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Mason and AWS collaborate on Renewable Energy Lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration

John Hollis — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:45:52 +0000

Mason and AWS collaborate on Renewable Energy Lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration John Hollis Tue, 03/05/2024 - 11:45

For Immediate Release

Mason and AWS collaborate on Renewable Energy Lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration

Fairfax, Va. (March 4, 2024)—Working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), ��AV will unveil a new Renewable Energy Lab within the soon-to-open Fuse at Mason Square in Arlington and launch a companion curriculum concentration in sustainable data center engineering this fall 2024.

“We are very appreciative of our continuing collaboration with AWS,” Mason President Gregory Washington said. “Because of their support, we are providing our students and faculty with cutting-edge technology and tools that unite our researchers across many disciplines to further their knowledge about data centers. With this level of education and experience, our students are well-prepared to enter the tech workforce.” 

“Investing in expanded laboratory experiences for students is critical,” Nicholas Lee-Romagnolo, program lead of workforce and economic development at AWS, said. “George Mason students from all disciplines will have access to real-world technologies and hands-on simulations. This type of immersive learning complements the breadth of new programs offered to students and helps ensure they have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to fill high-demand jobs across the region.”

The new concentration in sustainable data center engineering will focus on renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution training and hands-on experience. The course builds upon the Data Center Engineering course launched last year that develops student expertise in data center infrastructure design, operations, efficiency, cooling, and decarbonization.

With advanced equipment and software tools funded by AWS, Mason’s new Renewable Energy Lab will allow students to explore, analyze, and simulate data related to renewable energy sources as well as the complex design and operation of microgrids. The lab will replicate real-world equipment, such as power grids, wind power plants, and other renewable energy sources.

“AWS’s investment in the renewable energy lab provides another critical piece to Mason’s experiential ecosystem designed to prepare the next generation of engineers for roles that did not exist ten years ago,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “Mason will now expand the number of students in our power engineering and data center engineering programs with hands-on skills development, which is essential to bridge between the classroom and industry practice.

The new lab will be based at Fuse at Mason Square and is part of Mason’s broad partnership with Amazon. The curriculum also strengthens Mason’s participation in the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a statewide program that aims to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students completing degrees in the fields of computer science, applied computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) adds, “Mason consistently delivers on its promise to foster collaboration across disciplines and industries not only to deliver the best student experience but also to advance critical solutions to the nation’s grandest challenges.” 

Contacts:

Martha Bushong
College of Engineering and Computing
��AV
Email: mbushong@gmu.edu
Website: www.cec.gmu.edu

Rosa Salinas
Community Impact Programs
Amazon Web Services
Email: salirosa@amazon.com

###

ABOUT ��AV

��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu. 

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Mason alum and innovator Paul Misener is the Winter 2023 Commencement speaker

Colleen Rich — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:34:27 +0000

Mason alum and innovator Paul Misener is the Winter 2023 Commencement speaker Colleen Rich Mon, 11/06/2023 - 13:34

Paul E. Misener, a scientist, lawyer, engineer and innovator will be the featured speaker at ��AV’s 2023 Winter Commencement ceremony. The ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Graduates may register for free tickets to the ceremony.

Paul E. Misener. Photo provided

Misener is the founder and principal of Misener Innovation LLC, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations innovate, advocate, and communicate.

He was a global vice president at Amazon.com for 23 years, most recently as vice president for global innovation policy and communications from May 2016 to February 2023, where he led Amazon’s culture of innovation and represented Amazon to external organizations and internal colleagues worldwide.

He has testified before the U.S. Congress more than 30 times and frequently before other policymaking bodies around the world. Over the years, Paul has conducted business in 36 countries on six continents and has visited 24 nations.

Misener earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and computer science at Princeton, where he conducted senior research in the physics department. He earned his JD from Mason in 1993 and serves on the Mason President’s Innovation Advisory Council, as well as on the advisory boards of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation and the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.

In 2013, Paul chaired the technical subcommittee of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s advisory committee that recommended allowing commercial airline passengers to use portable electronics during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

He is an inventor named in three patents.

Formerly a partner in a large Washington, D.C., law firm, Misener previously served as senior legal advisor at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and as Intel Corporation’s manager of telecommunications and computer technology policy. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded and led the computer industry’s Internet Access Coalition, and previously was assistant to the chairman of the Emmy Award-winning committee that established the technical standard for modern television and computer displays.

Winter Graduation 2023 - Ceremony Information

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From EIP to Amazon Futures Scholar and Honors College student

Colleen Rich — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:15:47 +0000

From EIP to Amazon Futures Scholar and Honors College student Colleen Rich Wed, 10/04/2023 - 11:15

Kimberly Montesflores Gonzalez already had a strong relationship with ��AV before she enrolled as a freshman this fall.

“I'm an Early Identification Program (EIP) alumni, so I basically grew up in George Mason. I just liked the community and how at home I felt, so I knew that it was a good fit for me,” she said.

With more than 2,000 graduates, EIP provides access to educational resources for middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend a college or university.

As part of her EIP experience, Montesflores Gonzalez took dual enrollment classes in high school. “I took cybersecurity and programming classes where I learned a lot about the basics of computers, but I wanted to learn more about how the software part works.”

She also has a passion for coding and is enrolled in Introduction to Computer Programming.

“I'm excited about this course because I get to learn more about how Python works and experiment more in my coding,” said Montesflores Gonzalez. “Python is a programming language, and that’s something every programmer needs to learn.”

The computer science major received an Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, which comes with $40,000 and an Amazon internship, which will start next summer. She also received one of Mason’s University Scholars awards, a full tuition scholarship given to select students from the Honors College.

Montesflores Gonzalez also hopes to join a few clubs at Mason. “One of my professors mentioned there's a club called ‘Girls Who Code’ and it sounds really interesting,” she said.

Outside of schoolwork, Montesflores Gonzalez helps take care of her two younger siblings, and is going into her fifth year as a catechist at her church teaching children.

For her high school capstone, Montesflores Gonzalez did work with the diversity, equity, and inclusion office where she organized events and held diversity talks about our culture and how students felt in the school.

In the future, Montesflores Gonzalez hopes to utilize her coding and programming skills for an organization that positively impacts her community, she said.

Montesflores Gonzalez also hopes to become an EIP mentor while at Mason.

^{“EIP was such a big part of my middle school and high school experience and giving back to the program is very important for me because it really helped me [prepare for college],” she said.}

Learn more about Mason's Early Identification Program

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Amazon partners with Mason and NOVA for workforce development

Colleen Rich — Wed, 24 May 2023 18:48:18 +0000

Amazon partners with Mason and NOVA for workforce development Colleen Rich Wed, 05/24/2023 - 14:48

In This Story

Kamaljeet Sanghera

Liza Wilson Durant

Students from ��AV and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will participate in the AmazonNext x CodePath 2023 Summer Cohort June 5 to August 19.

More than 200 Mason students applied for the cohort. Selected participants will complete CodePath Org’s Technical Interview Prep course where they will engage with real-world software topics and practice technical interviewing.

The 10-week program is a unique opportunity for students in the greater Washington, D.C., region who want to pursue tech careers. In addition to coursework, students will have opportunities to participate in Amazon workshops, receive guidance from Amazon mentors, and attend events at Amazon HQ2. Students will receive a $5,000 scholarship upon program completion.

“We look forward to welcoming this new cohort over the summer and using our resources to help educate students on the possibilities open to them in tech careers,” said Tiffany Blacknall Benjamin, senior manager, DEI higher education strategy and partnerships at Amazon. “It is important to us to help students develop critical skills that will give them a competitive advantage as they prepare to enter the workforce.”

The partnership between AmazonNext, CodePath, Mason and NOVA will expand and benefit the tech talent pipeline in the region and support regional universities and two-year colleges participating in the program.

"Amazon’s investment in George Mason and NOVA accelerates the development of a diverse work-ready talent pipeline for Virginia,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost of strategic initiatives and community engagement at Mason. “The AmazonNext program serves as a model for industry and academic partnership to deliver the workforce of the future, with technical and professional skills that respond to the demands of emerging technologies and an interdisciplinary workforce." 

Kammy Sanghera, executive director of the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), is leading Mason’s effort in the program. “Part of the IDIA’s mission is connecting students with industry members and our partnership with Amazon helps students to learn the skills necessary to be successful in the tech field after college,” she said. “By making these connections, we are supporting the growth of the tech talent pipeline that is already becoming prominent in our region.”

As part of the partnership, Amazon will sponsor technical programming, infrastructure, and strategy on campus, giving students in the Mason and NOVA communities additional opportunities for tech-related education and events.

“Our partnership with Amazon is an incredibly valuable resource for our students and campus communities,” said Chad Knights, vice president of information and engineering technologies (IET) and college computing at NOVA. “By expanding the tech-related opportunities available to students, we are helping to build critical skills and knowledge that will help students stand out as they begin their search for internships and employment opportunities in tech and innovation-related fields.”

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Mason, Amazon collaboration to deliver innovations in education and research

Colleen Rich — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:03:01 +0000

Mason, Amazon collaboration to deliver innovations in education and research Colleen Rich Mon, 11/28/2022 - 12:03

��AV and Amazon have entered into a strategic collaboration that will allow the university to better serve students, advance its commitment to a more sustainable campus environment, and introduce new educational programs in data center engineering.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

By leveraging technical solutions from Amazon Web Services’ cloud services, Mason will develop a unified platform to improve the process for students from community colleges to transfer into the university. The seamless process will support Mason’s commitment to access by eliminating obstacles related to enrollment and transfer, ensuring systematic barriers do not prevent student success.

Mason faculty, students, staff, and public-sector and industry partners can also expect the development of new approaches to address food insecurity, reduce the technical skills gap in data center engineering, and advance environmental priorities. In the coming years, students will be able to access these novel programs and new curriculum that will help learners pursue careers in data center engineering across the greater Washington metropolitan area, where there is an increasing need for mechanical and electrical engineering talent.

Mason is among the largest producers of tech talent in Virginia, with 40% of students majoring in STEM fields. The university is ranked No. 1 in the commonwealth and No. 9 nationally among public institutions for innovation by U.S. News and World Report.

“The diverse talent pipeline that ��AV produces is in part what attracted Amazon to Arlington,” Mason President Gregory Washington said of the company’s construction of a headquarters in the city. “Mason’s work with Amazon will better serve the students in that pipeline as well as drive economic growth through business, government and community collaborations as Mason becomes one of the most technologically advanced, inclusive universities in the nation.”

As Mason works with Amazon Web Services to implement enhanced, high-performance computing and machine learning, it also will accelerate its research capabilities and provide new platforms for innovation, including an increased collaboration with the intelligence community to drive research and new discoveries with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 5G technology.

In total, this unique collaboration will deliver a secure, cloud-based environment for university, industry and government mission partners to conduct cutting-edge research.

"This is just the beginning of a powerful collaboration," said Amazon's Paul Misener. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

"In this long-term initiative, customer services and resources from across Amazon will accelerate innovation at Virginia's largest public research university, including by helping Mason innovate and build on the vast portfolio of AWS Cloud technologies and solutions,” said Paul Misener, vice president for global innovation policy and communications at Amazon. “This is just the beginning of a powerful collaboration that not only will improve student outcomes, but also will create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future for the university.”

The newly announced projects will add to an already strong collaborative effort between Mason, AWS, and Amazon to support students and innovation.

A just-completed hackathon co-hosted by Mason and Amazon, a project based out of the university’s Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, challenged teams from U.S. and international academic institutions, companies, and other affiliations to develop innovative ideas to improve public-private collaborations against the industry-wide global challenge of counterfeiting.

Mason Square is also the future home of Mason’s Fuse building, a 345,000-square-foot facility that will open in 2025 as the flagship tech hub for digital innovation, showcasing the power of partnerships in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, connecting students, faculty, industry, and government.

Additionally, AWS’ Girls Tech Day in Northern Virginia was held at Mason’s Science and Technology Campus with the goal of inspiring girls and women to pursue careers in the technology sector. And Mason President Gregory Washington recently participated in a panel discussion, hosted by Amazon, that focused on workforce development and the future of work.

“��AV has proven to be a leading education institution in the nation’s capital for a number of years,” said Kim Majerus, vice president, U.S. education, state and local government at AWS. “As one of the first universities to launch a cloud computing degree program, Mason has always seen how the power of technology can help meet mission outcomes. This collaboration will be transformative in showing the positive impact technology can have on the education community across the nation, as well as advance research in cybersecurity, defense, and military intelligence for public-sector leaders.”

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AWS Girls’ Tech Day Virginia at Hylton Center inspires nearly 400 girls and young women to pursue STEAM

Colleen Rich — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:53:36 +0000

AWS Girls’ Tech Day Virginia at Hylton Center inspires nearly 400 girls and young women to pursue STEAM Colleen Rich Mon, 11/14/2022 - 09:53

The Hylton Performing Arts Center at ��AV’s Science and Technology Campus is normally bustling with performances from local, national, and international artists. On October 1, the venue was filled with a different kind of energy.

Nearly 400 girls and women interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) gathered to participate in Girls’ Tech Day Virginia, hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initiative, in partnership with the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation (SPARK), as well as other local organizations, aims to inspire school-aged girls and young women to pursue careers in STEAM.

Girls' Tech Day attendees got to work a mock crime scene. Photo by AWS

The event offered panels and workshops with Mason faculty and STEAM professionals. Workshops included “Who’s the Artist? Engineer or Machine” and “The Real CSI,” the latter offering a dive into what it is like to be a forensic scientist turning the Merchant Hall stage into a mock crime scene.

The event also gave attendees opportunities to build coding experience and included professional development with resume building and complimentary headshots.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with the talented young ladies who participated in the AWS Girls’ Tech Day,” said Kelly Knight, associate professor of forensic science at Mason and facilitator of “The Real CSI” workshop. “As I looked out into the audience and saw the excitement in their eyes, I couldn't help but think about how meaningful an event like this would have been to me as a young girl.”

Since 2018, Girls’ Tech Day has reached nearly 7,000 girls and young women ages 8-24 to motivate, excite, and inspire them to pursue careers in STEAM. A free program, the first Girls’ Tech Day took place at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in partnership with AWS, who also supports the Hylton Center’s Education Initiative and other programs. Ongoing support from AWS helps make arts accessible to local students and schools at the Hylton Center and throughout local communities.

“We were excited to host this event in collaboration with the Hylton Center to support students in Prince William County, building on our ongoing efforts to bring STEAM education opportunities to young learners,” said Cornelia Robinson, global lead of inclusion and outreach for AWS. “Women represent a quarter or less of workers in computing and engineering, and we want to do our part to inspire and support students and young women in the communities we call home.”

Nearly 400 girls and women interested in STEAM gathered to participate in Girls’ Tech Day Virginia. Photo by AWS

Girls’ Tech Day is just one part of a collection of initiatives AWS is leading to promote STEAM education in Virginia. In 2019, Prince William County opened the first AWS Think Big Space to further promote and cultivate an interest in STEAM disciplines through hands-on learning. Since then, AWS has funded 38 spaces globally and is looking to establish even more in Northern Virginia.

“The Hylton Center Education Initiative is 100% supported by philanthropy,” said Hylton Center Education Coordinator Marit Majeske. “The lead sponsorship of AWS enables the Hylton Center to reach students from early elementary to lifelong learners with in-person field trips, virtual field trips, master classes, lecture demonstrations, and residencies. We are grateful for their support of our goal to bring the arts to students in our community.”

Connecting with students at an early age is especially meaningful for Knight.

“When I was their age, there weren't many events that were not only created for girls but that were also free, and I think that's an important point,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have STEAM outreach programs, but if they aren't accessible, we are missing the point. Programs such as this allow girls to not only see the possibilities but to also remind them that they belong in STEAM regardless of their background.”

Learn more about AWS Girls’ Tech Day.

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Mason/Amazon hackathon is a win for Mason students

Colleen Rich — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:44:39 +0000

Mason/Amazon hackathon is a win for Mason students Colleen Rich Mon, 11/07/2022 - 12:44

Nervousness, shock, disbelief, exhaustion. Those were among the emotions ��AV freshmen Pranay Yella and Pranav Reddippali said they experienced at the 2022 Bring Down Counterfeiting Public Policy Hackathon.

In the end, though, it was worth it—$15,000 to be exact.

Team Nimbus—Pranav Reddippali, Srivatsa Krishnamurthy, Pranay Yella—took second place at the Mason/Amazon Bring Down Counterfeiting Public Policy Hackathon. Photo by Blue Clarity

That is how much Team Nimbus—which included Yella, an information technology major; Reddippali, a computer science major; and their friend from the University of Virginia, Srivatsa Krishnamurthy—were awarded as the event’s second-place finisher.

Their proposal: Develop a Google Chrome extension that can prevent the consumption of counterfeit medicine by focusing on exposing counterfeit pharmacies.

Louise Shelley, founder and director of Mason's TraCCC. Photo by John Boal Photography

Team Hypercube earned the $20,000 first prize for its concept of a national counterfeiting index through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered blockchain that would allow federal, state and local law enforcement to share information, and consumers to verify the authenticity of a product through their phones.

“Opportunities like this are definitely something to be taken seriously,” Yella said. “An idea is a free thing, but once you implement it, it can revolutionize the world.”

[Mason and the Bring Down Counterfeiting Public Policy Hackathon are featured in Amazon's 2023 Brand Protection Report, which was part of this Good Morning America report.]

The hackathon, co-hosted by Mason’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and Amazon, was held Nov. 5 at the Homeland Security Investigations Lab in Arlington, Virginia.

TraaCCC is located at Mason Square (formerly Arlington Campus), where the 345,000-square -oot Fuse building is under construction, scheduled to open in 2025. Fuse will serve as a technological hub in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, connecting students, faculty, industry, and government.

Saturday's hackathon, administered by Blue Clarity, challenged teams from U.S. and international academic institutions, companies, and other affiliations to develop innovative ideas to improve public–private collaborations against the industry-wide global challenge of counterfeiting. More than 280 individuals registered for the hackathon. More than 30 teams submitted proposals by the deadline, 11 of which made the finals.

An panel of judges scored the submissions based on potential impact, scalability, creativity and design.

In developing the submissions, participants had access to experts and mentors from Amazon, law enforcement, tech and retail industries, academia, and government.

From Mason, those included the Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis Center (CINA), the College of Science, the School of Computing, and the Antonin Scalia Law School.

“Only effective public–private collaboration and a relentless pursuit of solutions can solve this problem,” Mason President Gregory Washington said. “This important event is a step in that direction because this hackathon involves policy. We’re not just pursuing greater understanding of counterfeiting, we’re trying to improve the response to the problem. We appreciate Amazon’s commitment to work with Mason to find innovative solutions and to provide opportunities for Mason students to take part in these challenging hands-on experiences.”

Added Kebharu Smith, director of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit: “We’re excited to be, as Amazon, part of this hackathon with Mason and TraCCC and the other partners that participated in this first hackathon, to really think about ways that we can fight counterfeiters and the scourge of counterfeiting. This partnership is key to us moving forward and going after counterfeiters and beating them at this threat.”

Kebharu Smith, director of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit, spoke with the media following the hackathon. Photo by Blue Clarity

Which brings us back to Yella and Reddippali, the Mason students who finished second in the competition with their friend from UVA.

Asked why they decided to focus on counterfeit medicine and pharmacies, Reddippali said, “Because we felt it had the most impact on people with lives at stake. With other counterfeit goods, it is the stealing of intellectual property. But we felt this was more urgent.”

Yella, Reddippali, and Krishnamurthy, all from Ashburn, Virginia, met in high school. Reddippali said Yella came up with the idea of the Chrome extension, but they all collaborated on the details that include checking the legitimacy of online pharmacies and creating a forum where users can provide feedback that can be accessed by local, state and federal authorities.

“They were so thoughtful in thinking about counterfeiting as a health and safety issue,” said Louise Shelley, TraCCC’s founder and director. “And they were so incredibly clever in thinking about solutions.”

They are also thinking about the future of their project.

“We’re definitely going to go on with this project in a more serious way,” Yella said. “We feel this product can revolutionize the medicine industry. We definitely want to use our funds to make it successful in the future.”

In the moment, though, “They were so excited,” Shelley said, “they were shaking.”

Other awards:

Mason’s Criminal Investigations Network and Analysis Center sponsored a special $10,000 prize to fund follow-up research by A-CAPP Team #1, which proposed producing a central database to help law enforcement and private businesses track individuals and factories that manufacture or sell counterfeit items.

The $5,000 student prize went to The Spartan Solution, which demonstrated a cipher-based solution to combat counterfeit listings on e-commerce sites before the listings reach consumers.

The crowdsource prize of $2,000 went to Team G.I.N., which detailed creation of a network, accessible by a QR code, that will allow everyone the ability to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit goods.

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TraCCC and Amazon team up for policy hackathon to stop counterfeiters

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:18:35 +0000

TraCCC and Amazon team up for policy hackathon to stop counterfeiters Colleen Rich Fri, 08/05/2022 - 12:18

In This Story

Louise I. Shelley

��AV’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and Amazon have joined forces to help combat counterfeiting and its criminal supply chain networks.

The method? Co-hosting the 2022 Bring Down Counterfeiting Public Policy Hackathon, a first-of-its-kind event, administered by Blue Clarity, that will challenge teams from U.S. academic institutions, companies and other affiliations to develop innovative ideas to combat these global challenges.

Registration opened August 5 ahead of an August 27 virtual kickoff event. An in-person final judging will be on November 5, when teams will compete for more than $20,000 in prizes. Go to expeditionhacks.com/counterfeiting for details and to register.

“Our goal is to bring together U.S. policy makers, domain experts, and academic institutions to raise awareness of the threats and generate powerful new ideas to stop this criminal activity,” said TraCCC Director Louise Shelley, a University Professor in the Schar School. “We are excited to have Amazon as a partner in this initial event and we appreciate their leadership in fostering a culture of open cooperation and innovation. The results from this hackathon will also be used to inform our ongoing research on counterfeit and other criminal supply chain networks.”

As ideas are developed, teams will be able to engage real-time with a diverse group of mentors from across the public and private sectors, including Edward Huang, a member of TraCCC and an associate professor in Mason's College of Engineering and Computing.

“Mason is taking on these global challenges that we must confront as humanity,” Mason alum Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice president of global innovation policy and communications, said in April at the groundbreaking for the Fuse building at Mason Square in Arlington.

“The fact is, Mason is not just a pipeline for tech talent,” Shelley said. “We have a unique perspective that Amazon sought out, which is to place tech in context to inform policy. This makes Mason different from other tech programs, and is what brought Amazon to us in the first place.”

The hackathon continues and expands Mason’s partnership with Amazon.

The Fuse building is part of a large-scale expansion at Mason Square. Scheduled to open in 2025, it will be a 345,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a technological hub in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, connecting students, faculty, industry, and government.

The campus, which is adjacent to Amazon’s new headquarters, is part of Mason’s commitment to expanding its programs in computer science, computer engineering, information technology and other closely related fields to rapidly increase the number of highly skilled graduates for Amazon and other regional employers.

Mason also just completed a collaboration with Amazon and the Maryland Chamber Foundation in a program that provided current and potential computer science teachers in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. with an opportunity to shadow Amazon experts and take a companion three-credit, graduate-level class at Mason. That program is now funded by Google.

“Mason’s partnership with Amazon to curate real-world experiential learning initiatives like the TraCCC hackathon positions Mason students as some of the best-trained, work-ready talent pipelines in the nation,” said Liza Wilson Durant, Mason’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “This event not only supports our students’ professional development, but will lead to impactful solutions to a challenging real-world threat.”

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that pirated and counterfeit products make up 2.5% (roughly $464 billion) a year in world trade. Counterfeiters deprive brand owners of the value of their intellectual property and compete unfairly with honest entrepreneurs. The supply chains of counterfeiters may also intersect with transnational networks in a wide range of illicit behavior, including illegal trade in narcotics, arms, people, and wildlife.

“Amazon is known for its customer obsession, and a critical part of that is earning and maintaining our customers’ trust,” said Mary Beth Westmoreland, vice president of brand protection at Amazon. “While we are proud of the progress we have made, we will not stop until we drive counterfeits to zero in our store, and we will continue to invest and innovate until we get there.”

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Amazon donates $25,000 to M-VETS capital campaign to expand pro bono legal services

John Hollis — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:06:34 +0000

Amazon donates $25,000 to M-VETS capital campaign to expand pro bono legal services John Hollis Mon, 11/15/2021 - 11:06

With its arrival in Arlington, Amazon has established itself as a significant community partner and continued to strengthen those ties this month by making a donation to the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (“M-VETS”) at the ��AV Antonin Scalia Law School. The funding will help support a third attorney position, greatly expanding M-VETS’ ability to provide legal support to the local veteran community.

In an effort to assist a greater number of veterans and to expand its scope of services, M-VETS has partnered with American Legion Post 139 to provide free legal services in the newly renovated Post headquarters housed in the Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place, an affordable housing complex spearheaded by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing set to open in 2022. Not only will Terwilliger Place be home to the new Post 139 headquarters, but, of the 160 units of affordable housing, 50% will have a veterans preference, providing critical housing and resources to local veterans.

In order to staff the new M-VETS outpost co-located in the American Legion’s new headquarters, M-VETS is leading a capital campaign to hire a third staff attorney dedicated to providing walk-in legal services, direct representation in new practice areas, and supervision of law students in these matters. Amazon’s contribution will be earmarked to fund the third attorney position. With the addition of a third attorney and expansion of practice areas, M-VETS anticipates that it will be able to increase its output of pro bono services by nearly 40 percent.

“With Amazon’s generosity, we have taken a significant step in continuing our mission to fund the third staff attorney position,” M-VETS Director Timothy MacArthur said. “We are extremely grateful to Amazon for its support of our clinic operations and look forward to continuing our partnership with our new Arlington neighbor.”

MacArthur emphasized the importance of being able to expand practice areas and provide walk-in legal services at the American Legion Post 139 Headquarters. “Expanding into the areas of criminal law and employment matters will enable us to assist a greater number of veterans and service members in the community,” MacArthur said. “In addition, our ability to offer walk-in legal counseling will provide an immediate impact the local military community.”

M-VETS provides free legal representation to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families while allowing law students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of practicing attorneys. M-VETS provides representation in a variety of matters including Virginia civil litigation matters, uncontested divorces, consumer protection matters, wills and powers of attorney, as well as assisting with matters before the VA and various administrative boards, including discharge upgrades, record corrections, military pay and entitlement matters, and VA disability benefit appeals.

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IT master's student speaks at AWS Imagine EDU

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 14:08:36 +0000

IT master's student speaks at AWS Imagine EDU Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/06/2021 - 10:08

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Kamaljeet Sanghera

Master's student Maya Chatterjee (third from left) discussed cloud computing with students from other universities across the country at the AWS Imagine: EDU conference.

During the closing session of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Imagine EDU conference in September, students from AWS Cloud Innovation Centers and AWS education programs discussed their educational experiences.

In front of an audience of nearly 300 people, applied information technology master’s student Maya Chatterjee joined speakers from Arizona State University and California Polytechnical Institute. The students were on hand to talk about their programs, discuss their experiences leveraging technology, and share how they were making a difference in their communities.

“I really appreciate that I got the platform to be able to speak about cloud computing education for higher education. I am passionate about getting minorities in cloud computing and technology, and it was encouraging to hear that there are educators who are eager to support this initiative,” says Chatterjee.

As the catalyst for Mason’s first Cloud Computing Conference last fall, Chatterjee says she’s been inspired to see how much her knowledge of cloud computing has accelerated her career and wanted to provide those same opportunities for others.

“My first AWS internship gave me the confidence to create an innovative solution and to constantly reinvent. I created four different solutions before the last one was finally approved and accepted,” she says. In her second internship, she learned a variety of new technologies and used machine learning and data analytics tools to help automate stress testing of a natural language processing tool. 

“Maya’s exceptional work ethic and professionalism are the kinds of attributes employers value,” says Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director of the Institute for Digital InnovAtion. “Not only has Maya successfully applied her knowledge in two internships, but she is also a wonderful advocate for women and underrepresented groups in STEM. We know we will be hearing more about her.”

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Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA)

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