Clarissa Schwarz is not your typical college student. Then again, nothing about the international security and law student’s journey has been typical. While many of her incoming classmates at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government worried about finals and dorm room drama, Schwarz had bigger concerns—like giving birth.
Schwarz has always been on her own timeline. By the time she graduates in fall 2025, she’ll be 25 years old, a milestone slightly older than her average classmate, which she finds amusing. Determined to land a higher education degree, her college journey began at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), where she studied international affairs.
“I’ve always been interested in international relations,” she said. “But then I saw international security and law at George Mason, and I thought—ooh, that’s even better!”
The law component intrigued her, and as a former Fairfax County 911 dispatcher and a former “relationship banker” who, in addition to other duties, detected fraud, security already played a big role in her life. It was the perfect mix.
Transferring to George Mason for the spring 2024 semester was a natural next step.
But getting the acceptance letter? That was a moment she’ll never forget—because it happened on the same day she went into labor with her daughter, Lily.
“It was a phenomenal day,” she said.
Schwarz acknowledges that life with a newborn while in college is no small feat. “The first year was, let’s just say, chaotic with the sleep schedule,” she said. Adept at balancing priorities, she’s put her work career on hold for the time being while she raises her daughter and finishes her degree.
As it happens, her husband Nicholas, whom she married during the fall 2024 semester (she stays busy!), was a student at George Mason when she was a student at NOVA and now he’s a student at NOVA working on a diesel mechanic certificate and she’s a student at George Mason.
“Funny how that happens!” she said with a laugh.
Now, as Schwarz nears the college degree finish line, she is excited about what’s next. A career in international security? Law school? Maybe both?
“I have options, which is a nice feeling,” she said, adding that a career in federal or local law enforcement would be ideal. Also ideal would be the ability to work while earning a Schar School graduate degree, a notion that resulted from her participation in the recent Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Public Service Weekend hosted by the Schar School. The weekend brought undergraduate students from colleges across the country to network with professionals, understand key policy issues, and explore careers in public service. (Read about who was involved and what they experienced at this web page.)
No matter what the future brings, one thing is clear: Clarissa M. Schwarz forges her own path.