Community Engagement

Giving Voice to Contemporary Mexican Music

Tionge Johnson — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 20:42:25 +0000

Giving Voice to Contemporary Mexican Music Tionge Johnson Wed, 09/11/2024 - 16:42

The GRAMMY Award-winning Villalobos Brothers (10/26) are redefining contemporary Mexican music, while delivering positive messages of brotherhood, equity, and love.

The Villalobos Brothers

Drawing on their classical training from prestigious institutions nationwide, this lively trio of virtuoso fiddlers, singers, and songwriters blends Mexican folk music with Latin, jazz, rock, and classical, creating a fun-loving and cheerfully expressive sound that has delighted audiences across the United States and around the world.

As one of our Artists-in-Residence this season, the group will also offer opportunities for learning and workshops in our community.

Hailing from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, the brothers followed parallel but geographically disparate paths, studying classical music at the Manhattan School of Music, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. They reunited in the early 2000s to play together, with a focus on original music.

“We all have this desire to find our voices, and to say something that is unique, and that is us," said Luis Villalobos, the youngest brother.

With a growing catalog of music that includes two full-length albums; notable performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and Rockefeller Center; and collaborations with legends like Dolly Parton and the Chieftans, the brothers are well on their way to making their unique voices heard around the world.

Their residency activities at the Hylton Center will include:

A lecture/demonstration class at the Lifelong Learning Institute, Manassas
A family Día de los Muertos mask-making class at Manassas Park Library
Masterclasses with the Colgan High School orchestra and music technology students
Elementary school performance visits in Prince William County
High school orchestra masterclasses

All of these exciting community activities culminate in a powerhouse performance by the Villalobos Brothers at the Hylton Center on Saturday, October 26, at 8 p.m. Purchase your tickets to this trio of violin virtuosos today!

Video shown below: the Villalobos Brothers, Alberto (Beto), Ernesto (Ness), and Luis (Wess) perform their GRAMMY-winning work "El Pijul," accompanied by the Yakima Symphony conducted by Maestro Lawrence Golan.

Learn More About the Artist-in-Residence Program

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Mason Korea hosts Global Career Camp for Incheon middle schoolers

Colleen Rich — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:58:56 +0000

Mason Korea hosts Global Career Camp for Incheon middle schoolers Colleen Rich Wed, 08/07/2024 - 10:58

Mason Korea, in partnership with the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education and the GM Employee Foundation Korea, hosted the inaugural Global Career Camp earlier this month.

Photo provided

Approximately 30 middle school students from Incheon, including multicultural and rural students, participated in the two-day camp. The program offered academic mentorship, professional lectures, and company tours, to inspire and guide students in exploring potential career paths.

As part of Mason Korea’s commitment to community engagement, university students served as mentors, sharing their experiences and leading group discussions.

One camp participant said, "I don't usually get the chance to do hands-on activities related to careers, so it was great to receive a lot of information about careers that I could consider."

"It was fun to meet and interact with so many younger students in Incheon," said Jiseon Kim, a junior business major who served as a camp mentor. "This experience also provided an opportunity for Mason Korea students serving as mentors, including myself, to grow through the mentoring process."

“I am thrilled to see future global leaders collaborating to grow together,” said Mason Korea Interim Campus Dean Shannon Davis. “This partnership between Incheon's leading educational institutions and corporations highlights our commitment to nurturing global talent. We will continue to invest in youth education, address community issues, and develop individuals who are eager to make a positive impact,” she added.

To recognize the 10th anniversary of Mason Korea, President Gregory Washington is joined by former campus dean Robert Matz and associate professor Gyu Tag Lee on the Access to Excellence Podcast.

Listen to the episode

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George Mason launches literacy project to support Virginia families

Colleen Rich — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:01:30 +0000

George Mason launches literacy project to support Virginia families Colleen Rich Mon, 07/22/2024 - 14:01

A statewide literacy project designed to counteract the educational impacts of the pandemic is now in full swing, thanks to the efforts of educators in ��AV’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).

Allison Ward Parsons. Photo by Office of University Branding

Called the Literacy Engagement Action Project (LEAP) and designed to build literacy skills in K-12 students with a scalable, comprehensive program for teachers, students, and their families, the program is run by the Elizabeth G. Sturtevant, PhD, Center for Literacy at George Mason with center director Allison Ward Parsons serving as the principal investigator.

Funding for this project through a U.S. Department of Education grant was made possible by the efforts of Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who secured a $1.83 million designated spending provision as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal government appropriations bill.

The LEAP project addresses the needs of families, children, and teachers resulting from the negative impacts that the pandemic has had on K-12 learners, particularly those from marginalized or economically disadvantaged populations. “The project overall is geared toward post-COVID support, recognizing that many families know that their students need additional help,” said Ward Parsons, an associate professor of the literacy program in CEHD’s School of Education.

The need for this support is reflected in testing data collected by the state. Ward Parsons and her team members analyzed reading test scores compiled by the Virginia Department of Education and found significant gaps between students of wealthier backgrounds compared with those from economically disadvantaged communities, English language learners, and students from Black and Hispanic populations.

The main components of the LEAP project include:

Community outreach and support where families are provided with free access to books and other literacy resources that include workshops, podcasts, read-aloud events at public libraries, and other venues;
A website, leap.cehd.gmu.edu, developed by the Sturtevant Center for Literacy, that is accessible on its own as a stand-alone site as well as through the main Literacy Center home page (the LEAP website provides tools such as video modules offered in English and Spanish that explore different topics in literacy, activity links supporting various aspects of literacy development across grade levels, and interactive reading guides for literary genres that include comprehension tips applicable to specific age groups);
Tutoring of K-12 learners given by George Mason students who must successfully complete a series of LEAP training modules and pass required background checks conducted by partnering schools (once approved, tutors are provided with lesson plans and tutoring support materials developed by the LEAP team and which are available on the Literacy Center’s website); and
Asynchronous online teacher professional learning modules (now under development), which include content that meets teacher needs assessment and enhances teacher engagement (once finalized, these materials will be housed on the LEAP website).

LEAP bookshelf at Fair Lakes Barnes and Noble. Photo provided

As part of the LEAP project, book bins are being installed in various locations throughout Northern Virginia stocked with a curated set of books available for sharing with students and families.

Ward Parsons explains that this LEAP feature is patterned after the “take a book, leave a book” free mini-library movement that has become popular in many neighborhoods in cities across the United States. However, she adds that there is one distinguishing feature that makes the book sharing component unique: Each book contains a QR code linking back to an interactive reading guide that is accessible on the LEAP website.

These reading guides, formatted as PDF documents, contain conversation prompts, questions, vocabulary support, and suggested discussion topics related to the characters and plot of the book that families and tutors can use when they are reading and talking about the books with children.

“We want to go beyond a passive read-aloud where the student just sits and listens as the book is being read to them,” Ward Parsons said. “We want children to be thinking about the text and to interact with the adult so that there is more opportunity for fluency and comprehension development in reading.”

She points out that the reading guides encourage families and children to read together and that this can help support literacy development in young learners.

The sites being chosen for the book bins are places where families bring their children in accessing needed services, such as medical clinics, food banks, and homeless shelters. Families can engage their children in an interactive read-aloud of the books provided at these locations. They can also sign up on the LEAP website to receive their own copies of the books with more book sharing support. Book bins are also being placed at schools which have partnered with LEAP to provide spaces where tutors can work with children who have been identified as needing additional help with reading comprehension and literacy.

The LEAP project has made significant gains in its book distribution endeavors over the past year. Some of the most recently installed book bins include: the installation of community book bins with reading guides at General Heiser Boys and Girls Club in Dumfries; a community book bin at Ivy Rehab for Kids in Falls Church that will be available to families in the waiting room and used by staff speech-language pathologists and therapists during speech therapy visits; and, a community book bin at Fort Belvoir to support military-connected families.

In addition to establishing the book bins, LEAP faculty and staff are collaborating with communities in Northern Virginia as they launch initiatives in support of children’s literacy. For example, in March and April this year, LEAP representatives organized four family workshops in the Georgetown South Community of Manassas, Virginia. These workshops were conducted in Spanish and included interactive read-alouds, as well as other activities designed to build vocabulary, background knowledge, and reading comprehension in children.

LEAP also hosted a two-week summer camp for elementary students in the Georgetown South community during which George Mason students provided daily literacy tutoring. The camp's theme centered on science and included experiments and other activities performed by the children who attended the camp which provided them with the opportunity to learn more about science while improving their reading comprehension skills.

Representatives of LEAP continued their work with members of the Georgetown South community with the introduction of a summer book club and lending library for students. In describing this initiative, Ward Parsons stated, “Our goal is to support summer reading and offer students opportunities to talk about their reading, get help as needed, and build a community of readers.”

Other LEAP projects include:

A bookshelf at Fair Lakes Barnes & Noble bookstore;
A family/student literacy workshop and summer STEM read-aloud that was held at the Fort Belvoir military base in Northern Virginia;
A series of three children’s events at the Fairfax City branch of the Fairfax County Public Libraries (following one of these events the library requested a full set of printed reading guides, which are now compiled and displayed in the children’s section for easy patron access);
A partnership with the Fair Lakes Barnes & Noble bookstore where the QR codes linking to the LEAP reading guides are posted throughout the children’s section so that a reader browsing the shelves will see the content developed by LEAP alongside the corresponding books;
A Back-to-School Book Fair to be held Aug. 17 at the Fair Lakes Barnes and Noble bookstore through which a portion of the proceeds from the sale of books will go to the Sturtevant Center for Literacy to purchase books that will be shared with community partners; and,
A back-to-school event sponsored by Micron and Barbershop Books.

Because the literacy resources and tutor training materials accessible on the LEAP website will continue to be maintained by the Sturtevant Center for Literacy beyond the life of the project, Ward Parsons and her team members are confident that this initiative will create a sustainable, practical model for literacy support in Virginia.

“These materials become a durable commodity, something that we can provide throughout Virginia and something that any school can use because it is all made available through federal funding that is specifically dedicated to the support of literacy,” said Ward Parsons.

Visit the Project's Website

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literacy

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Registered dietitian students cook nutritious meals for local firefighters

Shayla Brown — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:31:36 +0000

Registered dietitian students cook nutritious meals for local firefighters Shayla Brown Wed, 04/10/2024 - 15:31

Students from ��AV’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies recently visited the men and women of Fairfax Fire Station 33. They taught the firefighters about responsible nutrition habits and cooked nutritious meals for them in the station’s kitchen.

Marcus Brick (left) and Mark Radish prepare a meal for local firefighters. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The experience was part of the master of science in nutrition degree program with a dietetics concentration in the College of Public Health. The program is a pathway to becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist. The seven graduate students in the MS/RD program will be the first to graduate from this program in May.

“The meal preparation is 100 percent student led, and it has to be a completely original and healthy recipes suitable for the firefighters’ needs,” said Sapna Batheja, program director and an assistant professor of nutrition.

The students were split into three groups and prepped meals during three different shifts at the firehouse following the department’s ABC shift pattern, which covers a three-day cycle.

Master of nutrition students Marcus Brick and Mark Rudich worked on this project together, and their dish was a Green Chili Turkey Chili. Rudich had previously made the dish for his family and wanted to recreate it for the firefighters.

“The parameters of the project focused on firefighter performance,” said Brick. “A big part of the meal was making sure that the firefighters had an adequate amount protein—about half a pound of meat [per person]—for a good amount of energy so they're fueled and ready to go for whatever emergency may come.”

Green Chili, Turkey Chili prepared by registered dietitian students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In their research, the students found that cardiovascular disease is one of the largest issues facing the American population, especially firefighters, said Brick. “But you can reduce that risk by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and supplementing them in any meal that you have,” Brick added.

College of Public Health faculty members Batheja, Lilian Dejonge, Allison McKay, and Allison Miner and registered firefighter dietitian Megan Lautz also attended the dinners.

Lautz has been a registered dietitian since 2015 and has a unique position as many fire departments don’t have an in-house dietitian. She works with dietitian students across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including Brick, Rudich, and the rest of their cohort.

Lautz met with the students regularly and provided them with Excel templates to guide them throughout the process, said Brick. “They were really handy to have and made our workload a lot easier to handle.”

“They not only had to research and develop recipes in a professional format, but they also cooked meals for six to nine people, including the fire chief,” said Lautz.

Marcus Brick (top left), Mark Radish (top right), Allison McKay (bottom center left), Allison Miner (bottom center right), and the firefighters from Station 33 pose in front of firetrucks. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

After the meal was prepared, the students gave presentations to the firefighters about the importance of a healthy diet. Brick and Rudich’s presentation featured the myths and cons of green powder diet supplement.

“Public speaking is a big part of being a dietitian, and throughout the course of this program, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to practice educating others on nutrition,” said Brick. “I've tried to stick with topics that I don't know much about to fill in my knowledge gaps as I teach others.”

“Without Megan and this program, I wouldn't have known that firefighter dietitian was a niche that I could go into. I can work with airline pilots, doctors, and so many other patient populations, and the program really helped me prepare for that,” said Brick.

In This Story

Allison McKay

Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN

Sapna Batheja, PhD, RDN, LDN

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Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Students

Carter School partners with Rotary to scale up peacebuilding

Colleen Rich — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:19:07 +0000

Carter School partners with Rotary to scale up peacebuilding Colleen Rich Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:19

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School at ��AV, the top-ranked national public institution for peace and conflict resolution, has partnered with Rotary International, one of the largest global membership service organizations, to provide education and develop modalities to assist Rotary clubs in promoting local, regional, and global peace.

Dean Alpaslan Özerdem with Gordon McInally, president of Rotary International. Photo provided

For nearly a year, Carter School faculty have met with Rotary to identify areas in which their missions overlap and where each organization may benefit from the expertise of the other.

Through this partnership, the Carter School and Rotary will incubate new peacebuilding ideas and accelerate existing ideas to make them more effective. The Carter School will also assist in developing replicable modalities of peacebuilding—peacebuilding action “templates” that can be duplicated and applied to address the needs of different conflicts.

Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally.

“This critical partnership will open many opportunities for both organizations as they can build on each other’s strengths and expertise in peacebuilding,” said Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School. “We have taken our time in forming this partnership as we wanted to ensure that it is a bottom-up process and incorporated a vast body of viewpoints in shaping how it would be transformational with its impact on peace. We are ready to scale up our efforts to build more peaceful societies worldwide. Knowing that we will take this transformational journey with an organization like Rotary fills me with confidence, excitement, and hope.”

Photo provided

Additionally, the Carter School will tap into its Better Evidence Project (BEP) expertise, which hosts an online depository of peacebuilding research and applied successes. Under this partnership, Rotary’s peacebuilding efforts will be integrated into the BEP database, making their organization’s work accessible to other peacebuilders. Plans include an online forum, tying Rotary into a global community of researchers and practitioners where peacebuilders can strategize and discuss their work.

Taking advantage of its expert faculty, the Carter School will provide educational strategies to equip Rotary members and their leaders to be more effective peacebuilding practitioners. In addition to seminars, the Carter School will host several “Peace Salons,” intimate gatherings to raise awareness and build networks with Rotary members in peacebuilding practice. In Fall 2024, Rotary and the Carter School will host the first Peacebuilding Praxis Conference, illustrating the nexus of theory and practice.

“Creating peaceful, welcoming, and inclusive societies is at the heart of what Rotary is about,” said Rotary International President Gordon McInally. “We’ve made peacebuilding the cornerstone of our global mission with everything we do, from fighting disease to supporting education, building toward the optimal conditions for more peaceful and resilient societies. But we can’t do this alone. Through our partnership with the Carter School, we will help empower, educate, and increase the capacity of our members and participants to become even more effective catalysts for peace.”

Charles Davidson, a Carter School professor specializing in local peacebuilding and partnerships between international and local constituents, will facilitate connections between Rotary members and faculty with expertise in a geo region or peacebuilding specialty. “With the global reach of Rotary and the world-renown expertise of the Carter School, I believe this collaboration will innovate peacebuilding efforts at both the local and global levels with specific but far-reaching impact and education,” Davidson said.

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Building community and connections in Arlington

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:44:02 +0000

Building community and connections in Arlington Lauren Reuscher Wed, 11/08/2023 - 13:44

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Around Mason (E-Files)

The Movers and Shakers Mixer event returned to Mason Square in late September, connecting ��AV students with Arlington’s business, government, and community leaders.

The Movers and Shakers Mixer gave students the opportunity to connect with leaders in the local Arlington community. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Since its inception in 2019, the Movers and Shakers Mixer has become a highly anticipated networking event for the Mason Square community. This year, more than 150 students, faculty, staff, and community members participated.

Bryanna Buker, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in international security, aspires to work in transnational crime at an intelligence agency. As a new resident, Buker said the event was an ideal opportunity to engage with other community-focused Arlingtonians. Her future career prospects also motivated her to attend.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“I wanted to meet people who could help shape my ideas of potential career opportunities post-graduation,” Buker said. “I’ve been debating going to law school after I finish my program. Meeting the recruitment team from the Antonin Scalia Law School allowed me to learn how to transition to law school.”

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Caroline Wesson, a doctoral candidate in political science, regularly attends Movers and Shakers. “I always leave with several business cards and excitement about ways I can get involved and engage my community through my research and skills,” Wesson said. “I was fortunate to speak with individuals from business and government who are passionate about economic growth and inclusion in our community, and those interested in how technology is transforming our society.”

Attendees had the opportunity to enter a raffle for one-on-one networking lunches with Arlington leaders. Amber Pittman, a graduate student in global commerce and policy, was one of the drawing winners. She recently connected with Jennifer Owens, president and CEO of Arlington Community Foundation, for their lunch meeting.

Owens expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “Thanks to the staff for creating events and opportunities, like Movers and Shakers, to foster connections between community members and students,” she said.

@DCSpot recommends off-campus eats for Patriots in Downtown Fairfax—a short walk or quick bus ride

Shayla Brown — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:21:14 +0000

@DCSpot recommends off-campus eats for Patriots in Downtown Fairfax—a short walk or quick bus ride Shayla Brown Thu, 10/26/2023 - 12:21

��AV alum Alex Hussein, BS Information Systems and Operations Management ’21, who is also known as @DC Spot, shares his recommendations for a few must-go-restaurants in local Fairfax. Alex is a food influencer with more than 215,000 Instagram followers. His videos feature eateries throughout the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. Read more about Alex in the recent news feature: Eating with an Entrepreneur, and watch his reviews here: @dcspot.

Downtown Fairfax is just a few miles from the Fairfax Campus for walking or jump on one of the bus systems around town—the Mason Shuttles, Fairfax CUE Bus, and Fairfax Connector.

First Watch

Location: 9600 Main St Suite S
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 8 minutes, 2.4 miles

Breakfast/brunch dishes from First Watch in Fairfax, Virginia. Photo by Office of University Branding.

First up, First Watch! First Watch serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch with options of sweet or savory, and coffee served iced or hot (an entire pot’s worth for the table is made fresh every morning), Fall is upon us, and it’s a great time to check out First Watch’s seasonal menu which includes flavorful juices and pancakes. They also have a “Healthier Side” section that includes avocado toast, egg white omelets, and more. First Watch doesn’t take reservations, but customers can order online for pickup until 2:30 p.m. or delivery until 2:15pm.

Don’t Miss Out Item: Bacado Omelet and Chocolate Chip Pancakes     

Taco Bamba

Location: University Mall, 10629 Braddock Rd, Suite B-8 
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 4 minutes, 1 mile 

Taco Bamba was founded by Chef Victor Albisu, a Mason alum with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He brings his Latin heritage and culinary education to the table, making for a delicious dining experience! Taco Bamba is a local chain with properties across the East Coast including 10 locations in Virginia. Taco Bamba has a colorful chalk wall menu, and carafes of water available to customers seated inside or outside. The best part about Taco Bamba? You and your family can enjoy some awesome Patriot Perks!

Don’t Miss Out Item: El Diablo 

De Clieu Coffee and Sandwiches 

Location: 10389 Main St B
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 5 minutes, 1.3 miles

Baked goods from De Clieu Coffee and Sandwich shop. Photo by Office of University Branding.

De Clieu is a sandwich and coffee shop located in Old Town Fairfax just off University Drive. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches galore are topped only by the eclectic iced coffee options including gelatoccino, a gelato drink made with “award-winning flavor.” De Clieu partners with Intelligentsia Roasters to serve customers the best quality coffee beans from across the world. Their menu currently features seasonal specialty drinks and baked goods, some of which blend sweet and savory flavors! The restaurant offers upper and lower deck seating and has free parking and Wi-Fi.     

Don’t Miss Out Item: Spicy Swine Breakfast Sandwich 

Sisters Thai 

Location: 4004 University Drive 
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 4 minutes, 1.3 miles

Sisters Thai in Fairfax, Virginia. Photo by Office of University Branding.

Sisters Thai offers an array of Asian dishes and desserts to customers. Nicknamed “The Living Room Café," Sisters Thai puts an emphasis on relaxing while you enjoy their cuisine and a drink or two. Be sure to check out the “Thai Street Food” and “Chef’s Recommendation” menu sections for some colorful dishes and unique flavors. The inside is picturesque with a decorative bookshelf lining a cozy booth area, and flowers hanging from above. If you don’t have time to dine-in, Sisters Thai offers online ordering for delivery or pickup. The local chain has three other locations throughout the region. 

Don’t Miss Out Item: Kana Moo Grob 

Fats Fairfax 

Location: 10673 Braddock Rd 
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 4 minutes, 0.7 miles 

Fats describes themselves as a “N’awlins saloon offering great food” that gives off the vibe of Bourbon Street. Fats offers delicious seafood specials that include spiced shrimp, steamed mussels, and raw oysters. While customers enjoy their meals, they are serenaded with live entertainment. With Open Mic Night, Trivia Night, and Karaoke, Fats is more than just a restaurant, but the perfect place for a fun night out with friends.  

Don’t Miss Out Item: Hot Crab Dip 

Woody’s Ice Cream

Location: 10435 North St
Distance from the Fairfax Campus: 5 minutes, 1.4 miles

Woody's vanilla ice cream cone with sprinkles. Photo by Office of University Branding.

Another one for Patriot Perks! Woody’s is in the heart of downtown Fairfax and offers treats like waffle cones, milkshakes and everything in between, with 34 flavor options to choose from, four of which are only offered seasonally, so don’t miss out! The shop offers delicious non-dairy alternatives as well as weekly specials Monday through Thursday. Woody’s offers indoor seating and expanded patio space for customers to sit and enjoy their treats. And speaking of treats, Woody’s is dog-friendly, so bring your pup along for the ride. If you’re lucky, Woody and his granddaughter Danielle will be in-house. They love meeting new customers!

Don’t Miss Out Item: 2 Scoops of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Reese's Pieces Toppings (and Gummy Bears for a little razzle dazzle!)

Looking for more options? Remember to check out ��AV’s Patriot Perks program, which provides students and alumni with exclusive deals at local establishments and supports small business and alumni-owned businesses. Many of these locations also accept Mason Money. 

Eating with an Entrepreneur
October 23, 2023

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Costello College of Business

Dining and meal options

Around Mason (E-Files)

Mason centers receive gift from Hewlett Foundation to bridge research practice gap in education

Colleen Rich — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:31:56 +0000

Mason centers receive gift from Hewlett Foundation to bridge research practice gap in education Colleen Rich Fri, 09/22/2023 - 11:31

In This Story

Sanmay Das

Anne Holton

Two centers at ��AV—EdPolicyForward in the College of Education and Human Development and the Center for Advancing Human Machine Partnership (CAHMP), a transdisciplinary research center—will collaborate on a project that aims to better connect research to practice in education policymaking, and support school divisions in improving student and teacher performance and enhancing the effectiveness and fairness of resource allocation through data-driven decision making.

The collaboration is supported by a generous gift from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation that advances ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world. The collaboration between EdPolicyForward and CAHMP manifests the power and opportunities that transdisciplinary research can bring to Mason's research and practice community.

Sanmay Das

The Education Program at Hewlett Foundation makes grants to help educators, schools and communities turn schools into places that empower and equip students for a lifetime of learning and to reach their full potential.

The core Mason project team includes Sanmay Das, professor of computer science and co-director of CAHMP; Anne Holton, professor of public policy and education; Seth B. Hunter, assistant professor of education leadership; David Houston, director of EdPolicyForward and assistant professor of education; and Peng Warweg, assistant director of CAHMP.

Anne Holton

The project will leverage the core team’s expertise in education policy research, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics, as well as partnerships with local school divisions, to better connect research to practice, with the goal of helping all students succeed through efficient, effective, and equitable use and distribution of school resources.

Over the next 16 months, the team will deliver a series of policy briefs to communicate relevant research findings to state and local leaders on matters of importance to their decision-making, creating a two-way dialogue between researchers and policymakers, and a dissemination strategy to inform the policymaking decisions of local, state, and national audiences.

The project is also expected to enhance the capacity for data-driven decision-making in school divisions, especially in the use of methods from artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics to support and enhance equity in access to programs that benefit student outcomes and improve student and teacher performance.

EdPolicyForward, the Center for Education Policy, promotes equity and improved educational outcomes for all students, from preschool through college and beyond. The center connects research to policy and practice, develops and advances effective and pragmatic solutions, and drives meaningful public discourse addressing persistent inequalities in U.S. public education.

Founded in 2019, the transdisciplinary CAHMP facilitates research, teaching, and innovation in understanding and leveraging human-machine partnership to solve current and emerging societal problems. CAHMP’s network of researchers work on cross-disciplinary topics, such as responsible AI, learning technology, education policy and analytics, and generative AI for education.

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Center for Advancing Human Machine Partnerships

education policy

Community Engagement

EdPolicyForward

College of Education and Human Development

Strategic Direction

Off the Clock: Liza Wilson Durant serves her community as an emergency medical technician

Shayla Brown — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:14:43 +0000

Off the Clock: Liza Wilson Durant serves her community as an emergency medical technician Shayla Brown Wed, 09/06/2023 - 13:14

Life is much more than time spent on the clock. In this series, we highlight the unique hobbies and volunteer activities of Mason's talented faculty and staff.

Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement and a professor and associate dean in the College of Engineering and Computing. Photo provided.

Liza Wilson Durant wears many hats at ��AV.

Wilson Durant, who joined the Mason Nation in 2010, is an associate provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement and a professor and associate dean in the College of Engineering and Computing. Her particular focus is on Mason’s engineering and computing initiatives.

She is also the director of the Northern Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, a role that helps Mason forge broad partnerships with other universities, colleges, industry and government partners.

Outside her work at Mason, Wilson Durant makes a different impact on her community—since 2021 she has volunteered as an emergency medical technician (EMT), licensed in the State of Maryland and with the National Registry of EMTs.

Wilson Durant's commitment to service began 45 years ago when she was a middle schooler, volunteering as an aid and companion at a transition house for those with mental health challenges. Those hours of service had a profound impact on her mindset, and she committed to community service as an integral part of her daily life.

In addition to providing emergency medical aid to those who call 911, she also drives the ambulance and supports other emergency operations with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Maryland, and occasionally provides mutual aid to Virginia when needed.

What is the time commitment like for this community service? How do you balance it with your work and home life?

As an EMT and private with the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, I am required to volunteer one, 12-hour overnight shift each week, and 20 additional weekend hours every two months. So, I contribute more than 750 duty hours a year. It is a privilege to do this work and rewarding to have immediate impact; this makes it easy to show up, even when I am tired or have other competing demands on my time.

What has been the most meaningful or memorable experience you’ve had as an EMT?

Each week there are memorable moments. We are often with people at the lowest point in their lives, and if we can successfully improve their physical and mental health outcomes or support their families who are experiencing the emergency alongside their loved ones, the immediate impact is very rewarding.

How do you prepare for the intense and fast-paced environment, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional preparation?

We undergo a significant amount of training, testing and certification. When we are not running calls, we are running drills, reviewing protocols, discussing our approach to various calls and supporting each other on our crews. Preparation, and constant study and drills, help ensure confidence at a difficult moment.

What lessons have you learned through this experience?

Although my tasks as associate provost and dean are very different than as an EMT charge officer, the roles are similar in terms of working in an ensemble of expert, dedicated individuals who are driven by the mission of incredible impact on the well-being and success of our community members. I've learned in both roles to trust in the power of a team and the power of the diversity of our approaches to a challenge.

I have had a lifelong commitment to community service activities that get me out from behind a desk and part of a team with "hands-on" impact in my community. I learn something new every day I show up for duty, from my crew and from the incredible health care providers in our hospitals and health care system in the region.

Apart from this volunteer work, what else keeps you busy outside Mason? What do you do to relax?

I love spending time with my beautiful family and especially running, playing golf and enjoying the land around the Potomac River where we live.

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Mason’s School Psychology Program launches new center for child and teen testing and evaluation

Colleen Rich — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:46:42 +0000

Mason’s School Psychology Program launches new center for child and teen testing and evaluation Colleen Rich Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:46

The School Psychology Program at ��AV’s School of Education has launched a Coordinated Educational and Wellness Services (CEWS) center for psychoeducational testing and evaluation of school-aged children.

Nicole Beadles.
Photo by Evan Cantwell/��AV

Housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the center will specialize in mental health, psychological, and educational services for children, adolescents, and teens, ages 5 to 18. The goal of these services is to improve the emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning of children in primary and secondary schools.

“We wanted to develop a center that was focused on school-age children and educationally related concerns,” said Nicole Beadles, associate professor in Mason’s School Psychology program, who oversees the center.

Previously, the School Psychology Program provided psychoeducational testing for children and teens through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), which operates a mental health clinic serving a client base that includes young children as well as adults of college age and beyond.

The new center will serve as a community resource helping families with a child who may be experiencing academic, emotional, or behavioral problems impeding their functioning in school and elsewhere. Services will begin in September; the center accepting appointments for testing to be conducted through its Comprehensive Assessment Services (CAS) program. No referral is necessary, and parents may contact the center directly for an appointment.

“We have extensive experience helping families whose children have psychological, behavioral, and emotional difficulties, and we strive to support them across all areas of their lives,” Beadles said, adding that the center is “a much-needed resource for parents, families, and youth in the community.”

Evaluations performed through the CAS program are designed to assist parents in addressing specific areas of concern where their child may be having difficulties. Some of the more common concerns include anxiety, mood disorders (depression), social interaction challenges, behavioral difficulties, emotional outbursts, learning and attentional difficulties, ADHD, and autism. Assessments encompass interviews, questionnaires, record reviews, and direct testing of the child.

Graduate students in Mason’s School Psychology Program will conduct testing under the close supervision of licensed clinical and school psychologists affiliated with the university. Parents get the benefit of two sets of eyes on all work conducted in the center, Beadles said. “Our goal is to provide accurate and useful information that can make a difference in a child’s life,” Beadles added.

Beadles, a former school psychologist with Fairfax County Public Schools, has been in contact with community organizations and school psychology leaders in Northern Virginia school districts including Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria, and Manassas to spread the word about the center.

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