MA in Economics

Hassan Shahidi, 1983

Hassan Shahidi, BA International Studies '81, MA Economics '83, is the president and chief executive officer of Flight Safety Foundation, an international and independent nonprofit organization with a singular mission to enhance global aviation safety through research, standards, education, and advocacy.

He leads a global campaign across offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, to promote best practices and innovative solutions to aviation safety. In Africa, he has led initiatives to enable safe operations of drones for humanitarian missions, including delivery of vaccines and medicine. He holds a private pilot's license. Shahidi has a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master's in economics from George Mason University, a master's in systems engineering from University of Virginia and a doctor of science in engineering management from George Washington University. He has served in various roles in the aviation industry during the past four decades.

CHSS had the privilege to sit down with Dr. Shahidi to discuss his career path, how his CHSS degree played a pivotal role in his career trajectory, and his advice to students pursuing a degree in the humanities and social sciences. Here’s what he had to say.

Can you tell us about your college-to-career journey?

After finishing my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Mason, I entered a master’s program in systems engineering at the University of Virginia. This was mainly to diversify my skills and supplement the knowledge I had already acquired while at Mason. Once I finished that program, I got my first job, which was in the field of aviation and air traffic control. This was in the early 1980s, and I have remained in that field for the past 40 years and haven't looked back.

I completed my training to become a pilot in order to understand how aviation works and how air traffic control works. Mid-career, I earned a doctoral degree in engineering management from George Washington University. Today I'm the CEO of the Flight City Foundation, which is a nonprofit international aviation safety advocacy organization. My role is elevating aviation safety standards globally through research, education and disseminating best practices in aviation safety.

What skills did you learn at Mason that have been most valuable to you?

At Mason, I found myself constantly being encouraged by my professors. I was challenged to think outside the box, to question, to analyze, to really be innovative. The rigorous academic environment wasn't just about importing knowledge. It was about cultivating a mindset, a way of thinking, a way of looking at things. That was invaluable for me. Mason prepared me for more than just a job—Mason prepared me for a lifelong journey of learning.

My degrees in international studies and economics have absolutely been invaluable in my career. Especially when studying social sciences and humanities, you pick up a lot of different skills that give you perspective. But specifically, I think what was important for me are the critical thinking and analytical skills. Also very important are the networking skills—it's important to have those to be able to connect in our professional fields. I also learned a great deal of research skills and communication skills. It’s so important to communicate in any field.

And then beyond the tangible skills, of course, there are the deeper things that I learned about sense of purpose: Understanding that you've got to think globally; you've got to understand beyond your immediate environment. We're not isolated entities. We’re part of a larger connected world.

What is your favorite Mason memory?

I entered Mason in 1977, and in those days, there were just a few buildings. It really had a distinct intimate feeling to it. There was this energy, this sense of being something bigger and full of potential that I recall as very, very memorable.

What is your advice to current CHSS students?

I’d offer the same advice that I give my kids as they go through their college experiences:

• Regardless of your field, stay curious. Be open to learning and be a lifetime learner.
• After you leave your academic environment, your learning continues; it actually accelerates.
• Network and build meaningful connections. It opens up opportunities.
• Having a diversified set of skills is important these days—double major, minor, double minor.
• Get practical experience with internships whether they are paid or unpaid. I’ve recruited a lot of students from Mason.
• Soft skills matter. You might have a very specific set of skills, but if you cannot communicate, if you cannot really talk and write coherently, you’re not going to be successful.
• Teamwork is very important. You are not going to work alone—you've got to work with other people and deal with different personalities.
• Lastly, as you go through life, you’re going to fail and you’re going to have setbacks. I’ve had many in my career; mistakes and setbacks are inevitable. Instead of seeing them as failures, look at them as learning opportunities and you’ll actually become stronger.