School of Public Policy Assistant Professor Naoru Koizumi and Department of Administration of Justice University Professor Faye S. Taxman will be developing computer simulation techniques aimed at improving the treatment of the substance abuse population in the United States. The research is funded by a recent grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice.
Koizumi notes that the two-year, $400,000 grant allows development of simulations that attempt to answer such questions as, what is the best treatment for someone who both abuses drugs and suffers from severe mental health problems? and what is the optimal allocation of various resources (monitoring, medication support, and such) for the treatment of such problems? This study is one of the first attempts to use a simulation technique to answer these types of questions involving substance abuse.
The project will involve initial data collection, simulation model development, meetings with substance abuse stakeholders, and preparation of a web site with simulation capabilities that could be used by care providers and policymakers in the substance abuse field.

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Policy Profile -
Matthew Steinhelfer
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Name: Matthew Steinhelfer, Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
SPP Program of Study: Peace Operations
Degrees: George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
Why Mason’s School of Public Policy (SPP): As part of my duties at the State Department, I traveled to Timor-Leste in 2006 after the postelection conflict erupted. I listened to firsthand stories of the conflict, witnessed burned homes and refugee camps, and came to understand that the international community’s response to the conflict was insufficient and at times ineffective. The combination of this experience and my belief that a purely theoretical understanding of many issues is less than adequate, led me to search for a master’s program that matched theoretical foundations with practical skills. The Peace Operations Policy Program gave the precise balance.
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November 6, Tavis Smiley Show (Public Radio International)
GOP Victories
Professor Michael Fauntroy discusses the November 3 elections and shares his perspective on the results...
November 4, Washington Post
Kaine's Legacy: Agenda Flagging but Not Ratings
Professor Mark Rozell comments on the significance of Virginia electing a Republican to follow Governor Kaine and how it will probably...
October 24, CNN
FBI: Mobster More Powerful than Gotti
Professor Louise Shelley discusses major criminal organizations in Russia...
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| Awards,
Honors, Appointments |
Professor Zoltan Acs has accepted the invitation to participate in the Science and Engineering Human Resources Expert Panel of the National Science Foundation...
LTC (Ret.) Wally Johnson, director of the Mentor-Protégé Program and deputy director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Program with Mason’s Enterprise Center, was inducted into the 2009...
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Accolades…
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| Publications |
Professor Janine R. Wedel wrote the book, Shadow Elite: How the World's New Power Brokers Undermine Democracy, Government, and the Free Market, published by...
Professor Ann C. Baker wrote the book, Catalytic Conversations: Organizational Communication and Innovation, which was published by...
Professor Philip E. Auerswald co-edited the fall 2009 issue of the journal Innovations, which is published by MIT Press. The issue...
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Publications…
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| Presentations |
Professor Katrin B. Anacker presented "The Effectiveness of Technology-Assisted Learning and International Travel in Comparative Housing Education"...
Professor James Pfiffner testified at the Presidential Advice and Senate Consent: Past, Present, and Future of Policy Czars hearing before the...
Professor Jack A. Goldstone presented his ideas on future trajectories of global capitalism at a conference in Moscow sponsored by Expert magazine...
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Presentations…
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November 17
Doctoral Student Research Workshop
2:30pm - 4:10pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building Room 257
Contact: Beth Eck, eeck@gmu.edu
November 17
SPP Master's Programs Open House
6:30pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building
Room 329
Register
November 18
SPP Brown Bag Lunch
Speaker: Todd Olmstead, Assistant Professor of Public Policy
"The cost-effectiveness of an innovative e-therapy for drug addiction"
noon - 1:00 pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building Room 245
Contact: darmor@gmu.edu
November 19
Doctoral Dissertation Defense:
Robert V. Hamilton
"Foreign Science & Engineering Doctoral Attainment at American Universities"
9:30am - 11:30am
Fairfax Campus, Finley Building Room 119,
Large Conference Room
Contact: Beth Eck, eeck@gmu.edu
December 2
SPP Brown Bag Lunch
Speaker: Michael Hayden, Distinguished Visiting Professor
"Current status of the Global War on Terrorism"
noon - 1:00 pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building Room 251
Contact: darmor@gmu.edu
December 3
The Center for Science and Technology Policy Presents:
“High-Tech Immigrant Entrepreneurship in the U.S.”
Speaker: David Hart, George Mason University
noon - 1:30pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building Room 269
RSVP: dhart@gmu.edu
December 4
SPP Alumni Chapter & the SPP Student Association present:
Brown Bag Lunch and Alumni Meet & Greet
on International Trade Careers
noon - 1:30pm
The U.S. Department of Commerce,
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Event for SPP Students and SPP Alumni only
RSVP: dbradsha@gmu.edu
December 7
George Mason University Vision Series presents:
Racial Politics in a "Post-Racial" America
Speaker: Michael K. Fauntroy
7:00pm
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Vision Series web site
December 9
SPP PhD Information Session
7:00pm
Arlington Campus, Original Building Room 329
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Events…
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