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Dean, College of professional Studies & Virginia Science and Technology Campus
Dr. Ali Eskandarian, a theoretical physicist, is the Dean of The George Washington University College of Professional Studies & Virginia Science and Technology Campus. Dean Eskandarian began his career at GW in 2002 as an associate dean and one of the founding members of the team that launched GW’s College of Professional Studies (CPS). Thereafter, he served as the Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Research at CPS, where he led the design and development of several innovative certificates and Master’s degree programs. In addition to his role as Dean, he also holds faculty appointments as Professor at CPS and at the Department of Physics.
Prior to his arrival at GW, he held the Distinguished Oliver Professorship in the Integrated Science & Technology and Computer Science Departments at the James Madison University and led the program in Telecommunications, where he also held the title of Virginia Eminent Scholar. In the mid 1990s, Dr. Eskandarian was the Study Director for the “Reusable Launch Vehicles: Technology Development and Test Program” study at the National Research Council, which led to important recommendations regarding the future technological options and the nation’s space policy. He subsequently served as an advisor to the Army Research Laboratory’s Technology Assessment Board. Earlier in the 1990s, after having completed a post–doctoral position at Flinders University of South Australia in theoretical nuclear physics, Dr. Eskandarian joined the aerospace industry and worked on the scientific satellites being developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for several space missions.
Dr. Eskandarian’s current research interests at GW are focused in astrophysics and in quantum computing/information. He has been a founding member of both groups, and currently serves as co–director of the Center for Quantum Computing, Information, Logic, and Topology. Dr. Eskandarian holds a B.S. in Physics and a Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics, both from GW.
 Hon. Mark R. Kennedy
Professor and Director of the Graduate School of
Political Management
The Honorable Mark Kennedy leads George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), the world's first school of applied politics. GSPM's premier position and global partnerships ideally position it to help democracy work!
Kennedy equips leaders to succeed at Business in a Political Age by sharing insights that fuse the perspectives he has gained from:
Politics – United States Congressman from 2001 to 2007, and presidentially appointed trade advisor to both President Bush and President Obama
Business – Fortune 100 senior executive (Macy’s), and more
Academics – Professor of Political Management at GSPM, has taught at leading graduate business schools around the world
Global Engagement – three decades of extensive speaking and involvement with foreign business leaders and government ministers across 40 countries
Kennedy has acquired a unique combination of perspectives from his experiences leading in C-suites, serving in the halls of Congress, and traveling across the world to engage business, political, and civic leaders in nearly 40 countries. In his speeches and lectures, Kennedy shares insights taken from his broad experiences that overturn conventional business wisdom.
Previously, Kennedy led as a Senior Vice President and Treasurer of a Fortune 100 company (Macy’s); helped Pillsbury acquire Häagen Dazs and spread it around the globe; served three terms in the U.S. Congress (2001–7); and then returned to the private sector in a global role with Accenture (a leading consulting firm) while continuing public service as a presidential appointee to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy (under both President Bush and President Obama).
Kennedy teaches, advises and speaks to audiences across the globe on success as a Business in a Political Age. Kennedy shows how businesses can effectively engage with political, regulatory, media, and activist-group forces to simultaneously advance their market strategies and benefit society.
Kennedy is an Executive in Residence at John Hopkins University’s Carey Business School and has lectured or led research projects at the University of Pennsylvania / Wharton, London Business School, HEC-Paris, Mannheim Business School, National University of Singapore Business School, Fundação Getulio Vargas (São Paulo) and the University of Maryland.
Kennedy also serves as Chairman of the Economic Club of Minnesota (www.ecomn.org).
Kennedy has a record of effective collaboration. While a Republican Congressman, he partnered with twenty Democrats to introduce and lead several pieces of legislation; more than half of the Democrats in the U.S. House co-sponsored one of his bills.
A graduate of St. John's University, Kennedy received a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from the The University of Michigan.
Mark and Debbie, his wife of 31 years, are the proud parents of four successful young adult children. When they are not traveling, they split their time between Washington, DC and Minnesota.
Connie Mokey
Assistant Dean
202.994.7637
mokeyc@gwu.edu
Connie Mokey is the Assistant Dean for Student Success and is responsible for leading the academic services team for the College. She and her team are responsible for admissions, advising, coaching students to degree completion, and facilitating student achievement of professional goals upon graduation from GW. Connie has served in numerous management roles since joining GW in 1989. Before assuming her current position, she served as the Director of Enrollment Management and Student Services with responsibility for the College's recruitment and retention strategies and for providing student services geared toward adult and non-traditional students. Prior to that, she served as Director of the Alexandria Graduate Education Center bringing GW education programs off-campus to sites in Northern Virginia and Maryland. As the Alexandria Center Director she conducted outreach and marketing to corporate, government, and private sector clients. Connie earned a master's degree in Human Resource Development from GW and a Bachelor of Science degree in Decision Sciences from George Mason University.
Antonio Harvin
Assistant Dean
703.248.2801
tharvin@gwu.edu
Antonio Harvin is the Assistant Dean for Marketing and Communications for the College of Professional Studies (CPS) and Off-campus Programs at The George Washington University. He and his marketing staff define, develop, and implement marketing strategies and communications goals for CPS and GW's off-campus graduate programs. These programs are housed at main campus, at the University's off-campus education centers, and online. He is also responsible for all marketing and operational systems and procedures for the department.
Prior to joining GW, Antonio spent more than 12 years in the media and entertainment industry as a marketing/sales operations, project management and promotion executive, with extensive experience in the international arena. He worked as Discovery Communications Inc.'s Director of International Program Sales and Motown Records' Vice President of International, after employment in managerial roles at various record companies in New York and Los Angeles. His professional career started as a software designer supporting research for the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Antonio earned a M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a B.S. in Computer Science and completed two years of study in Music Education from The Catholic University of America.
Jim Robinson
Executive Director
202.994.4009
jarob@gwu.edu
Jim Robinson is the Executive Director of The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. He is a senior executive and change leader with more than 25 years of experience in leadership of large-scale organization change, strategic human resources development, and organization effectiveness consulting with corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The focus of his work has been the development of empowering leaders and the building of high commitment/high performance organizations that achieve outstanding results. Areas of expertise include:
- Leadership Development Systems
- Executive coaching
- Performance Improvement Initiatives and Change Management
- Breakthrough Labor Relations Strategies
- Strategic Human Resources Architecture and Policies
- Organization Design and Development
Jim writes, lectures, and leads workshops in the field of personal self-empowerment and personal effectiveness. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Masters of Arts in counseling psychology from Rutgers University.
Rachel Venezian
Director of Business Planning and Analysis
202.994.9499
venezian@gwu.edu
Rachel Venezian is Director of Business Planning and Analysis for the College of Professional Studies. She has over ten years of higher education non-profit experience, primarily in the area of budget and financial management. Prior to coming to the College of Professional Studies in 2009, she worked as a Senior Budget Analyst in GW’s Budget Office and as the Director of Budgeting and Auxiliary Services at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Rachel is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served as a math and science teacher in a public high school Burkina Faso. She has a BA from Swarthmore College.
Melissa Feuer
Director of Career Services
202.994.8310
mfeuer@gwu.edu
Melissa Feuer is the Director of Career Services for the College of Professional Studies, assisting students and alumni with short and long term career strategies. Prior to assuming her current position, Melissa worked with mid-career attorneys as Senior Career Advisor at a private outplacement firm in the DC area where she specialized in resume and cover letter critique and interview preparation. Previously, she practiced law both at a large law firm and as senior in-house counsel for a public company. Melissa earned a B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. Melissa has also been teaching in the GW Paralegal Studies program since Fall 2007, and currently leads the Thesis course in the online program.
Jack Prostko
Director of Faculty Development
jackp@gwu.edu
As Director of Faculty Development for the College of Professional Studies, Jack Prostko works closely with faculty to develop superior academic programs and courses. He assists faculty in creating effective learning opportunities both in the classroom and online-working with faculty on their syllabi, course materials, assignments, and teaching methods and strategies. Before starting the faculty development program at CPS in 2008, he was the Director of Faculty Development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he founded the Faculty Development Center and supported teaching initiatives for all undergraduate and graduate programs. Prior to his work at UMBC he was the Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. in English Literature from Stanford and taught in the English Department at Vanderbilt University. Along with Michele Marincovich and Frederic Stout he is the co-editor of The Professional Development of Graduate Teaching Assistants (Anker). He consults regularly with universities and professional organizations on a wide range of teaching and learning issues.
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