taxation hurdles to jump though. “There are so many rules and regulations you can get tripped up on,” says Steve. Steve says his time at AU taught him the importance of solid networking, and he had a reliable team of fellow public servants to aid in his cause. Former Wisconsin governor and then-Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson put Steve in touch with the Justice Department to review his legislation. They received the affirmation of “I don’t see why you can’t do that”, and Steve and his team rejoiced. After months of review, “we found a way to navigate and comply with all the rules.”

While Republicans and Democrats don’t always see eye to eye, Steve says this piece of legislation was a “slam dunk” for all. Bipartisan support gave “Cody’s Law” the backing necessary to complete the Iron Triangle’s triumvirate.

After this groundbreaking precedent was set, it became a national trend. Other states faced the same issues, and “they needed a model, an example, a template that would work”. Steve’s successes resulted in 26 other states jumping on the bandwagon to help incentivize their citizens’ organ philanthropy, and Wisconsin saw a dramatic 20 percent increase in organ donation.

Steve, who “leads by example” with his own fitness, says his motto has always been, “If you believe in what in your doing, you’ve got to keep trying”. To that end, he recently qualified for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3.37 hours and plans to swing by campus and connect with students on his way to run next April.

Neale Lunderville, SPA/BA ’96, has spent his career in public service and improving his home state of Vermont, which is one reason he will receive the 2012 Alumni Achievement Award.

Lunderville decided to attend American University partly because it was far from Vermont, where he grew up, but also because of “the value AU places on service,” he says. As a student, he was active in the Student Government, University Senate, the Student Advocacy Center, and Varsity Quiz Bowl.

After graduating and spending a few years living in D.C., Lunderville was drawn home when Vermont gubernatorial candidate Jim Douglas (R) asked him to run his campaign. Douglas won, and Lunderville began his career giving back to the state. He was senior staff in Governor Douglas’s administration for four years before becoming Secretary of Transportation and later Secretary of Administration.

Lunderville left government to work for Green Mountain Power, a private business, but when Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, he once again answered the call to serve when Governor Peter Shumlin (D) asked him to be the state recovery officer. The storm was one of the worst in Vermont’shistory and closed 500 miles of state roads and hundreds of bridges, impacting and displacing thousands of residents.

“In many ways, it was completely devastating,” Lunderville says.

As recovery officer, he coordinated all aspects of disaster relief on the local, state, and federal level. The storm hit in September, and all roads and bridges reopened before Christmas. Vermont was hailed as a model state for disaster recovery.

“In some places, this would take years, but it took Vermont less than four months. It’s a remarkable achievement for any state, but it shows the real character of our state,” Lunderville says.

Now, Lunderville is CEO of NGAdvantage, a new energy company that will deliver natural gas to Vermont businesses that do not have access to a pipeline. Former Vermont Governors Douglas and Shumlin were on hand for the recent groundbreaking of the company’s new filling station, where natural gas will be compressed and loaded onto trucks for delivery to businesses.

Natural gas is much less expensive than traditional electric power, and Lunderville believes NGAdvantage can save Vermont businesses millions of dollars, hopefully allowing them to expand and create jobs for Vermonters.

“I love Vermont; I love working to make this a better place, and I was very fortunate to work for the governor of Vermont and in positions where I could affect positive change. Even with our new business, one of the reasons we’re doing it in Vermont is we believe in this state, and we want it to be a better place. … Those are all ideas that were strongly reinforced at AU,” Lunderville says.

In fact, Lunderville has worked with many AU Eagles on campaigns and in state government. He says, “AU has played an important part in Vermont’s history in the past 10 years. A lot of people involved in politics in Vermont have a strong AU connection.”

Though Andrea Walton, SPA/BA ’16, just arrived at AU as a freshman this fall, you might have already seen her face around – for example during the televised roll call of the Democratic National Convention held this September in Charlotte, North Carolina.

When Walton, 18, took her seat among more than 5,000 DNC delegates and alternates from across the country, she did so as one of the youngest to ever serve as a delegate to a national political convention.

“The whole experience was amazing -- the opportunity to be around so many like-minded people, make great connections, listen to speakers and meet politicians” including Former President Bill Clinton, said the student. “It was literally one big political party!”

Politically active throughout high school with the Indiana Democratic Party, Walton was recommended to the DNC by party leaders in her home county of Gibson County, Indiana, recognizing her promise as a future leader. Walton first got interested in politics in middle school, when then-presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton came to her hometown of Princeton, Indiana, in 2008.

“It was an eye opener,” said Walton.

Walton spent two summers as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives, which further kindled her political aspirations.

“I worked right on the house floor during sessions, so I really got to see the legislative process in action,” said Walton. “I had unlimited access to the Capitol.”

Highlights of her stints as a page include meeting House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden, and witnessing Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ first vote after an assassination attempt.

Walton hopes to return to the halls of Congress – as an elected official herself. In attending AU, she is following in the footsteps of more than two dozen alums to become U.S. senators and representatives so her dream isn’t such a distant one.

In the meantime, Walton is enjoying the life of a poli-sci student in the political beehive that is American University. Just a few weeks into the semester, she’s already working as a staff assistant in the SPA Dean’s office, participating in the AU Dems, attending fundraisers for President Obama and taking advantage of “so many other cool opportunities,” she said.

“I’m really happy to be at AU. I love my classes; I feel like I’m really being challenged.”

Kirk Nemer, SPA/BS ’84, is no stranger to protecting the rights of Americans. Shortly after graduating from American University’s School of Public Affairs and receiving his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University, He was selected to be a Legislative Attorney for the United States Congress. He provided legal opinions to Members of Congress and advised Congressmen and Senators for congressional hearings. 

Kirk attributes being selected for Legislative Attorney position to the foundation that he received at the School of Public Affairs. He shared that “the Chief Counsel credited the internship that I had as an American University student on Captiol Hill and my experience in Washington, D.C. as an asset that helped me to attain the position.” Kirk used his legal prowess in matters of discrimination and disabilities to change the way employment and privacy of information issues were addressed in America. He worked tirelessly on two notable pieces of legislation—the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), that eventually became law.

During five years working for Congress, Kirk developed a passion for seeking justice in the realm of employment law, and he shared this passion with American University students as a lecturer at the School of Public Affairs. 

Kirk notes that one of his greatest joys, when reflecting on his professional and personal success, is in knowing that he helped provide students with the tools to accurately interpret the law and seek justice in the best interests of people.

Kirk’s career illustrates his commitment to protecting equality in America—from facilitating the passage of laws to providing students with the tools to do the same.

After nearly 20 years of serving as legal counsel and vice president of human resources for many Fortune 500 corporations, Kirk continues to advance his commitment to ensuring equality and protecting the rights of employees nationwide. He is the founder and president of Career Protection, a company that focuses on negotiating the legal rights of individual employees. 

Kirk uses his legal background and human resources experience to help individuals protect the future of their careers. He shared that “it was through the American University alumni network that I was able to connect to many executives and employees to assist them with workplace issues, which helped me to build my company.”

Kirk has found tremendous success in helping people understand their value to their employer, the rights to which they are entitled, and ways to protect their careers. He also continues to impact the lives of many current and prospective AU students. 

Kirk has shared his personal AU experiences and story with many prospective students and their parents in the Denver area. His commitment to today’s students is fueled by the same desire that led him into the classroom to teach, that motivated his effective litigation strategies in the courtroom, and that paves the way for him to eradicate employment injustice. He desires that students will one day share in his passion and also use the tools that they receive at American University to affect change in their respective fields.