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Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning

Colleen Rich — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:03:09 +0000

Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning Colleen Rich Thu, 12/19/2024 - 14:03

With a final pre-tassel-turning lesson about leadership, kindness, and resilience, more than 5,200 ��AV students graduated or earned certificates Thursday at Winter Commencement in EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

Livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel, the ceremony honored graduates from 89 countries and 45 states. About 1 in 4 was a first-generation graduate.

George Mason President Gregory Washington told the graduates that whether they realized it or not, while pursuing a degree, they also were being prepared to serve as leaders. Echoing a New York Times op-ed by Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, Washington urged each graduate to embrace leadership, not escape it to avoid risk or as an act of self-preservation.

“Your conscience is your light,” Washington said. “It’s your North Star for leadership. And you will be called to let that light shine and invite others to follow it. Yeah, it’s scary. But in times of crisis, the light of our conscience will be the only light, and the only way out of the darkness.

“Generating light brings a certain amount of heat with it,” Washington added. “But bringing light is worth enduring that heat. If we have done our job right here at ��AV, we have prepared you to bring the light and endure the heat.”

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The guest speaker, former CGI president and chief executive officer George D. Schindler, was awarded an honorary degree by Board of Visitors member Horace Blackman, BA American Studies and English '93, the university’s former rector and also a CGI executive.

Schindler encouraged students to carry out a “life of learning” so they can adapt and thrive in an era of excessively rapid change. “In today’s world, current knowledge is just table stakes,” Schindler said. “While continuous learning is often the differentiator in career and life. It will be important to be agile and adaptable in your ways of thinking and acting.”

Schindler also emphasized that, contrary to what many may believe, success and kindness are not mutually exclusive.

“You can be kind and still be a strong performer and a strong leader,” Schindler said. “You can be kind and still make difficult decisions. You can be kind and still provide firm feedback and be a firm negotiator. And you can be kind and have a successful career. Our companies need more kindness, our governments need more kindness, and our society could definitely use some more kindness. It starts with each of us.”

Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented an honorary degree to Maureen McCarthy Scalia for “her passionate dedication to learning and for her decades of volunteer work in the Washington, D.C., region.” Scalia is the widow of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom George Mason named its law school in 2016, the year the justice died. Stimson is a graduate of what is now the Scalia Law School.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Provost James Antony, taking part in his first George Mason Commencement since joining the university, introduced the student speaker, psychology major Caroline Little. Little detailed how faculty and staff supported and encouraged her, first as an unsure transfer from community college, then through several relocations and two pregnancies. She and her husband, former George Mason basketball standout Josh Oduro, have a 10-month-old son, and she is eight months pregnant with their second child.

“George Mason isn’t just meant for the cookie-cutter student,” Little said. “It’s meant for people like me, for people like you, and people like anybody that has the determination to finish their degree and succeed, no matter what their life looks like outside of the classroom. This university has given me a new sense of strength and self-confidence that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the ��AV Alumni Association, welcomed the graduates to a network of 240,000 members worldwide and called on them to engage with the association and each other.

“Now you have the power and resources of a new family that has walked in your shoes and blazed a path forward,” Hine said. “There is likely an alum in any industry in which you are joining, and likely an alum in any location in which you are settling. This is an incredible network, which you should leverage.”

View the 2024 winter graduation in pictures

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George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates

Colleen Rich — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:41:31 +0000

George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates Colleen Rich Mon, 12/16/2024 - 13:41

��AV will honor more than 5,200 students graduating or earning certificates at Winter Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

The event will be livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel. Doors open an hour before the ceremony.

The winter graduates hail from 89 countries and 45 states, and 27% of bachelor’s degree recipients identify as first-generation graduates.

The guest speaker will be George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI. The student speaker is Caroline Little, graduating with a bachelor of arts in psychology.

Degree celebrations for nine George Mason schools and colleges also will take place this week at EagleBank Arena and those too will be livestreamed.

Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement and degree celebration ceremonies.

The top five majors among the 2,993 undergraduates in the winter Class of 2024 are business; psychology; computer science; information technology; and criminology, law and society.

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors account for 31% of students earning bachelor’s degrees and 35% of students earning advanced degrees. Both totals increased from last year, affirming George Mason’s standing as a top producer of tech talent for Northern Virginia and the state.

For the 1,696 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, special education, curriculum and instruction, computer science, and business administration.

The top majors for the 200 students earning doctoral degrees are education, biosciences, computer science, psychology, and writing and rhetoric.

The winter graduating class also includes four law school graduates.

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Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker

Colleen Rich — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:56:55 +0000

Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker Colleen Rich Mon, 12/16/2024 - 08:56

George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI, will be the featured speaker at ��AV’s Winter Commencement on Dec. 19 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

George D. Schindler. Photo provided

Can you share one piece of personal or professional advice you received that has influenced your life or career and that you would like to impart to this George Mason Class of 2024?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my 40-year career is to be curious and embrace continuous learning. Change is constant, and our ability to adapt and thrive in rapidly evolving environments depends on maintaining a learning mindset.

Another piece of advice I’ve carried with me is about how to approach advice itself. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive guidance from incredible mentors and colleagues. But I’ve also learned that advice can be a double-edged sword. It’s crucial to listen intently to advice, but equally important to know when to set it aside. To be authentic both personally and professionally, you need to filter advice through your own values and experiences. Advice can guide you, but blindly following it can lead you away from what makes you uniquely effective.

You began your career as a coder and worked your way up to CEO. But there were detours on your path. Is there a lesson in that for graduates as they begin their careers?

Absolutely. Career paths are rarely linear, and that’s a reality to embrace, rather than fear. Detours and unexpected turns present opportunities to gain new perspectives, develop resilience, and learn new skills.

Looking back, the moments where I adjusted course often ended up being the most formative and rewarding. My advice: Stay open to opportunities and remember that some of the most meaningful growth in your life and in your career can happen in the unplanned moments.

How would you say that George Mason’s perspective of “All Together Different” helps prepare students for the workforce?

Diversity in all forms is an essential component of thriving institutions and societies, especially in its ability to spur innovation and progress. At CGI, we often saw that bringing together people with unique perspectives and backgrounds led to better solutions and greater outcomes for our company and for our clients. George Mason’s commitment to inclusivity prepares graduates to thrive in an interconnected and dynamic workforce. By cultivating collaboration and respect for different ideas, graduates are well-positioned to navigate and shape the future.

As a leading provider of tech talent, how does George Mason drive innovation and economic prosperity in Northern Virginia and throughout the state?

George Mason is a vital partner in cultivating talent that drives regional innovation and economic growth. We saw this firsthand when I was CEO at CGI as we relied on the skilled professionals emerging from programs at institutions like George Mason to deliver trusted business solutions for our clients. This partnership between academia and industry not only fuels local economic prosperity but also strengthens the foundation for future growth in technology and innovation.

President Washington believes companies and corporations need to offer more internships to better prepare graduates with the skills and experiences employers need. How does CGI succeed in this area, and how can that kind of mentorship be achieved on a large scale in our region?

I agree with President Washington. Done right, internships benefit both students and companies alike. Beyond simply gaining experience, mentorship during an internship helps students bridge the gap between theory and practice while learning from the perspectives of those with more experience, and companies gain fresh ideas and perspectives that students bring. To achieve this on a broader scale, collaboration is key. At CGI, we have seen that the greatest success is achieved when universities and companies work together to create programs that allow students and companies to engage with each other over longer periods of time with appropriate commitments on both sides. These programs create the opportunities that are both accessible and most meaningful.

Many George Mason graduates define career success not only by financial reward or job satisfaction but by bettering society through their work. What are some ways that students might be able to accomplish this goal?

At CGI, our consultants and technical experts are certainly motivated by the opportunity to use their skills to drive positive change for our clients, but also for our clients’ customers. We talk about our role in bettering society as being “two steps away” as it’s our role to partner with our clients to enable this positive change. For example, our direct client might be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but by assisting the EPA, we are also contributing to helping citizens across the country live in a healthier environment. Likewise, when working for a large financial institution on a program to assist the unbanked—those people living in our communities who do not have bank accounts—we indirectly help this underserved population of people gain access to services that will make a difference in their lives and those of their families.

We also encourage all of our employees to lend their expertise to charitable organizations or individuals through STEM-focused programs, doing our part to enable a digitally inclusive society for everyone in our communities. I encourage you to challenge yourself and your places of employment to find ways for you to accomplish your goals to better society—our society needs your contributions.

Forty years ago, George Mason partnered with area businesses to develop an engineering program geared toward the emerging information technology (IT) field. Given the prominence of IT in our regional economy today, what does this say about the impact of partnerships between George Mason and local industry?

It is clear that the partnership George Mason initiated at that time was a visionary one in terms of how collaboration between academia and industry can help shape regional economies. By aligning educational programs with the emerging needs of the IT field, George Mason and its partners certainly contributed to the role of Northern Virginia becoming the hub of technological innovation that it is today.

Such partnerships are critical in today’s world, where rapid technological change is accelerating faster than ever before. Preparing students to thrive in this environment requires a continuous dialogue between academia and industry to ensure that curricula and the experiential learning opportunities that companies can provide keep pace with real-world demands. When this collaboration aligns, it can enable future generations to not just respond to change but actively shape the future.

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George Mason BOV approves design for student-athlete center, adopts institutional neutrality principles

Colleen Rich — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:08:16 +0000

George Mason BOV approves design for student-athlete center, adopts institutional neutrality principles Colleen Rich Wed, 12/11/2024 - 16:08

The ��AV Board of Visitors has approved the schematic design for the Basketball and Academic Performance Center, a Fairfax Campus project that will upgrade and expand the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) and modernize facilities to better serve the university’s student-athletes.

Plans call for a 30,000-square-foot multi-story addition to the RAC as well as a 14,000-square-foot renovation of the building. The Basketball and Academic Performance Center will occupy the northwest corner of the RAC, which originally was the P.E. Building, built in 1972, and renovated in 2009.

The Academic Service suite will provide resources for student-athletes in all of George Mason’s Intercollegiate Athletics programs and replace the academic trailers currently in use on West Campus.

The center will better enable George Mason to compete for talent with peer universities that have built new athletics facilities in recent years. The basketball practice facility will have dedicated courts for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball programs as well as team offices, locker rooms, strength and conditioning spaces, and other amenities to serve the university’s student-athletes.

"The Basketball and Academic Performance Center will truly stand as the crown jewel of George Mason Athletics," said Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Athletics. "This cutting-edge facility reflects the exceptional achievements of our student-athletes, both in competition and in the classroom. It also showcases the university's dedication to supporting our basketball programs for sustained national success."

Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2025, with occupancy planned for winter 2026-27. The BOV approved the project at their Dec. 5 meeting.

“It’s a fabulous facility, and we need it desperately,” said BOV member Robert Pence, who chairs the governing body’s Finance and Land Use Committee and is one of the board’s Athletics liaisons. “As time goes by, we’re going to need this and many more additions and improvements to our athletic facilities. I think most of you know that the ground rules for NCAA schools and athletics is shifting seismically,” he added.

The addition of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness opportunities have created additional complexity to operating college athletic programs.

Also at the Dec. 5 meeting, the board voted to adopt the Kalven Committee Principles of Institutional Neutrality, a policy that clarifies the scope of what university leaders comment on publicly. To guide its application, the board also adopted existing, informal university guidelines already used when leadership determine what issues merit an official pronouncement from George Mason leadership.

The guidelines call for statements to be balanced, and generally to occur when events of the day call for leadership to convey instructions, explanations, consolation, or messages of de-escalation.

The framework applies solely to statements coming from the president and the rector. The board reiterated that the Kalven Principles expressly do not apply to students or individual faculty or staff.

Many colleges and universities have adopted the Kalven Principles since they were developed in 1967 at the University of Chicago, including some institutions recently.

At its September meeting, the BOV directed Provost Jim Antony and the Academic Programs, Diversity and University Community Committee (APDUC), chaired by Visitor Lindsey Burke, to engage university stakeholders, including students, faculty, deans, and administrative leaders, on the possibility of adopting of the Kalven Principles.

The stakeholders’ pros for such a policy, as reported out by Antony, included preserving viewpoint diversity, establishing a consistent practice for official response, and supporting academic freedom. The stated cons for adopting the principles included the necessity of George Mason needing such a policy given its existing framework for issuing statements, determining which issues require neutrality, and running the risk of the university community interpreting a lack of university response as indifferent or being a political statement in itself.

“I do think that what the provost described is a fair description of all the possible critiques of this type of policy, [and] I agree with all of them,” said Visitor Armand Alacbay, who favored adopting the Kalven Principles. “At the end of the day, this policy is about people generally don't like being spoken for on things they’re passionate about. And when you are in a position of leadership of any institution, restraint is a virtue because the words you speak carry weight, and so there is responsibility to be representative as best as possible of this very diverse and large community.”

In a follow-up from a presentation at the September BOV meeting, Vice President for Enrollment Management David Burge provided information about how standardized test scores and median high school GPAs have increased for George Mason applicants since 2007 when the university stopped requiring SAT scores for undergraduate admission.

Burge said about 2,000 colleges and universities are test-optional, or test-blind, which means the institution will not consider a student’s standardized test score in their admittance process, unless the applicant requests that they do.

In 2006-07, 96.8% of George Mason applicants submitted SAT scores. At that time, the median SAT score was 1100 and the applicants’ median high school GPA was 3.36.

In 2024-25, 18.6% of applicants submitted SAT scores. The median SAT was 1260 and the median high school GPA was 3.75.

“During that period, we have seen some growth in some of the metrics that would be emblematic of the quality of our incoming class,” Burge said. “I think it is safe to say that there has certainly not been harm done to that quality as part of this practice and we’ve been able to grow and produce more graduates and find talent in some atypical places.”

Biology professor Aarthi Narayanan and Mary Ellen O’Toole, director of the university’s Forensic Science Program, made presentations during the BOV Research Committee meeting, highlighting the university’s expertise in viral infections and the science of decomposition, respectively.

Narayanan, who recently secured a $1.4 million grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to investigate how an infection spreads between organs and how a therapeutic will impact connected organs, discussed the necessity to scale discoveries and technologies. She also outlined the difference between readiness and preparedness. Readiness is about meeting current challenges and threats. Preparedness is about meeting future challenges and threats.

“The infectious disease footprint for viral infections is expanding nationally and globally,” Narayanan said. “What we are dealing with as a nation is certain pathogens, which were not endemic to the United States, [are] now running the real risk of becoming endemic to the United States, and that would affect not just human health but also animal health, which automatically almost immediately translates into not just a health burden but also an economic burden at the national level.”

O’Toole presented on the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, a Science and Technology Campus facility better known as the body farm. The lab, one of 11 in the country and the only one on the East Coast, recently received its fourth human donor.

O’Toole discussed the forensic training and expertise required to help solve homicides and missing persons cases, including locating the victims of natural disasters.

“People have to be found,” she said. “Their loved ones don't want closure…They want to be reunited with their loved ones. We want to be able to not only prosecute people that are responsible for homicides, but in doing that, we exonerate the innocent.”

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BOV hears plans for expanding veterans’ services and considers the future of West Campus

Colleen Rich — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:23:14 +0000

BOV hears plans for expanding veterans’ services and considers the future of West Campus Colleen Rich Fri, 10/04/2024 - 11:23

The ��AV Board of Visitors discussed the potential for a dedicated university center devoted to expanding academic programs and supports for former or current servicemembers and their families.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

More than 4,700 George Mason students have a military connection, said Keith Renshaw, senior associate provost for undergraduate education and director of the university’s Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative (MVFI). Renshaw said the incoming freshman transfer cohort and incoming graduate cohort his fall were both about 20% military connected.

“We are seeing a proportionately larger increase in interest from that population in attending George Mason,” Renshaw said during a presentation to the BOV’s development committee on Sept. 26. A substantial amount of George Mason’s research also focuses on issues relevant to the military and veteran community, and there are many direct services available to that population as part of many curricular and research programs across the university.

“We have the opportunity to expand into a formalized center that serves as a national exemplar for how to do this at universities,” Renshaw said.

U.S. News & World Report last month cited George Mason as one of the best colleges for veterans, the latest in a series of recognition for how the university supports the military-connected population.

“We live in a region with the highest concentration of military, active and veterans,” said Jon Peterson, chairman of the board’s development committee. “We want to make sure there is engagement between [the university and] students, family members. And that we support them with resources to make their lives better. We can be leaders in this around the country.”

Renshaw said there is a strategic plan for the center to further develop, estimating it would take about $10 million—perhaps in the form of a naming gift—to get the center up and running.

Also at the Sept. 26 meeting, the Board of Visitors approved George Mason President Gregory Washington’s goals for the 2024-25 academic year.

The goals cover the student experience; the impact of George Mason research; expanding partnerships; exemplifying a university culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion; investing in faculty and staff success; and timely communication and engagement with university stakeholders.

During his remarks, Washington cited recent state studies that highlight the university’s achievements and its state-leading efficiency in producing more graduates than any university in Virginia over the past decade.

“Seventy-three percent of our graduates stay in the state and are amongst the highest paid,” Washington said. “And we graduate the most. We have the highest return on investment in the state. The state pays the least for a student here. And they literally get the most out of the students from here…. That’s a significant set of outcomes.”

The BOV toured portions of the main Fairfax Campus and West Campus as part of the Sept. 26 meeting and heard a report from Washington about different options the university could pursue to develop that 190+-acre West Campus.

The proposed changes could include state-of-the-art athletic facilities, new residence halls, faculty and staff housing, and other amenities to give the campus a more vibrant sense of community and to ease housing costs on faculty and staff.

Washington said the university had not opened a new residence hall since 2015.

“If you go back to 2017, people have been proposing expanding George Mason into West Campus,” Washington said. “Go back to 1968. Way back then, there was a master plan in place to look at West Campus expansion. It's part of an ongoing set of discussions. This is just the planning phase.”

In the coming months, university officials will meet with the Fairfax Campus and Community Advisory Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, among other stakeholders.

“We will be engaging the community in a very, very aggressive way,” Washington said. “We need to get all this input before we make a decision, and this is how we will engage individuals in order to get that. So this is not an indication of a final outcome.”

The BOV approved two new degree programs—an MS in behavior analysis in the College of Education and Human Development and the first PhD in cyber security engineering in Virginia. The proposals next will be presented to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

The MS in behavior analysis proposal will be submitted to SCHEV this month. The PhD in cyber security engineering proposal likely will be submitted to SCHEV in spring or summer 2025.

The MS in behavior analysis, which would begin in fall 2025, will prepare students to practice behavior analysis in a variety of settings such as education, life and health coaching, corporate and organizational behavior, and geriatrics. Graduates of the proposed degree program will be able to assess behavior and develop interventions to address behavioral issues.

Pending SCHEV approval, the PhD in cyber security engineering would launch in fall 2026. The proposed program responds to the escalating challenges of an increasingly interconnected and digitized world, addresses the shortage of experts, fosters a robust research community in Virginia, and contributes to the evolution of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies in cybersecurity.

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Getting to Know Provost James Antony

Colleen Rich — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:31:26 +0000

Getting to Know Provost James Antony Colleen Rich Wed, 08/28/2024 - 14:31

James Antony became provost and executive vice president at ��AV on July 1. He comes to George Mason from the University of California San Diego where he served as Dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Prior to that he was a faculty member and administrator at the University of Washington, Yale University, and Harvard University.

What attracted you to George Mason?

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

I wanted to be at an institution that was developing the potential of the people who they were accepting and taking them to heights that maybe they, and others around them, might not have thought possible. George Mason, to me, fit that bill. We accept on the order of the 90 percent of the undergraduates who apply and, unlike other places that have a similar broad-access orientation, our students graduate at a very high rate. George Mason’s admissions process attracts amazing students without being exclusionary—we open opportunities here. We also do incredible work with our graduate and professional students. Overall, this place is very student centered.

There's a whole host of things that I'm learning now that reinforces my decision to come here as being a good one. The faculty I've met are incredibly student-oriented. They care about teaching and about what they're doing in the classroom. They care about the kinds of experiences they're constructing for our students. And, they care about doing all that while continuing to elevate this place as a research university—you might not find that same balance at other places. So, I keep finding more and more evidence that coming here was a great choice.

What are you looking to do in your first year?

I think there's nothing more important right now for a new provost than to come in and just hear the perspectives of faculty, of various kinds of leaders, to understand what's going on with our staff, to learn about our students, and to appreciate the cultures and the histories that embody this place. Over time, this listening will enable me to develop an agenda in terms of strategy and goals. I'm reading everything I can, and interrogating my own thinking about everything I believe I am learning so I can have what I hope are smart questions for folks when I ask them to explain things to me.

You were a first-generation college student, as are many George Mason students. How does that affect how you carry out your role?

The hallmark of my own first-gen experience was not really understanding how things worked. I was a slow starter, and it took me a lot of time to really learn how to navigate the university’s culture. At the same time, given my background, I knew how to be resilient in many ways. And I think this is true for many of our students here, as well. My sense is that first-gen students know how to get stuff done. A first-generation college student is somebody who has figured out how to navigate life’s complexities, and still get to our university’s doorstep. They are not coming here lacking in abilities or resourcefulness. Sure, they may not have family members or others in their immediate sphere who know how to help them navigate the university. And, they may lack financial resources. But in terms of personal commitment, smarts, and what we might call a “can-do” attitude, they're not lacking. Even so, we shouldn’t assume that they will readily navigate our institution in a seamless fashion. We have to make sure we create an educational environment that is supportive, and that allows them to reach their full potential.

One of President Gregory Washington’s goals is greater emphasis on grand challenge issues. How are George Mason faculty positioned for impact?

The George Mason faculty are positioned to have impact on grand challenges because they've already been having impact in ways that prepare us, as a university, to think about addressing big ideas. This is one of the youngest rising research universities in the country. This faculty as a collective has been steadily building its prominence as a research-based faculty with, frankly, a fraction of the resources that other universities enjoy. They are definitely getting noticed all over the country for the impact they're already having.

Provost James Antony welcome first-year students and their families during Move In. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

What if, while supporting them to do the work they are already excelling at, we were also able to strategically align our incredibly creative people around a set of issues that most could agree are so compelling that they will define the human condition for not just the next five or 10 years, but for generations to come? To me, that is the kind of question the framework of a grand challenge allows us to ask. It gives everybody a possible compass to direct some of what we do. It's not saying we only do the grand challenges—we still do the broad scholarship and creative work that represents the larger array of our interests. But, when possible, let’s imagine enabling the alignment of some of our folks’ work to tackle challenges that are bigger than George Mason.

What are your views on artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, and why is it important for George Mason graduates to be fluent in AI?

Research into artificial intelligence can provide opportunities for our scholars to define the future of AI, independent of its application. I’m talking about basic research that helps us understand AI and helps us shape AI and its associated technologies and possibilities. There are so many questions of a technical nature. But there are also questions of application and impact, not the least of which all-important considerations of the ethics and moralities around AI. I am excited by the possibilities of pure scholarship in all these areas, enabling our talented faculty and students to study AI in all of its instantiations and to do really good work helping society understand, and use, AI.

Another opportunity is for our university to figure out where partnerships might exist with industry. We obviously have to think about partnerships that make sense, where the university can leverage its expertise to bring something to bear that advances scholarship, the development of our students, and service to humanity. But we may also be able to learn from the way in which industry is approaching this work. And we can certainly explore creating partnership opportunities and programs that benefit our students and faculty. We have an ethical obligation to teach our students about all this, and we have many exciting opportunities to explore with a variety of partners. The good news is that we are fortunate to have many smart, super talented, people at George Mason who are leaders in this work. As provost, my job is to enable such people.

One of your many areas of expertise is graduate education. Any particular plans or thoughts about here at George Mason?

A world-class research university has thriving programs at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as professional degree programs that are top-notch. Graduate and professional education is something that, when done really well, provides an outcome to the student who's pursuing the advanced degree, but also provides faculty an additional dimension to do their core creative and scholarly work. Special things happen in an intellectual space that brings faculty and graduate or professional students into collaboration with one another. But there's also an impact on society. We need to make sure that we are putting together a robust array of graduate and professional programs that not only advance scholarship, but also have impact on the lives of the average person out there. Those with advanced graduate or professional degrees, like the students we are training at George Mason, go on to have positive impacts on the daily lives of every person in our broader community. As provost, I will work with faculty and other leaders to think about what a vibrant future for graduate and professional education looks like for the George Mason of the future.

You’ve referred to George Mason being one of the most compelling institutions in the nation. How so?

What I see for George Mason is a future that will be positively stunning. We've got so much talent and potential that, on those dimensions, it will be hard to limit our possibilities. But, like many large public research universities, we will have to be strategic and creative when thinking about our future. The good news is we have a lot going for us. Our campus locations are ripe for development, and for becoming the kinds of built environments that, generations from now, will be leaps beyond what our founders could have imagined when we first opened as a university.

We are in one of the most compelling economic environments in the nation, not to mention within proximity to the nation’s capital—we have to continue building upon our successes leveraging our location.

At George Mason, we get to construct our own future. It's going to require lots of discussion, planning, and strategic thinking. It’s going to be a lot of work, and we will have to be bold. But I am so excited about being somewhere that has that kind of potential. For me, I like being in a place where the very best days lie ahead. I look forward to working with everyone to shape that amazing future.

Did you know...

The Office of the Provost has primary responsibility for George Mason's academic mission, including supporting scholarly excellence among faculty members and fostering academic success for students on all four campuses.

Learn more about the Office of the Provost

��AV welcomes the largest new undergraduate class in its history

Colleen Rich — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:12:26 +0000

��AV welcomes the largest new undergraduate class in its history Colleen Rich Mon, 08/26/2024 - 16:12

��AV leadership, faculty, and staff officially welcomed the largest and most diverse incoming freshman class in the university’s history. The incoming undergraduate class—combined freshmen and transfers—also reached an all-time high for George Mason.

Professor Michael "Doc Nix" Nickens takes a selfie during Friday's Convocation in EagleBank Arena. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Photo by Office of University Branding

“You’ll learn how to talk to people who see the world differently,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington, whose remarks kicked off New Student Convocation at EagleBank Arena on Friday. “You learn more by engaging with those who disagree…. Listening doesn't commit you to agreeing.”

This incoming class is notable for several reasons:

Largest incoming undergraduate class at more than 7,600 students
Largest freshman class, with more than 4,600 new first-year students
Most diverse freshman class—driven by growth in Hispanic and African American students
Most academically talented first-year class, with 1.5% more students with GPAs greater than 3.5 compared with fall of 2023
A three-year high for new transfer students—an increase of 4% over last fall
Almost 400 students enter from the high schools the university has targeted for direct admissions
Students in the university’s ADVANCE Program partnership with Northern Virginia Community College make up 16% of all new transfer students, up 2% from last year

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Student body president Maria Alejandra Romero Cuesta, an international and first-generation student from Colombia, acknowledged the hard work required to earn a George Mason degree but told the newcomers at convocation that it will be a “euphoric, transformative, and deeply enlightening” experience.

“We start by jumping in the deep end by putting yourself in rooms that spark constructive discomfort, that challenge you and enable you to challenge others by speaking up in classes,” Cuesta said. “We collectively enrich our understanding and strengthen our ability to thrive in a world made by difference. Everywhere you go together, we create a more empathetic community.”

Incoming students are encouraged to engage faculty, academic advisors and success coaches, and also to use career services supports and mental health resources for when they feel like they need assistance.

“Talk with any staff member or faculty member. Talk with each other, whomever you're comfortable with,” Vice President Rose Pascarell of University Life said. “We'll get you to the right place, the right person, the right website, the right conversation. Patriots thrive together, and this is your community now.”

To close out the event, Doc Nix and the Green Machine gave new students a crash course on the university fight song, with an assist from a few of the university’s basketball coaches.

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Board of Visitors elects new rector, executive committee

Colleen Rich — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 21:21:34 +0000

Board of Visitors elects new rector, executive committee Colleen Rich Mon, 07/29/2024 - 17:21

As part of a two-day annual planning conference and ��AV Board of Visitors meeting, the BOV elected new officers on Friday, with an alumnus chosen to serve a two-year term as rector.

Charles “Cully” Stimson. Photo provided

Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, will lead the 16-member BOV for the next two years. He succeeds Horace Blackman, BA American Studies and English ’93, whose term as rector ended but who remains on the board.

“There is no other place like it in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Stimson said. “Not only are we the largest university in Virginia, we have the most diverse student body, and that is a strength. We have world-class programs….We are doing work critical to the national security of this country, and we are a regional powerhouse in terms of providing great graduates to the workforce.”

Joining Stimson as new officers are Michael J. Meese as vice rector, Armand Alacbay, JD ’04, as secretary, and Robert Pence and Farnaz Farkish Thompson as at-large members of the executive committee. The rector, vice rector, and secretary serve two-year terms and the at-large committee members serve one-year terms.

Kenneth L. Marcus, Nina S. Rees, MA International Transactions ’93, and Marc Short were introduced as the new members of the board at their inaugural meeting Friday.

Faculty Senate President Solon Simmons, undergraduate student representative Maria A. Romero Cuesta, and graduate student representative Carolyn Faith Hoffman also were introduced as new nonvoting members.

During the two-day meeting, George Mason President Gregory Washington detailed how the university is well aligned with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s higher ed priorities holding the distinction of being a top 50 public university.

“We’re well-positioned as a powerhouse for leading the state forward and, quite frankly, being one of those few institutions in the country that I believe is truly leading as a public institution,” Washington said.

Stimson noted how impressed he was with the speakers and information shared at the BOV’s day-long annual conference on July 25. The conference also included a panel discussion with corporate partners from the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council on George Mason’s role in fueling the region’s workforce, and a presentation on the university’s growing research on artificial intelligence.

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George Mason’s vital role in advancing Virginia as America’s top state in business

Colleen Rich — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:34:45 +0000

George Mason’s vital role in advancing Virginia as America’s top state in business Colleen Rich Fri, 07/12/2024 - 17:34

CNBC has named Virginia America’s Top State for Business in 2024, and the No. 1 state for education, dual distinctions that highlight ��AV’s impact as the largest and most innovative public university in Virginia and a top 50 public university nationally.

Photo by Rock Creek Productions/Studios

Virginia finished in the top half of all 10 of the CNBC study’s weighted categories used to determine the state business rankings. In addition to being tops in education, CNBC rated Virginia infrastructure (3rd), workforce (9th), economy (11th), quality of life (19th), cost of doing business (24th), technology and innovation (15th), business friendliness (5th), access to capital (8th), and cost of living (19th).

“You can directly tie ��AV’s impact on the state to criteria throughout the latest CNBC Best State for Business ranking,” ��AV President Gregory Washington said. “George Mason provides opportunities for students of all backgrounds, prepares the state’s workforce in high-demand fields, provides guidance to business owners around the state through Mason Enterprise, and attracts and keeps more talent in Virginia than peer universities. When you look at these rankings that cite Virginia as No. 1 in the country for business and education, you can’t help but see George Mason.”

These are among the contributions from George Mason in CNBC ranking categories:

Education

The Wall Street Journal and Forbes rank George Mason as a top 50 public university nationally.
Through the Early Identification Program, George Mason works with middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to attend college. George Mason also offers students direct admission and partners with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and other community colleges around the state through the Mason Virginia Promise to provide direct admission pathways so students save time and money toward earning a degree. Virginians who want help to start a business can work with Mason Enterprise and its network of Small Business Development Centers.
George Mason has launched the Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy with NOVA and Loudoun County Public Schools, and with several high schools has launched the Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College Partnership Laboratory School for Data Science, Computing, and Applications.

Technology and Innovation

U.S. News ranks George Mason as the No. 1 public university in the state for innovation.
George Mason research has more than 100 unique industry partners and more than 230 unique university partners. Of those 100 unique industry partners, 13 are Fortune 500 companies. George Mason also has partnerships with 118 of the 146 R1 universities.
The College of Engineering and Computing enrollment has grown to an all-time high of nearly 11,000 students, or 27% of George Mason’s total student population.
George Mason is about to lead its first NASA mission.
George Mason offers such state-of-the-art facilities as the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center; the Biomedical Research Lab, one of 12 biosafety level-3 labs in the nation; the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, one of eight “body farms” of its type in the country; and the Nanofabrication Facility, Northern Virginia’s only academic/core clean room facility accessible for workforce training.
In recent years, George Mason started the country’s first cybersecurity engineering program and opened the first College of Public Health and first School of Computing in the state.
George Mason offers an ethics in artificial intelligence (AI) minor, the first such program in the country.

Workforce

In May, more than 10,000 George Mason students, from 114 countries and all 50 states, earned their degrees.
73% of in-state graduates stay in Virginia—3% higher than public four-year institutions in the state—and 29% of out-of-state students remain in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.
More than 15,000 internships are posted in George Mason’s database annually, and 89% are open to sophomore and juniors. About 78% are paid internships, and George Mason students have received more than $238,000 toward unpaid internships from University Career Services.
George Mason fills critical vacancies in the workforce through the Tech Talent Investment Program, a partnership with the state.

Economy

In the Class of 2024, 41% of undergraduates and 44% of graduate students earned degrees in STEM and health sciences fields.
George Mason has been cited by several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly, as the top public university in Virginia for the upward mobility of its graduates, and the New York Times ranks George Mason the top public university in the state in its economic diversity index.
Mason Enterprise, which operates 25 Small Business Development Centers around the state, is the host to federal, state, and local programs that support a portfolio of more than 30,000 start-ups and small businesses. Last year Mason Enterprise companies received more than $3.7 billion in follow-on funding, and more than 40,000 entrepreneurs, small business owners, students, and research faculty attended 900+ workshops and educational programs, received individual counseling, were assisted with product development, resided in one of five incubators, or received intellectual property advice.
88% of Class of 2023 survey respondents report they are employed in positions related to their career goals.

Quality of Life

George Mason, the most diverse public university in the state, is in the top 10 for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) free speech and open inquiry rankings.
George Mason has a 5 Star rating from the Campus Pride Index.
George Mason this spring earned a Gold rating for being a military friendly university, its latest honor for serving the military population. About 1 in 10 George Mason students is active or former military or a military dependent.
George Mason's Center for Community Mental Health is the main training clinic for Mason doctoral candidates in clinical psychology, as well as students in other behavioral health disciplines. CCMH provides evidence-based, accessible, affordable and culturally sensitive therapy and testing services to our Northern Virginia community.
The Mason and Partners (MAP) interprofessional clinics serve the uninsured and refugee community within Prince William and Fairfax counties.
George Mason is the cultural hub of Northern Virginia, offering the community world-class events in the arts, Division I collegiate athletics, youth and family programming, and access to recreational facilities.

Virginia has now topped the CNBC business rankings for the sixth time since 2007 and for the third time in five years.

Read how George Mason stacks up in the rankings

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Youngkin names four to George Mason Board of Visitors

Colleen Rich — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:03:54 +0000

Youngkin names four to George Mason Board of Visitors Colleen Rich Fri, 06/28/2024 - 17:03

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday, June 28, announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the ��AV Board of Visitors (BOV), including one alumna:

The Honorable Kenneth L. Marcus of Great Falls, founder and chairman, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights. He is a distinguished Senior Fellow in the Liberty & Law Center at George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School.
Jon M. Peterson of Fairfax Station, Chief Executive Officer, Peterson Companies. He has been reappointed to a third stint on the BOV, having served on the board from 2014–18 and 2020–24, including two stints as vice rector.
Nina S. Rees of McLean, Senior Fellow, George W. Bush Institute. She earned a master’s from George Mason in International Transactions in 1993.
Marc Short of Arlington, Partner, Advance Strategies, and former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence.

Members of the Board of Visitors, the university’s 16-member governing body, serve four-year terms. The BOV members whose terms expire July 1 are James W. Hazel, Wendy Marquez, and Bob Witeck.

A more detailed story profiling the new board members will be shared in the coming weeks.

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Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning

View the 2024 winter graduation in pictures

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Winter 2024 Commencement Ceremony Information, Tickets, FAQs

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Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker

Can you share one piece of personal or professional advice you received that has influenced your life or career and that you would like to impart to this George Mason Class of 2024?

You began your career as a coder and worked your way up to CEO. But there were detours on your path. Is there a lesson in that for graduates as they begin their careers?

How would you say that George Mason’s perspective of “All Together Different” helps prepare students for the workforce?

As a leading provider of tech talent, how does George Mason drive innovation and economic prosperity in Northern Virginia and throughout the state?

President Washington believes companies and corporations need to offer more internships to better prepare graduates with the skills and experiences employers need. How does CGI succeed in this area, and how can that kind of mentorship be achieved on a large scale in our region?

Many George Mason graduates define career success not only by financial reward or job satisfaction but by bettering society through their work. What are some ways that students might be able to accomplish this goal?

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George Mason BOV approves design for student-athlete center, adopts institutional neutrality principles

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BOV hears plans for expanding veterans’ services and considers the future of West Campus

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Getting to Know Provost James Antony

What attracted you to George Mason?

What are you looking to do in your first year?

You were a first-generation college student, as are many George Mason students. How does that affect how you carry out your role?

One of President Gregory Washington’s goals is greater emphasis on grand challenge issues. How are George Mason faculty positioned for impact?

What are your views on artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, and why is it important for George Mason graduates to be fluent in AI?

One of your many areas of expertise is graduate education. Any particular plans or thoughts about here at George Mason?

You’ve referred to George Mason being one of the most compelling institutions in the nation. How so?

Did you know...

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����AV welcomes the largest new undergraduate class in its history

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��AV welcomes the largest new undergraduate class in its history