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For more than two decades, Schar School of Policy and Government professor Peter Mandaville has balanced academia with high-stakes diplomacy, moving between the halls of George Mason University and the corridors of global power. His career has been punctuated by pivotal roles in U.S. foreign policy, from navigating the complexities of religious conflict in Ukraine to spearheading faith-based initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Now, after a nearly three-year hiatus, he’s back where it all began—teaching Introduction to International Politics, the class that launched his career in fall 2000.
“I love being able to help the students through their first encounter with international relations as a field,” he said as he settles back into academic life. “It's important that we have some of our more senior and experienced faculty in the classroom for those 100-level courses.”
His students aren’t just getting textbook lessons. They’ are learning from someone who has lived the theories, shaped policy, and negotiated resolutions in real-world crises.
His most recent detour from academia began in 2022, when he was recruited by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to address religious conflicts in war-torn Ukraine. His expertise in religion and peacebuilding made him a natural fit for a role that sought to mediate between the country’s rival Orthodox factions—one historically aligned with Moscow and the other newly independent.
“There was some modest progress,” he said, “until the Ukrainian government passed a law banning the Moscow-affiliated church. That made mediation nearly impossible.”
Just as he was navigating that challenge, a new opportunity emerged. In late 2023, the Biden White House tapped Mandaville for a leadership position at USAID, where he would oversee faith-based partnerships across the globe. Under Administrator Samantha Power’s leadership, USAID had just launched its first-ever policy on working with religious organizations—a groundbreaking moment for U.S. foreign assistance. His mission was to lead the implementation of that policy and translate it into real-world impact.
His stint at USAID was over in mid-January, just before the new administration began dismantling the agency. Unfortunately, his former team was not spared in the elimination of 1,600 Washington, D.C., based positions.
Now back at George Mason, Mandaville is rediscovering the joy of teaching—and the value of bridging academia with real-world experience.
“Students love hearing about the practical side of international relations,” he said. “It’s one thing to study theory, but it’s another to understand how policy is actually made and implemented.”
His return marks the third time he has been called away for public service. The first was under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2010-12), when he served on the State Department’s policy planning staff to help shape the U.S. response to the 2010-11 Arab Uprisings. He was recalled again under Secretary John Kerry to assist with counterterrorism efforts during the rise of ISIS. This latest appointment, however, might be his last.
“I suspect the university would prefer that I stick around for a while,” he said with a laugh.