Professor Jack A. Goldstone has been invited by the Phi Beta Kappa Society to be a PBK Visiting Scholar for the 2010–11 academic year. The PBK Visiting Scholar Program nominates 12 scholars per year, chosen from all academic fields, to give public lectures and lead classes at colleges and universities with PBK chapters. Past PBK Visiting Scholars have included Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court, and Thomas Schelling, Nobel laureate in economics. Professor Goldstone will lecture in two areas of his research—the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in long-term economic development and world history, and the impact of demographic change on political stability and international security.

John Paden, Clarence Robinson Professor of International Studies, will receive an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from his alma mater Occidental College in Los Angeles during its graduation ceremonies in May.

Professor Christopher Hill will receive the School of Public Policy (SPP) Lifetime Achievement Award at the school’s convocation on May 15; Professor Siona Listokin-Smith and Adjunct Professor John Gordon will receive the SPP Teaching Awards this year.

Professor Stuart Malawer was presented the commission of appointment to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership by Governor Kaine on May 7.

PhD student Jill A. Rough received the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship award on April 17.

The following Master of Public Policy students were inducted this spring into the Pi Alpha Alpha national honor society for public affairs and administration: Jennifer L. Colfelt, Matthew S. Cosner, Thomas M. Culligan Jr., Meron Desta, Kathryn M. Edelman, Matthew J. Hourihan, Junghoon Kim, Jonathan K. Larsen, Natalie Morris, James Sayer, Kevin Thomas Voltz, Joseph D. Walker, and David C. Zook.

SPP Program Student Achievement Awards will be presented at the school’s convocation on May 15 to the following students:

• Richard Schum (PhD), Joseph L. Fisher Doctoral Award
• Diana Manning (ICP), David Ricardo Trade Award
• Michael Black (TPOL), Malcom P. McLean Transportation Award
• Elizabeth Starr (Peace Ops), Indar Jit Rikhye Award
• Kathryn Edelman (MPP), Alexis De Tocqueville Award

George Mason University recognized the following SPP people, along with other Mason employees, at the 2009 University Day Celebration on April 7: Professor Stephen Ruth for 30 years of service; Associate Dean Jonathan Gifford for 20 years of service; Professor David Armor, Associate Professor Rainer Sommer, and Professor Tojo Thatchenkery for 15 years of service; Research Associate Professor Todd La Porte, Associate Professor Connie McNeely, and University Professor Susan Tolchin for 10 years of service; and Manager/Director Judith Barral, Assistant Dean Beth Eck, Assistant Dean Jill Emerson, Professor A. Lee Fritschler, Professor Jack Goldstone, Assistant Dean Leslie Levin, Associate Professor Jeremy Mayer, Distinguished Research Professor Arnauld Nicogossian, Director Holly Park, Director Patricia Peacock, and Research Assistant Professor Christine Pommerening for 5 years of service.