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Mason senior Eva Noroski spent a month assisting alumna and Elephant Trails keeper Ashley Fortner at the National Zoo, researching elephant sleep patterns.

����AV will honor more than 4,600 summer and fall graduates on Thursday, Dec. 16, in two Winter Graduation ceremonies at EagleBank Arena, marking Mason’s first indoor graduation ceremonies in two years.

On average, pre-pandemic, around 45 Mason Korea students had been studying at the Fairfax Campus each semester. The program peaked at 84 students this fall, but they expect more than 100 students this spring.

Lily Patterson knew she wanted to make things when she began her studies at ����AV. “I just wanted to turn physical things into something that’s really cool and awesome,” she said.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has not seen peace for more than three decades, but in November 2021, ����AV’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution helped the country take a leap in a hopeful direction. In the province of South Kivu, the school gathered representatives from 21 armed groups, the Congolese government, military, police, intelligence services, religious leaders, civil society groups, and peace advocates. Not only did everyone discuss a path toward peacebuilding, but they also signed a peace accord to solidify it.

When graduating psychology major Dorothea J. Tyree attends ����AV’s Winter Graduation on Dec. 16, she will be wearing a stole that shows the flags of her native Romania and Germany, where she lived as a teen.

����AV alum Shaza Andersen, BA Area Studies ’89, is the featured speaker at the 2021 Winter Graduation ceremony.

Solving climate change is a grand challenge facing the planet. As more individuals and leaders are recognizing the need to switch to environmentally friendly practices, ����AV’s Local Climate Change Planning Initiative (LCCPI) is helping make that a reality for counties across Virginia. “Our vision is to have Mason be the lead university in helping counties that lack the resources and expertise in [addressing climate change] get this done,” said Paul Bubbosh, a 1988 Mason alumnus and adjunct professor at the Schar School and College of Science.

Arturo Barrera is receiving his bachelor’s in conflict analysis and resolution. He said Mason supported him before he was a freshman.

Jessica Lammers, who will graduate with her master of public health on Dec. 16, found a job as an environmental health specialist with Fairfax County through her internship.

Mason graduating senior Alex Lee devoted hours upon hours to attending networking events hosted by the School of Business. He talked to potential employers, asked questions, put himself out there.

The Young Alumni Commissioning Project, a grant program for recent graduates, announced the fourth round of requests for proposals from interested alumni. The funds granted to recipients will fund new original works of art in a variety of mediums.