Seton Hall Fellowship Equips Future National Security Experts for Evolving Global Threats

Seton Hall University's National Security Graduate Fellowship is providing graduate students with practical experience in national security and foreign policy challenges, aiming to prepare them for immediate roles within government agencies. The program pairs students with federal departments to conduct research and analysis on pressing issues, boasting an 80% placement rate for its graduates in organizations such as the NSA, CIA, and the Department of Defense.

Mohamad Mirghahari, the fellowship's founder and a national security expert with extensive experience in the Department of Defense and the Transportation Security Administration, stated his goal is for students to be "ready day one" upon being hired. He emphasized the program's uniqueness in having students tackle real-world issues for government agencies that often face resource constraints.

"Our program is unlike any other in the nation because our graduate students are actually tackling real-world national security challenges and issues from government agencies," Mirghahari told Fox News Digital. "As we know, most government agencies have a lot of things going on and they don't have enough resources, but what our graduate students are able to do is support those government agencies, answering and doing research for real-world requirements in the national security field."

The curriculum addresses contemporary threats, including those posed by China, artificial intelligence, and foreign influence operations. Mirghahari noted that the program incorporates guest lecturers and professors from across the U.S. government, offering students insights into current field experiences and the evolving nature of national security threats compared to previous decades.

Projects undertaken by fellows have included research for the State Department on potential U.S. re-engagement strategies with the Taliban in Afghanistan, with the findings remaining relevant and circulated within government circles for years. The program also delves into emerging challenges related to AI, data analysis, and foreign influence, with students leveraging their technological expertise to support government research efforts.

Mirghahari highlighted the program's focus on utilizing tools such as artificial intelligence, graph theory, and other analytical methods to examine large datasets and foreign influence campaigns, including how data is mined and distributed. He stated that the students are educated on these technologies and their potential applications across government sectors.

"We examine foreign influence, including how data is mined and distributed, and we use tools such as artificial intelligence, graph theory and other analytical methods to examine large datasets," Mirghahari said. "We’re giving students an awareness of these technologies and how they can be used across the government."

He added that the program helps government clients consolidate and analyze information more effectively. Mirghahari believes the intensive, practical experience gained through the fellowship is equivalent to what students might otherwise take five years to learn on the job, stressing the critical importance of immediate readiness in the current national security environment. Feedback from agencies has indicated that the fellows are often better equipped than some more experienced personnel, according to Mirghahari.