Name: Brad Tobin

Program: ICP

Expected Date of Graduation: 05/08

Prospective Position: President

Goals and Objectives:

Like you, I am investing time and money in an education at the School of Public Policy. As President of the SPPSA, I will work in our common interest to maximize our investment. To this end, I will focus my efforts on the following initiatives:

1. Strengthen Student and Alumni Networking: Our fellow students and SPP alumni are valuable professional and social contacts. Exploring ways to deepen and widen the SPP network will be central to my work as President.
   1. Happy hours have proven to be a fun and effective way for students to get know one another. I intend to continue the tradition of gathering at happy hours, while making sure they are held at convenient times for the majority of students.
   2. Brown-bag sessions are a great way to learn about organizations and make professional contacts. I plan to increase the amount of brown-bag sessions we have in the coming year.
   3. Alumni Chapter: Creating a bond between the SPPSA and the SPP alumni chapter is vital to career development. I will engage the alumni chapter to reinforce a strong SPP community.
   4. ICAR, Mason Law, and the Arlington MBA Program: Much of what we study at the SPP intersects with other Arlington-based programs. We should take advantage of our close proximity to each other. I will work to broaden the connections between our schools so that we can expand our student network.
   
   While I understand most of us have very busy lives, we must avoid a routine of going to work, coming to class, and then going home. This approach limits our overall experience. As President, I will continue to increase the opportunities we have to get involved in the school. In this regard, I created last year a SPP soccer team, which I hope to bring to a private league with games on the weekends. Initiatives such as this promote greater involvement, fostering a bigger and stronger SPP network---which is essential for competing with other policy schools in the area!
   
   
2. Advance School Identity: Getting students involved in campus activities will cultivate an improved sense of school identity.
   1. School clubs and organizations: I will work to increase the number of clubs and organizations in which the student body can get involved.
   2. Improve SPP websites: The SPPSA website should serve as a center of information for campus life. I will work to improve the SPPSA website so that it includes current information about events and activities. In addition, I will create a forum for student comments on the SPPSA’s website. Furthermore, I hope to work with the administration to improve the SPP main website.
   
   
3. Work with the Dean and Department Chairs: Thanks to the SPP administration, our young school has come a long way in a short period of time. I plan to work with the administration to keep the SPP advancing in prominence and prestige. In addition, I will work closely with the Career Services office to promote communication between the office and the student body. As President, I will make heard the collective voice of the student body. To do so effectively, I will welcome your questions and concerns.

About me:

I am in my third semester of a M.A. degree in International Commerce and Policy. I worked full-time for the U.S. Department of Justice from 2001-2005, and then switched to a part-time schedule when I began my graduate studies. During my time at Mason, I have interned at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, with the U.S. Department of State. Under my leadership, the SPP formed an intramural soccer team last year. It even secured a corporate sponsor, Sangam Restaurant in Ballston. Further examples of my leadership include volunteering as an English language tutor at Arlington Refugee Services, and volunteering as a mentor for transfer students at my alma mater, Amherst College.