2024 Annual Report
Our
Innovative Programs and Initiatives
• Addressing Virginia's critical teacher shortage
• Building programs with career readiness in mind
CEHD RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Supporting Research
• Fostering a Thriving Research Environment
• Areas of Research
Celebrating
• Faculty Success
• Honoring Success
• Staff Success
CEHD Researchers Support Local School Communities Preventing Falls
AI Fact-Checking Education
Teaching English to Young Learners
Fulbright Accolades
Honoring a Legend Human Rights Champion
ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT
Lanching the
CEHD
Tutors to Teachers Program
LIteracy Engagement Action Project (LEAP)
Professional Studies Courses
Behrmanns Support Future Educators
Groundswell Partners with Mason
Mason
CEHD
Welcome
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
from the Dean
Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
It is with great pride and excitement that I present the College of Education and Human Development’s Annual Report. This year has been marked by remarkable achievements, innovative collaborations, and a steadfast commitment to our mission.
As we reflect on the past year, we celebrate not only the programs and initiatives that have enriched our community, but also the extraordinary people behind them. Our dedicated faculty and talented students have engaged in transformative research, developing solutions to pressing societal needs. Their dedication to creating inclusive learning environments and empowering diverse populations positions our college at the forefront of educational excellence.
This report goes beyond highlighting; it illustrates our vision for the future. We are committed to preparing the next generation of professionals—educators, practitioners, researchers, and leaders —with the knowledge and skills to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving world. Together, we will continue to build on our strengths, embrace transformative opportunities, and push the boundaries of what is possible to foster a better tomorrow for everyone.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, and community partners for your relentless support and passion. Your contributions are the heartbeat of our college and drive our success and the impact we have on the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we are shaping the future.
Warm regards,
Ingrid Guerra-López Dean, College of Education and Human Development
George
Mason University
Student Success
2,090 Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students 1,023
Student Internship Sites 700+
students placed annually in Student Teaching Internships 450+
students completed External Internships in 2023-2024 1,105
STUDENT SUCCESS
The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is dedicated to fostering a supportive and dynamic environment that prioritizes student success and community engagement. We offer a diverse range of academic programs, scholarships, and innovative initiatives to empower our students to achieve their academic and professional goals while enhancing their overall well-being. Our commitment extends beyond the classroom, as we actively collaborate with community partners to connect students with valuable career resources. Through engaging events and leadership opportunities, we cultivate a vibrant community that not only supports personal growth but also prepares future educators and professionals to meet the evolving needs of society.
Our students come first
In the College of Education and Human Development, our students are at the forefront of our mission. We are committed to supporting their overall wellbeing and helping them achieve their academic and professional goals. Through our many scholarships, awards, and innovative programs, we empower students to excel both academically and professionally. Initiatives like career readiness workshops and experiential learning opportunities cultivate a dynamic community that encourages growth and achievement.
Undergraduate Students
Regions of origin
Graduate Students
STUDENT SUCCESS
Innovative programs and initiatives
In response to Virginia’s critical teacher shortage, CEHD has adopted a comprehensive strategy that includes the introduction of new degree programs, enhanced career support, and inclusive learning opportunities that incorporate experiential learning. These initiatives are designed to prepare a diverse, highly qualified workforce of educators and specialists equipped to meet the evolving needs of Virginia’s students. From newly established undergraduate and graduate degrees to specialized programs like Mason LIFE, we are committed to developing career-ready professionals while providing enriching educational experiences for all learners.
Addressing Virginia’s critical teacher shortage
In 2024, the College of Education and Human Development gained approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to launch three new degrees aimed at tackling Virginia’s critical teacher shortage:
1
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with subject area tracks in English, biology, chemistry, Earth science, and computer science
Master of Education in Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Master of Education in Literacy Education 3 2
To further support future educators, our School of Education provides robust services to students pursuing teacher licensure through the Office of Teacher Preparation. This office provides essential services such as pre-education advising, partnership development, student placements for clinical practice experiences, and licensure assistance. This office, in collaboration with Student and Academic Affairs and academic advisors, provides a comprehensive support system for our students in teacher preparation programs.
Building programs with career-readiness in mind
In 2024, the School Psychology Program began offering an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, the first Ed.S. degree to be offered at George Mason University. This new degree enables students to seek licensure with a Virginia School Psychology Endorsement and National Certification as a School Psychologist (NCSP).
Each spring, we host our Student Research Symposium, designed to encourage students at every level in our programs to participate in and present research of consequence. In 2024, we hosted 40 students who shared their research with faculty judges, guests, and members of our academic community. Through the experience of engaging in research, submitting their proposals, and presenting their progress and findings, participants strengthened their professional communication skills and gained connections within their fields of practice and across disciplines.
26% of undergraduate students are 1st Generation students
402 Students Made Dean's List in Spring 2024
80% Student Retention after first year
61 Students Made Dean’s List in Summer 2024
30% of undergraduate students received Pell Grant Funding
13 Research Centers, Institutes, and Labs
$11.4M in Research Proposals submitted in FY24
51 Research Awards received in FY24 Research Awards received in FY24
$54.6M in Grant Proposals submitted in FY24 91
The College of Education and Human Development takes immense pride in our faculty’s extensive research portfolio that benefits all segments of the community in which we live. The scholarship is deeply rooted in our commitment to improving the health, well-being, and learning outcomes for people of all ages.
Supporting Research
To foster a thriving research environment, we established:
An integrated Office of Research to provide comprehensive support for research administration, ethics compliance, rigorous peer review, quality assurance, and specialized research centers.
A dedicated website offering resources for faculty and PhD students seeking grants and securing external funding
Bi-monthly Research and Innovation Forums
The CEHD Research Faculty Advisory Group
These initiatives create opportunities for our prominent research faculty and leaders to exchange ideas on strategic issues and high-impact research areas aligned with our mission and focus on addressing society’s most pressing challenges.
The scholarship produced within CEHD reflects the extraordinary talents and interests of our esteemed faculty.
Our faculty’s research spans a wide range of impactful areas, including:
Developing innovative teaching methods to boost K-12 student achievement
Exploring the physical and mental health benefits of movement
Protecting the health of student athletes in Virginia schools
Identifying ways to enhance inclusivity in parks and recreation facilities
Interventions to help students with disabilities access the general education curriculum
These initiatives, along with many others, share a common goal: generating knowledge that positively impacts the diverse individuals in our communities. Much of the research conducted by the college faculty is interdisciplinary, involving collaborations with scholars across George Mason University and other higher education institutions. CEHD faculty’s research projects have contributed to the success of George Mason in becoming one of the youngest universities in the nation to have an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
CEHD RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
CEHD Researchers Support Local School Communities Through Decade-Long Collaboration
For the past decade, a team of CEHD researchers worked with mothers from Latine immigrant communities in Alexandria to help define specific structural and systemic barriers faced by caregivers and children in school and find solutions that meet community expectations and needs. Using an approach to research called community-based participatory action research (CBPAR), this team is helping transform how Alexandria public schools supports its immigrant students and their parents.
Preventing Falls
KINESIOLOGY FACULTY SELECTED FOR 2023 ORIEI FUNDING AWARD TO ADDRESS FALL PREVENTION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
Tiphanie Raffegeau, assistant professor in the Kinesiology Program within the School of Kinesiology, has received seed funding from George Mason’s Office of Research Innovation and Economic Impact (ORIEI). Her research proposal, “Creating a Mason-based interdisciplinary communityacademic partnership for fall-prevention in older adults”, was among nine applications that were selected for the newly created ORIEI Seed Funding Initiative out of a total of 51 submissions vying for funding.
The goal of Raffegeau’s project is to build an interdisciplinary communityacademic partnership to address fall prevention and to develop programming and activities, open to the public, that will enhance wellness and quality of life for a diverse population of older adults. This endeavor will take place at the Northern Virginia Center on Aging, housed within the Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA), a facility providing daytime care and support for older adults with intellectual disabilities and located just a few miles from George Mason’s Fairfax campus. In addition to George Mason faculty, this initiative will engage graduate and undergraduate students who will be given the opportunity to develop skills in working with older adults.
» Find out more here.
Teaching English to Young Learners
“CBPAR flips the script of traditional research,” explained Colleen Vesely, associate professor of inclusive early childhood education and member of the research team. “We partner directly with communities, often those which have been pushed to the margins, to do research with them, as opposed to research on them.”
» Find out more here.
Through the Global Online Teacher Education Center (GOTEC), Joan Shin, Anya Evmenova, and Jered Borup led a team that provided an online English teacher professional development program called "Teaching English to Young Learners" to 6,171 educators in 89 countries through a U.S. Department of State grant. This professional development focused on teaching English as a global language to children and teenagers, as well as teaching media literacy through English.
» Find out more here.
Raffegeau
Vesely
CEHD RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Building Critical Thinkers:
AI FactChecking Education
SECONDARY EDUCATION FACULTY COLLABORATED ON A NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-FUNDED PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT HELPS STUDENTS FACT-CHECK AI-GENERATED CONTENT
Erdogan Kaya, assistant professor in the Secondary Education 6-12 Program in the School of Education, is part of a research team working on the development of a new digital platform that will guide K-12 students to critically evaluate and ethically use content produced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in composing and writing science-focused text. In this endeavor, Kaya is collaborating with Amy Hutchison and Lori Bruner from the University of Alabama.
The initiative, which is titled “RAPID: DRL AI: The Development of a Digital Platform for Evaluating and Using AI-Generated Content for Academic Purposes,” is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The web-based platform that is being constructed is called “Compose with AI” and it is intended to help students identify, gather, and critically evaluate content produced by AI tools such as Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. The features of the platform will guide students on the ethical use of AI and help them understand the importance of verifying information accuracy.
» Find out more here.
$10.9M in Research Expenditures in FY24
89.8% increase in combined value of Research Proposals year over year (FY23 – FY24)
Kaya
The achievements of CEHD faculty, renowned in their respective fields, have helped build the reputation of CEHD as a leader in education and as a community of well-respected scholars, educators, and practitioners dedicated to the lifelong pursuit of learning, development, and wellbeing. The innovative evidence-based research conducted by CEHD faculty is recognized by the academic community throughout universities here in the United States and abroad. Across the programs within CEHD, faculty have been awarded prestigious grants and awards which are a reflection of the high caliber of their work.
Celebrating Success
Faculty Success
In our efforts to support the work of our faculty and provide an environment where they can pursue their academic interests and further develop their scholarship, CEHD has established a new Office for Faculty Success that promotes continuous learning and innovation, while also fostering a culture of faculty success. This office focuses on empowering faculty to optimize their performance within an academic culture that values collaboration, inclusive excellence, and the success and well-being of the entire college community. The CEHD Office for Faculty Success is working with CEHD’s Professional Development Committee, Office of Inclusive Excellence, and Office of Research to establish a comprehensive faculty development and success program, focusing on creating a more balanced and equitable faculty workload.
Honoring Success
CEHD is developing an honorific committee that will promote our faculty successes through award nominations and recognitions both internally within George Mason and externally among communities and groups interested in our faculty’s fields of expertise.
Staff Success
CEHD is equally dedicated to the growth and professional development of our staff. We recently launched our Staff Success Program, beginning with a comprehensive survey to understand our staff’s needs and interests. This survey focused on key areas such as Skill Building, Collaboration, Career Development, and Well-being. Drawing on these insights and valuable input from the CEHD Staff Council, we are crafting a robust program to support our staff’s success. Our initiative will offer tailored professional development and training opportunities, designed not only to enhance staff effectiveness and satisfaction but also to elevate the quality of services we provide to our college, George Mason students, and the broader Northern Virginia community.
Honoring a Legend
CEHD PROFESSOR CHARLEY CASSERLY WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WASHINGTON D.C. SPORTS HALL OF FAME
George Mason University’s very own sports great Charley Casserly was inducted into the Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2024, during a formal ceremony at Nationals Park. Casserly, faculty in the Sport Management Program within the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), was recognized for his distinguished career during which he made many contributions to sports in the Washington, D.C. area.
» Find out more here.
Human Rights Champion
STEPHANIE DAILEY RECEIVED THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION 2024 KITTY COLE HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
Stephanie Dailey, assistant professor in the Counseling Program within the School of Education at George Mason University, was recently honored as the recipient of the 2024 Kitty Cole Human Rights Award in recognition of her remarkable contributions to casualty mitigation during school shootings, the development of safe school lockdown drills, and the introduction of innovative models to strengthen school and community mass violence response protocols. Dailey’s selection for this award reflects her dedication and commitment to human rights in her pursuit of equitable treatment and social justice, particularly within historically marginalized communities affected by acts of mass violence.
» Find out more here.
Fulbright Accolades
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
PROFESSOR WAS SELECTED FOR FULBRIGHT U.S. SCHOLAR PROGRAM
Risto Marttinen, associate professor in the Health and Physical Education Program within the School of Education, received a Fulbright U.S. Core Scholar Program award to conduct research in Finland beginning in January 2025. Marttinen will be collaborating with faculty in two top research universities in Finland—the University of the Arts Helsinki (Uni Arts) and University of Jyväskylä—to study the impact of a program that guarantees a free out-ofschool activity for every child in Finland. This program serves over 400,000 youth attending 1,900 schools located in 262 municipalities throughout Finland.
»Find out more here.
Marttinen
Dailey
Inclusive Excellence
“Inclusive excellence is more than an ideal in CEHD; it is our commitment to fostering a diverse learning environment where every voice is valued, every experience is acknowledged, and every individual is empowered to thrive. Together, we create a community that reflects the richness of our society and prepares future leaders who will embrace and celebrate differences.”
Director
Candace Lacayo
of the Office of Inclusive Excellence
INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
The driving force that guides much of the research conducted by CEHD faculty is the need for change that fosters inclusivity and equity, and which honors the diversity of individuals in our community—each of whom possesses unique strengths, talents, and abilities. In support of this endeavor, the CEHD Office of Inclusive Excellence serves as a resource for sharing knowledge and insight on diversity, equity, inclusivity, and in advancing the evidencebased research, teaching, and service activities of the college, while creating an affirming, safe, and welcoming space for all.
A Place for Everyone
Whether it is finding ways to better support a child’s early development during their formative years, improving academic outcomes for students in K-12 schools, or helping individuals maintain a healthy and physically active lifestyle, CEHD is dedicated to addressing structural and systemic challenges that can hinder personal growth and development. Such challenges can particularly affect diverse populations and those facing various barriers.
As CEHD evolves its curriculum and research priorities, we are committed to fostering change that promotes inclusivity and creates a welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong. This commitment is strengthened through CEHD's partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and government agencies, which provide opportunities for faculty and students to apply their insights in real-world settings, ultimately enhancing well-being and quality of life across the lifespan.
CEHD faculty are working to remove systemic obstacles and inequities that can hinder an individual’s development and negatively impact student outcomes, and are continually involved in research that exemplifies our college’s dedication to inclusive excellence.
PhD student Jeff Keller was named the 2024 Virginia Teacher of the Year by Governor Glenn Youngkin. Keller received this honor as a testament to his work creating a positive school environment for students and teachers as a facilitator of the Student Equity Committee at John Handley High School. During his time as the John Handley High School social studies department chair, Keller has worked to diversify course offerings and bring innovation to teaching practices within the department.
STUDENT SUCCESS
ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL
IMPACT
CEHD plays a pivotal role in fostering meaningful partnerships that enhance the economic and societal well-being of the Northern Virginia region and beyond. By collaborating with local schools, community organizations, industry partners, and government agencies, CEHD addresses critical challenges such as the ongoing teacher shortage, resource allocation disparities, and the need for comprehensive support systems for diverse populations. Additionally, these partnerships focus on innovating educational practices to prepare the next generation of talent, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Committed.
Through its proactive initiatives, CEHD is committed to transforming the educational landscape, creating a collaborative framework that benefits educators, students, families, industry, and our communities. This approach positions the college as a key contributor to the region's growth and prosperity, serving as a model for enhancing educational systems throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
CEHD Launched the Educational Research Alliance of Northern Virginia (ERA-NOVA)
ERA-NOVA is an innovative partnership between CEHD researchers and K-12 school districts and stakeholders in Northern Virginia to collaboratively address the pressing educational challenges in the region. By uniting diverse voices and shared commitment to academic success and positive impact on quality of life, the collaborative aims to drive systemic change across the region.
ERA-NOVA’s efforts focus on aligning stakeholders toward common goals and implementing evidence-based
interventions that address the unique challenges faced by students, educators, and families in the NOVA region. A key pillar of the partnership is knowledge sharing, which promotes the dissemination of valuable insights, research findings, and best practices across the education community. Through the creation of knowledge products such as research briefs, policy guides, and toolkits, ERA-NOVA ensures that all stakeholders have access to the latest actionable data and strategies to inform decisionmaking and drive improvements in educational outcomes.
» Find out more here.
CEHD Partners with NOVA and Loudoun County Public Schools on New Lab School
The Virginia Board of Education approved funding for George Mason University to launch the Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy, a collaborative partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). This lab school will be based inside K-12 public schools as part of shared goals to increase pathways for students from high school to college and on to high-demand careers.
“George Mason is making bold steps toward creating different pathways for all students through these partnerships with K-12 and community colleges to ensure access to higher education and high-demand, well-compensated careers,” said Dean Ingrid Guerra-López. “Our focus on innovative, problembased learning and skills needed for the future workforce will ensure students have robust wrap-around supports all the way through their education and early careers to build a better future for themselves and their communities.”
» Find out more here.
CEHD’s Tutors to Teachers Program is Helping to Close Learning Gaps Post-COVID
A unique program known as “Tutors to Teachers,” established in October 2020 within the School of Education at George Mason University, started out with the goal of having college students provide free tutoring to school-aged children in Virginia public schools who experienced significant loss in learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since it began, the Tutors to Teachers program has played a critical role not only in stemming the sharp declines in student achievement scores post-COVID, but also being proactive in addressing the critical shortage of teachers in Virginia. This innovative program provides George Mason students with training that will make them more successful in tutoring children in K-12 public schools. The program also exposes George Mason students to the immense satisfaction that can be derived from working with children in a public-school setting and it is structured in a way that will motivate many of them to enter the teaching profession as a career. In doing so, George Mason’s Tutors to Teachers initiative is creating a pipeline of future educators.
» Find out more here.
way CEHD is helping to address the teacher shortage is by offering high-quality and lower-cost graduate course options specifically for provisionally licensed teachers who are seeking full licensure. This includes our series of professional studies courses for provisionally licensed teachers that offers a more accessible pathway to teacher licensure. A few of our programs also contract with local school divisions to offer reduced tuition licensure pathways for that division's provisionally licensed teachers.
Literacy Engagement Action Project (LEAP) Enjoyed a Successful Launch
The Literacy Engagement Action Project (LEAP) is an exciting initiative that has been fully launched within the Elizabeth G. Sturtevant, PhD, Center for Literacy at George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Funding for this project through a U.S. Department of Education grant was made possible by the efforts of Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who secured a $1.83 million designated spending provision as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal government appropriations bill. This provision supports the Sturtevant Center for Literacy’s development of a state-wide project to build literacy skills in K-12 students with a scalable, comprehensive program for teachers, students, and their families. Leading the LEAP project as Principal Investigator is Allison Ward Parsons, director of the Center and associate professor of the Literacy Program in CEHD’s School of Education.
» Find out more here.
Cedric Price, Elementary Education Alumnus teaching his fourth grade class at Dogwood Elementary
Another
Support Difference Makes A Your
“This scholarship has given me an opportunity to fulfill my dreams to become a teacher.”
— Jack Bolz, current CEHD student
Building on the strong foundation of our partnerships and initiatives, CEHD recognizes that our success and impact are greatly amplified by the generous support of our community. As we continue to address critical challenges and innovate in educational practices, we are deeply grateful for the contributions that enable us to extend our reach and deepen our impact. Your support is not just an investment in our college, it is an investment in the future of education and the communities we serve.
A Perfect Partnership
CEHD EXPANDS COLLABORATION WITH GOOGLE
CEHD has received additional support from Google to launch the Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy with Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).
Google provided seed funding last year to begin school planning and also submitted a letter of support to the Virginia
Board of Education. Recently, Google doubled their initial commitment, totaling a $400,000 investment in the school to date. This additional funding will support research design and evaluation, along with a summer bridge program for the school, scheduled to launch in the 2025-26 school year.
» Find out more here.
Dean Ingrid Guerra-López discussing the ACCESS Academy and its partnership with Google
10 Years of Support
HATTIE M. STRONG FOUNDATION REACHES A DECADE OF SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT TO CEHD STUDENTS
The Hattie M. Strong Foundation Scholarship is presented to students who are in their final year of enrollment in an initial teacher preparation licensure program through the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The candidates must have academic merit and financial need.
Starting in 1928, the Hattie M. Strong Foundation (HMSF) had run one of the earliest and most successful student loan programs in the country providing zero interest loans with flexible repayment schedules tied to the economic realities of a student’s career choice. In 2009, the HMSF Board of Directors decided to confront a different kind of economic reality; the astonishingly high levels of debt that today’s college graduates must incur to complete their studies.
» Find out more here.
Ways to Support
For information about how to support the College of Education and Human Development, please contact: Shirley Hartman, Chief Development Officer 703-993-2005 • shartma@gmu.edu
CEHD RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Supporting Future Special Educators
BEHRMANNS ADD TO LEGACY WITH CREATION OF UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Seven years after retiring from a nearly 40-year career in CEHD’s special education program, Michael Behrmann continues to add to his legacy.
Behrmann, along with his wife, June, has generously created an undergraduate scholarship for George Mason students in the special education program.
“We need more teachers working with that population of students,” Behrmann said. “Children with special needs are our most vulnerable students. It’s a huge problem. Undergraduate programs are one way that can be really addressed and start to bite into that shortage of qualified teachers.”
» Find out more here.
Groundswell Partners with Mason LIFE
PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND CAREER SERVICES
Information technology consultant
Groundswell aims to provide George Mason University students a chance to learn about the company, delve into new areas, and discover more about the industry.
Groundswell recently announced the creation of $10,000 in scholarships for Mason LIFE students.
»Find out more here.
George Mason University hosted Mason Vision Day, an opportunity for each college to raise funds for the causes that matter most. CEHD chose to support multiple funds, including student scholarships, supporting 31 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. A total of 150 donors participated and nearly $7,000 was raised.
»Hear from students who received scholarships here.
