Meet Anka Whelan, a Global Affairs and Eurasian Studies double major who graduated this spring, in 2025. As an accelerated master's student, she will complete her MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in the Dynamics of Violence here at George Mason. With her interdisciplinary education and strong understanding of the Russian language and culture, she hopes to bring this expertise into the field of international security, where she can research and analyze the war in Ukraine and its human rights and security implications. Anka's interdisciplinary foundation was further strengthened through her Honors Capstone for Global Affairs, where she engaged in an intensive research project. Through that experience, she learned new ways to interpret texts, code data she collected herself, and sharpen her academic writing.
As a dual major in Global Affairs and Eurasian Studies, Anka extends her gratitude to Dr. Johanna Bockman, Associate Professor of Sociology and Global Affairs, whose multidisciplinary work on Eurasia and Russia perfectly embodies the intersection of these two complementary academic fields. Dr. Bockman’s course Post-Soviet Life (RUSS 354) allowed Anka to connect her mother’s experience growing up in Slovakia during the Cold War with broader historical and regional developments. Reflecting on the class, Anka shared, “Dr. Bockman’s style of teaching was really engaging, forcing me to think critically about what we learned and read. I really enjoyed this class and working with Dr. Bockman, and I highly recommend any of her courses, even to those who aren’t studying Russian!”
Reflecting on her time at George Mason, Anka says her favorite experience was spending two semesters in her Honors Capstone, working alongside her classmates on their respective independent research projects that they eventually presented to one another. By the end of those two semesters, she shared, “we were all invested in each other’s projects,” making it a meaningful experience to witness everyone present work they had poured so much effort into, and to see how they had grown as researchers and academics.
By her final year, Anka discovered a deep interest in archival research. She had the opportunity to pursue an independent study with the Russian department, which led her to the nation’s biggest library: the Library of Congress. There, she located and analyzed historical Russian academic articles that were otherwise inaccessible. From this experience, she hopes to continue investigating patterns in Russian academic perspectives on Ukrainian independence and reunification narratives.
Like many meaningful journeys, Anka’s time at Mason also came with challenges. During her sophomore year, she struggled with mental health issues that taught her the importance of recognizing her limits and discerning where she was overextending herself. Through that experience, she learned to accept herself as she was, offering herself grace to heal, rest, and discover new ways to maintain balance as a highly involved student.
When asked what advice she would give to fellow Global Affairs students, Anka emphasizes the importance of making the most of every opportunity:
As cliché as it may sound, the best advice I can give is to truly embrace every moment and opportunity that comes your way. College goes by really fast, so it is important not to miss a moment. I came in with just my GLOA degree declared, and I am now leaving with two BA degress, two minors, and an almost completed MS. None of this would have been possible without the opportunities that I was given by being in the GLOA department, so I encourage all GLOA students to really dig and see what is out there for them too.
June 09, 2025