Student Engagement / en Mason’s Honors College pursues anti-racist community through discussion program /news/2020-10/masons-honors-college-pursues-anti-racist-community-through-discussion-program <span>Mason’s Honors College pursues anti-racist community through discussion program</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Fri, 10/23/2020 - 05:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:basic" data-inline-block-uuid="76757138-33ee-4226-9d85-b48383d9fd11" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockbasic"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="block-feature-image caption-below"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"><img src="https://content.sitemasonry.gmu.edu/sites/g/files/yyqcgq336/files/content-image/Honoring Our Community - Thursday 5 pm.png" alt="" /></div> </div> <div class="feature-image-caption"> <div class="field field--name-field-feature-image-caption field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>“Honoring Our Community” is an Honors College initiative that promotes ongoing conversations among groups of students. Photo provided.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www2.gmu.edu/">AV</a>’s <a href="https://honorscollege.gmu.edu/">Honors College</a> launched a <a href="https://content.gmu.edu/news/588041">program</a> this year to help cultivate an anti-racist community by creating a space in which students can discuss issues of racial and social justice. The program, called “Honoring Our Community,” involves encouraging honest conversations among groups of four or five students working with a facilitator. Students who volunteer for the program meet once a month during the academic year.</p> <p>“Our goal in creating these small communities was that students would have nine months to talk to each other, ask questions of one another, and begin to understand each other’s differences,” said Honors College Dean <a href="https://english.gmu.edu/people/zburr">Zofia Burr</a>.</p> <p>Burr added that to have honest conversations, “there has to be a trust built first. The students get to know each other in small groups to build that trust.”</p> <p><a href="https://honorscollege.gmu.edu/contact-us">Valentino Bryant</a>, director of development in the Honors College, said the “Honoring Our Community” program allows for “meaningful conversations around inequality, inclusion, privilege and systemic racism.</p> <p>“The Honors College is a strong community doing communal work hand-in-hand with each other, having the hard conversations,” said Bryant. More than 30 students are participating in the program. So far, the groups have met once for about an hour and a half.</p> <p><a href="https://president.gmu.edu/about/dr-washingtons-biography">President Gregory Washington</a> has made anti-racism efforts a major goal of his tenure at Mason. In September, he announced the members of a newly formed Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force.</p> <p>Bryant said that the Honors College hopes that their anti-racism program could serve as a model for anti-racist work in other areas at Mason going forward. He said that some of the students in the program this year were preparing to be facilitators next year.</p> <p>Karmen Perry, <a href="https://honorscollege.gmu.edu/admissions/university-scholars">University Scholar</a> and Honors College senior majoring in <a href="https://catalog.gmu.edu/colleges-schools/humanities-social-sciences/sociology-anthropology/sociology-ba/">sociology</a>, said she went into the first meeting “with an open mind and heart, ready to learn from people and hoping that they could learn from me.</p> <p>“We started talking right away, jumping to police brutality,” Perry said. “We ended up sharing resources with each other. I’m looking forward to watching us blossom together as a group as we learn from each other and build an environment in which we can have difficult conversations.”</p> <p>Johan Jeson, a freshman majoring in information technology, agreed that the first meeting was “fruitful.”</p> <p>“I’m hoping that we can continue to talk and use these programs to work on promoting change on issues of race and social justice in our community,” said Jeson.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 23 Oct 2020 09:00:12 +0000 Colleen Rich 2166 at Olympic gold medalist and soccer champion Abby Wambach to speak at Mason Reads /news/2020-09/olympic-gold-medalist-and-soccer-champion-abby-wambach-speak-mason-reads <span>Olympic gold medalist and soccer champion Abby Wambach to speak at Mason Reads</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/276" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Mariam Aburdeineh</span></span> <span>Thu, 09/24/2020 - 07:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2023-03/Abby%20Wambach%20Credit%20-%20MAKERS_600x600.jpg?itok=0X-yXlVf" width="350" height="350" alt="Headshot of Abby Wambach." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Abby Wambach. Photo by MAKERS.</figcaption></figure><p><span class="intro-text">World-renowned soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and author Abby Wambach will virtually chat with AV President Gregory Washington and the campus community for this year’s <a href="https://masonreads.gmu.edu/">Mason Reads</a> program on Monday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.</span></p> <p><span><span>The virtual event in partnership with <a href="https://fallforthebook.org/">Fall for the Book</a> will be moderated by President Washington and explore the themes of Wambach’s 2019 book, “Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“We really hope that our students and the Mason community as a whole will be able to learn more about leadership, learn more about women’s leadership, in particular, and think about how these ideas can apply to their own lives,” said Emilie Dubert, director of Mason’s Contemporary Student Services.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Through Mason Reads, all incoming freshmen received a virtual copy of “Wolfpack” and are encouraged to attend the virtual discussion and Q&A. Throughout the year, the book will also be integrated into programs, events, and classroom activities.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Having the freshman class read the book together helps create a sense of community and shared experience, Dubert said.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The books selected by Mason Reads also reflect the ideals of the Mason graduate.</span></span></p> <figure class="quote"><span><span>“This book fit right into that mold of creating students who are prepared to act,” Dubert said. “The idea of ‘Wolfpack’ is that women in particular can really work together, support and push one another and go out of their comfort zone to move forward together; and the ‘pack’ strengthens communities—men and women—as a whole.”</span></span></figure><p><span><span>Wambach’s book is based on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJe40l2waxs&t=1s">2018 commencement speech</a> at Barnard College and is accessible for students to read in both its length and content, Dubert said.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“It’s not just a book for women, but it really is a book that people can take a lot from no matter what your gender,” Dubert said. “I hope that [Mason Reads attendees] would gain the courage and confidence to step up and lead.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span><a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/e/fftb_allwomen/register">Follow this link</a> to register for Mason Reads with Abby Wambach.</span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1101" hreflang="en">Mason Reads</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1096" hreflang="en">Fall for the Book</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1511" hreflang="en">Student Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1986" hreflang="en">Guest Speaker</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:00:38 +0000 Mariam Aburdeineh 8816 at Tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the name of charity /news/2020-04/tracking-spread-covid-19-name-charity <span>Tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the name of charity</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Tue, 04/14/2020 - 05:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Body</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/426" hreflang="en">Volgenau School of Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1511" hreflang="en">Student Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/196" hreflang="en">coronavirus; COVID-19; News; Editorial</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2186" hreflang="en">computer science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:00:27 +0000 Colleen Rich 4841 at Communication Career Forum connects students with future mentors /news/2019-11/communication-career-forum-connects-students-future-mentors <span>Communication Career Forum connects students with future mentors</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Fri, 11/01/2019 - 10:53</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3401" hreflang="en">Department of Communication</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">College of Humanities and Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1511" hreflang="en">Student Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 01 Nov 2019 14:53:03 +0000 Colleen Rich 15586 at Kimberly Holmes, PhD, MEd /profiles/kholme10 <span>Kimberly Holmes, PhD, MEd</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">admin_alpha</span></span> <span>Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:24</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:profile:field_headshot" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodeprofilefield-headshot"> <div class="field field--name-field-headshot field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/profile-headshot/200-Kimberly%20Holmes_0.jpg" width="200" height="280" alt="Kimberly Holmes" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:profile:field_org_positions" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodeprofilefield-org-positions"> <div class="field field--name-field-org-positions field--type-text-long field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Titles and Organizations</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Associate Dean for Student Affairs, CPH</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:profile:field_contact_information" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodeprofilefield-contact-information"> <h2>Contact Information</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-contact-information field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="profile-bio-section"><span class="info-staff"><strong>Phone</strong>: 703-993-9080</span><br /><strong>Building:</strong> Peterson Hall<br /> Room 1003</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:profile:field_bio" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodeprofilefield-bio"> <h2>Biography</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="profile-bio-section"> <p>Dr. Kimberly Holmes is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, overseeing the functional areas of admissions, academic advising, and student engagement in the college. Throughout her career, Kimberly has been committed to expanding access to higher education and improving outcomes for students from a range of backgrounds.  She has specific experience in college student retention initiatives, first year student transitions, academic advising, graduate student programming, assessment, and undergraduate research programs.</p> <p>Prior to her role in the college, Dr. Holmes served as an Assistant Dean and Director of Retention and Student Success in Student Academic Affairs – Advising, Retention and Transitions at Mason. She was responsible for leading several cross-campus retention initiatives, including the Patriot Success survey and early intervention team, a cross-campus retention committee, and assessments linking academic advising to student success outcomes.  In partnership with the Office of Student Financial Aid, she created the Patriot’s Promise summer program to fund summer courses for in-state Pell grant recipients. She also led the team responsible for UNIV transition courses, and received a Curriculum Impact Grant to expand course offerings in the Spring semester.  Kimberly has a wide range of experiences in higher education settings working with multicultural students, summer bridge programs, residence life, teaching, and postsecondary education research. She has worked on several National Science Foundation-funded projects related to undergraduate degree completion and retention in broadening STEM programs.</p> <p>Dr. Holmes’ research interests include exploring the experiences of women of color in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and expanding access to higher education for underrepresented groups, including students of color, first-generation college students, and students with financial need.</p> <h3>Degrees</h3> <ul><li><strong>PhD, Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy, </strong> University of Maryland College Park</li> <li><strong>MEd, Educational Leadership and Policy, </strong> The College of William & Mary</li> <li><strong>BA, Latin American and Iberian Studies, </strong> University of Richmond</li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:24:01 +0000 admin_alpha 58201 at