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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

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��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.

Join the Mason Nation

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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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George Mason creates more spaces for students to gather with new building

Colleen Rich — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:18:30 +0000

George Mason creates more spaces for students to gather with new building Colleen Rich Mon, 06/03/2024 - 16:18

��AV broke ground on the Activities Community Wellness Building on the Fairfax Campus on Monday morning. The facility is designed to enhance campus life by providing a gathering place for students to engage with each other and deepen their sense of belonging at the university.

Professor Michael "Doc Nix" Nickens takes a selfie during the groundbreaking of the Activities Community Wellness Building. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The groundbreaking featured remarks from George Mason President Gregory Washington, representatives from Facilities and University Life, and associate professor of music Michael “Doc Nix” Nickens, leader of the Green Machine band ensembles.

“This is truly a students-come-first building,” said Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life. “It’s really about listening to the needs of students who have consistently said to us: ‘We want more space to gather. We want to be able to come together more easily. We want to engage with each other.’ Which is exactly what we know is part of the magic sauce of George Mason and actually the secret sauce of student success and student retention.”

The groundbreaking featured remarks from George Mason President Gregory Washington, representatives from Facilities and University Life, and Professor Michael “Doc Nix” Nickens. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The 25,000-square-foot concrete and tension fabric structure, to be located behind the Recreation Athletic Complex, will be built by Hoar Construction in partnership with Powers Brown Architecture and civil engineer IMEG Corp. and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The $11 million building will feature two full-sized basketball courts and meeting spaces for the university's 350-plus student groups, and it also will provide practice space for the Green Machine.

“If anything personifies our students, our diversity, our rich heritage, our innovation, our spirit, it actually is the Green Machine,” Washington said. “So having that entity have a focal point, a centerpiece, a gathering point, a rallying point, is probably one of the most important things we can do.”

Nickens, who fought back tears during his brief remarks, is thrilled that his ensembles will now have a space they can call home.

“If you think we have delivered so far, you wait till we move [into] this spot,” Nickens said, motioning to the construction site, pierced moments later by a line of gold shovels.

Learn more about the Green Machine

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George Mason Board of Visitors approves one-year, 3% tuition increase

Colleen Rich — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:45:46 +0000

George Mason Board of Visitors approves one-year, 3% tuition increase Colleen Rich Mon, 05/13/2024 - 11:45

The ��AV Board of Visitors voted to increase in-state tuition by 3% for 2024-25, consistent with guidance from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the current budget cycle.

George Mason, with campuses in the fifth-highest-cost region of the country, is making this tuition change as a necessity to keep up with inflation and compensate for lower state support. George Mason receives at least $6,000 less funding for each in-state student compared with the mean of its five doctoral peer institutions when state and tuition funding are combined.

In-state undergraduates will pay $297 more. In-state graduate students will pay $410 more, and in-state law students will pay $728 more. Out-of-state tuition also increases by $601, $803, and $994 for undergraduate, graduate, and law, respectively.

“With a lower cost of attendance than all but one of our doctoral peers, we are proud of our accessibility and affordability for commonwealth families,” said Deb Dickenson, executive vice president for finance and administration. “Parents and students want the student services to remain robust, and they recognize we need faculty and staff here to support students and the educational mission.”

Illustration by ��AV. View an accessible version of infographic >>

George Mason puts its student tuition to good use—84% of every tuition dollar is spent on direct instruction, academic support, financial aid, and student services, and the remaining 16% also is devoted to services that benefit students, Dickenson said.

In addition, the BOV approved a 4.9% increase in board rates and a flat $300 increase across all Fairfax Campus rooms, a $570 total increase for most on-campus first-year students. These increases will offset higher costs of providing campus services and support expanded dining offerings for students.

Student fees will increase by 3%—$108 more for most students. Mandatory student fees fund student activities, student support services, student health services, emergency aid, athletic and recreational programs, student transportation, maintenance and operation of student facilities, and auxiliary services, including mail, vending, and card services.

“This campus is incredibly efficient,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said. “Any time a study is done, and they put our campus up against other campuses in the state and in the region, every single study I've seen has come back with data” favorable to George Mason. “We are very, extraordinarily frugal, but sometimes you just can't go below a certain level and still provide the necessary services that are needed for our students.”

The Virginia Legislature meets in a special legislative session on May 13 to consider the two-year commonwealth budget.

State investment in George Mason pays off for the commonwealth, Dickenson added. A recent study by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia found that 73% of in-state George Mason graduates stay in Virginia—3% higher than public four-year institutions in the state. For out-of-state George Mason students, 29% remain in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.

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George Mason honors nearly 11,000 at Spring 2024 Commencement ceremony

Melanie Balog — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:29:03 +0000

George Mason honors nearly 11,000 at Spring 2024 Commencement ceremony Melanie Balog Thu, 05/09/2024 - 16:29

��AV’s 2024 graduating class—the first whose members can say they earned a degree from a consensus top 50 public university in the country—was honored Thursday morning in front of an energized crowd at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. The ceremony was also livestreamed.

The university celebrated nearly 11,000 degree and certificate earners, from 114 countries and 50 states, a significant number of whom filled every chair on the floor and spilled into the arena seating.

Some of the most enthusiastic celebrators of the newest George Mason graduates were the oldest George Mason graduates—several “Golden Patriots” who earned their degrees 50 or more years ago.

Guest speaker Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA, encouraged the graduates to remain optimistic even in times of uncertainty and to avoid trying to map out career moves too far in advance. She shared a personal story about working at a company for 27 years but being passed over for a CEO position because she was not considered executive material.

That setback inspired her to volunteer to take on new and challenging roles. She encouraged the graduates to “raise your hand” when opportunities arise that align with their sense of purpose.

“To be an optimist is to see the world as it is, identifying problems, and searching for ground truth,” Humpton said. “It’s about believing that you have what it takes to persevere, to find solutions amid difficulty, to recognize that your worst day might actually lead to your best.”

Vice Rector Jon M. Peterson presented Humpton with an honorary doctor of humane letters.

George Mason President Gregory Washington addresses the Spring 2024 Commencement crowd from the stage at EagleBank Arena. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV

George Mason President Gregory Washington acknowledged the global events that have informed the experiences of the 2024 graduates, and noted that as graduates of Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university, they have a strong foundation for tackling these and other global challenges.

“I hope that your George Mason education has prepared you to separate fact from fiction. To discern without demonizing. To listen as passionately as you speak—even when your heart races and your ears burn.

“Who better to bear the weight of lifting us out of our downward spiral than you—future leaders who these past few years have lived, learned, and engaged in one of the most diverse environments you will find,” he said.

As he does at each graduation ceremony, Washington asked the first-generation graduates to stand, and then asked the community college transfers who are graduating to stand. Both requests elicited a swell of rising green gowns and rounds of applause. About 1 in 4 George Mason graduates is first generation.

One of them was student speaker Zayd Hamid, a public administration major and Honors College student from Manassas Park, Virginia. He pointed out that graduates who started at the university in 2020 have gone from completing a Mason health check every day during the pandemic to completing their hard-earned degrees.

One of the more active students at the university, Hamid gave special shoutouts to Mason Lobbies, Mason Recreation, Patriot Leaders, supportive Mason alumni he has encountered, and Pell Grant recipients who like him needed federal financial support to achieve their academic goals. Hamid has lobbied for student financial aid on Capitol Hill and is ready to join with his fellow Mason alumni in tackling other major issues.

“Leading with authenticity is the only way that we know how to lead,” Hamid said. “It’s up to our generation to solve the grand challenges facing humanity. We are the only ones who can.”

Alumni Association President Christine Landoll, BS Accounting ’89 and MS Taxation ’92, welcomed the newest alums and encouraged them to remain engaged with the university and to remember they are among an influential group of 235,000 George Mason alumni worldwide and across industries and communities.

“Leverage this incredible network and connect and continue your Mason story,” Landoll said. “Please take your Mason pride with you wherever you go.”

New graduates celebrate at the end of Spring 2024 Commencement. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV

Congrats, Grads! Visit the Alumni Association site

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Spring Commencement

��AV prepares to celebrate Spring 2024 graduates

Colleen Rich — Mon, 06 May 2024 18:51:47 +0000

��AV prepares to celebrate Spring 2024 graduates Colleen Rich Mon, 05/06/2024 - 14:51

��AV will celebrate Spring Commencement on Thursday. A record-setting number of students are earning degrees, and nearly 11,000 students total will be recognized for earning degrees or certificates. Graduates represent 114 countries, 50 states, and the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and military installations.

The ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Doors open at 9.

Tickets are required for guests to enter the arena. Advance tickets are no longer available, but guests without tickets are encouraged to visit the box office on the West side of the arena concourse on the morning of Commencement to request tickets. Overflow viewing seating is available across Patriot Circle at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The event also will be livestreamed.

Mason, the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, will award 10,242 degrees for graduates who have filed an intent to graduate from Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. The university also will award 646 certificates.

Barbara Humpton, president and CEO of Siemens, is the featured speaker. Zayd Hamid, graduating with a bachelor of science in public administration, is the student speaker.

The Class of 2024 will provide an influx of talent to fill critical positions in the region and state’s workforce—41% of undergraduates are in STEM fields and the health sciences, as are 44% of those earning graduate degrees.

Commencement also will highlight George Mason’s mission of access and opportunity. About 1 in 4 graduates reports that they will be first-generation degree earners.

New graduates will enter the workforce with optimism. According to a Mason Career Plans Survey, 87% (of a total of 3,930 respondents) of Class of 2023 George Mason graduates had a positive career outcome at or within six months of graduation, with a median salary of $74,000.

The top five majors among the 6,138 undergraduates in the Class of 2024 are business; information technology; psychology; computer science; and criminology, law and society.

For the 3,578 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are computer science, data analytics engineering, special education, curriculum and instruction, and business administration.

The top majors for the 319 students earning doctoral degrees are education, economics, psychology, writing and rhetoric, and computer science. Doctoral candidates will be individually recognized. Graduates receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be recognized as a group at their seats.

There are 207 Scalia Law School graduates. The law school will hold convocation ceremonies Friday and Saturday.

Spring Commencement 2024

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Graduation

Commencement

Q&A with Barbara Humpton, Spring 2024 Commencement Speaker

Colleen Rich — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:56:21 +0000

Q&A with Barbara Humpton, Spring 2024 Commencement Speaker Colleen Rich Wed, 05/01/2024 - 13:56

Barbara Humpton, president and CEO of Siemens, is ��AV’s Spring 2024 Commencement speaker. Humpton guides the technology company’s strategy and engagement in the United States.

Barbara Humpton. 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 Class of 2024?

Raise your hand. Throughout my career, I’ve often answered the call when someone reached out to me and said, “We need you to do this.” Becoming CEO of Siemens USA was different. I raised my hand and said, “I’m interested.” And when I was selected, there was this real sense of joy that I was coming into a position having expressed confidence and optimism that I could contribute. So I encourage everyone to think about what brings you joy, and then raise your hand for the kinds of jobs that will deliver that.

What is one thing every college student should do in order to set themselves up for success after graduation?

There’s not a single degree or requirement for success. Recognize the variety of opportunities available to you after college. Maybe it’s getting additional training. Maybe it’s pursuing an internship or job. The key is to be in a place where you can continue to learn and grow. Manufacturing is a place that offers this. With so much technological change, it has become a cutting-edge sector of the digital economy where people can engage at any stage of their education or career.

Also, your own mindset matters. Once you are in a field, there might be this sense that you should “move up.” Let me challenge you to ask this, “Which way is up?” For one person, it might mean working more with customers. For another, it might mean becoming an expert in a technical field. “Up” doesn’t always have to mean climbing the management ladder. Finding success is when you figure out which way is up for you and then focus on what needs to be done.

Dr. Washington believes that companies and corporations need to offer infinitely more internship opportunities to better prepare graduates with the skills and experiences employers need. How does Siemens succeed in this area, and how can that be achieved on a large scale?

Businesses have a leadership role to play in workforce development. It’s actually part of my own story. I was a senior in college studying math when IBM came to campus and offered to train me to be a software programmer. It changed my life. And I saw through that experience the value of combining academic training with hands-on training.

We recognize at Siemens that we’re a technology provider with the expertise to help develop the skills needed in high-demand sectors across industry and infrastructure. Our strong internship and talent development programs reflect this. We’ve created opportunities for students across our business—from cybersecurity and electric mobility to engineering, sales, and finance—where they can apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world projects. Both are critical to job readiness and career advancement. In addition, internships help us create the collaboration around workforce development that we need across business, academia, government, and philanthropy to build a next-generation workforce.

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

It’s the right perspective for the moment we’re in right now. Technological advances are enabling us to do things differently than they’ve always been done. We need diverse teams bringing all sorts of ideas to the table. These are the teams that keep us innovative and competitive. Now, the next question is, how do you build them? And our perspective at Siemens is this: Belonging transforms. We want people to feel a sense of belonging on our teams and to be empowered to tap into their individual strengths. Because it’s when we combine our different strengths that we deliver the best results.

What are the three most important qualities your company looks for in an employee, and do you see these qualities in George Mason students?

I think it actually boils down to two qualities: curiosity and initiative. With these qualities we believe we can learn new things and do new things. Mason students have that. They have chosen to come to a top-tier research institution where a sense of wonder is encouraged and where they are supported to learn more. That’s what curiosity and initiative are all about. And these qualities create the growth mindset that we believe is critical as change accelerates—so critical, in fact, we made it one of our four strategic priorities at Siemens, with a focus on lifelong learning and being open to change.

You view the purpose of technology as expanding human potential. What most interests and excites you about current technological breakthroughs or innovations?

We often hear that technology will replace humans. That’s not my view at all. From the first time a human picked up a rock and used it as a tool, tools have elevated the role of the human. Today’s technologies, even something as advanced as artificial intelligence (AI), are no different. What I’m most excited about are the ways in which these tools can connect people without specialized skills to careers in industry and infrastructure. Let’s use AI as an example, what I like to call “augmented intelligence.” What we’re seeing is that AI in industrial environments can be applied in ways that empower people to do more and do more safely. We have tools now that make manufacturing work feel like playing a video game.

You started your podcast, “The Optimistic Outlook,” during the pandemic, because as you said, “in moments of unprecedented disruption we have the greatest opportunity to create the future we want.” How would you say our future has been transformed as a result of the pandemic?

I’ve been using the term “glocalization” to describe the future. Because what we saw during the pandemic was the need for local decision-making. Our response at Siemens was to let people who were closest to the problem and closest to our customers lead. What happened was business thrived. We’ve embraced this approach ever since.

More broadly, we’re seeing the impact of “glocalization” on manufacturing and what it means for a future that’s more resilient, sustainable, and equitable. By combining global innovation with local production, we can now innovate anywhere and make things everywhere. We’re better prepared for future crises as we drive economic growth.

You and Dr. Washington are both members of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. What role does George Mason play in the innovation and economic prosperity of Northern Virginia?

George Mason is an incredible institution to have in our region—not only because of its educational impact but because of its societal impact. Mason brings together students from every state in the nation and 130 countries. Think about the synergy that creates around research and collaboration. It’s no wonder that Mason is ranked so highly nationally for innovation. When businesses are looking to invest in the United States, or in areas of Northern Virginia, universities like George Mason are a huge asset. The synergy continues off-campus between industry and academia around a trained workforce.

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Q&A with Barbara Humpton, Spring 2024 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 Class of 2024?

What is one thing every college student should do in order to set themselves up for success after graduation?

Dr. Washington believes that companies and corporations need to offer infinitely more internship opportunities to better prepare graduates with the skills and experiences employers need. How does Siemens succeed in this area, and how can that be achieved on a large scale?

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

What are the three most important qualities your company looks for in an employee, and do you see these qualities in George Mason students?

You view the purpose of technology as expanding human potential. What most interests and excites you about current technological breakthroughs or innovations?

You started your podcast, “The Optimistic Outlook,” during the pandemic, because as you said, “in moments of unprecedented disruption we have the greatest opportunity to create the future we want.” How would you say our future has been transformed as a result of the pandemic?

You and Dr. Washington are both members of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. What role does George Mason play in the innovation and economic prosperity of Northern Virginia?

2024 Spring Commencement

Related Stories

Topics

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

��AV prepares to celebrate Spring 2024 graduates