Alumni

George Mason alum and current student take part in sold out Banana Ball World Tour

Katarina Benson — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:13:28 +0000

George Mason alum and current student take part in sold out Banana Ball World Tour Katarina Benson Wed, 12/11/2024 - 13:13

Photo by Lily Plizga/George Mason Athletics

George Mason baseball alum South Trimble, BS Business ’23, (left) and current graduate student Danny Hosley (right) took the field in front of a sold-out crowd as part of the Banana Ball World Tour at Nationals Park in July. Adam Virant (center), who also played baseball at George Mason, is director of baseball operations and an assistant coach for the Savannah Bananas. Hosley, who is pursuing an MS in athletic training, is a utility player on the Bananas and Trimble is a first-year player on the Firefighters, the Bananas’ new third team. Banana Ball, a close approximation of baseball with circus tricks and performance art mixed in, has become a phenomenon, and this was the first year the Banana Bowl included Major League Baseball stadiums on its schedule.

"As a kid, you dream of a moment like this," says Trimble of the game. "Playing in a major league park in front of a sold-out crowd. It's something that is so surreal, and I'm grateful for being able to fulfill this dream of mine at Nationals Park, a stadium I've been to countless times as a kid, watching my favorite ballplayers play, and now I get to experience it firsthand."

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Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0000

Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election Andrew J Schappert Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:33

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Anthony Amos: ‘A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college.‘ Photo by Ayman Rashid/Creative Services

It did not take long after graduating ��AV with a 2024 master of public policy (MPP) degree for Anthony Amos to fulfill a longtime dream: win an election that gives him the opportunity to help those around him.

In November, Amos won a seat on the Fairfax City Council after a well-crafted, heart-felt campaign that he said was partially inspired by what he learned at George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government’s MPP program.

Amos joins six other councilmembers on a board led by fellow Schar School graduate, Mayor Catherine Read, who earned her BA in government and politics from George Mason in 1984. As it happens, the university’s Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City.

Serving the public, especially as an elected official, “has always been a dream of mine,” said Amos.

He ran as an Independent, eschewing the traditional opportunities afforded by aligning with a political party.

“I wanted to keep things focused on local issues,” he said of that decision. “We were seeing a lot more of the federal talking points and policies trickling down to the local level where a city council doesn't really decide on those issues, ever.”

Anthony Amos, left, receives his Jack Wood Town and Gown Award from George Mason President Gregory Washington. Photo by Creative Services.

In fact, he said, “You have people who try to manipulate the system and use [controversial] federal issues to control local government. Local government is where you’re supposed to be most connected with the community. If you lose that, that's just bad.”

Amos credits his time at George Mason, whose Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii West Oahu with helping him form and express his political ambitions.

“Anthony was a highly motivated, high-energy participant in my course,” said Professor of Public Policy David Hart, who taught Amos’s U.S. Institutions and Policy Process course. “He asked great questions and engaged thoughtfully with his colleagues as well as me.”

“A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college, such as public financing for different construction projects,” he said. “Land use items, data centers in the energy grid, smart-use items for public transit, things like that … What I appreciate about George Mason is that the professors didn't skip over the local aspects of government.”

Amos works as a legislative aid for longtime Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the sole Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It’s a position that offers opportunities to see policy in action.

Last spring as he was preparing to graduate, Amos won the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations from the university’s Office of Government and Community Relations. The award for the student category recognizes the winner’s leadership in fostering relationships between the university and the community.

Now that he has graduated, Amos continues his relationship with his alma mater in several ways. He contributes to a program benefiting the ARTS By George! scholarships in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and he remains a member in good standing in the Bridge at Mason club which works to foster civic dialogue on campus. He added that he is continuously working on ways to unite George Mason with the city he now represents.

City council seats sometimes lead to larger roles for elected officials. Does Amos have higher ambitions now that his first election is in the books?

“I want to do a good job first and make sure that I'm built for this,” he said. “I managed to survive the campaign but let me let me get in there and not screw up too terribly, and then we’ll see.”

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Honors College alum spearheads professional development program

Sarah Holland — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:11:36 +0000

Honors College alum spearheads professional development program Sarah Holland Mon, 12/09/2024 - 11:11

When preparing for college, prospective students and parents often ask about career readiness. How is the university preparing its students for the workforce? What’s the rate of job placement? Do the students succeed in their respective careers?

��AV has a strong track record of preparing students for careers. And the Honors College is working to make sure Honors students are ready to shine in a competitive job market.

Jeff Shen provides opening remarks at the roundtable. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“These are incredibly motivated students. I am beyond impressed with their enthusiasm and intellect. And they’re ready. They have all the tools to succeed in the workforce, they just need the knowledge of how to find the right opportunity,” said Jeff Shen.

Shen, who graduated from what was then known as the Presidential Scholars Program in 1996 with a degree in decision sciences, is president of Red Team Consulting and a member of the Honors College Advisory Board. Last year, he came to Dean Zofia Burr with an idea for how to prepare Honors College students for their careers: a roundtable for students to meet with professionals in government contracting, supported by the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

“I spoke with some students during graduation,” Shen said, “and in asking them about their post-graduation plans and job opportunities, I realized that these really bright and promising students were missing some of the foundations for approaching the job market: how to network, where to look for opportunities, and so on. So I thought, there must be some way we can address that gap.”

The idea for the roundtable coincided with plans to develop the Honors College Professional Development Fellows program. As part of the program, the roundtable was one of a series of workshops that help students in the program craft their resumes, build their LinkedIn profiles, practice interviewing, and otherwise prepare for internship and career opportunities.

The first roundtable event in Spring 2024 featured 12 George Mason alumni, all of whom are major executives at government contracting companies. The first was such a success that Shen and the Honors College decided to host a second event in Fall 2024.

“In government contracting, you can be a writer, a clinical researcher, a health care professional, you can be in sales: It does not matter the background, there’s going to be a position in government contracting for that person,” Shen said. “I wanted students to see the world of possibilities in terms of what they could do with their degrees.”

Students had the opportunity to speak with each executive in small groups, gaining valuable insights and advice on how to prepare for their career.

Jessica Taylor, studying music technology with a minor in computer science, was one of the fellows in the spring. “As a music major who wants to go into software engineering, I have an untraditional background that needs to be particularly explained and presented when I’m introducing myself to potential employers,” she said. “The fellows program taught me that my variety of creative experience is actually one of the things that makes me stand out.”

Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“We received [the mentors’] personal emails, offering the opportunity to follow up on potential career opportunities and further discussions,” said Monica Amaya, a management information systems major with a minor in computational and data sciences. Amaya attended the roundtable in Fall 2024. “The entirety of the Professional Development Fellows program has given us valuable networking opportunities to build meaningful relationships with successful government contracting leaders in the area.”

“I learned a lot about what it takes to build a business,” said cyber security engineering student Cameron Portis. “Hearing some of the stories about how these leaders overcame difficulties and changed their plans really inspired me to keep pushing toward my goals no matter what.”

The program continues to grow. In Spring 2025, the roundtable opportunities will expand to two new fields: Health administration and leadership, organized by Inova Health System’s Loren Rufino, BS Health Services ’12, and arts/performing arts nonprofit leadership, organized by Deb Gandy. Both are members of the Honors College Advisory Board.

And for Shen, opening doors for students is only part of the mission. “This is a great way for alumni and community members to get involved with George Mason,” he said. “I’m hoping this opens the door for them as well."

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Schar School Professors Impact Alum’s Path to Law School

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:48:31 +0000

Schar School Professors Impact Alum’s Path to Law School Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/03/2024 - 15:48

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Phillip Mink

Jennifer N. Victor

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Ethan Thomas, BA Government and International Politics ’24, presented his research at the 2024 Midwest Political Science Association Conference.

Ethan Thomas’ success story is one that many Schar School students hope to replicate. Since graduating in May 2024 with a BA in government and international politics, he took a position as a law clerk at Whitestone Young, a criminal defense firm located in the Fairfax, Virginia, area.

Thomas earned the Distinguished Student Leader Award at the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference.

He also continues to stay connected to the Schar School and the ��AV community, working part time as an admissions representative in George Mason's Admissions Office.

Hailing from Elmhurst, Illinois, Thomas first developed his passion for government and law around the contentious 2016 election. He set his sights on the East Coast, and consequently George Mason as a hub for government and legal experiences. He immediately dove in, taking advantage of the Washington, D.C., metro area’s resources, culminating in an internship at the district office of U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL), and another in the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on Capitol Hill.

Thomas credits Schar School professors, including Assistant Professor Phillip Mink and Associate Professor Jennifer N. Victor, for having a profound impact on his journey while at George Mason.

“One of the great things about a lot of classes taught at the Schar School is that the professors were really knowledgeable in their fields,” he said.

One of his favorite classes was the legal writing course taught by Mink, the faculty advisor for the Schar School's Patriot Pre-Law Program. In the class, Thomas was able to fine-tune his personal statement for law school, getting feedback from both Mink and his peers.

“We really honed those legal writing skills that often a lot of students don’t learn until they’re in law school,” he said.

The legal writing skills are uniquely developed through assignments designed to analyze real world examples and the principles they use to improve students’ writing.

Another valuable experience took place in Associate Professor Victor’s lab as part of the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) where students work alongside their professor on valuable research projects. Thomas worked with Victor on congressional caucus research in the second semester of his freshman year, showing his enthusiasm for immersing himself in Schar School opportunities. He proceeded to engage in the lab for the rest of his time at George Mason, forming a strong professional relationship with Victor, who then advised him on the data regression portion of his senior project, “The Impact of Court Rulings on Legislative Activity.”

Having graduated, Thomas is preparing for the LSAT as well as applying to law schools. In the process, he has found that the community he built with professors and other legal professionals at the Schar School helps support him in his future endeavors.

“Having professors and others who have been in law school provide that reaffirming support and tells me that ‘hey you’re going to be an amazing lawyer’ can really help get you over that struggle sometimes,” he said.

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Public history students highlight local Indigenous communities

Shayla Brown — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:19:53 +0000

Public history students highlight local Indigenous communities Shayla Brown Tue, 11/19/2024 - 16:19

��AV associate professor Gabrielle Tayac’s course, HIST 397 Public History in Action, looks at how indigenous communities interact with our student population through community-based engagement and projects.

“Like anywhere in the Americas, George Mason is indigenous land, but we’re trying to get a sense of the interplay between past and present,” said Tayac, who is a member of the Piscataway Indian Nation. “My goal is to get students ready for museum work, give them accessible history, and guide them to work really deeply with communities.”

Gabrielle Tayac and her students. Photo by James Wells.

Tayac and research partner the Center for Humanities Research (CHR) applied for and received an Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) grant for their project, “IndigenoUs Northern Virginia.”

This project, completed by students in the Spring 2024 course, is in the form of an exhibit titled “Offerings for Tauxenent: Acknowledging Indigenous Place” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, another project partner through George Mason alum James Wells, BA History ’22.

Wells previously took this course with Tayac and reached out to inform her of an open space at Woodlawn, which he offered as a place for current students to look at what the indigenous reality is and what needs to be remembered, explained Tayac.

“Professor Tayac’s class was one of my first real exposures to Indigenous history and cultures. It was really eye-opening,” said Wells, who came to George Mason from Northern Virginia Community College through the ADVANCE Program and was a member of George Mason’s student organization Native American and Indigenous Alliance.

“This exhibit was the most crowded I’ve seen Woodlawn in the two years that I’ve worked here. The work the students did on this project made that possible and opened the door for us to interpret Indigenous histories at our site,” said Wells, a program assistant at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House, one of National Trust for Historic Preservation’s locations.

Meghana Bandaru (left) and Odessa Lamborn with their presentation. Photo by James Wells.

For the project, the students were divided into three teams, focusing on different Indigenous communities: the International Mayan League, Indigenous Andean, and a combination of local tribes including the Doeg, Intertribal urban community, Piscataway, and Rappahannock tribes.

The groups had to collect research, objects, and images to produce interactive art and media that accurately represent their assigned Indigenous communities.

History graduate student Odessa Lamborn worked on this project during their last semester as an undergraduate student at George Mason.

“The mission of the project is about bringing awareness to the Indigenous and First Nations people in the Washington, D.C., area,” said Lamborn. “It was a really phenomenal experience being able to collaborate with Indigenous people in the area and uplift their voices.”

Lamborn is now working alongside Wells as a historical interpreter at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

“This project gave me great insight into the behind the scenes of creating exhibits for the public, and it also influences my current work at Woodlawn with the tours I provide,” said Lamborn. “I make sure to point out where we have a John Smith map, detailing Indigenous culture [from before] colonization.”

Some of the students in Tayac’s course contributed their original art or personal objects to the exhibit as well.

“This whole project was basically what I want to do as my professional career once I graduate,” said senior and history major Sinead Monaghan.

“I’ve gotten to take a lot of classes with Professor Tayac, and I’m so grateful for all her guidance,” said Monaghan. “What we're doing goes beyond the classroom and makes a valuable impact in the world beyond. If it just touches one person or changes the way one person thinks, then it will have done its job.”

The exhibit is being brought to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus in 2025 through Mason Exhibitions and will open on April 15 as “Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place.”

Guests at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House for the exhibit. Photo by Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

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Alum advocates for authentic storytelling in the film industry

Shayla Brown — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:01:28 +0000

Alum advocates for authentic storytelling in the film industry Shayla Brown Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:01

Since graduating from ��AV, alum Alex Plank, BA Film and Video Studies ’10, has worked professionally on films and television series as an associate producer and actor. Plank is also an autism activist who works toward more authentic neurodiverse representation in media.

“I want my work to show audiences that autistic people have our own stories to tell, which I think general audiences will relate to and benefit from learning from,” said Plank, who founded WrongPlanet.net, the largest online community for autism, while still in high school.

Alex Plank being interviewed by student Madison Koren. Photo by Samantha Sinagra.

Plank recently worked as an associate producer and actor on the film Ezra. The film follows the parents of an autistic son, Ezra, played by actor Willian A. Fitzgerald, as they go through a divorce. Ezra’s father, played by Bobby Cannavale, takes him on an adventurous road trip where they encounter old friends and new places. Plank plays a doctor assisting the family after the titular character has an accident.

Also appearing in the film are Rose Bryne, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Tony Goldwyn, the director of the film. Getting to know Robert de Niro was a highlight, Plank said.

On October 22, Ezra was screened at the Johnson Center Cinema as part of George Mason’s Visiting Filmmakers Series. Plank did a post-screening Q&A where fans and fellow George Mason students heard about his experience on set, during which he acted as a consultant, guiding the cast and crew throughout the filming process.

“William is such a great person and actor, and I wanted to make sure to give him space and freedom while we were filming,” said Plank. “I remember for one scene, he was wearing a dinosaur costume and in between takes he kept turning back and forth, swinging his tail around.”

“He would stop while filming, but it was so natural. I showed it to Tony [Goldwyn] and he loved it so we kept that movement in the film,” he explained.

Other works of Plank’s include acting and/or producing on ABC’s The Good Doctor and FX’s The Bridge.

Plank says his courses with College of Visual and Performing Arts professors Cynthia Fuchs and Ed Gero were essential in preparing him to take on jobs such as these.

A still from the film Ezra featuring actors, from left to right, Robert de Niro, Bobby Cannavale, and William A. Fitzgerald. Photo by Bleeker Street Media LLC.

“Alex is very self-aware, and he knows how he operates. He's managed to turn that into a remarkable career,” said Gero. “He's also a terrific role model for so many people. I'm so proud and grateful that I was able to have an impact on him.”

Gero said that the importance of social and physical cues in acting is something he and Plank worked on a lot during their time together in his courses.

“Responding to physicality or facial gestures is a different experience for Alex, so how do we navigate that?” said Gero, who taught Plank in an Acting I course. “Together, we developed a physical vocabulary where we would look for a gesture or change of voice perhaps; some kind of cue that would give you the information for us to ask ‘how do I interpret that?’ and communicate to an audience that you've received it.”

Gero and Plank have kept in touch since Plank graduated from George Mason, which included Plank traveling to Pasadena to see Gero portray Antonin Scalia in The Originalist.

“I was just so delighted that he was even aware that I was doing this,” said Gero.

Plank is also a public speaker who has attended international conferences and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, on the Committee for Disability.

“I think it’s important to also look at diversity in disability and make sure we’re representing autistic people who don’t necessarily look like me,” said Plank.

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Finance alumnus is making a big difference in his native Mongolia

Greg Johnson — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:54:10 +0000

Finance alumnus is making a big difference in his native Mongolia Greg Johnson Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:54

Born in Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar, Itgel Bold, BS Finance ’08, moved to the United States in eighth grade so that his father could complete his master’s degree in New York City. A year later, his family moved to Washington, D.C.

“I didn’t know much English at the time, so it was a very new beginning, new setting,” he says. “I had to adjust and settle in in a relatively short amount of time.” Years later he would return to his native country, with experience and sharpened skills, to support energy, water supply, and other issues critical in Mongolia. “

I was able to develop and hone my hard skills, my analytical skills at [��AV], and then I was able to apply that knowledge,” he says. “Without George Mason and the level of quality of education that I received, I don’t think I would be where I am today.”

Itgel Bold, BS Finance '08, speaking at the
Boao Forum for Asia. Photo provided.

Recently adopting a free market economy, Mongolia is seeking to advance via partnerships and collaborations with private entities and countries. As part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $350 million (USD) investment, the Mongolia Water Compact, co-financed by the government of Mongolia, aims to increase water supply for the rapidly growing city of 1.6 million.

Since its beginning of 2024, Bold has been the director of finance for this account. “By this initiative, the freshwater supply of Ulaanbaatar will actually increase by 80%, and we are also utilizing recycled water to supply the needs of the thermal power plants in the city,” he says. The team expects the project to be completed by the deadline of March 2026.

Also based in Ulaanbaatar, NovaTerra is an investment, project management, and financial advisory firm that helps companies gain access to capital from foreign investors on energy transition projects. Bold is a shareholder and has advised the firm.

“At the moment, NovaTerra is involved with assisting the city of Ulaanbaatar to build a large scale 50-megawatt battery storage facility,” he says. “That will be very crucial in meeting the energy needs of the city because during the peak times of wintertime, Mongolia actually needs to import electricity from Russia.”

In his spare time, Bold, like many Mongolians, enjoys spending time outside playing and watching sports. “We have a lot of basketball, soccer, and traditional wrestling,” he says. “During the summertime, people go out in the countryside and watch horseracing and wrestling as well as archery competitions.”

Another vibrant part of the culture is folk art, especially paintings. In fact, the largest painting in the world, Nadmid Sergelen’s One Day of the World, is from Mongolia and promoted by Bold at various exhibitions. The masterpiece, which took more than 20 years to complete, stands at 8 feet tall and 69 feet long and offers a unique perspective on various cultures and human experiences that make up the world, celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of 193 countries.

“I was able to develop and hone my hard skills, my analytical skills at [George Mason}, and then I was able to apply that knowledge,” says Bold. “Without George Mason and the level of quality of education that I received, I don’t think I would be where I am today.”

Before he was ready to take on these ambitious roles, Bold was a finance student at the Costello College of Business. “When I was at George Mason, it was exciting times,” he says. “We went to the Final Four, and we had the first Black president in Obama and the country’s first female vice-presidential candidate in Sarah Palin.” George Mason’s proximity to Washington, D.C., gave him a front row seat to many political and cultural events that were shaping the country. The campus location, along with the quality of the faculty and staff, is what led Bold to choose George Mason in the first place. “It was a no-brainer,” he says.

Even though he is now on the other side of the planet, Bold remains close to his alma mater by serving as director-at-large on the Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter. “I want to give back to the students in any way I can by sharing my insights and knowledge as well as building networks and friendships,” he says. He’s also eager to build connections between George Mason and some of the reputable universities in Mongolia.

Itgel Bold is executing a purpose- and passion-driven mission to help his country grow and thrive in partnership with his second home country. His connections to the United States are invaluable and so is the education he received at the Costello College of Business. He is excited to see his projects continue to progress as he builds bridges between the two countries.

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U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:31:18 +0000

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:31

After eight years in the U.S. Army, Allen Taber, MBA ’22, was looking for a way to grow in his career. The Donald G. Costello College of Business at ��AV provided him the tools he was seeking. Taber came to George Mason for an MBA, and left with a new dream of pursuing a doctorate.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22

“George Mason was an awesome experience, especially for someone who wasn’t in school for over a decade,” says Taber. A parent of a young child, Costello offered him the location and flexibility he was seeking. “Professors worked with us. Almost every single professor you had was out there to help students out.”

Prior to coming to Costello, Taber served as a computer detection specialist in the U.S. Army. “I brought the skills I learned in the military to the workplace, which allowed me to become a program manager within the information technology industry,” says Taber. While working as a project manager he quickly realized that if he wanted to grow in his company, he needed an advanced degree.

For Taber, learning the theory behind what he was doing in his position helped to make him a better manager. Taber says his Management Consulting course with Jim Wolfe, associate professor of management and entrepreneur in residence at Costello, was particularly impactful. “We bounced ideas off of each other in the class that I could implement in my current position,” says Taber.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, in Chile on his MBA Global Residency.

In addition to Wolfe’s class, Taber says his most memorable experience during his time at George Mason was the Global Residency Program to Chile. “We had the opportunity to learn different business operations, and more importantly how a different country operates, both similarities and differences. It was amazing to study in a place you normally would never go,” says Taber. “It was the first time I left the country in 20 years.”

Taber says that not only was the business education experience impactful, but exploring the city and learning about the culture left a lasting imprint as well.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, spent eight years in the U.S. Army.

After completing his MBA, Taber continued on for his doctorate in business administration at Walden University. “Professor Wolfe was a catalyst to push me into my doctoral studies,” says Taber. “You talk about it, you think about, but having someone who’s been doing it for so many years say ‘Go for it’ is pretty awesome.”

Taber says the MBA program prepared him well for his doctorate. Taber is currently the senior technical project manager for Monture, LLC, and working on completing his doctoral study.

Taber’s advice to students considering the program: “It is never too late to go back to school. While I had great accomplishments in the workplace, having an advanced degree will open up future opportunities that would not be possible without it.”

Photos provided by Allen Taber.

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First-generation alumna and MBA student shares recipes for creating treasured memories in new book

Jennifer Anzaldi — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:14:34 +0000

First-generation alumna and MBA student shares recipes for creating treasured memories in new book Jennifer Anzaldi Thu, 11/07/2024 - 10:14

Born and raised in Paris, France, Ava Uppal, BS Marketing ’19, fondly recalls baking with her mother and turning simple ingredients into heartfelt memories.

Uppal grew up eating her mother’s freshly baked French yogurt cakes for breakfast and enjoyed every bit of it. Now, as a part-time Costello College of Business at ��AV MBA student and a working mother of two children, she’s a small business owner and author of a new cookbook.

Uppal, a self-described dream chaser, is the founder of Baked à la carte, a French bespoke cakes and dessert bar catering company in Washington, D.C. She credits her success in starting and managing a small business to the business education she received at ��AV, and the cadre of amazing mentors she encountered in the business college’s alumni community. “Being a student at Mason was the start of my American Dream journey,” says Uppal. “The alumni network has been a tremendous support to me along my journey, from student to post-graduate.”

“The alumni network has been a tremendous support to me along my journey, from student to post-graduate.”

She began Baked à la carte to carry on her mother’s legacy of spreading love with baked goods, using recipes she learned from her mom and which she now shares in her new book, Baking Memories. The cookbook is a nod to her Parisian roots and her mother’s baking legacy.

Baking Memories is filled with a collection of simple and fun recipes that readers can use to start their own family traditions and create treasured memories. The recipes have a French flair and include a variety of tasty treats—from French-style cakes and cookies to madeleines and other baked goods—all inspired by her beloved mother and Ava’s own life as a first-generation immigrant, George Mason alumna, working mom, military spouse, and entrepreneur.

She and her daughter, Zoya, were recently featured in a Small Business Spotlight segment on WJLA ABC 7’s Good Morning Washington show. During the broadcast, she shared her recipe for French Yogurt cakes with co-hosts Eileen Whelan and Britt Waters. As Uppal demonstrated, her recipes are easy to follow and customizable, which makes them appealing to almost everyone in the family.

Uppal continues to share her creative ideas and recipes as an on-air lifestyle expert and has appeared on television stations including affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

“There is something special about being in the kitchen and creating,” says Uppal. “The process of baking allows us to explore, express our creativity, and get something delicious at the end.” Uppal also notes that baking appeals to our senses—sight, smell, taste, touch, and even hearing—and can serve as a psychological cue in awakening treasured memories. One of her fondest childhood memories is sitting on the kitchen counter bonding with her sister and late mother, while baking French yogurt cakes.

Uppal expects to complete her Costello MBA in 2025.

In the meantime, she’s focused on building treasured memories with her own family while chasing her dream of growing her business portfolio. Her recipe for personal and professional success includes generous portions of passion, hard work, and balance, which is making quality time for her family and involving her children in her life’s work.

Uppal’s debut cookbook is available for purchase on avauppal.com.

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Marine veteran changed his life and seeks to reach others in need of positive direction

Colleen Rich — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:33:35 +0000

Marine veteran changed his life and seeks to reach others in need of positive direction Colleen Rich Wed, 11/06/2024 - 14:33

It was an epiphany of sorts, in the most unlikely time and place, but it changed the course of ��AV veteran Abidail “Abi” Estrada’s life—and the many lives he’s touched since.

Abidail “Abi” Estrada. Photo provided

At 19, after making “a lot of bad choices,” Estrada found himself sitting by a Northern Virginia road next to his broken-down car, reflecting on his future. This pivotal moment motivated him to leave behind his troubled past, join the U.S. Marine Corps, and eventually find his true calling in helping fellow veterans and others in need.

“I went off on myself,” recalled Estrada, now a proud husband, father, and U.S. Marine veteran of two tours in Afghanistan who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work. He asked himself what was wrong, wondering if this was truly the life he wanted, and whether he would continue down the same path forever.

This was just the impetus Estrada needed to break free from an unstable home environment that had him headed nowhere good. As a Guatemalan native, who was just 11 years old when his family arrived in the United States in 1998, Estrada longed for a better life, and after that moment of self-realization, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, which allowed him to alter his own personal narrative.

Estrada’s first tour of duty in Afghanistan began with a stay in the volatile Helmand Province in May 2010, followed by another stint in the war-worn nation from 2013-14. It was extremely dangerous, but as a Marine sergeant and infantry squad leader, he took great pride in serving alongside his new brothers in arms. “I was doing something with purpose, something that was meaningful to me,” he said. “If I was going to die, I was going to die with a purpose.”

After eight years of service, Estrada left the Marine Corps in 2015. Hoping to get a higher-paying job to take care of his family, he enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), with the goal of transferring to George Mason to earn a four-year college degree. Hardly a great student while in high school, Estrada quickly found that he was no longer that same guy—he had matured through his military experiences.

He thrived academically, making the Dean’s List at NOVA before transferring to George Mason in 2017 and graduating from the College of Public Health with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2019. His wife, Maritza, also a George Mason graduate, strongly encouraged her husband through it all.

When beginning his academic career, Estrada found that he had an innate desire to help others. He soon discovered his niche in assisting veterans and their dependents navigate the often-complicated GI Bill process, enabling them to receive the benefits were entitled to. Whether at NOVA or George Mason, Estrada supported fellow veterans by providing them opportunities to connect and share their military experiences with someone who truly understands.

Estrada’s dedication for helping others did not go unnoticed. Ryan Barnett, associate director of George Mason’s Office of Military Services, recognized Estrada’s potential and encouraged him to pursue social work.

“Abi has a heart of gold and a passion to help people and connect with them,” said Barnett, a fellow Marine veteran.

“The more I learn about the profession, the more I love it,” Estrada said.

Following his graduation, Estrada spent several years helping local youth, first as a youth counselor for Northern Virginia Family Services and then as an investigator of child abuse and neglect cases for Prince William County. Now as a 37-year-old father of three, he returned to George Mason this fall to pursue his master’s degree in social work, continuing his mission to serve his fellow veterans and others in need.

Estrada is grateful for the opportunities the United States has provided him. He said giving back is the least that he can do. “I’ve always loved and respected this nation,” he said. “It fed me and clothed me. What my birth nation couldn’t do for me, America did. That’s why I want to give back.”