Richmond Trip Includes Meeting with Governor for Upper-Level Democracy Lab Students

While in Richmond, Upper-Level Democracy Lab students met with Governor Abigail Spanberger. Photo provided

Just two weeks into the semester, members of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community in George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government traveled to Richmond, Virginia, for a full day of immersive education featuring history, government, advocacy, and public service-and interactions with both the governor and lieutenant governor of the commonwealth.

Students participated in a roundtable session with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi. Photo provided

David Ramadan, BA Government and Politics '93, MAIT International Transactions '95, director of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab and a professor of practice in the Schar School, organized the packed itinerary, which included visits to the State Capitol Building and Executive Mansion and meetings with government officials.

"I wanted students to experience several dimensions of Virginia government and public policy in a single day-from the executive branch and advocacy to the history, institutions, and physical spaces where the legislative process takes place, including the House and Senate chambers," he said. "This was the first of two Richmond trips; next semester, we'll return while the General Assembly is in session so students can see the lawmaking process in action and engage directly with delegates and senators as legislation moves through the legislature."

The day began with a tour of the Virginia Capitol, including the House of Delegates and Senate chambers, giving students an up-close look at the spaces where Virginia's legislative process takes place. Next, students met with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi and her team for a roundtable discussion. The group then gathered in the Patrick Henry Building to engage with Governor Abigail Spanberger, who spoke about her experience governing Virginia and answered students' questions about issues facing the Commonwealth.

Secretary of Administration Traci Deshazor encountered the students during their tour and spent a few moments chatting with them. From there, the group lunched with the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association and lobbyist Don Hall to discuss how advocacy and the lobbying process work. The students finished the day with a tour of the Executive Mansion.

The day in Richmond concluded with a tour of the Executive Mansion, led by Deputy Butler Martin Townes. Photo provided

"The day's events allowed them to connect what we discuss in class with the people, institutions, relationships, and processes involved in governing," Ramadan said.

Sophomore Riley Fariss, a public administration major with a minor in public health and a concentration in public policy, joined the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community to build on her experience with the First-Year Democracy Lab, where she made strong connections with Schar School peers and faculty.

The highlight of the Richmond trip for Fariss, who is from Lynchburg, Virginia, was meeting Governor Spanberger, asking a question about how her office handles rural health care issues, and listening to her thoughtful response.

"It's really important to me to remind our statewide representatives of the issues facing rural Virginia," she said. "It meant a lot to me that the governor responded very knowledgeably on the issue. She told me about how she was working on providing more incentives for physicians to work in these areas."

Senior Nia Christy, a political science and international politics major, who is a member of both the Upper-Level Democracy Lab and the Pre-Law Learning Community, appreciated the opportunity to ask Lieutenant Governor Hashmi about dealing with sexism and Islamophobia. Originally from Pakistan, Christy says Hashmi's answer really resonated with her.

"What stayed with me most was the message that responding to hateful comments is about more than defending yourself; it's about showing younger girls who share similar backgrounds that those comments should not simply be accepted or normalized," Christy said. "As an immigrant woman, I thought it was powerful to hear directly from someone who has faced those challenges while continuing to pursue public service."

For Christy, the visit meant even more because, growing up, she never imagined walking through government buildings or speaking directly with state leaders. "I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity because I know that access to spaces like these is not something everyone gets to experience," she said. "It reminded me how much opportunity I have been given and made me even more motivated to eventually use my education to serve and advocate for others."

Experiences such as the trip to Richmond and the chance to make high-level connections early in students' careers are at the heart of what the Upper-Level Democracy Lab is intended to do, says Ramadan.

"There is only so much students can learn about government from textbooks and lectures," he said. "Experiential learning allows them to see government up close, ask difficult questions directly of practitioners and public officials, and better understand how democracy and public policy actually work. My hope is that they come away not only better informed, but also more confident about engaging with government and considering careers in public service, politics, policy, advocacy, or related fields.

For more information about the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community or other learning communities at the Schar School, please visit this website.