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Mason’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year

Colleen Rich — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:57:55 +0000

Mason’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year Colleen Rich Mon, 03/18/2024 - 11:57

CGI Group Inc. is one of the world’s largest information technology and business process service firms specializing in providing effective IT solutions for federal government agencies. It is also a long-time ��AV partner and supporter of the College of Engineering and Computing and the Costello College of Business.

Mason hosted CGI leadership, employees, and Mason alumni at the men’s basketball game against Duquesne at EagleBank Arena on March 2. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

CGI is the professional home for more than 250 Mason alumni, including Mason Board of Visitors Rector Horace Blackman, BA ’93, who is the senior vice president and lead of CGI Federal’s Defense, Intelligence, and Space business unit.

George Mason hosted CGI leadership, employees, and Mason alumni at the Center of the Arts on Mason’s Fairfax Campus before the men’s basketball team played Duquesne at EagleBank Arena on March 2.

“I am always excited about this partnership,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “We chose to engage with CGI because the principles that you all believe in are the core principles of this institution.”

From left, Trishana E. Bowden, President Gregory Washington, CGI’s President and CEO George Schindler, and Rector Horace Blackman at the CGI Night pre-game reception. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“The continued partnership between CGI and Mason has been amazing and has made such a difference in continuing to build for the next generation,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations.

More than 200 alumni and friends were present at the CGI at Mason event, including George Schindler, CGI’s president and chief executive officer, who received a Mason men’s basketball jersey at the pre-game reception.

“I am glad to be part of Mason’s vision and glad to give back and have an opportunity to reconnect with other alums,” said Pablo Ayala, BS Finance ’06, the finance director and business unit controller at CGI.

Events such as the one on March 2 allow alumni to hear about Mason’s latest accomplishments, while presenting them with ways they can continue to support their university. “It is amazing to see other alumni and to see that the Mason traditions are still alive and well,” said Brooke McGee-Ayala, JD ’16.

President Washington expressed appreciation for Mason’s and CGI’s longstanding partnership. “The success of this company is indisputably tied to the success of this institution,” he said. To the alumni, he added: “You all are our greatest ambassadors.”

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Mason recognizes its faculty and staff donors

Colleen Rich — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:55:41 +0000

Mason recognizes its faculty and staff donors Colleen Rich Thu, 03/07/2024 - 11:55

��AV faculty and staff were recognized for their generosity at an event hosted by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations on February 29 at the Fairfax Campus. The Faculty and Staff Appreciation Breakfast treated university donors to a French-themed breakfast and messages of gratitude for their contributions to the Mason community.

Mason faculty and staff mingle at the Donor Breakfast at the Center for the Arts. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“We invited you here today to express our appreciation for your generosity in leading the way and building a culture of philanthropy here at Mason,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations.

Developing a community of giving is critical for the success of Mason’s historic one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign that launched last April—Mason Now: Power the Possible. The campaign focuses on themes that align with Mason’s mission—student success, research, community, innovation, and stewardship.

Business major Rakibul Alam spoke to the faculty and staff audience and expressed deep appreciation for those who support students like himself. “I am filled with gratitude to all Mason faculty and staff who give their time, talent, and treasure in support of me and my peers,” he said. “Receiving scholarship support has not only eased my financial burden but has also inspired me to strive for academic excellence.”

Vice President Trishana E. Bowden and student Rakibui Alam addressed the audience at this year's Donor Breakfast. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“Mason is the university that changes lives,” said Lauren Wagner, assistant dean for student academic affairs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “The beauty of Mason being so young in years is that any amount of money I can give goes so far. The students that we graduate every semester are the ones who continue to define what Mason is going to be for students who find it later.” On April 4, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to help shape Mason’s future during the university’s annual fundraising event—Mason Vision Day. This year, donors will be asked to support the cause that matters most to them at Mason.

At the breakfast event, it was all about celebrating Mason’s champions of giving.

“We are going to continue to power forward, and we are going to continue to thank you in all the ways that are important,” said Bowden. “You make a difference every day in the lives of our students. You are doing major things and through your giving and support, you are powering the possible.”

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Mason celebrates its outstanding alumni at the annual Celebration of Distinction

Colleen Rich — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:30:37 +0000

Mason celebrates its outstanding alumni at the annual Celebration of Distinction Colleen Rich Wed, 11/01/2023 - 13:30

For more than 30 years, the Celebration of Distinction has recognized the outstanding achievements of Mason’s alumni, faculty members, and students. This year’s event, hosted by the ��AV Alumni Association on Oct. 20, once again focused on elevating and honoring Mason excellence.

Honorees at the 2023 Celebration of Distinction. Photo by Risdon Photography

“This is all about Mason alumni coming together to this event, to share the accomplishments that so many of you have had,” Mason President Gregory Washington told the crowd of more than 250 guests at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

The celebration, which awarded five honorees selected by the Alumni Association, and 16 more Distinguished Alumni selected by colleges and alumni chapters, “was planned with the intention to shine a bright light on all the ways that [alumni] contribute to our Mason family and across your communities,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of advancement and alumni relations and president of the ��AV Foundation. “Our graduates are our legacy. Our graduates are our ambassadors. And we are proud of each and every one of you.”

This year’s five alumni association honorees were Shaza L. Andersen, BA Area Studies ’89, the Alumna of the Year; Brandon O. Thompson, BS Administration of Justice ’08, who received the Alumni Service Award; Cordelia Cranshaw Skeete, BSW ’14, who received the Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Award; Keith Renshaw as the Faculty Member of the Year; and Hannah Adamson, BA Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’23, as the Senior of the Year. Learn more about them here.

Alumna of the Year Shaza L. Andersen with President Washington. Photo by Risdon Photography

“Our alumni are absolutely remarkable,” said Jenn Robinson, JM ’02, associate vice president of alumni relations and executive director of the ��AV Alumni Association. “It’s an honor to be able to recognize them and to celebrate their many accomplishments. It is amazing to see alumni reconnect at this event—the energy in the room is incredible, and I look forward to it every year.”

Guests celebrated with dinner and live music from the Green and Gold Soul band.

Washington attributed much of the university’s recent success to the accomplishments of its alumni.

“Getting into the top 50 public institutions in the country is a very difficult feat…and we’ve done it in 52 years. That is a big deal,” said Washington. “That has happened because of what you all have accomplished. What you have done has made it attractive for the young people of today to come to this institution. After all, they can graduate and be like any of you.”

“Your investment and support to the university matters,” Andersen said during her Alumna of Year acceptance speech. “George Mason is getting stronger by the day in large part due to the commitment of the people in this room.”

For the full list of awardees, please visit the Alumni Association website.

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University celebrates faculty and staff with Mason Now kick-off event

Colleen Rich — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:29:58 +0000

University celebrates faculty and staff with Mason Now kick-off event Colleen Rich Wed, 10/04/2023 - 15:29

The ��AV community gathered Sept. 28 to celebrate the launch of the university’s largest comprehensive campaign in its history, Mason Now: Power the Possible. The event at Merten Hall was dedicated to the people who work every day to drive Mason’s success: the university’s faculty and staff.

“��AV is changing education as we know it, and that is possible because of every individual in this room,” President Gregory Washington said.

Recalling Mason’s growth since its 1957 inception as a branch campus of the University of Virginia, Washington thanked the Mason’s faculty and staff for their help in supporting the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, an R1 institution that has been named Virginia’s number one public university for social mobility. And he encouraged them to continue bringing that energy to Mason’s future.

“Why Mason Now: Power the Possible?” he asked. “Because we know that there is more we can do together to power the success of our students…This campaign could not happen without the collective will of all of you.”

The one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign takes on grand challenges at the heart of Mason’s mission: powering student success, research, innovation, community, and a sustainable future. Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and vice president of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, recognized the work of Mason’s faculty and staff.

“Through your teaching, through your service, through your programs, through your research, through your giving, you help to transform what is possible to what is,” Bowden said.

The event included refreshments and music from the Green Machine Ensembles’ Green and Gold Soul, and provided a chance for staff and faculty members to enjoy the outdoors and each other.

“An event like this is what you would call a ‘Mason mingle,’” said Lee Faber, ITS logistics space coordinator. “This is where you meet people that share the same vision—to make Mason what it is and greater.”

Christine Landoll, School of Business faculty member and Alumni Association president, welcomed the challenge of the campaign. “To me, it’s in the name: in the power of the possible,” she said. “We are able to demonstrate to our students and our community what potential Mason has, which I think is fantastic!”

In his remarks to the faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Visitors in attendance, President Washington’s confidence about achieving the campaign’s one-billion-dollar goal was clear. “We do not have to say impossible anymore because everything we’ve done has been impossible,” he said. “It is now possible because you are going to power it.”

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Mason’s Early Identification Program shapes the lives of students

Colleen Rich — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:35:08 +0000

Mason’s Early Identification Program shapes the lives of students Colleen Rich Mon, 08/07/2023 - 12:35

Noel Quezada learned about ��AV’s Early Identification Program during his freshmen year of high school, and the program ignited his aspirations for higher education.

EIP’s Executive Director Khaseem Davis addresses the graduates at the EIP graduation in May. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

EIP serves first-generation, college-bound students in grades 7-12 in seven Northern Virginia school systems. Mason establishes a long-term relationship with these students, giving the skills and tools they need to pursue their college dreams, with the help of mentors and advisors.

“I like to credit the Early Identification Program for a lot of my successes,” said Quezada. Before EIP, he added, “I actually had no clue what the journey to college even was.”

Quezada, a first-generation student, graduated in May 2023 from Mason with a bachelor of science in criminology, law and society, and minors in forensic and general psychology. He is now commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Quezada was one of the 27 Mason EIP graduates joining the ranks of Mason alumni this year, along with 130 graduating high school seniors celebrating their EIP graduation May 24, as part of EIP’s 32nd graduating class. They join the more than 2,100 students who have graduated from the program, which began in 1987.

EIP’s 32nd graduating class. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“EIP students are particularly special,” said Khaseem Davis, EIP’s executive director. “They are not only creating a better and brighter future for themselves, but they also set an example for those around them, proving that with determination and grit, anyone can achieve their dreams.”

“The holistic part of the program is being able to not only foster the educational growth,” Quezada said, “but also to seek wisdom from mentors on just about anything.” Quezada also served as an advisor in the program, encouraging younger participants to take advantage of every opportunity given to them.

Like Quezada, EIP graduation speaker Bianca Otero, who goes by Angel, was inspired by EIP to launch their higher education journey. “I was recommended by a teacher back when I was in middle school. I had no clue what it was, really, but I went ahead and applied and started the program in 7th grade,” they said. Otero received a full tuition scholarship from Mason, graduating with a major in conflict analysis and resolution, and a minor in Spanish.

Otero describes their years in EIP as a comprehensive student experience. “We had success coaches who checked on our mental health and extracurricular activities,” said Otero, who credits a lot of their academic success and growth to the EIP program. Now that they have graduated, they are considering graduate school and entertaining the idea of teaching abroad.

“These students are a great representation of the diversity and inclusivity of Mason,” Davis said. “Through donors and community support, the program has and can literally change the lives and trajectory of people, starting from a young age.”

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Donors helped address food insecurity at Mason during Mason Vision Day 2023

Colleen Rich — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:55:25 +0000

Donors helped address food insecurity at Mason during Mason Vision Day 2023 Colleen Rich Wed, 07/19/2023 - 14:55

Each year the ��AV community has the opportunity to support a cause that matters to them through Mason Vision Day.

Led by the Office of Annual Giving, Mason Vision Day 2023, held on April 6, highlighted the challenges posed by student food insecurity—which is a growing issue at Mason and at college campuses across the nation. This year, Mason Vision Day raised $290,000 for Mason causes with nearly $90,000 dedicated to student food insecurity.

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to a sufficient amount of food, which in turn can create other obstacles for students making it difficult for them to focus on their studies and fulfill their potential.

“We know that nationally, one-third of college students contend with food insecurity at some point during their collegiate career,” said Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life at Mason. “We are so appreciative that Mason Vision Day could raise money, and awareness, for this pervasive and persistent problem we know exists on our campuses as well.”

Funds identified for student food insecurity will support campus resources like the Patriot Pantry, which provides students with access to food and hygiene items. Mason Vision Day donations will also help provide meal swipes for students so they can dine with peers, purchase gift cards for local grocery stores, and receive individualized guidance beyond food such as assistance with child care, job placements, mental health and housing.

The concept of a focused Mason Vision Day began in 2020 during the height of the pandemic when the Mason community came together to secure and distribute emergency funds and resources for Mason’s most vulnerable students.

The Patriots Helping Patriots initiative distributed a variety of resources to assist students and families, such as offering access to food, educational materials, and counseling resources. Within eight weeks, Mason’s Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Relations distributed nearly $2 million to aid students with tuition, housing, food, and other emergency needs. The event’s success led to the idea of rallying the Mason community around one vision each year—Mason Vision Day. While Mason Vision Day offers a common focus, it also embraces all philanthropic initiatives on campus, encouraging students, faculty, alumni, and donors to support what matters most to them at Mason.

“Focusing Mason Vision Day on a central initiative offers the opportunity to move the needle and really make a difference in a specific area,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “This is the true meaning of philanthropy—we recognize a need and come together to help one another.”

Mason Vision Day was also supported the Capital Area Food Bank. The food bank is an established anchor of hunger relief infrastructure across the Washington, D.C., region. Through a partnership with Mason to address campus food insecurity, Capital Area Food Bank matched $30,000 of the funds raised on Mason Vision Day through credits in its online food ordering portal.

“The response from our community was terrific,” said Pascarell. “In particular, I’d like to express my appreciation for our work with the Capital Area Food Bank and their generosity in supporting our students. Our growing partnership will make an incredible impact on our university’s ability to provide students the resources they need to be successful.”

Events like Mason Vision Day 2023 and programs like the Patriot Pantry give students the opportunity to thrive and continue to pursue their dreams.

“��AV is a community of caring, compassion, and hope,” Bowden said. “This year, our gifts will have a direct impact on many of our students. I am grateful and honored to be part of this extraordinary community.”

To support Mason students please go to giving.gmu.edu.

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Students and donors come together in celebration of student scholarships

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 May 2023 18:56:56 +0000

Students and donors come together in celebration of student scholarships Colleen Rich Fri, 05/05/2023 - 14:56

“This is one of my special events,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations, as she welcomed guests to Mason’s Scholarship Breakfast, “because it was 30-something years ago that I sat as a scholarship recipient at a luncheon.”

Clement Ezeanii, Mason faculty member Linda Monson, Tamara Nall, and Mason doctoral student Megan Slay. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

The breakfast, held in Mason’s Center for the Arts lobby, hosted donors and scholarship recipients together. “We provide private scholarships to more than 1,300 students and that donor support makes a difference every year,” Bowden said. “The donors are really investing in the future of Mason and our students.”

Betzy Balladares Oviedo, a junior at Mason and a social work major—and one of many students who have received support from a Kimmy Duong Foundation scholarship—said the scholarship had a tremendous impact on her. “I am beyond grateful,” Oviedo said, “not just for financial assistance, but for the inspiration for excellence, and [Duong’s] serving as a role model. I will do everything in my power to make it count.”

The event was also an opportunity to recognize donors Duong and Tamara Nall for their generosity and commitment to education.

��AV Foundation Board of Trustees member Tamara Nall is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of The Leading Niche, an award-winning and internationally recognized company that she leads with her husband, Clement Ezeanii. Nall and Ezeanii, whose gift to Mason established the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship Endowment, said their mothers instilled in them the importance of education. This translated to their commitment to helping students reach their goals and dreams. “To whom much is given, much is required,” said Nall.

At the breakfast, Kimmy Duong shared her story of perseverance as well as philanthropy. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

At the breakfast, Kimmy Duong shared her story of perseverance as well as philanthropy. After being forced to flee her country in 1975, she arrived in the United States with only two suitcases and $30. She created a new life for herself, working at IBM for 25 years.

Duong and her husband, Long Nguyen, have been longtime Mason supporters. The Long and Kimmy Nguyen Engineering Building, on Mason’s Fairfax Campus, is named in their honor. Duong will receive the Mason Medal, Mason’s highest honorary award, at Spring Commencement on May 18.

In 2015, Duong established the Kimmy Duong Foundation, focusing her philanthropy on education. The foundation has awarded scholarships to students at colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C., area and in Southern California. “Education is the cornerstone of life,” said Duong. She remembered many in her generation working multiple jobs to send their children to college.

“Now, we are giving back,” she said.

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Close to home: Food insecurity on Mason’s campuses

Colleen Rich — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 20:47:37 +0000

Close to home: Food insecurity on Mason’s campuses Colleen Rich Wed, 03/29/2023 - 16:47

Learn more about Mason Vision Day

Food insecurity is more prevalent than many people realize, particularly among college students.

“A student who is encountering food insecurity experiences a consistent lack of food because of financial conditions,” said Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life at ��AV.

Up to one-third of students nationally are impacted by food insecurity. Pascarell noted particular increases among certain student populations at Mason, including international students.

Vulnerable students may find that balancing academics with financial demands can be challenging. Even if students are aware of resources, the social stigma surrounding food insecurity can prevent many from seeking help. Nationally, 34 percent of students drop out of school as a result of such issues.

For students like Nelson Lemus, BS Business ’22, a master’s student in accounting, the stigma was difficult to overcome. In his first semester, Lemus found himself in need of assistance, but asking for help was not easy.

“During the pandemic, I was hit with a situational poverty,” said Lemus. “The option to continue my education was to sleep out of my car, not pay for housing, but to pay for school. I ended up not having enough funds to pay for food or even housing...this was very embarrassing for me.”

Though the social stigma persists around food and housing insecurity, the Mason community strives to reach as many students as possible through outreach and a determined effort to offer resources.

Through the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) within University Life, Mason offers a variety of resources for students experiencing food insecurity, including access to meal swipes, gift cards to purchase perishable foods, and connections to community resources.

One of Mason’s most well-known programs that directly supports students experiencing food insecurity is the Patriot Pantry. Originally known as the Pop-Up Pantry, the resource was created by then-student Yara Mowafy, BA Global Affairs ‘14, MA ‘15, and University Life staff member Michael Galvin.

“We started bringing our own stuff, toilet paper and things like that,” said Mowafy. “Then University Life staff heard about it, and we started reaching out to other student life organizations, and classrooms I was in.... Everybody found out that we were doing this, and it was no longer a ‘pop-up pantry.’ It was a real, organized thing.”

In 2015, Mason students Gary Hooker and Noah Shoates took over the daily operation of the pantry. The following year the pantry expanded to provide further supplies and resources to students, and was relocated to a new designated space in Student Union Building I. It became an official resource within the SSAC and renamed the Patriot Pantry.

During the past three years, Mason has seen a 172 percent increase in student use of the Patriot Pantry.

“I am very grateful for the pantry and all the resources Mason provided to me to help me achieve these great milestones I’ve been able to achieve,” said Lemus, who has an offer to work at a Big Four firm upon graduation.

Lemus encourages students who share a similar story to not view Mason’s resources as handouts.

“They are hand ups. They're there to help you overcome whatever situation, whatever hardship you're dealing with,” Lemus said. “So, students should not feel ashamed or embarrassed to receive this support—it is there to help you propel yourself to achieve whatever goals or milestones you have set for yourself.”

Mason Vision Day is an opportunity for our community to come together each year to identify and support a deserving initiative on campus. On April 6, support today’s Patriots by helping Mason address campus food insecurity.

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Mason’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year

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Close to home: Food insecurity on Mason’s campuses

Learn more about Mason Vision Day

Mason Vision Day is an opportunity for our community to come together each year to identify and support a deserving initiative on campus. On April 6, support today’s Patriots by helping Mason address campus food insecurity.

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