听adjunct professor听Lee Roberts听was recognized as a 2024 Teacher of Distinction by George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚听. Roberts is a U.S. Army strategic intelligence officer in his 17th year of active-duty service.
The Stearns Center, which promotes and develops innovation in teaching among the university鈥檚 faculty, recognizes Teachers of Distinction as those who have been finalists for Teaching Excellence Awards and are known for their commitment to teaching and teaching-related activities.
As an active practitioner in the field, it鈥檚 important to Roberts that the subject of international security鈥擨-SEC鈥攊s taught the right way.
鈥淔irst and foremost, students in the [Schar School鈥檚] I-SEC program are talented, driven, and conscientious future鈥攁nd in some cases current鈥攑ractitioners whom it is my privilege to work with,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want to do everything I can to help them clear a path into this professional field whether as a government servant or in an adjacent field such as think-tank analysis or security journalism鈥.鈥
Roberts, who has been teaching at the Schar School since 2018, is assigned to the Joint Staff from the Defense Intelligence Agency and works in the Pentagon, located not far from the Schar School鈥檚 Mason Square Campus. That proximity allowed him to earn a in 2017鈥攈e was also a fellow at the 鈥攁nd a in 2022.
His academic pursuits, as well as his teaching, inform his profession.
鈥淓ssentially, I direct the design and delivery of joint studies into future military intelligence capabilities that establish the requirements used by armed services, defense agencies, and the defense industry to develop and build those capabilities,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 primarily focus five to 15 years in the future, and I really love my job鈥攊t makes excellent use of the educational experience I got at the Schar School.
鈥淏y keeping a foot in both worlds, I am able to help students realize their goals, and students鈥 fresh perspectives and the seminar content from the classes helps me to be a better practitioner.鈥
While receiving the Stearns Center鈥檚 Teacher of Distinction recognition is gratifying, it鈥檚 the success of his students that Roberts finds truly rewarding.
鈥I have on multiple occasions run into recent alumni in the halls of U.S. government agencies implementing America's intelligence, national security, and foreign policy priorities, and I cannot adequately describe the pride I feel in having played even a small part in their journey,鈥 he said.
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