Rebecca Kobayashi

Patriot Profile: Valeria Fernandez

Rebecca Kobayashi — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:21:51 +0000

Patriot Profile: Valeria Fernandez Rebecca Kobayashi Tue, 04/09/2024 - 14:21

Valeria Fernandez
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia

Valeria Fernandez’s journey as a fellow with Generation Hope’s FamilyU* began even before she arrived on campus. The mother of a three-year-old, Fernandez realized when applying to Mason that the housing application did not account for the needs of student-parents, so she raised the issue and potential solutions in a FamilyU interview. Fernandez, who had just finished an associate’s degree in psychology at Northern Virginia Community College, was selected as Mason’s FamilyU fellow for the 2022–23 cohort.

Valeria Fernandez and her daughter in the child-friendly Contemporary Student Lounge on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Growing into Leadership: Each FamilyU fellow develops an advocacy project during the year. To help address the gap in student-parent mental health care at Mason, Fernandez created a child-friendly support group that focused on mindfulness activities. “Even when I encountered people who would admit to having zero concept of what it’s like to be a student-parent, [Mason] was still a safe, welcoming environment.” She now has greater pride and confidence as a student-parent because of the peers and others she met at Mason who were willing to listen. For Fernandez, it was also encouraging to meet other parents who were pursuing personal dreams alongside raising children.

Advocating for a New Normal: Fernandez says some problems, like how difficult it is for student-parents to meet each other, have simple remedies, like highlighting child-friendly campus activities; but others require long-term solutions, such as changing assumptions about the typical college student. For example, inflexible online tests or assignments present challenges to student-parents with limited child care who may need to schedule an alternate time. Faculty members should recognize that students, whether parenting or working, “have lives outside of being students,” explains Fernandez. “And that doesn't mean that they have less respect for your course.”

Building Momentum: Fernandez currently works as a student-parent ambassador with Mason’s Contemporary Student Services. The mindfulness group she created grew into Student Parent Community Spaces, where student-parents can connect with each other and learn about university services. She is also working to increase student-parent visibility at Mason for potential transfer students. Sometimes her daughter even accompanies her to campus, which Fernandez says she feels comfortable doing because of relationships she is building with colleagues. She has applied to graduate programs at Mason and elsewhere with the goal of someday working in forensic psychology or perhaps pursuing teaching.

* Mason alum Nicole Lynn Lewis, MPP ’06, founded the nonprofit Generation Hope to support young parents and their children as parents pursue further education. Read more about her.

Learn about FamilyU Cohorts

Students find inspiration and connections at Clinton Global Initiative University

Colleen Rich — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:56:55 +0000

Students find inspiration and connections at Clinton Global Initiative University Colleen Rich Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:56

��AV students joined more than 600 of their peers from around the world at Vanderbilt University, near Nashville, Tennessee, for the 15th annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) from March 3-5. CGI U was launched in 2007 by former President Bill Clinton to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses.

Mason graduate student Aadam Dirie and his friend Jasmanet Chahal were chosen to present their FollowUp project at the CGI U Exchange Fair, where mentors gave them valuable feedback. Photo provided

CGI U asks students to make Commitments to Action, which involve innovative solutions to the world’s challenges. The program then mentors and supports students through the process of fulfilling their project goals. The annual meeting includes panels from leaders in nonprofits, businesses, and politics; skill and working sessions; and community service on the Day of Action.

Aadam Dirie, a computer engineering master’s student, heard about CGI U from his friend Jasmanet Chahal, who recently graduated from University of Virginia. The two applied together with a project called FollowUp for assisting adults living with, or at risk for, chronic diseases. Dirie describes FollowUp as “a solution that empowers people to take control of their health by providing personalized health insights and actionable feedback.”

Dirie and Chahal were chosen to present at the CGI U Exchange Fair, where mentors gave them valuable feedback. On top of that, Dirie said, “We were able to present our Commitment to Action to Chelsea Clinton and had a very nice discussion with her.”

At the end of their chat, Clinton even took their business card.

Throughout the weekend, Dirie networked with student peers, CGI U alumni and mentors, and panelists. “My big takeaway from CGI U is the resources, and lifelong connections to other students and mentors.”

These productive relationships are one major benefit of the event, said Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life, who also attended. “CGI U provided our students the opportunity to connect with other student changemakers from around the country and world, all interested in positive change and making a difference.”

An activist for men’s mental health at Mason, junior Liam Keen said his weekend highlights included the opportunity to make new contacts and reach a larger global network. However, he felt that CGI U could have benefited from the audacity that helps define Mason.

Keen, who is studying government and international politics, said he would have liked to have heard from climate justice activists who could have challenged the panelists from the session he attended. “It's important to propose an alternative pathway,” he said. “Providing multiple pathways helps people gain a greater understanding of a subject.”

On the Day of Action, Pipa, a criminology, law and society major, had a chance to speak with Bill Clinton about public policy.

“He told me I was going to do great things,” said Pipa of meeting the former president. “It was an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life and to help fuel my passion for public policy and creating change.”

Making other connections at CGI U has also inspired Pipa’s new plans for graduate school and even starting a nonprofit in the future.

The event’s closing Day of Action was coordinated by Hands On Nashville. Keen helped clear land for a cultural center with the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, and Pipa packed vegetables and loaded bags of groceries for a drive-up food bank with Second Harvest Food Bank.

“It was so rewarding knowing I made an impact on a community that I was only a part of for three days,” Pipa said.

Topics

Meet the Mason Nation: Shayna Marlowe

Colleen Rich — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:30:56 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Shayna Marlowe Colleen Rich Thu, 02/09/2023 - 11:30

Shayna Marlowe

Job: Assistant Director for Sexual and Interpersonal Violence and Student Support Services, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Shayna Marlowe is assistant director for sexual and interpersonal violence and student support services at Student Support and Advocacy Center at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

In January 2020, Shayna Marlowe became the first full-time Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) staff member based at Mason Square. Marlowe’s role is unique because she assists both student survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence and students who are experiencing personal concerns that impact their academic success or overall well-being.

Rethinking Well-being and Higher Education: Marlowe’s work with SSAC has made her believe universities can have a great impact on developing stronger people. Encouraging students simply to earn degrees is not enough, she said, Mason graduates should be able to connect with others in empathetic and genuine ways. She proposes institutions place more emphasis on student well-being, which fits Mason’s bolder, more inclusive ideal for higher education. “If we get both pieces together, we're creating the strongest human being for ultimate success in life.”

Knowing there is a support system in place is key to the start of that success. “The best thing I can do is keep figuring out ways to create safe spaces that foster bravery, understanding, and compassion, so that students feel comfortable reaching out for assistance,” Marlowe said.

Toward More Diverse Advocacy: Marlowe’s path to advocacy was influenced by seeing how interpersonal violence can affect Black girls and women and their worldviews. With 10 years of experience as an advocate, she’s built a wealth of knowledge on navigating legal systems, reporting processes, and health care services. Recently she completed a graduate certificate at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution that focused on collaborative community action.

She cites course work at the Carter School and her training with Restorative Arlington for guiding her toward trauma-informed restorative justice practices. Her additional work with Restorative Arlington includes facilitating restorative practices within the Arlington community and trying to bring those practices to universities. “[Advocacy] work needs to move toward restorative practices that intentionally focus on survivor autonomy to create a truly understanding process, so survivors can be at the forefront of that healing process.”

Meeting Students Where They Are: Marlowe said SSAC provides confidential informational and emotional support for anyone impacted by sexual and interpersonal violence, including those involved in Title IX cases; support for those with substance-use recovery needs; and assistance for students experiencing financial needs and food hardship. Some of the center’s many programs include the Stay Mason Fund, Patriots for Recovery peer support group, and Patriot Pantry. This year, Marlowe wants to connect more with other offices and departments, especially those at Mason Square, so they know how to best help students while also supporting each other.

Topics

Meet the Mason Nation

Faculty and Staff News

Mason Square

University Life

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Finding Mason’s voice en español

Colleen Rich — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:26:34 +0000

Finding Mason’s voice en español Colleen Rich Wed, 01/25/2023 - 10:26

If you recently caught a glimpse of the familiar green and gold on the side of a Northern Virginia bus, you may have also noticed something new. Since May 2022, Mason has invited the families of prospective Hispanic students to learn about the university in its first Spanish-language marketing campaign.

The campaign features Spanish-language posters on buses and at Virginia Rail Express and Metro stations in Northern Virginia, as well as social media advertising and radio marketing aimed at the Hispanic community in the greater Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area. The models in the ads are all Mason students.

In addition, radio marketing has included commercials during 2022 World Cup coverage and Spanish-language faculty interviews, which received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Spanish speakers are invited to learn more about Mason via a Spanish web presence, or to call for more information. The Office of Admissions and Enrollment and Office of University Branding, which operates the university switchboard, have both hired bilingual phone attendants to welcome callers and connect them with the offices that can help them.

Mason enrolls and graduates the largest percentage and number of Hispanic students among Virginia and Maryland public universities, which makes the expansion into Spanish-language marketing even more important.

“The Hispanic populations in Virginia and at Mason have both increased significantly in recent decades,” said Eric Woodall, associate vice president of brand marketing for the Office of University Branding. “This campaign is part of our efforts to better highlight our current Hispanic student population and ensure that prospective families have materials in Spanish to help them make informed decisions.”

“We are starting a lasting dialogue with households headed by those who may not be conversant in or comfortable speaking English, and are looking for way-finding to get their sons and daughters to and through college,” said Paul G. Allvin, Mason vice president and chief brand officer. “Our messaging mirrors what these families tell us they look for and find in a Mason education: flexibility, affordability, safety, and the existence of their own culture in campus life.”

Despite a nationwide increase in Hispanic college students, Hispanic young people are still the least likely among their peers to be enrolled in college or have a bachelor’s degree, according to the Pew Research Center. Taking this into account, the campaign’s first phase focused on raising parent awareness of Mason’s commitment to diversity and accessibility.

“What comes next for us is maintaining our presence in terms of Spanish-language advertising and looking to expand and strengthen our partnerships with Hispanic community organizations,” Woodall said.

Apply Now

Request Information

Topics

Meet the Mason Nation: Ric Chollar

Colleen Rich — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:33:56 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Ric Chollar Colleen Rich Wed, 11/30/2022 - 10:33

Ric Chollar

Job: Adjunct Faculty Member, Women and Gender Studies, School of Integrative Studies, Social Work

Ric Chollar Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

Ric Chollar’s relationship with ��AV began in 1987 when he started teaching for the Psychology Department. In the late 1990s, he became the facilitator for an LGBTQ counseling group, and in 2001 he was hired as a consultant on what grew into the Safe Zone program. In the early 2000s, programs like Safe Zone increased LGBTQ visibility at Mason, and the LGBTQ resources staff at the time worked with faculty to institutionalize the first LGBTQ studies courses. From 2002 to 2017, Chollar was a staff member for what became the LGBTQ+ Resources Center, and he continues to teach as an adjunct.

Finding a Home at Mason: Chollar said he felt respected and encouraged by colleagues from the start, but that his time at Mason has required being humble enough to learn from mistakes. In his work, he aspires to achieve healing, compassion, justice, and liberation. “Even though it will look different for each person, how can I best support someone to become more free and more of who they know they are?”

It Takes a Village: Chollar’s involvement with Mason helped give shape to the university’s story of LGBTQ advocacy, one in which he insists there are many unsung heroes. Students initially took the lead on LGBTQ issues, and he credits the activist work of many longtime Mason faculty and staff. He said LGBTQ liaisons and leaders in offices and departments across Mason are key to successful support. Over the years, the LGBTQ+ Resources Center has consistently worked with the Women and Gender Studies Program; the office now known as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment; and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Strength from Diversity: Chollar said the efforts of programs like Safe Zone and events like Ryan Allen’s drag persona Reann Ballslee becoming Homecoming Queen helped increase the visibility of the LGBTQ community at Mason in the 2000s. One example Chollar gives of a cross-university collaboration that embodies the ideals of the LGBTQ+ Resources Center was when students advocated for inviting trans-rights activist Laverne Cox to campus. The resulting event was the one of the most successful Chollar has witnessed, and many students expressed finally feeling represented. “It is always important for us to work with students as whole, complicated people.”

Creating Spaces for All: Chollar encourages a balance between improving existing support and making spaces for a wider range of people. This includes acknowledging the importance of racial identity and that many LGBTQ students of color face specific oppression, as well as supporting trans and nonbinary people in leadership roles. “It’s not for us to think we're the experts. It’s about being open to learning from others, creating space for others to learn and lead, and ultimately, it’s about learning and working together.”

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Meet the Mason Nation

LGBTQ+ Resources

Women and Gender Studies

Spirit Magazine

Spirit Spring 2023

YA author writes bestseller while completing graduate program at Mason

Colleen Rich — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:59:25 +0000

YA author writes bestseller while completing graduate program at Mason Colleen Rich Tue, 10/11/2022 - 10:59

��AV alum Andrew Joseph White said he has wanted to tell stories even before he knew how to form letters. White, who graduated with an MFA in creative writing in May, published his first young adult (YA) book, Hell Followed with Us, an LGBTQ post-apocalyptic horror story, less than a month later in June 2022.

Andrew Joseph White. Photo by Sierra Guard/Creative Services

Now a New York Times bestseller, the novel was an American Booksellers Association Winter/Spring 2022 Indies Introduce title and received an American Library Association Booklist Starred Review and starred write-up in Kirkus Review.

JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION: White, who also has an BFA in creative writing from Mason, chose Mason because its creative writing program is more accepting of genre fiction than many others. This was especially important for the MFA, because White’s application consisted of the first chapters of what would become Hell Followed with Us. White started writing the novel in his senior year at Mason and signed with Peachtree Teen in early 2021 as one of the new imprint’s first three books. While at times White simply had to trust the process, Peachtree Teen’s small team impressed him. He said he was glad to debut with an up-and-coming press before working with a larger publisher where authors may have less control.

Advance copies of Hell Followed with Us. Photo provided

DARKER THAN FICTION: White has been deeply fascinated by monsters since he was very young. He connects this with the fact that unrecognized gender dysphoria and undiagnosed autism can make individuals feel like they are not entirely human. White’s debut novel coincides with legislation in multiple states seeking to severely curtail trans people’s rights. In this environment, White’s story, which acknowledges how life sometimes seems to require monstrous actions to survive, is one he feels that a lot of LGBTQ kids need. Hell Followed with Us is also a way to provide young trans readers something he never experienced growing up—a YA trans protagonist. “The whole point of the book is telling queer kids that you can make it out of hell alive. You might not be in one piece; you might not be okay. But you are still alive.”

EXPANDING REPRESENTATION: In addition to a trans protagonist, Hell Followed with Us features an autistic character, Nick, as the secondary lead and love interest. White emphasizes the need for autistic YA characters who readers can take seriously and look up to. When White began research to ensure the character was an accurate depiction of autism, the Winchester, Virginia, native realized how much of what he was reading applied to his own experience. This led White to base Nick on a version of himself, and the process has allowed him to embrace his ability to write characters who are both authentically trans and autistic.

LOOKING AHEAD: White says he would love to win a Lambda Literary Award or Stonewall Book Award one day, and he already has more LGBTQ YA horror novels and an adult novella in the works. When White is not writing, he likes to play horror video games, which are another source of inspiration for his stories; read work by queer YA fiction contemporaries; and spend time with his cat.

White will be part of this year's Fall for the Book. He appears on Saturday, October 15, at 11:30 a.m. in the Wilkins Plaza Tent.