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From Kyiv to Capitol Hill: Meet Graduating Schar School Senior Gabriella Grabovska

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:53:19 +0000

From Kyiv to Capitol Hill: Meet Graduating Schar School Senior Gabriella Grabovska Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/01/2026 - 14:53

Gabriella Grabovska photographed in September 2022: ‘A lot of the people that I met, a lot of the opportunities that I got, and the communities that I became a part of were all a result of me deciding to get out of my comfort zone and go do things.’ Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Originally from Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv, Gabriella Grabovska moved to the United States in August 2022 to attend college, leaving her family and familiarity behind. Navigating a new country on her own, she quickly learned to balance academic rigor with the challenge of adapting to—and flourishing in—a new cultural and social environment.

Gabriella Grabovska photographed in 2025. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Grabovska will graduate in May from the Schar School of Policy and Government at 91�� with a degree in government and international politics. She also has a concentration in political behavior and identity politics and a double minor in political communication and forensic psychology.

When considering where to study, George Mason and the Schar School stood out for their programs and opportunities that they offered as well as its proximity to Washington, D.C., she said.

“Looking back, I know that I wouldn’t have had all of my internships, I wouldn’t have met different politicians, members of the Cabinet, or people in my field, if I was in Connecticut or New Jersey,” she said.

The Schar School’s Undergraduate Learning Communities program played a key role in helping her get started professionally. Grabovska recalled an event hosted by the Jurisprudence Learning Community (now called the Pre-Law Learning Community) that helped her eventually secure her first internship with the Committee on House Administration, Democratic Staff. Since then, she has completed six internships, holding positions with organizations including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan nonprofit that collects data on political funding.

“The Schar School became my home in the U.S., especially Democracy Lab,” she said, referencing the immersive residential learning community. “I remembered how, in my freshman year, the Schar School and the Democracy Lab really made me feel welcomed and at home."

Grabovska's résumé is so long and varied because she took advantage of all the opportunities the university and its location offered. "I couldn’t say ‘no’ to anything. If there was an opportunity in front of me, I would take it.”

Gabriella Grabovska arrived in the United States in 2022 as Russia was invading Ukraine. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

A student in the Honors College, Grabovska is also an award-winning professional ballroom dancer, president of George Mason’s European Student Association, an occasional model for the Office of University Branding, and a resident assistant for the Office of Housing and Residence Life. She also served as a deputy field organizer for NextGen America, a nonprofit that encourages political activity among young citizens. She enjoys salsa dancing for fun.

But politics, which have shaped her life since her childhood, is where her ambitions lie.

“Politics directly affected my life since I can remember—I didn’t have privilege of not talking about it,” she said.

She recited a list of dramatic political events—the 2014 Kyiv Revolution, the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—as key events that motivated her to pursue a degree and career in politics.

Grabovska credits faculty and staff—including Associate Professor Jennifer Victor, Assistant Professor Shea Holman, Robinson Professor Steven Pearlstein, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ann M. Ludwick, and Communications Manager Buzz McClain—for their encouragement and support during her time at George Mason.

'Politics directly affected my life since I can remember—I didn’t have privilege of not talking about it.' Photo by Office of University Branding

One piece of advice that Grabovska would give to new or prospective students is to get out of their comfort zone and face their fears.

“A lot of the people that I met, a lot of the opportunities that I got, and the communities that I became a part of were all a result of me deciding to get out of my comfort zone and go do things,” she said.

She recalled an example where she met a future mentor during an internship at a law firm while waiting in the security line to enter the Capitol Hill Rayburn House Office Building in D.C. That brief introduction and its results reinforced for her the value of taking initiative.

Through her academic work, internships, and extensive involvement in campus life, Grabovska has turned her experiences into preparation for a career in politics and public service, grounded in the global perspective she brings from Ukraine and the community she found at the Schar School.

In This Story

Jennifer N. Victor

Shea M. Holman Kilian

Steven Pearlstein

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Mike Pence Makes Schar School Debut as Professor of Practice

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:18:26 +0000

Mike Pence Makes Schar School Debut as Professor of Practice Andrew J Schappert Thu, 02/12/2026 - 08:18

Mike Pence shakes hands with Schar School senior Elijah Lawrence, who said, ‘It’s actually really refreshing to see a public leader be so adamant and energetic about teaching us—the American public—about our history.’

Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States, and former Counsel to the Vice President and Solicitor of Labor Greg Jacob greeted some 150 91�� students for the first class of the spring semester by navigating the intricate and often-overlooked history behind the American Constitution.

Mike Pence, left, and co-instructor Greg Jacob during the debut class: ‘Their passion for the history of the Constitution was undeniable, actually palpable.’ Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

The course, The Character of the American Constitution, invites undergraduate and master’s students at George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government to explore the ideas that shaped our nation and their relevance to contemporary controversies regarding executive power, civil rights, elections, and the faithful execution of the law.

For many students, the experience of learning about constitutional governance cotaught by Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice Pence and a career constitutional lawyer was a rare and compelling opportunity.

“I want to learn more about Pence’s perspective on the Constitution, how he believes we should run our government and criminal justice system,” said Logan Miller, a first-year international security and law and Honors College student at the Schar School. “I also want to know more about the history of the Constitution and the history of the United States in general.”

Miller was not disappointed. Throughout the first class, Pence and Jacob walked students through the origins of the Declaration of Independence, exploring what the Declaration meant and where the writers got the ideas. Pence provided insight from the perspective of a politician and vice president while Jacob offered the insight of a constitutional scholar.

“One of the big things I noticed when it comes to [Pence] teaching, is how passionate he is for the United States, our Constitution, our founding documents, and our founding ideologies,” said Elijah Lawrence, a senior also studying international security and law. “It’s actually really refreshing to see a public leader be so adamant and energetic about teaching us—the American public—about our history.”

Sophomore Max Castner, who is a government and international politics major, agreed.

“Their passion for the history of the Constitution was undeniable, actually palpable,” Castner said. “They detailed what the framers thought and why they wrote it the way they did. It is an intensive class. They really care about and love the Constitution.”

Pence joined the Schar School professor of practice faculty in August shortly after the appointment of former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell (R). Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) is also on the Schar School faculty.

For the Schar School, The Character of the American Constitution reflects its commitment to mixing academic analysis with real-world experience. By bringing together the vice president’s perspective and Jacob’s background as a seasoned lawyer, the course offers students a front-row seat to how the nation’s founding charter operates under pressure.

Pence and adjunct professor Jacob teach course numbers GOVT 319-005 and POGO 550-005.