Wayne Glass
Professor G. Wayne Glass received his PhD in international relations from the University of Denver in 1983 having embarked on a career in security policy in the federal service. Upon his graduation from Princeton with a degree in Political Science and Russian Studies, Dr. Glass served in the US Navy as an officer aboard ship and in Washington DC before resuming his academic work. He received a Master's degree in public policy at the University of Colorado as well as an additional Master's degree prior to his doctorate at the University of Denver. He was awarded a Presidential Management Internship in 1979 and began his policymaking career in the Pentagon as a staff analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. During his civil service career, Dr. Glass held positions in the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the State Department, the Congressional Budget Office, and the U.S. Senate. His last position as Senior Defense Policy Advisor to Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) placed him in the center of legislative activity regarding defense and foreign policy programs considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dr. Glass retired from the US Senate before beginning his academic career at the School of International Relations at USC in 2002. He was awarded the title of Professor of the Practice of International Relations during the academic year 2008-2009 and serves as a full-time faculty member in the School of International Relations.
"I like to think that my experience in the policymaking world of Washington DC enables me to bring a unique approach to my classrooms at USC," Dr. Glass stated when selected in 2010 as a Faculty Fellow to the Center for Excellence in Teaching. Students in his classes study US foreign policy and international security policy from the perspective of policy makers responsible for solving problems in ways to maximize benefits and reduce costs. He addresses subject matter in his courses using interactive, student-centered activities, including simulation exercises that mimic his Washington experiences. Written and oral assignments reflect tasks typically assigned in Washington, providing students with valuable workplace skills.
Dr. Glass' highlight class takes place each summer when he accompanies a delegation of USC students to Washington DC to research nuclear security matters. Students meet with a broad array of experts and officials inside and outside government, including in the major executive branch agencies, such as the Departments of Defense, State, Energy and Homeland Security as well as the Congress. They conclude the class with professional quality policy briefings that are standard practice in Washington.
"My first job is to train them for the workplace," Dr. Glass observes. "My second job is to place them there," he adds. Dr. Glass actively pursues postgraduate plans with his undergraduate students, assisting them in locating internships, fellowships, and jobs in the policy world. His career experience directly benefits students in creating a vision and plan for their professional future.