Dean's Scholars Program
About the Program
Dean’s Scholars is a selective two-year program for Juniors and Seniors in the Elliott School interested in expanding their knowledge of the field of international affairs. Students pursue an independent research topic of their choosing, interact with a variety of actors in the field, and strengthen valuable research, writing, and presentation skills. Through mentorship and personalized guidance, Dean’s Scholars are offered the support and tools they need to build valuable professional connections, to pursue their passion for research, and to explore fellowship opportunities relevant to their interests.
Each student selects a faculty mentor with whom they work throughout the two years to design and execute their project. Dean’s Scholars also enroll in a sequence of three required research courses taught by program faculty and receive support and mentorship from them. Additionally, students in the program participate in exclusive Dean’s Scholars events and receive financial support to offset some of their research expenses.
Application Information
Applications for the 2025-2027 Dean’s Scholars cohort open in the spring semester. Applicants must complete the application form and attach all required documents before the deadline. Eligible applicants must be students at the Elliott School of International Affairs, be juniors when they begin the program (applying as a sophomore), and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Application requirements include (see application for more details):
- A letter of recommendation submitted by a former or current professor to esiascholars
gwu [dot] edu (esiascholars[at]gwu[dot]edu) by the application deadline. The letter of recommendation should assess the quality of your research and writing and speak to your ability to succeed in a rigorous 2-year research program; your capacity to conduct research; your time management skills and capacity to work independently. The strongest letters articulate a clear sense of your approach to research and analysis. - Unofficial transcript with your name and all courses clearly visible.
- Personal statement: In 500 words, tell us about your research interests related to International Affairs and why you are applying to Dean's Scholars. What topic piques your interest and why? What sparks your curiosity? Your statement should weave together relevant background information (such as personal, academic, and professional experiences, and service/volunteer work) with why you are interested in participating in this program. Describe your possible research topic and what led you to become passionate about it. Describe your career goals and how Dean's Scholars fits into your plans.
- Writing Sample: Please attach a 2-5 page writing sample from your coursework at GW that showcases your writing abilities. At the top of the first page, include a brief description of the assignment to help us understand the paper requirements. The most effective writing samples are those that put forward a clear thesis and synthesize and weigh evidence to evaluate the thesis. The applications committee will assess the clarity and cogency of your thesis (argument), your use of data and evidence to answer your research question or support/disconfirm the thesis, the organization of the paper, and the overall clarity of your writing.
We host Research Opportunities Information Sessions twice a year with more information about the program. These events will be advertised via ESIA communications.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Maryam Z. Deloffre - esiascholarsgwu [dot] edu (esiascholars[at]gwu[dot]edu.)
Eligibility
We welcome applications from sophomore students with strong academic records. Previous experience conducting independent research is not required.
Applicants must:
- Be students at the Elliott School of International Affairs,
- Be a junior when they begin the program,
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
General Program Schedule
Prior to enrolling in Dean’s Scholars – All students must meet their Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs (BAIA)/ Bachelor of Science in International Affairs (BSIA) Research Methods requirement prior to enrolling in Dean’s Scholars. To fulfill this requirement, students must take one course focusing on qualitative or quantitative social science research methods.
Junior Spring Semester – Scholars take a 3-credit seminar where they design and refine their project proposals, prepare data collection materials, and obtain approval through GW’s Institutional Review Board before conducting their research.
Junior Summer Semester – Scholars conduct their fieldwork and begin data analysis.
Senior Fall Semester – Scholars take a 3-credit WID course where they analyze their data and write-up their research papers. Most fellowship applications will be due during this semester.
Senior Spring Semester – Scholars will present their research at conferences, submit their revised papers to peer-reviewed journals, and finish any fellowship applications during this semester.
For a more detailed breakdown of the program schedule, please visit the Dean’s Scholars Curriculum page. * Please note this curriculum reflects changes that will apply beginning with the 2025-2027 cohort. *
"I learned so much about myself, my skills and my professional interests by being a part of the Dean's Scholars program. I learned the importance of strong research abilities in almost every part of my personal and professional life. I encourage all college students to become involved in research, even if you aren't interested in pursuing academia as a career."
Zach Slotkin
Class of 2019
Program Benefits
Small group research class that allows collaborative and in-depth learning.
Customized curriculum that guides each student through the data collection and writing processes.
Financial support to be used for research travel, materials, and expenses.
Scholars will learn about various outlets for publishing their research and receive hands-on support in the publication process.
Presentation of research at academic conferences.
Chance to meet practitioners, researchers, and professionals through an exclusive Dean’s Scholars event series.
Meet the Director: Dr. Maryam Z. Deloffre
Maryam Z. Deloffre is an Associate Professor of International Affairs, Director of Dean’s Scholars and Director of the Humanitarian Action Initiative at the Elliott School of International Affairs and a Mercator Fellow at the DFG Research Training Group – Standards of Global Governance (Germany), and an Associate Senior Fellow at Centre for Global Cooperation Research, Universität Duisburg-Essen. Dr. Deloffre teaches the required research methods and seminar courses for the junior cohort and graduate level courses on humanitarian governance and locally-led humanitarian assistance.
Dr. Deloffre’s research focuses broadly on the dynamics of global and humanitarian governance, humanitarian standard-setting, humanitarian and non-governmental organization (NGOs) accountability, and NGO power, legitimacy and agency, and has been published in International Studies Review, Review of International Studies, Global Health Governance, PS: Political Science and Politics, and as chapters in edited volumes. Deloffre earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a M.A. in International Relations at l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in Paris, France, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the George Washington University.
Any Questions?
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Maryam Z. Deloffre, Director of the Dean’s Scholars Program, at esiascholarsgwu [dot] edu (esiascholars[at]gwu[dot]edu).