The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) on Tuesday named Associate Professor Lara Brown as the school's director.
Dr. Brown had served as the interim director since July 1, 2016. She came to GW’s GSPM in 2013 to serve as an associate professor and director for the Political Management Program.
“Director Brown has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of GSPM and is a key component of its growing success,” said Ali Eskandarian, dean of the College of Professional Studies, which houses GSPM. “We look forward to her continued leadership.”
GSPM is the first graduate school of applied politics, communications and advocacy. For nearly 30 years, the GSPM has educated students on the ethics, strategies, tactics and tools that are essential to successfully advancing causes, candidates and commerce.
Dr. Brown said she is “honored to be entrusted with this responsibility.”
“Not only am I excited about the opportunity to continue our school’s work of educating the next generation of leaders and promoting cutting-edge political research, but I am looking forward to connecting with our more than 4,000 alumni to build a stronger GSPM community,” Dr. Brown said.
In addition to her work as director, Dr. Brown will continue her efforts as an author. Her book, “Campaigning for President 2016: Strategy and Tactics,” produced in conjunction with GSPM Emeritus Prof. Dennis Johnson, will be released by Routledge in 2018.
A distinguished writer and researcher, Dr. Brown’s noted work, Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants, is the first systematic study of presidential aspirants from the 1790s to the present. She is a media fixture, quoted regularly in leading media outlets nationwide.
Dr. Brown previously worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Villanova University. She also served as a political appointee in President Bill Clinton’s administration at the Education Department.
Dr. Brown earned her B.A., M.A. and Ph. D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.
