Elliott School of International Affairs | The George Washington University

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Elliott School Experts Weigh In

Experts Weigh In

Kimberly Morgan. Director, European and Eurasian Studies program, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs.

"Europe has been especially affected by the novel coronavirus. European economies are deeply integrated in the global economy, with growth powered by international trade, finance, and tourism. Although we do not yet know exactly how the novel coronavirus arrived and why it quickly spread in some parts of Europe, global travel and commerce were surely at the root of it. Yet because of the virus’s capacity for efficient and silent spread, it took weeks for governments to recognize the danger. Italy was hit hard, early on, perhaps because of the prevalence of multi-generational households and contacts in Italian society. Some speculate that the young helped spread the virus to the old and that Italy’s aging society is especially vulnerable to the disease..."

Flex-Start Option for Fall 2020 Admitted Graduate Students

Starting Fall 2020, GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) will be offering all admitted graduate degree students across all MA, MIS and MIPP programs the ability to start their degree online through the Flex-Start program. Students who participate in the Flex-Start program will be able to take a regular full-time or part-time course-load online during the Fall 2020 semester and then continue their studies in-person in Washington, DC starting in the Spring 2021 semester (provided they complete their Fall 2020 courses in good academic standing and, in the case of international students, receive a valid F-1 visa prior to the start of the spring semester).

School Updates

Photo: graduation medals with navy blue overlay, Text: 2020 Virtual Celebration

2020 Graduates, with their families and friends, can celebrate their commencement virtually on the Elliott School YouTube channel on Friday, May 15. More information on the virtual graduation celebration can be found on the Elliott School commencement website.

GW’s Virtual Commencement celebration will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 11:00 am.

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Michael Schwirtz, MA ’05, has received a 2020 Pulitzer Prize. Michael is one of The New York Times reporters cited by Pulitzer for distinguished reporting on international affairs "for a set of enthralling stories, reported at great risk, exposing the predations of Vladimir Putin’s regime."

Ilana Feldman headshot

George Washington University Provost Brian Blake announced Monday that Ilana Feldman, vice dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs and professor of anthropology, history and international affairs, will be the interim dean of the Elliott School.

Read the full announcement in GW Today.

Jillian Dipersio

BA Candidate, International Affairs

"My research has focused on the social effects of desertification and drought. Through conversations with local professors, livestock famers, and government officials my hope is to propose policy solutions to desertification in the Sahel, a region in Africa."

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