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A M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E G E O R G E M A S O N U N I V E R S I T Y CO M M U N I T Y
It’s Mason’s Time President Washington’s bold plan for the university’s future
V O I C E S O F M A S O N | W H AT D O E S I T M E A N TO B E A PAT R I OT ? | I N V E S T I T U R E H I G H L I G H T S
Upon its return to Wilkins Plaza, the George Mason statue received a thorough cleaning. Photo by Shelby Burgess
FEATURES
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About the Cover Gregory Washington was invested as Mason’s eighth president in October. See story on page 14. Photo by Ron Aira
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MasonSpirit for alumni news, events, and more. Become a fan of the Mason Spirit on Facebook for links to photos, videos, and stories at www.facebook.com/MasonSpirit. heck our website for a behind-the-scenes look at the Spirit, more alumni profiles, and breaking C news at spirit.gmu.edu.
A New Era for George Mason University Gregory Washington took the helm of George Mason University during an unprecedented time. With his Investiture, he sets the tone for the university moving forward and proclaims “It’s Mason’s time.”
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Voices of Mason They are scientists. They are teachers. They are parents. Some are the first in their families to obtain a college degree. One thing is clear: Mason students are passionate about their studies and helping others. Meet a few of the Mason Nation’s current students.
What Does It Mean to Be a Patriot? We asked the Mason community what it means to them to be a Patriot. Read what they had to say.
I play the Fight Song! DEPARTMENTS 2 FIRST WORDS 3 FROM OUR READERS 4 @MASON 36 INQUIRING MINDS 40 SHELF LIFE
The first 1,500 fans who purchased tickets to Mason Night at Nationals Park received a limited edition bobblehead of Screech, the Washington Nationals mascot, showing his Mason colors.
42 ALUMNI IN PRINT 43 PATRIOT PROFILE 45 CLASS NOTES
46 From the Alumni Association President
ALUMNI PROFILES
44 Dilafruz Khonikboyeva, BA Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’10, MS ’14
47 Christian White, BA Communication ’21
49 Laila Mokhiber, BA Global Affairs ’09
53 PROFESSORS WE LOVE PHOTO BY RON AIRA
MORE ON THE WEB When you see this graphic, follow it to the magazine’s website for more: spirit.gmu.edu. Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 1
MASON SPIRIT
FIRST WORDS
A MAGAZINE FOR THE GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
spirit.gmu.edu
THE ULTIMATE ‘POINT B’ UNIVERSITY I’d like to introduce you to a few Mason alumni—and future alumni: One is a 71-year-old student who noted in an email to me that both he and his wife attend the university. At an event, I met a woman who earned four degrees at Mason.
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
Another successful alum explained to me how he was able to craft his master’s degree program with prior course work and professional experience, offsetting the fact that he did not have an undergraduate degree. I love meeting our alumni and hearing how they connected with Mason where, and when, they needed. Mason’s ability to meet students where they are is nothing short of inspiring. This university is a success engine. We don’t care where your Point A is, we will get you to your Point B—whether you enroll out of high school, transfer from a community college, join us from the workforce or military, return to earn an advanced degree or credential, or, like the first example above, remain in dogged pursuit of your academic goals in your eighth decade of life. Mason will always be in the degree-granting and knowledge-producing business, but ultimately, we’re in the success business. And we know that success can take many forms. Soon, new endeavors will serve students and citizens from across the commonwealth.
M A N AG I N G E D I TO R Colleen Kearney Rich, MFA ’95 A S S O C I AT E E D I TO R S Melanie Balog Priyanka Champaneri, BA ’05, MFA ’10 Rob Riordan, MPA ’19 E D I TO R I A L A S S I S TA N T D’Zaunta C. Jones CO N T R I B U TO R S Mariam Aburdeineh, BA ’13 Christopher Bobo Kristen Greiner, MFA ‘20 Jeanene Harris John Hollis Rebecca Kobayashi Katie Maney Anna Stolley Persky Corey Jenkins Schaut, MPA ’07 Michelle Thompson Preston Williams D E S I G N A N D I L LU S T R AT I O N Claire Brandt Joan Dall'Acqua Marcia Staimer
That is why I am introducing the Mason Virginia Promise, which will extend our successful ADVANCE partnership with Northern Virginia Community College to other community colleges around the state, providing sufficient pathways to an education so that any Virginian whose Point B involves a university degree can get it with Mason’s help.
P H OTO G R A P H Y A N D M U LT I M E D I A Ron Aira Shelby Burgess Melissa Cannarozzi Evan Cantwell, MA ’10 Sierra Guard
The Mason Virginia Promise also extends to those Virginians who want to start a business but are not interested in a degree. Mason manages the 27 Virginia Small Business Development Centers around the state, where budding entrepreneurs can seek guidance.
P R O D U C T I O N M A N AG E R Brian Edlinski
In addition, the Mason Talent Exchange will help members of the workforce gain the new skills they need to pursue better opportunities for themselves and their families in the post-pandemic economy.
E D I TO R I A L B O A R D Paul G. Allvin Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing
The Mason Virginia Promise is a natural extension of who we are as a university. Yes, we have the fastest-growing research portfolio among U.S. public universities. Yes, Times Higher Education deems Mason the top U.S. university under 50 years old. Yes, we’re one of the most diverse universities in the country, with no marked graduation rate disparity based on race, ethnicity, or wealth status.
Trishana E. Bowden Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations
And, yes, Mason is the only Virginia university positioned to be a lifeline of opportunity for all Virginians. No other has our flexibility, transfer pathway infrastructure, or economic reach throughout the commonwealth.
Robin Rose Parker Interim Assistant Vice President for Communications
The success engine revs on. Gregory Washington President, George Mason University
Follow President Washington on Twitter at @gmupres. 2 | SPIRIT.GMU.EDU
Kathleen Diemer Associate Vice President for Advancement Relations
Jennifer W. Robinson, JM ‘02 Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Mason Spirit is published three times a year by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and the Office of Communications and Marketing. George Mason University is an equal opportunity employer that encourages diversity.
FROM OUR READERS
Talking about George Mason the Man
Turtle Power
➤Regarding the letter in the Spring 2021 magazine stating that George Mason wanted to abolish slavery, and the letter in your Summer magazine stating that Mason was an abolitionist ahead of his time: Mason called for the abolishment of the foreign importation of slaves but not the abolishment of slavery. The cited comment that he would sooner chop off his hand than sign the Constitution was not in reference to slavery but generally reflected other Anti-Federalist views. Mason did state at the Constitutional Convention that he believed slavery to be a “national sin,” but he continued to own more than 100 slaves and failed to free any upon his death.
➤I was surprised and delighted to see an article on wood turtles (“New Research Coming Out of Its Shell”) in the Summer 2021 issue of Mason Spirit. Wood turtle research has a long history at Mason. I was there in the early 1970s when Dr. Carl H. Ernst was beginning his more than 30year Mason career. Carl was a world-renowned herpetologist (especially as a turtle researcher), and his first love was studying wood turtles in southern Pennsylvania, which he continued throughout his time at Mason. Carl retired from Mason as professor emeritus in 2004, but in his earlier years, he was a jack-of-all-trades for the Biology Department. I still remember how much I enjoyed taking classes from him in vertebrate zoology, ornithology, and herpetology, and I had the honor of being one of his first of many graduate students.
John Rand, MA ’16
Be Careful What You Wish For ➤In the Summer 2021 issue, “From Our Readers” featured discussion about President Washington’s Anti-Racism Task Force. The arguments defending the task force seem to be that racism still exists in America, including at GMU, and therefore the anti-racism task force is a good thing. This, of course, is a non sequitur. My concern is that “anti-racism” as typically promoted is a deceptively named, overtly racist, intolerant, secular religion that sows racial division in furtherance of a neo-Marxist power grab. At institutions across the country, people of good will are being subjected to “anti-racism” indoctrination where they are required to espouse racist ideas they do not believe, are judged based on their skin color, and are required to judge others likewise. Dissenters have been bullied, harassed, demeaned, defamed, and fired. This is how “anti-racism” initiatives typically manifest. Will President Washington’s Anti-Racist Task Force produce better results? I hope so. It might, as predicted by one reader, “create a truly transparent, open, and welcoming community at Mason.” What are the odds?
Steve Wunderley, BS ’70, MS ’74
Frank Jaeckle, MS ’92
We’re super exinclusive. Rediscover Virginia’s most diverse university. gmu.edu/meet-us
We want to hear from you. Letters to the editor are welcomed. Send correspondence to Colleen Kearney Rich, Managing Editor, Mason Spirit, 4400 University Drive, MS 2F7, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Or send an email to spirit@gmu.edu. Need to change your address or update contact information with us? Or prefer not to receive the magazine in the mail any longer? Just let us know via email at development@gmu.edu.
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The Marshes Say Goodbye After Many Years of Service
POINT of PRIDE A record number of Mason studentathletes—332—earned the Atlantic 10 Com missioner’s Honor Roll distinction for the 2020–21 academic year. With the second highest number of honorees in the conference, Mason had 23 student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA and 218 with a 3.5 GPA or better. Designed to recognize excellence in the classroom, the Commissioner’s Honor Roll celebrates studentathletes with a 3.0 GPA or better.
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ay Marsh, BS Business Administration ’73, and Carolyn Marsh are bidding adieu to George Mason University after a combined 90 years of service. But the larger-thanlife roles they played in the university’s Athletics Department are here to stay. The couple, who officially retired on June 30—Jay as senior associate athletic director for events and facilities, and Carolyn as executive assistant for men’s basketball— have showcased their deep affinity for Mason with a $50,000 gift to the Mason men’s and women’s basketball programs as part of the team’s locker room renovations. The gift was also used to fund the creation of the men’s basketball film room, known as the Carolyn Marsh Film Room. “We had already committed to an endowed scholarship here at the university for athletics [for] basketball,” says Jay. “We decided to take another $25,000 and donate toward the locker rooms because we knew we could get this done.” The couple has been among the most devoted supporters of Mason Athletics since they first began working for the university. And they’ve influenced scores of lives along the way. The Marshes first met at a country dance while Jay was finishing a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, and they married in 1967. In December 1975, Carolyn started at Mason
as a sports information assistant, and eventually became the trusted executive assistant to all eight Patriot men’s basketball coaches since. She still receives calls and cards from the players. Jay, who graduated from Mason after completing his military service, played two seasons of basketball for former coach John Linn while finishing his degree. He followed Carolyn back to Mason in May 1976, when he began to serve as business manager while also overseeing the equipment room and facilities. His duties in the subsequent years included working as a fundraiser for the Patriot Club. When Mason hosted the first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) basketball tournament in 1986, Jay ran things so smoothly that the conference asked him to run future tournaments, regardless of location. He did so until Mason left the CAA in 2013. Next up for the Marshes is spending time catching up with friends and family. But they say their love for Mason remains strong, and they plan to be regulars at many campus events, including at EagleBank Arena this basketball season in the seats Carolyn has had for years. “We never thought it would last this long,” Jay says, “But there are a lot of great people at George Mason University.” —John Hollis
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Q&A with Sharnnia Artis harnnia Artis joined Mason on September 1 as the new vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Before coming to Mason, Artis served as assistant dean of access and inclusion in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, one of the most diverse engineering programs in the nation. Artis has been creating programs to improve diversity and inclusion in the engineering and computing fields for most of her career. How did you get interested in engineering?
A New Mobile App for Patriots Fans
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eveloped with SIDEARM Sports, the new George Mason Patriots app features real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, game day details, and more. The app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Through the app, Patriots fans enjoy a personalized mobile experience with the ability to manage tickets, shop for official Mason merchandise, and receive breaking news and score notifications for the teams they follow. The app also features new promotional offers for fans from various Mason Athletics sponsors. Continuing with the transition to mobile ticketing that started during the 2020–21 season, the George Mason Patriots app provides easy and secure access to purchase and manage tickets. This will mark the first time that George Mason fans can enjoy ticket functionality, including transferring tickets to friends, posting tickets for resale, and accessing their tickets for entry to upcoming events directly through the tickets tab in the app. The app’s user-friendly interface integrates with GoMason.com to bring the latest Mason Patriots digital content right to your fingertips. Additionally, it includes links to video and audio streams of live games, in-game stats, and team social media feeds. To download the app, visit the Apple Store or Google Play and search for George Mason Patriots.
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Growing up, I loved math and science and was good at both. In high school, I learned about a summer residential program called C-Tech2 at Virginia Tech, which is designed for high school girls who have an interest in computers and technology and want to explore what college is like. During C-Tech2, we took apart a camera and a computer—and had to put it back together. And it worked! I think that’s what hooked me. Not just the hands-on component of it, but the instant gratification of being able to solve a problem. As a Black woman who was also a first-generation college student, having access to the summer program showed me what was possible regardless of my gender, ethnicity, race, or socioeconomic status. It was also my first exposure to the field of engineering and people who looked like me as engineers. C-Tech2 changed my life in so many ways, and the lasting impact has served as a motivation for creating inclusive environments where everyone is welcomed and supported to achieve their fullest potential. Prior to coming to Mason, my responsibilities as an administrator in computing and engineering—especially with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion—had been about creating pathways for individuals from underrepresented groups. One pathway is giving them access to the university, including the campus, our students, faculty and staff, technology, and resources. I was able to do that through summer and year-round enrichment programs. I realized how important that summer program was for me. If I had not participated in C-Tech2, I probably would not be an engineer today. What most excites you about beginning your new role at Mason? I am excited about Mason’s vision to become a national exemplar of antiracism and inclusive excellence in action. Mason has a history of being a leader in inclusivity and access in higher education and is committed to building systems of equity to remove bias from the university’s culture. This vision energizes me and gives me the drive to be a tireless champion working with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners, and community. Together, we will thrive and transform lives by leading with inclusive excellence. —Colleen Kearney Rich, MFA ’95
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21 Days to Better Understanding
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ith racial tension high in the United States, and the need for equity growing ever stronger, students and faculty at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School participated virtually in a 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge in March and April. The challenge, created by diversity expert Eddie Moore Jr., focuses on the Black American experience and is designed to advance deeper understandings of the intersections of race, power, privilege, and oppression, and guide participants in becoming more aware and engaged regarding racial equity. “Wherever one might be in their diversity, equity, and inclusion journey, there is always a new perspective to learn,” says Jina Hwang, JD ’05, an adjunct professor and attorney for a federal agency who proposed the challenge to the school after experiencing it herself. The challenge consists of 21 exercises, each roughly 15 to 30 minutes long, over 21 consecutive days. The exercises include articles, videos, podcasts, music, poetry, and other media that expose participants to perspectives on Black history, identity, culture, and racism. About 30 students and faculty attended. In addition to the personal growth that comes from empathy and learning about diverse experiences, juris master student Marissa Fariña-Morse says the challenge has professional implications. “As a mental health professional working in the criminal justice system, racism has a large impact on many of those
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I serve,” she says. “Providing effective mental health services can only be done by better understanding the past of this country by becoming exposed to perspectives of Black history.” “One of the most interesting things to me was learning how to be an ally and how to respond to microaggressions,” says Scalia Law senior associate dean Alison Price. “I feel more emboldened to find a way to talk to somebody who I believe is using a microaggression and how to talk to someone who is a victim of one.” Mason launched the challenge with a virtual screening of True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, which follows the attorney’s struggle for racial justice with wrongfully convicted inmates on death row. Hwang facilitated virtual discussion groups for participants to share and expand upon their learnings and experiences. “My hope is that people have a desire to learn more, and more importantly, to share that information and experience with others,” says Hwang, adding that one student brought his 14-year-old daughter to join the discussions, and others forwarded the challenge to colleagues. The challenge speaks to Mason’s values, which view diversity as a strength. “[Mason and Scalia Law] are part of this global community,” Price says, “And it’s time for us to think about how we can do better together.” —Mariam Aburdeineh, BA ’13
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The University Mourns the Loss of Governor Linwood Holton
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ormer Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr., father of former George Mason University interim president Anne Holton, passed away on October 28. He was 98. “Governor Holton was a giant in Virginia politics and here at George Mason,” said President Gregory Washington when Holton’s passing was announced. “With a stroke of a pen, he gave this great university its start and his leadership began a legacy of diversity and inclusion that has been and will always be central to Mason’s mission.” Holton, who in 1972 signed the legislation that granted Mason its independence from the University of Virginia, played a leading role in integrating Virginia schools and increasing the number of women and African Americans employed in state government. He also created the Virginia Governor’s School Program. Holton is credited for embracing desegregation at the height of the busing controversy more than a half century ago. Enrolling his children in predominately Black schools, Holton will be remembered for helping Virginia take a step away from its segregationist past as he walked his daughter Tayloe into John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond. “As a student, I remember doing all the normal things a student would do, but with an extra sense of purpose,” said former Mason President Holton—who would go on to be Virginia’s Secretary of Education—in a previous interview. “It was the first time I can remember being a part of something bigger than myself, and the experience helped make me the person I am today.”
In addition to giving Mason its independence from the University of Virginia, Governor Holton was also responsible for providing early funding that would contribute to Mason’s growth. Holton received the George Mason Medal in 2010, honoring his outstanding community service. The university named a plaza on the Fairfax Campus near the Center for the Arts in Holton’s honor in 2016 and has established the A. Linwood Holton Jr. Leadership Scholarship for students with excellent academic credentials who have overcome barriers to academic success, demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, or have helped others overcome discrimination in any facet of life. The Holton siblings released a statement in October, remembering their father’s impact on their family and the commonwealth. “To the world, Governor Linwood Holton is known as a giant of civil rights and change. When others stood in the doorways of schools to block desegregation, our dad walked us (and bused us) to integrated schools to show the rest of the world the way of justice,” the statement said. “…But to us he was simply a great dad—a hero who helped us with our math homework, told us funny stories, and showed us the way to live committed to what is right.” “Governor Holton lived out his beliefs in an unprecedented manner,” said President Washington. “His commitment to civil rights and inclusion and his courage to take a stand in the face of adversity created a legacy that Mason honors and strives to follow.”
From left, Anne Holton, former Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr., and then President Ángel Cabrera at the dedication of Holton Plaza in 2016.
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Celebrating 40 Years of Bill Brown
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS
his spring Bill Brown, BA Government and Politics ’80, celebrated his 40th season at the helm of George Mason University’s baseball program and his 44th season overall with the Patriots. Brown’s tenure places him among an elite group of collegiate baseball head coaches. Here are some facts about Brown: ■ A native of Vienna, Virginia, Brown played baseball at George C. Marshall High School and helped the team go to the Virginia state finals his senior year. ■ He arrived at Mason as a player in 1978 after playing at the University of Georgia and Allegany Community College. Brown was selected as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-District catcher after helping the Patriots to 36 wins his junior year. ■ After playing two seasons for the Patriots and then serving as an assistant coach for two years, Brown, then 24, was named the third coach in the baseball program’s history when Walt Masterson retired in 1981. ■ Brown was elected to the Washington, D.C., Home Plate Club Sandlot Hall of Fame and to the George C. Marshall High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. ■ With an overall record of 1,055–1,016–7, it’s been 28 years since Brown surpassed the program’s founder, Raymond H. “Hap” Spuhler, for most wins. ■ Under Brown, the Patriots have posted a school record of 42 wins and earned an at-large bid in the 2009 NCAA tournament. Mason was nationally ranked for the first time in school history that year, ranking in the top 30 in both the National College Baseball Writer’s Association and Collegiate Baseball polls. ■ Brown’s career has spanned nearly 2,100 games. That’s more than 18,734 innings.
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■ There have been only 22 head coaches in the history of Division I baseball who have coached for 40 or more years. Among active head coaches, Brown is one of only three with four decades or more of experience. ■ Brown has led Mason to the NCAA tournament in 1985, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2009, and 2014. ■ Brown recorded his 1,000th career victory on March 7, 2018, when Mason defeated Towson, 14-7, at Spuhler Field. Only 54 head coaches in the history of Division I baseball have reached that milestone. ■ Brown was honored as the Colonial Athletic Association’s Coach of the Year six times and guided the Patriots to two CAA titles. ■ Hundreds of players have benefited from the knowledge that Brown has been able to pass along over the years. Since Brown has been the head coach, 68 players have signed professional contracts after playing at Mason, with 47 players drafted and 21 players signed as free agents. A record six players were drafted from the 2009 team. Overall, six of Brown’s players have gone on to play for Major League Baseball teams. Brown continues to pass along his love and knowledge of the game, working with community and local baseball organizations, summer camps, and coaching clinics. He and his staff actively take part in the development and promotion of baseball throughout the Northern Virginia community.
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Mason Start-Up Increases Its Footprint in Prince William County
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Center for Innovative Technology, Virginia Catalyst, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Department of Defense. With the assistance of Mason researchers, who played a large role in efforts such as testing particles and generating data, the technology evolved into a platform that can be modified and adapted to different applications, such as infectious diseases. For example, in 2015, Mason CAPMM scientists and Ceres Nanosciences demonstrated the use of the Nanotrap® technology for the detection of Lyme disease. Today, the Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap® Antigen Test is offered by Galaxy Diagnostics, a medical laboratory that specializes in tests for flea- and tick-borne pathogens. Ceres Nanosciences and Mason have worked together since the company’s genesis. Ceres’s first lab was on Mason’s Science and Technology Campus, and the two organizations have collaborated on numerous research projects. “Mason has consistently been a resource that we go to when we need extra support and research power,” says Dunlap. “The researchers have a range of backgrounds that we need, from virology to microbiology to proteomics. Their areas of expertise have been critical across a lot of our development programs.” —Katie Maney
POINT of PRIDE Mason Enterprise has been awarded a GO Virginia grant to expand its network of tech mentors. The funding will support the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a program under the Virginia Small Business Development Center Network, doubling its capacity to assist technology and innovation-driven startups across Virginia. Between 2018 and 2021, more than 600 companies across the state accessed ICAP services and went on to generate $40 million in new capital.
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eres Nanosciences, a Northern Virginia bioscience company spun out of George Mason University that specializes in diagnostic products and workflows, has opened a 12,000-square-foot advanced particle manufacturing plant in Prince William County’s Innovation Park. The new facility increases the manufacturing capacity of Ceres’s Nanotrap® Magnetic Virus Particles, which improve diagnostic testing for viruses like SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus. The completion of the new facility also reflects the partnership between Mason and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. The construction of the facility, which was completed in under four months, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative to expedite the production and commercialization of diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus commonly known as COVID-19. Prince William County also supported the swift development of the site. “It was fortunate that we had put a lot of energy into developing the technology for viral infections and released a product for it before the pandemic, not even knowing that COVID-19 would come about,” says Ceres Nanosciences CEO Ross Dunlap, who serves on the George Mason University Research Foundation board. “We were able to rapidly respond and quickly validate our technology for COVID diagnostics, which was done in partnership with Mason.” The base technology underlying the Nanotrap® particles was created by Mason’s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM). The technology was funded with a series of NIH grants. It was then licensed to Ceres Nanosciences in 2008. Follow-on funding to advance the technology was awarded to the Ceres and Mason team by the NIH, the
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Brenda Leverson, Early Identification Program participant and incoming Mason freshman, bumps elbows with Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent Scott Brabrand at the 2021 EIP Senior Graduation and Recognition Ceremony.
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High School Grads Head to Mason with Scholarships, Thanks to EIP
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renda Leverson, a first-generation college student born in Honduras, is attending George Mason University this fall on a full-tuition scholarship through Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP). A graduate of Annandale High School, Leverson is enrolled in the Honors College and studying business administration and accounting. “I am really happy and proud of myself for working this hard and achieving my goals,” says Leverson, who has worked part time since she was 15 to help support her family. Leverson is one of 32 graduates from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) who participated in EIP during the 2020–21 academic year, and one of eight FCPS students to accept partial or full scholarships to Mason. In total, 108 Northern Virginia graduating seniors participated in EIP. Of that amount, 48 have chosen to go to Mason. Twenty-eight of those students have been awarded partial or full scholarships. “This is a special group of students,” says EIP director Khaseem Davis. “They are academically strong, socially aware, and have a good understanding of themselves. They know they have to work and sacrifice to get through hardships, and I’m so proud of them.” EIP is an extensive outreach effort to first-generation, college-bound students in the Northern Virginia area. Established in 1987, the program is designed to help students hone their academic skills and increase their confidence, while providing access to educational resources. EIP works in seven local public school systems, including Arlington County, Falls Church City, Prince William County, and Alexandria City. The multiyear program provides mentoring,
enrichment classes, and study sessions, as well as college preparation assistance and scholarships. This past year, FCPS led in the number of EIP students receiving scholarships. “As a district, we are grateful for the EIP partnership with Mason,” says Eileen Ruzicka, FCPS’s EIP liaison. “It has increased access and support for FCPS middle and high school students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses, especially those who face challenges caused by poverty, racism, and lack of access to resources.” A graduate of Fairfax High School, Stacy Maravi is attending Mason as part of the Honors College and studying bioengineering. Maravi, a University Scholar, says that EIP helped her focus and better understand the college process. “Without EIP, I wouldn’t have gotten where I am,” says Maravi. Muhammad Farhan Babar, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, received a full- tuition scholarship and is also part of the Honors College. Babar says he chose Mason for its engineering program, affordability, and its diverse and welcoming community. Babar, who was born in Pakistan, credits EIP for helping him with resources when he needed them and providing him with mentors. “Through EIP, I’ve experienced the community at Mason, and the community is great,” says Babar. —Anna Stolley Persky
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Diversity Scholarship Golf Classic Celebrates 25 Years
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hen more than 100 golfers teed off on June 14 at the George Mason University Diversity Scholarship Golf Classic, they were taking part in an event that has become one of the university’s most meaningful traditions. The golfers play to support two programs— the Early Identification Program (EIP) and the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP)—that exemplify Mason’s mission of access to excellence. Since it debuted in 1995, the tournament has raised more than $700,000 to support scholarships and aid for first-generation college students. Since the tournament began, more than 220 scholarships have been awarded. The tournament is a top fundraiser because its cause is so strong, according to Angela Moody, chair of the University Life Advisory Board, which puts on the event. “Our generous sponsors understand that the event directly supports first-generation college students.” Founded in 1987, EIP supports the academic, career, and personal development of firstgeneration college-bound students. Each year EIP accepts a new class of rising eighth graders from seven school districts in Northern Virginia. Students “graduate” from the program after their senior year in high school. With its 2020 class, EIP saw 96 percent of students enroll in college. More than 200 EIP alumni currently attend Mason.
The Student Transition Empowerment Program helps many of these same students succeed once they are accepted at Mason. STEP provides a summer bridge model, which hosts more than 50 students each year to live on campus, take courses together, and receive mentorship support. Funds raised through the golf classic are often the key to helping students who may struggle to make ends meet. Each year, EIP director Khaseem Davis sees Mason students who need funds to close the tuition gap. “We are able to get students the assistance they need when they need it,” Davis says. Last year’s tournament—the 25th—was cancelled due to the pandemic; however, volunteer organizers rallied to bring the event back in 2021, better than ever, in celebration of the anniversary. Sandy Spring Bank, the tournament’s title sponsor for the past decade, and the dedicated volunteers from University Life’s Advisory Board and staff are the engines behind the tournament’s success. The volunteers recruit local corporations, small businesses, and individuals to sponsor and play in the tournament. “A big thank you goes to everyone who takes the time to come play and who puts the tournament together,” says Davis. “They do this because of their affinity for Mason and their love of the students—and wanting to help provide those students the opportunities they need to succeed.”
Above, President Gregory Washington chats with Mason alumna and Virginia House of Delegates majority leader Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93. Below, Washington and Herring with EIP students.
—Rob Riordan, MPA ’19
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Scholarship Gift Will Help Future Dancers
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everything she touches, and her impact is reflected throughout our School of Dance curriculum and philosophy.” Brown, an attorney, has also been instrumental in supporting Mason Dance as an advisor, advocate, patron, and fundraiser. A member of the Arts at Mason Board since 2002 (and the past chair), Brown was part of a small circle that helped form the board, and later the Dance Partnership Council, where he is also a member.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER BOBO
chool of Dance professor Elizabeth “Buffy” Price and her husband, Mike Brown, have established a scholarship endowment to help recruit dance students to George Mason University’s highly regarded program. The couple’s gift is a generous culmination to a remarkable 30-year career at Mason for Price, who retired this year. A dancer and choreographer, Price arrived at Mason in 1991 as an adjunct professor in the Dance Department. When the School of Dance was established in 2010, she served as its founding director until 2013. In 2017, Price became the first faculty member from the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) to receive the David J. King Teaching Award for her career contributions— the highest honor a Mason faculty member can receive.
Recognizing dancers as athletes, Price established an athletic training position, one of only six in the nation, dedicated to providing full-time support for dance majors. She was also a key member of the architectural design team for the de Laski Performing Arts Building on the Fairfax Campus, creating the top-notch dance facilities that have helped raise the profile of Mason’s program. “Buffy’s commitment to, and passion for, the School of Dance are seen in every aspect of our program,” says School of Dance director Karen Reedy, BFA Dance ’95, MFA ’09, who announced the gift in March at the annual Mason Dance Gala. “She brings elegance, generosity, and excellence to
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For Price and Brown, both of whom benefited from student scholarships, the affirmation that scholarship support provides to a young dancer is evident. “I was supported through scholarships when I was at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and it absolutely changed my world that someone believed in me enough to support my education,” Price says. With its focus on contemporary and modern dance, Mason’s School of Dance admits only about 20 students per year, many from out of state. “Our school remains small, intentionally so,” Price says. “But we knew we could grow in excellence, and so the trajectory of the program has been to recruit these highly intelligent and talented students to enter the world of dance.” “Scholarships are essential to attract and retain the most talented students, and Buffy and Mike are leading by example through this generous gift,” says Susan Graziano, director of development for CVPA. —Rob Riordan, MPA ’19
@
MASON
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
MEET THE MASON NATION PHILIP WILKERSON Job: Industry Advisor, University Career Services
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ike many of the faculty and staff who work at Mason, Philip Wilkerson, MEd Counseling and Development ’12, started out as a student, first coming to the university to pursue his master’s degree. But his time as a student quickly segued into full-time employment as he found himself growing more and more involved with the Mason community. In his position at University Career Services, he specializes in advising students who are hoping to pursue employment in creative fields, from the performing or visual arts to events management and tourism. ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: An average day for Wilkerson includes one-on-one appointments with students going over job search strategies and sometimes offering classroom presentations explaining the resources that Career Services offers. “I also connect with employers to support their recruitment efforts by developing unique programming to attract Mason talent.” ADVISING STUDENTS DURING A PANDEMIC: Many of the industries where Wilkerson’s students are seeking employment were brought to a standstill during the pandemic. “I try to emphasize to these students [that] your major has given you transferrable skills in other areas,” he says of these conversations. “It’s about being optimistic for the future. I have been surprised by how creative students have been
during this time and [how they] learned technology so fast. I am also inspired by their resiliency.” FAVORITE STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES: “I have too many success stories to call one my favorite,” Wilkerson says. “I keep all my positive emails and notes in a folder. I call it my ‘Good News Folder.’ I also have thank-you notes behind my desk at work that I can look at to help motivate me throughout the day.” ON GIVING BACK: “My favorite part about working at Mason is that I grew up in this area, and I feel like I am giving back to the community. I love when I meet students who went to local high schools. It makes me feel like I am helping a younger version of myself.” BROADCASTING POSITIVITY: Wilkerson additionally hosts a podcast, Positive Philter, that he started prior to coming to Mason. “I just wanted an outlet to share positive and uplifting stories,” he says. “I get to connect with others and learn new things by hosting the show.” It also turns out to be a way to practice what he preaches to his students: “It’s a great way to network with others. I’ve made a lot of new friends through podcasting.” —Priyanka Champaneri, BA ’05, MFA ’10
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In October, Gregory Washington was formally invested as Mason’s eighth president with a ceremony and a week of activities. BY PRES TON WILLIAMS P H O T O S B Y R O N A I R A , S H E L B Y B U R G E S S , E VA N C A N T W E L L , A N D S I E R R A G UA R D
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Declaring “It’s Mason’s time,” George Mason University president Gregory Washington laid out ambitious plans for the university at his Investiture and, in a moving close to his remarks, dedicated his presidency to Mason students.
The fasten-your-seatbelt anthem foreshadowed Washington’s speech, a bold vision that includes “rescuing our future” to ensure a healthy planet, healthy people, healthy economies, and healthy societies.
“I want you to know that I see you,” Washington said, speaking directly to students in the audience at EagleBank Arena on October 21 and others tuning in to the event on GMU-TV. “I honor you. And I dedicate my presidency to you.”
“It is our job to conduct research to find solutions to our overlapping grand challenges— and to educate students to solve them,” Washington said.
Washington added, “I have lived, grown, and ultimately worked my way to this podium facing many of the obstacles you have. I know your journey because I am your journey. As I stand here, I am a living testament to the places your journey can take you.” Before Washington’s remarks capped the nearly two-hour ceremony, Mason rector Jimmy Hazel, JD ’84, presented Washington with the Presidential Medallion, which signifies the investiture of a new Mason leader. At the outset of the event, Washington entered the arena with his wife, Nicole, as the Green Machine blasted the Temptations’ “Get Ready.”
Above, left to right, student musicians in Mason’s Wind Symphony played during the ceremony’s processional and National Anthem. College of William and Mary president Katherine Rowe was one of the featured speakers. Virginia House of Delegates majority leader Charnielle Herring, BA Economics ‘93, hosted the ceremony. Below, student leaders processed into EagleBank Arena bearing banners that represented each of Mason’s colleges and schools.
He added that Mason is well positioned to be a national exemplar of anti-racism and inclusive excellence because the university population currently looks like what America will look within this decade—with no ethnic group comprising more than 50 percent of the population. Additionally, Mason boasts success at achieving comparable graduation rates by students regardless of racial or ethnic status. “Who’s better to lead?” Washington asked. “An institution with diversity integrated at its core? Or one that predominantly serves one [ethnic] group? One that already looks like America’s future? Or one that looks like its past? “I contend to you, it’s Mason’s time.”
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Top, left and right, President Washington addressed faculty, staff, and students on the Science and Technology Campus. Right, Washington talked to students at SciTech. Below, from left, an Investiture celebration with Mason Korea on Zoom and in person. The Korean -American Student Association performed a song for Dr. Washington. President Washington shared his goals for Mason Korea.
Other highlights of Washington’s speech included calling for the establishment of a Mason-led medical school focused on clinical training that would be located on the Science and Technology Campus, and becoming the ultimate “Point B” institution for students pursuing a degree or needing help starting a business. “We are not just in the knowledge and degree business,” Washington said. “We are in the success business. No matter where your ‘Point A’ is, we will get you to your ‘Point B.’” Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, majority leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, served as host of ceremonies. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and many government officials and higher education leaders from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia provided congratulatory greetings by video, including a message from Governor Ralph Northam. “Around our commonwealth, we have admired how you have guided Mason through a challenging period in your first 18 months on the job,”
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Northam said. “We’re proud to have you leading our state’s largest, most diverse public university, and we know that Mason will continue to grow and prosper under your leadership.” College of William and Mary president Katherine Rowe also spoke of Washington’s rapid emergence as a state higher education leader, noting that the job he accepted in February 2020 was a different job than the one he inherited July 1 of that year. COVID-19, the historic economic fallout of the pandemic, and the national racial justice reckoning following the murder of George Floyd forced Washington to revise his plans and priorities. “In that intense time of partnership, you come to really discover who the people are who you’re working with,” Rowe said. “This is who I know you have as your new president—someone who is resourceful and creative, who’s laser-focused on mission, whose integrity shines through in every challenge that comes his way.” Washington welcomed the two former Mason presidents represented at the event—Ángel Cabrera, who served as Mason president from 2012 to 2019 and is now president of Georgia Tech, and Eric Merten, representing his late father, Alan Merten, who served as Mason president from 1996 to 2012. Washington also thanked his predecessor, Anne Holton, who served as interim president the year before Washington arrived. The event was one of both vision and reflection. Washington, a firstgeneration college graduate who grew up in Harlem, New York, recalled how his mother, Elouise Chisolm, worked multiple jobs to support her family and returned to school, earning her first degree the same year Washington earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State.
Above, the Washingtons received a warm welcome on the Arlington Campus. Below, President Washington credited his mother, Elouise Chisolm, for helping him understand the full power of education.
“She is why I understand the full power of education,” Washington said. Chisolm was present at the Investiture, as were the Washingtons’ sons, Joshua and Kaleb, and other family members. Watch the Investiture and other events at bit.ly/gmuinvestiture. Read Washington’s remarks at bit.ly/washingtonspeech.
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The Washingtons (above) greet faculty and staff during a lunch on the Merten Hall lawn that included participants getting their portraits done (right) and some competitive games of corn hole (far right).
President Washington used the Investiture to elevate research with two faculty panels. Above, Virginia Espina, PhD Biosciences ’13, Thomas Lovejoy, and Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, and (right) Robinson Professors Hakeem Oluseyi, Spencer Crew, and Steven Pearlstein spoke on grand challenge issues. Motivational speaker Calvin Mackie (far right) spoke to student leaders (bottom right).
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Far left, President Washington gives his address at the Investiture. Above, the Washingtons— Kaleb, Gregory, Nicole, and Joshua. Left, Board of Visitors rector Jimmy Hazel, JD ‘84, presented Washington with the Presidential Medallion.
“
We are not just in the knowledge and degree business. We are in the success business. No matter where your ‘Point A’ is, we will get you to your ‘Point B.’ —Gregory Washington
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PHOTO BY RON AIRA
B Y CO L L E E N K E A R N E Y R I C H , M FA ‘95
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
George Mason University students come from all 50 states and 130 countries, and they are making a difference in ways big and small.
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PHOTO BY RON AIRA
PHOTO BY SHELBY BURGESS
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
They are students. They are teachers. They are researchers. They are advocates. Some are the first in their families to obtain a college degree; others come from a family of Patriots. But one thing they share is that they are all passionate. They are passionate about their studies and helping others. They aren’t content to just have a place at the table; they want to make sure others are heard, too. Here are just a few of the Mason students who are showing the world what it means to be a Patriot every day.
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Yousif Hakeem Junior Yousif Hakeem comes from a Mason family. His sister Danya Hakeem, BS Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’14, is an alumna, and his sister Julia is a senior majoring in biology. The community health major from Vienna, Virginia, is a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and vice president of Mason’s Volunteers Around the World (VAW) Dental Outreach chapter. In August the aspiring dentist traveled to Cusco, Peru, where he and chapter members assisted two VAW dentists and a nurse with cleanings, restorations, fillings, and extractions for almost 100 patients.
My high school had this program in which you do an internship for two weeks and then report on your experience. I decided to intern with my cousin, who is a dentist, and I instantly fell in love with the profession. I love how focused it is and how the results are instantaneous. Many people think dentistry is just teeth, but it really ties to your overall health. In Cusco, we saw a 14-year-old who had never brushed his teeth in his entire life. That was normal for them, and it was so easy to implement change—you just give out toothbrushes and floss and provide some simple lessons. In community health, you learn about preventative medicine for large groups of people. I really want to become a global health dentist. I don’t necessarily want to work in an office building. I want to travel the globe and work in underserved communities. The work we PHOTO BY RON AIRA
did in Peru cemented for me what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
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Natalia Kanos Hailing from Jos, Nigeria, Natalia Kanos is the new student body president. During her time at Mason, the double major in government and international politics and conflict analysis and resolution has been a resident advisor, a research assistant, a student-athlete on Mason’s rowing team, and a part of Mason’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force.
Growing up in Nigeria and experiencing ineffective government and violence pushed me toward majors in government and conflict analysis. Being interested in politics, I knew being close to Washington, D.C., would give me the knowledge and experience I needed. My goal is to help developing countries in Africa. I want to help advise leaders to create policy that will positively help its citizens. I love the diversity at Mason, but I saw a huge lack when it came to inclusion. College is supposed to be a place where you are able to express yourself and find yourself, and I wanted everybody to be able to PHOTO BY SHELBY BURGESS
feel comfortable in their space. A university exists because of its students, and I want to make sure that Mason students are heard and represented.” Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 23
Austin Johnson Musician Austin Johnson teaches orchestra to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at two Fairfax County Public Schools. Prior to the pandemic, Johnson, who plays the viola among other instruments, performed with several ensembles and is hoping to get back into performing as things begin to re-open. He has been pursuing a master’s degree in arts management and plans to graduate in spring 2022.
Music, and the arts in general, create such an amazing community. There are several paths that you can take in the arts, and by pursuing a master’s degree, I wanted to open myself up to not only being a teacher, but to being someone who could create artistic communities outside of the classroom. A lot of us in the arts move into education or move into arts management, but we all start out as performers. We are musicians at our core. I love being a teacher, and I aim to create community for my students. In the classroom and when performing, we’re working as a team. And we’re connecting on a different level. I miss performing,
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PHOTO BY RON AIRA
and I know my students do too.”
Dorothy Hayden
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
Graduate student Dorothy Hayden started out her academic career at Arizona’s Pima Community College with a $1,000 scholarship. A first-generation college student with a challenging home situation, Hayden made great grades and was able to turn that initial scholarship into others, eventually securing a full ride to the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in higher education. Hayden, who has worked in the career services field for more than eight years, is an industry advisor at Mason’s Career Services and is working on her third degree, a master’s in learning design technology.
I’m a low-vision student, so I have a disability. I’ve done quite a bit of research on user design and disability, and that’s something I’m considering doing for a PhD program. There’s so much research around who engages with technology and who participates—and I think that’s a reflection of who’s in the conversation. There aren’t many individuals with disabilities in the conversation, which creates disparities in who participates in training opportunities. I want to combine my knowledge of universal design, user experience, and career education to create new ways of providing career readiness training for everyone. If I had a hashtag, it would be #access. That’s what I’m passionate about. And it’s great being at Mason because I feel like I can be myself within my office and within University Life. They’re all very supportive of me and what I’m trying to do.” Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 25
PHOTO BY RON AIRA
I think that being able to communicate your work to a broad audience is almost as import-
Shriniwas Patwardhan Bioengineering doctoral student Shriniwas Patwardhan was one of the winners of this year’s Three-Minute Thesis competition at Mason with his presentation, “The Senses and My Hand: An Investigation for Multisensory Feedback for Prosthetic Control.” Patwardhan, who has an electrical engineering degree from the University of Pune in his native India and an MS in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a graduate research assistant in Mason’s Biomedical Imaging Lab.
ant as being able to do the work itself. If I have truly understood the problem at hand, I should be able to explain it to an audience with any expertise level within any given time frame. Mason offered me a chance to follow my passion of working closely with prosthetics and more broadly with all types of interesting questions in rehabilitation science. Mason’s proximity to several federal research labs in the [Washington, D.C., metropolitan] area enables students to pursue such opportunities. I decided to join my current lab within Mason because it offered me the freedom and opportunities to follow my research interests wherever they may lead me.”
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LeNaya Crandall Hezel Sociology PhD student LeNaya Crandall Hezel is a classically trained soprano who is now using her voice to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. During the tumultuous year of 2020, the military spouse and mother of three girls started NayceQuest LLC to guide organizations as they discover meaningful ways to be equitable and inclusive. She has been named a 2021 Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program Scholar with the Bush Institute and 2021 Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation for her work with veterans and the military community.
The original plan was that I would be working full time and going to graduate school part time. Then when COVID19 hit—I have three small children and my husband had just returned from a deployment in Djibouti—I thought, ‘How are we going to do this?’ I made the decision to step away from my fulltime job. Then George Floyd’s death happened, and I couldn’t sit on the sidelines and be like, ‘I’m just going to be a full-time student and let the rest of the world figure it out.’ When I recognized PHOTO BY RON AIRA
where the need and the demands for this work were, I took action.”
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What Does It Mean to be a PATRIOT? G
eorge Mason University president Gregory Washington initially posed this question in his first letter to alumni in the Summer 2020 issue of the Mason Spirit.
“By definition, it is an expressed feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to a particular place or way of life. There is so much more to being a patriot than the physical defense of our country, and here at Mason, we have a more expansive, more inclusive approach to patriotism,” he wrote. He suggested we “not deny the contradictions in our history, our community, and our own lives but…instead face them, embrace them, and grow honestly through them.”
PHOTOS BY CREATIVE SERVICES
We asked the Mason Nation through email and social media what it means to them to be a Patriot. This is what they told us.
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PERSEVERANCE and DETERMINATION. Whether
it’s a tough class, life adversity, or a college sport, these two words were the foundation of my time at Mason—and in life as well—and define what it means to be a Patriot.” Former Mason basketball player Charles Makings, BS Public Administration ’07, is now a government consultant and CEO of his own production company. He is married to a fellow Mason alum, and they have two daughters.
Will Thomas, BS Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources ’08, was a member of the Mason men’s basketball team that went to the Final Four in 2006. He is now a professional basketball player.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS
TRADITION.”
TO BE A GEORGE MASON PATRIOT means
for me to be declarated and accomplished.”
Jai Lewis, BS Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources ’06, was a member of the Mason men’s basketball team that went to the Final Four in 2006. Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 29
Being a Patriot means being in A LARGE, EVER-GROWING FAMILY. When I lived in Alexandria, Virginia, there were always fellow Patriots locally, and it was great getting together. Having moved to the United Kingdom, I forgot what that was like until I bumped into a neighbor down our street who graduated from Mason in the early ’90s who was pleasantly surprised to see me wearing my Patriots sweatshirt. Then, oddly enough, a few weeks later [I realized] there was a fellow Patriot at work. In a city of 9 million people, still bumping into other Patriots shows the spread and reach of Mason graduates and the impact we have on the world!” Ryan Allain, MPA ’00
With each day I reflect more and more on how my time at the university SHAPED MY FUTURE, beginning with my soccer colleagues—my first exposure to a truly international cohort—and my experiences in student media and the Sports Information Office. I learned skills I continue to use in my career as a writer/ journalist/editor/columnist and now (irony!) as the communications director of the Schar School at Mason. Impossible to sum up in a single word, but BEING A PATRIOT MEANS MY LIVELIHOOD, my appreciation of other cultures, and my dedication to helping the university reach ever higher. Thank you, Mason.” Buzz McClain, BA English ’77, is the communications director for Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government, a longtime professional rugby football referee, and a freelance journalist.
As a student, I had CLASSMATES
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
and learned about other cultures. I made lifelong friends, especially through rugby. I traveled after graduation and got involved in the culinary world. I also became an independent musical artist under the name RASCATRIPA in Argentina.” Marco Vietti, BA English ’93, lives in Argentina. 30 | SPI RIT.GMU.EDU
It is being immersed in a world
WHERE HUMANITY STRIVES
to achieve its greatest accomplishments both of mind and spirit.” Stacey Remick-Simkins, BA English ’88, has worked in Mason’s English Department for more than 20 years. She is one of the founding members of Mason’s Staff Senate.
A patriot is ‘one who loves and supports his or her country.’ The word was coined in 1577. In 1957, George Mason College was established. I arrived 25 years later. I completed graduate degrees and a certificate. I was a student, graduate teaching assistant, graduate research assistant, staff, part- and fulltime faculty. I watched our basketball team reach the 2006 Final Four and saw faculty awarded Nobel Prizes in 1986 and 2002. I saw thousands graduate in the Patriot Center (now EagleBank Arena) and watched an astronomical observatory rise from dust. FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, MASON HAS
BEEN MY HOME, AND I A PATRIOT.”
PHOTOS BY CREATIVE SERVICES
Associate professor emeritus Harold Geller, MAIS ’92, DA ‘05, directed the Mason Observatory he helped build from 2007 until his retirement in 2020. He was the 2008 George Mason University Alumni Association Faculty Member of the Year. He has written books, contributed to edited volumes, and published more than 100 papers in education, astrobiology, astrophysics, and biochemistry.
Being a Patriot is like being in a BIG, SUPPORTIVE FAMILY. I’ve been a part of the Mason Nation for more than 20 years as a faculty and staff member and as a graduate. We’re colleagues, but we’re also friends who are always looking out for each other and supporting each other’s initiatives. Also, in my time in the advising community, there has always been one goal: student success.” Assad Khan, MAIS ’11, is the associate director for undergraduate student affairs in Mason’s College of Science. During his almost 20 years at Mason, Khan helped found the Mason Academic Advisor Network, which is a support system for Mason’s advising community. He won an award for advising excellence in 2018. Also during his time at Mason, he concurrently worked as a radio DJ at two of Washington, D.C.’s biggest rock stations, 99.1 WHFS and DC 101.
Being a Patriot is a commitment to MAKING A DIFFERENCE in people’s lives and society. It is working collaboratively with others who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, but share a common purpose to innovate, and always having the grit and passion to do something that is much bigger than yourself.” Amy Adams, BS Biology ’03, MS Chemistry ’12, is executive director of Mason’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation. The proud mother of a 7-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, she has worked at Mason since 2002. Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 31
A Mason Patriot is a member of a diverse community, with the passion to learn varied perspectives of a chosen subject. WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS, often accomplishing more with less resources. Patriots help each other and cheer for our fellow Patriots as they strive for success. Go Patriots!” CREATIVE SERVICES
Jennifer Shelton, BS Public Administration ’94, is part of a family of Patriots, including her husband and daughter. She is a past president of the Alumni Association and an active Mason volunteer.
Being a fourth-generation alumnus, and the second generation to provide service to the university as an alumnus, I see the mark of my family throughout the campus ecosystem. The connection to the university is AN EXTREME POINT OF PRIDE, which also carries a strong sense of responsibility within our family. It is not just about where the university has been, but also where Mason has the potential to go.” Raymond Wotring, BA Government and International Politics ’05, is founder and principal of Savis Data Solutions. He’s married to Amy Wotring, MPP ’11, and they have two children.
Compassion, integrity, social justice, and COMMITMENT TO BEING A LIFELONG LEARNER are guiding principles gained during my time as a student at Mason. While a student, I served during 9/11 as a social worker in New York City providing disaster relief services, and during the pandemic I served as a behavioral health care provider in our community. Dedication to these principles learned at Mason guides my public service work daily.” Darcy Kim, BS Social Work ’02, MPA ’20, is a licensed clinical social worker.
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To have your eyes on the future, improving both commerce and society in ways that CELEBRATE OUR CULTURES, maximize our potential, and cultivate our values.” Muoki Musau, BA Religious Studies ’12, is a realtor with Howzer LLC and lives in Leesburg, Virginia, with his wife and young son.
Being a Mason Patriot means you won’t always agree with your peers but you will gain knowledge of how others think. I saw Mason’s values in class, for diversity, LGBTQ+, BLM, free speech, women’s rights, and the importance of volunteering. I’M PROUD TO HAVE GONE TO A SCHOOL THAT WELCOMES ALL PEOPLE AND IDEAS.” Midhath Syed, BA Communication ’18, is currently a graduate student in the School of Business.
CREATIVE SERVICES
Being a Patriot means that YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE—whether it is in the classroom or on campus by being involved in one of the many clubs and organizations. Once enrolled in Mason you are a part of a unique and diverse community of individuals from all over, not just Virginia.”
Being a Patriot to me is an ever-evolving definition as the school grows, and as I grow in my career and life, the meaning continually transforms, which I love! The foundations, however, have never changed. Being a Patriot is about community, diversity, inclusion, access to excellence, commitment to each other, endless opportunities, PUTTING OTHERS ABOVE SELF, all while making a positive impact and creating a brighter tomorrow!”
Jasmine Young, BA Integrative Studies ’14, is a School of Business adjunct faculty member, a government contractor, and owner of two Virginia LLCs.
After a 27-year career at Deloitte, Christine Landoll, BS Accounting ’89, MS Taxation ’92, began teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business and later joined the school in the full-time role of director of business engagement and professor of practice in 2019. She is the president-elect of the Mason Alumni Association.
MASON HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOR 52 YEARS. I am the first of eight in my extended family to be a Mason alum, including both my children. The value of my degree from Mason stood me in good stead during my career and now, as a retiree, I continue to take classes at Mason. Go Mason Nation!”
I really identify with being an athlete and student and then a graduate of what was, at the time, almost exclusively a commuter school. The alums are the lifeblood of the reputation of the school, and I’d like to think I’ve done and am doing my part to advance the ever more IMPRESSIVE REPUTATION of the university.”
Mark Monson, BS Biology ’74, is retired from the Virginia state government and serves as a member of the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Former Mason baseball player Steve Kann, BA English ’85, is an investment banker, advisor, and investor. The married father of four is still playing baseball at age 57.
Attending Mason was transformative and exposed me to A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY and lifelong friendships. As an undergrad, graduate student, and current employee, witnessing the evolution of the ‘school behind the trees’ has been astounding, and I know we’re just getting started.”
When I applied to law school, Mason’s law school was still young. I managed [to get] a seat in the PreAdmission Summer Trial (PAST), a unique program for those with potential but lacking perfect grades. As usual, MASON RECOGNIZED UNTAPPED POTENTIAL. I graduated from PAST at the top of the class, was admitted, and have been practicing law in Northern Virginia since 1988. Being a Patriot means everything to me—Mason gave me my career, and I continue to give back.”
Janae D. Johnson, BS Psychology ’11, MAIS Higher Education ’15, is the assistant director of Mason’s University Information office, a UNIV 100 instructor, a student organization advisor, president of the Black Alumni Chapter, and a member of the Mason Alumni Association board. Outside of Mason, she is active with her sorority Delta Sigma Theta and various church ministries.
Brian Drummond, JD ’88, has served as president of the Mason Alumni Association, is a Mason Society Donor, and is currently on the advisory board for both the Patriot Club and the Green Machine. He has held season tickets to Mason basketball for 34 years.
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THE TREES HAVE IT S
howcasing a collection of more than 100 native and non-native trees and shrubs, the George Mason University Arboretum is located across multiple campus sites, including the Fairfax Campus, the Point of View International Retreat and Conference Center, the Potomac Science Center, and the Science and Technology Campus.
Work on the arboretum, which recently earned Level II accreditation from ArbNet—an interactive community of arboreta—began in 2015 as a collaborative project among students and faculty in the Department of Biology in Mason’s College of Science. Professor Andrea Weeks, director of the Ted R. Bradley Herbarium, created the arboretum to educate the Mason community about the biological diversity on campus. The arboretum emphasizes the value of trees and shrubs as integral components of the rich campus ecosystem and demonstrates the connection between human health and the health of nature. It also expands learning opportunities for Mason’s campus sites to function as living labs, especially with its ongoing integration into academic courses.
PHOTO BY EVAN CANTWELL
“I always envisioned the arboretum as a space for everyone to learn and a space for all of us to protect,” says Weeks. The arboretum is now featured in the Morton Register of Arboreta, an international database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. Visitors can enjoy the arboretum in person or online using the interactive map at bit.ly/masontrees.
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Talking Turkey about Thanksgiving
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he Thanksgiving holiday is always a good time to quash some misconceptions about the Pilgrims, who they were, what happened when they arrived in North America, and how they interacted with the Indigenous communities they encountered, says Mason religious studies professor John Turner. “One good reason to take a look at this history is because we all have some superficial sense of the Pilgrims and the Thanksgiving meal,” says Turner, who wrote the book They Knew They Were Pilgrims: Plymouth Colony and the Contest for American Liberty. “As Americans, we have placed a lot of weight and meaning on this story, so it is important that we try to know and understand what really happened.” The key to understanding the Pilgrims is to acknowledge the importance of religion in their lives, says Turner. The Pilgrims were separatists, radical Puritans who had rejected the Church of England. Looking for a place to live where they would not be persecuted, the Pilgrims first went to the Netherlands, but then decided to “transplant to the other side of the ocean.” The trip over on the Mayflower was hard, and the group landed nowhere near where they were headed. During the first year, about half of the Mayflower passengers died, probably mainly of scurvy and malnutrition. “You don’t want to show up unprepared to a winter in Massachusetts,” says Turner. “It was disastrous.” Meanwhile, the Wampanoag people living in the area had also recently been through an epidemic. Turner says the story of friendship 36 | SPI RIT.GMU.EDU
between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims has been overblown and misconstrued. “The Wampanoag saw a strategic opportunity and potential new allies,” says Turner. It is accurate that the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag agreed to a mutual defense treaty, and the Wampanoag taught the Pilgrims how to fertilize their crops. When harvest time came, the Pilgrims were thankful and took a few days to “celebrate, eat, and have a good time.” The celebration, which probably occurred earlier in the fall than November, did not include the Wampanoag, but did include shooting off guns. Wampanoag men showed up after they heard the shots and then contributed to the feast and festivities, says Turner. At that original celebration, they probably served venison and some sort of fowl, which could have been turkey, Turner says. There is also a good chance that eel was involved, as they were plentiful. As more English settlers arrived to the Plymouth area, the cooperation between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag broke down. The Wampanoag got pushed off their land, and the descendants of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag warred against each other. To this day, the Wampanoag don’t consider Thanksgiving a day of celebration. Instead, some gather at Cole’s Hill overlooking Plymouth Rock for a National Day of Mourning, a tradition that dates back to 1970. “The long-term outcome for the Wampanoag was just dreadful,” says Turner. —Anna Stolley Persky
RESEARCH The Truth About Sharing Recipes Online
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Maibach was ranked 7th overall on Reuters Hot List of the world’s top climate scientists. PHOTO BY SHELBY BURGESS
hen it comes to sharing recipes on social media, what users post and what they cook may be two entirely different things, according to a new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The study, led by Mason researcher Hong Xue from the College of Health and Human Services, analyzed hundreds of Pinterest users and influencers, and found users liked and pinned posts that were healthy, featuring more poultry, fish, and vegetables, but were more heavily engaged offline with recipes that were high in fat, sugar, and total calories—indicating that users were actually more likely to cook the less healthy recipes. “It’s an interesting discrepancy between what pinners posted or liked and how users actually consumed the information,” Xue says. “Pinners are more likely to post recipes that are socially rewarded with likes and repins. They are more likely to adhere to an elite social norm set by celebrities and influencers promoting healthier, lowcalorie, clean eating.” Xue found that when it came to the less healthy recipes, he saw a very different picture. “Users are more interested in making food high in fat, sugar, and high calories. They’re commenting on and posting finished dish photos of the less healthy recipes.” The disconnect between popularity and engagement is an important one, Xue notes, because users aren’t taking the additional step from interest to action. With 18 percent of the adult U.S. population using Pinterest, and recipe sharing being one of its most popular areas, Xue believes the platform represents an unprecedented opportunity to reinforce healthy eating habits—if Pinterest influencers posting recipes use different strategies. “If users are engaging with more unhealthy recipes, then perhaps influencers should offer options for lowering the fat in them, as part of those recipes,” says Xue. “There are tremendous opportunities in social media to influence healthy behavior. We’re only beginning to understand its potential and the pitfalls.”
Maibach Named to ‘Hot List’
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eorge Mason University’s Edward Maibach is the most influential scientist working on climate change at America’s public universities, according to a Reuters ranking of the researchers. Maibach, a University Professor in the Department of Communication and the director of the Center for Climate Change Communication, ranked 7th overall in the Reuters Hot List identifying and ranking the world’s top 1,000 climate scientists. Only two other American scientists finished above him, including his research partner Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University, who finished second. “This is nice for me professionally and personally,” says Maibach. “But the real importance of these rankings is the prominence of social science—two of the top 10 are social scientists. Climate science is indispensable, but if society is to put this knowledge to use, so too is social science. That our work is being taken seriously is a good thing.” The three criteria Reuters used in determining the rankings were the number of research papers published on topics related to climate change, how often those papers were cited by other scientists in similar fields of study, and how often those papers are referenced in the press, on social media, and in policy papers. Maibach has long been lauded for his efforts to better educate the public and policymakers on climate change. He played a critical role in the formation of the Yale/ Mason Climate Change in the American Mind survey project that has consistently been featured in major media outlets throughout the country for more than a decade. In January, Maibach and Leiserowitz were honored by the nonpartisan Climate One project as recipients of the Stephen H. Schneider Award given to a natural or social scientist who has made extraordinary scientific contributions and communicated that knowledge to a broad public in a clear and compelling fashion. Joining Maibach on the Reuters Hot List were fellow Mason faculty members Jagadish Shukla and Bohua Huang. —John Hollis
—Michelle Thompson Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 37
POINT of PRIDE Hakeem Oluseyi, one of the nation’s best known astrophysicists, has been named a Visiting Robinson Professor. He will begin teaching classes in the spring 2022 semester. In his memoir, A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars, Oluseyi recounts how some of his relatives were part of the notorious Crips gang and how he was drawn into criminal activity by age 9. He also was a stargazer and a reader, and he eventually overcame the pull of that lifestyle and graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in physics. Oluseyi appears as a host and scientific authority on several Science Channel television shows.
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Trying Out Autonomous Shuttles
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eorge Mason University researchers are collaborating with Fairfax County on an autonomous shuttle program that is the first of its kind in Virginia. Relay, Virginia’s first public, all-electric autonomous shuttle, began circulating between the Mosaic District in Merrifield, Virginia, and the Dunn LoringMerrifield Metro Station in fall 2020. This pilot project is a public-private partnership between Fairfax County, Dominion Energy, Mosaic District developer EDENS, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and Mason. Gautham Vadakkepatt, director of the Center for Retail Transformation in the School of Business, is working to understand customer perceptions of both Relay and autonomous vehicle use in general, as well as how these perceptions have changed over Relay’s test period. He has developed surveys to gather data to understand these changes. “Autonomous vehicles will dramatically shape the future, presenting major opportunities and risks,” says Vadakkepatt. “Not only will these vehicles change how people travel and create new mobility choices, it has the potential to transform industries such as retail.” Vadakkepatt says that while there is increasing positive sentiment in the general population about adoption of these technologies, there is wide variance in individual willingness to take part. “Understanding these differences can hasten adoption of this technology and its integration into the day-to-day operations of an economy.” “The Mason team brings a unique expertise to the project as they help us track the evolving perceptions of this emerging technology,” says Eta Nahapetian of the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives. “Their research will show if increasing familiarity with the technology leads to improved acceptance and adoption. This information is important as Fairfax County looks to the future of transportation.”
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY FAIRFAX COUNTY
INQUIRING MINDS
RESEARCH
Active Shooter Simulations Guide School Security Research n 2020, George Mason University faculty and students participated in a series of virtual simulations of school shooter incidents as part of an effort to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and MITRE determine best practices for school safety. As a result, DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency released an after-action report recommending ways to protect and increase survival rates of students and staff in such situations. Mason researchers Stephanie Dailey and Kathryn Laskey were the faculty leads on the project. The simulation experiment (SIMEX) was set in a virtual high school environment modeled after designs in current suburban schools supporting about 1,000 students. Mason faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and outside educational professionals played the roles of teachers and students. Other organizations provided school resource officers (SROs) and administrative personnel. During the two-week simulation, participants ran through scenarios in which there were different conditions, such as the absence or presence of an SRO or classrooms with manual versus automatic locks on doors. “Immersive simulations allow researchers to study the problem scientifically,” says Laskey. “It’s a way of putting people in a situation as close as possible to the real thing to study what works and what doesn’t.” Laskey adds that Mason researchers partnered with DHS and MITRE because they wanted to help “understand a problem that is of pressing importance in our society.” Participants were in the same area in MITRE’s laboratory in McLean, Virginia, to be monitored during the simulation. They followed COVID-safe procedures, says Dailey. “They had to be in one area because we needed to be able to observe the operators for signs of psychological distress,” says Dailey. “Despite being a very difficult topic, Mason students wanted to participate to make a difference, to be a part of finding evidence-based solutions.”
The final report recommended that schools should consider having classroom doors that automatically lock when closed and determined that SROs or equivalently trained security professionals may prevent fatalities during an active shooter event. However, the report also found that, while an SRO’s presence improved the safety of students and teachers during an active shooter event, schools need to carefully consider ways to increase situational awareness for SROs and administrative personnel. MITRE project manager James Dear says that Mason was critical to “the success of the school security SIMEX by not only screening and training the research subjects, but also assisting in developing the data collection plan, analyzing the data, and contributing to the final report conclusions and recommendations.” “The Mason team served as an integral part of the school security SIMEX,” says Lindsay Burton, a member of DHS’s School Safety Task Force. “The participation and key insights from the student volunteer participants, along with guidance and expertise provided by the faculty, directly contributed to the successful experiment.” —Anna Stolley Persky
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SHELF LIFE Recently published works by Mason faculty and staff Understanding Homeland Security: Foundations of Security Policy Ehsan Zaffar, adjunct faculty, Criminology, Law and Society Routledge, November 2019 This textbook on homeland security blends the latest research from the areas of immigration policy, counterterrorism research, and border security with practical insight from homeland security experts and leaders such as Tom Ridge and Janet Napolitano, former secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security.
Origins and Traditions of Organizational Communication: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Field Anne Nicotera, chair and professor, Communication Routledge, 2020 This book provides an overview of the fundamentals of organizational communication as a field of study, examining the field’s foundations and providing an assessment of the field to date, as well as offering an explanation and demonstration of a communicational approach to the study of organization.
Negotiation: Moving from Conflict to Agreement Kevin Rockmann, Claus Langfred, and Matthew Cronin, School of Business SAGE Publication, January 2020 Using everyday and business examples, the authors explain how to negotiate with an emphasis on when and why to use certain tactics and approaches. Focusing on the psychology of negotiation levers, such as reciprocity, uncertainty, power, and alternatives, the text helps students understand all the ways they can negotiate to create value.
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Network Origins of the Global Economy Hilton Root, professor, Schar School of Policy and Government Cambridge University Press, April 2020 The upheavals of recent decades show that traditional models of understanding processes of social and economic change are failing to capture real-world risk and volatility. This has resulted in flawed policy that seeks to capture change in terms of the rise or decline of regimes or regions. This book uses the tools of network analysis to understand great transitions in history, particularly those concerning economic development and globalization.
Reimagining Black Masculinities: Race, Gender, and Public Space Mark C. Hopson, associate professor, Communication and African and African American Studies, with Mika’il Petin, editors Rowman & Littlefield, October 2020 This collection addresses how Black masculinities are created, negotiated, and contested in public spaces. Contributors disentangle complexities of the Black experience and reimagine the radical progressive work required for societal health and well-being, forming a mental picture of what the world has the potential to be without excluding current realities for Black boys and men, civic manhood, maleness, and the fluidity of masculinities.
Inclusive Public Speaking: Communicating in a Diverse World Melissa Broeckelman-Post, associate professor, Communication, with Kristina Ruiz-Mesa Fountainhead Press, 2020 The text is designed to serve students across the nation, using rural, urban, and suburban examples to connect students to familiar situations and to varied classroom experiences. Each chapter is written in accessible language and engages student experiences and prior knowledge as the starting place for learning.
Bassam Haddad, associate professor, Middle East and Islamic Studies, with Joel Beinin and Sherene Seikaly, editors Stanford University Press, December 2020 This book offers the first critical engagement with the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa. Challenging conventional wisdom on the origins and contemporary dynamics of capitalism in the region, these essays demonstrate how critical political economy can illuminate both historical and contemporary dynamics of the region and contribute to wider political economy debates from the vantage point of the Middle East.
Path to Sustainable Development Goals: An African Vantage Point Obed Hugh Ligate, adjunct faculty, School of Business Book Publisher International, December 2020 Africa has multiple challenges to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Develop ment Goals by 2030. However, Sub-Saharan African countries may achieve giant strides in development by adopting new ways of thinking and deploying different applications due to Africa’s late-comer position with other regions. No single strategy is a panacea for the continent’s development, but rather a multipronged, holistic view of these challenges is needed, which is the essence of this book.
No Other Rome Heather Green, assistant professor, School of Art University of Akron Press, March 2021 In No Other Rome, the title’s “o’s” are islands (wholes) or holes, lacunae or apertures, through which we view the past or future. The poems in this collection engage contemporary art and modern literature, alongside texts from Classical Greece and Rome, in an embodied, intertextual worry.
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A Critical Political Economy of the Middle East and North Africa
BUILDING PEACE IN AMERICA When George Mason University doctoral student Emily Sample (above) and Douglas Irvin-Erickson, assistant professor and director of the Raphaël Lemkin Genocide Prevention Program at Mason’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, were editing the volume Building Peace in America (Rowman and Littlefield, 2020), the United States was a hotbed of unrest, and it was as if their predictions had come true. What inspired you to put together this book? ES: This book is the result of a conference we hosted at the Carter School called “Building an Architecture of Peacebuilding in the United States,” and it focused on bringing together different peacebuilding scholars and practitioners to discuss how some of the peacebuilding methods we’ve all been using internationally can and should be used here in the United States as well. To that end, we gathered up a diverse group of authors who could speak to a variety of the “hot spot” issues facing the United States in 2018— when the conference was held—and look forward to what needed to be done to mitigate the risk of a mass-atrocity event in the United States in the coming years. How did you decide who to include? DI: The contributors to the book were some of the workshop participants, and I am proud that we were able to assemble a volume that includes so many diverse voices and takes seriously the real need in the United States for authentic conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. Was there anything that surprised you when working on the book? ES: Over the 18 months that it took to write, edit, and publish the book, some of the warnings (and some of the recommendations) came to pass, most notably that issues of racial justice and police brutality in the United States were ready to come to a head—several chapters focused on exactly that. I was not surprised, per se, but rather frustrated that the warning signs had all been there and yet it still took the deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, among others, to get policymakers to finally take notice. I hope U.S. peacebuilders and policymakers will take the other warnings and recommendations in the book seriously. What are you working on next? ES: Right now, I am working on a few articles focused on environmental racism and am in the midst of editing a special issue for Genocide Studies and Prevention on the intersection of environmental destruction and mass atrocities. And, of course, I’m working on my dissertation. That research looks at structural mass atrocity prevention through the lens of climate change adaptation and gendered empowerment. Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 41
ALUMNI IN PRINT Recently published works by Mason alumni Like Light, Like Music Lana K. W. Austin, MFA Creative Writing ’08 In this novel (West Virginia University Press, August 2020), Emme McLean is back in Kentucky, using her journalism skills to prove her cousin did not kill her husband. Born and raised in rural Kentucky, Austin studied creative writing at Hollins University, the University of Mary Washington, and Mason. Austin currently resides in Alabama, where she teaches writing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
I Am the Jungle: A Yoga Adventure Melissa Hurt, BA Theater ’98 Told through a fun adventure story that focuses on imagination, I Am the Jungle: A Yoga Adventure (Sounds True, August 2020) takes kids through a yoga flow of poses inspired by the natural world. Hurt is a Lessac-certified trainer and has taught acting and Lessac’s voice, speech, and movement work at colleges across the United States. She has a PhD from the University of Oregon and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been a certified yoga teacher since 2011.
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Who Killed D. L. Phillips? Audrey Rasmussen, JD ’83, writing as A. Eveline In this novel (Draft2Digital, September 2020), a Washington, D.C., lawyer falls into a legal trap, making her a murder suspect. Caught between the FBI, fellow lawyers, and a mysterious entity, she investigates the death of her nemesis, in the hope of keeping herself out of prison and saving her career. Rasmussen has practiced law since 1983, retiring as a partner from Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson P.C. in 2014. She continues to practice of counsel at the firm.
U.S. Czech Missile Defense Cooperation: Alliance Politics in Action Michaela Dodge, PhD Political Science ’19 This book (National Institute Press, November 2020) analyzes U.S.Czech ballistic missile defense cooperation between 2002 and 2011, explaining factors in ballistic missile defense cooperation in alliances and developing methodology to help policymakers assess and evaluate defense cooperation. Dodge works as a research scholar at the
National Institute for Public Policy, where she specializes in missile defense and nuclear weapons.
Journalism and Digital Labor: Experiences of Online News Production Tai Neilson, PhD Cultural Studies ’17 As media moves further into the digital realm, this book (Routledge, December 2020) draws from ethnographic research and critical theory to explain the politics and significance of digital journalism to the field and to journalists themselves. Neilson is a lecturer in media at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He has also published work in the journals Journalism, tripleC, and the Globe Media Journal.
Bombs, Bullets, and the Tank at the Office: Protecting America on Diplomacy’s Front Lines Carol Stricker, MEd Curriculum and Development ’12 What does a diplomat do? This autobiography (Amazon, December 2020) from a retired foreign service worker whose career spanned
more than 25 years answers that question through anecdotes, explanations, and a call to action. The book recounts Stricker’s globe-spanning adventures protecting America’s strategic interests and American citizens abroad, from nuclear weapons in Ukraine to genocide prevention in Burundi.
Breaking Things at Work: The Luddites Are Right About Why You Hate Your Job Gavin Mueller, PhD Cultural Studies ’16 Were the 19th-century Luddites right to destroy new machinery? This book (Verso, February 2021) aims to answer that question in the modern era by reframing the relationship between labor and machinery, ultimately arguing that the future stability and empowerment of working-class movements will depend on subverting new technologies. Mueller is a lecturer in media studies at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He is a member of the editorial collective of Viewpoint Magazine. Mueller previously published Media Piracy in the Cultural Economy.
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PAT R I O T P R O F I L E
Christine M. Condo YEAR: Graduate Student MAJOR: English, Professional and Technical Writing HOMETOWN: Springfield, Virginia
In March 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning, Christine Condo published an essay in the Washington Post that changed her life. Thousands of people reacted to the George Mason University graduate student’s piece titled “‘You Don’t Look Autistic’: The Reality of High-Functioning Autism.” Some of those comments were from people saying “you just described my life,” which was something Condo had aimed for as an autism advocate, but it still surprised her. RAISING AWARENESS: Condo says that not only is autism misunderstood, but it is largely underdiagnosed, especially in women, people of color, and in other cultures. Many people have a stereotypical view of what someone with autism looks like—often a white male. It was this stereotype that drove Condo to write the essay. GETTING DIAGNOSED: Condo wasn’t diagnosed until 2015. She made it through public school systems and two bachelor’s degrees without anyone realizing that there was something different about the way she processed information. “The more I learn [about autism], the more I think about my struggles growing up when I thought I wasn’t trying hard enough, or I wasn’t paying enough attention.” A BRILLIANT DISGUISE: When Condo talks about wearing a “disguise,” she is speaking about the challenges of appearing “neurotypical,” which can be physically and emotionally exhausting. “So many of us are faking it,” she says. “I get tired of the comments like ‘you don’t look autistic’ because it minimizes the experiences that I’ve had my whole life and the amount of work that goes into that disguise and how psychologically painful it can be to have to hide who you really are.” SPEAKING OUT: Condo has made it her mission to change the dialogue about autism, and to that end, her
research and thesis are devoted to this topic. “My focus has been on how language helps create the world we live in,” she says. “If we can change the way people talk about autism, we can change the way people think about autism.” In addition, she published another article in the Washington Post in February 2021 titled “I’m Autistic. I’m Hoping I Can Wear a Mask for the Rest of My Life.” WHEN YOUR DISABILITY ISN’T OBVIOUS: Condo’s concern extends to what she calls “invisible disabilities,” which she believes are probably one of the next hurdles for the United States. There’s been a lot of progress on getting accommodations for physical disabilities, she says, “But there’s this huge cohort of people like me whose disabilities aren’t apparent, such as low vision or hard of hearing. There’s no place for us in the disability laws.” ‘GETTING IT’: Still, Condo considers herself lucky. She has a partner and a family who support her and her advocacy work, including her sister, Andrea Kendall, a licensed clinical social worker “who gets it” and is a therapist for teens and young women with autism. Condo and her sister are working to share their research at conferences as venues begin to reopen. —Colleen Kearney Rich, MFA ’95 Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 43
class notes
Advocating for Diverse Representation
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ilafruz Khonikboyeva, BA Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’10, MS ’14, wanted to help others as people had helped her along her path from child refugee fleeing civil war in Tajikistan, to U.S. immigrant, to international social justice advocate. Now, the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution alumna is being recognized for her remarkable story.
“It’s a celebration of that hard work, and it doesn’t feed into partisan politics,” she says. “It’s very much a celebration of people and immigrants who are critical to making this country succeed.” Khonikboyeva was also recognized this spring with the Carter School’s Distinguished Alumni Award. “The Carter School means so much to me personally and professionally,” she says, adding that she keeps in touch with professors who have been mentors. “For me, this award is a promise that I will live up to it.” After graduation, Khonikboyeva spent eight years working at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) before working for four years at the Aga Khan Foundation, where she developed communications and policy strategy for countries in conflict. In February 2021, she returned to USAID when she was appointed as senior advisor for policy, planning, and learning.
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“This is about giving back to this country that means so much to me, and as a Muslim immigrant woman, it’s important to show that there is a space for us in leadership,” Khonikboyeva says. She says her new position calls on her to coordinate with global partners, including the United Nations, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. At the same time, she is focusing on the effect of climate change on diversity and inclusion, looking at issues around environmental justice and ensuring diverse voices, including From left, former First Lady Laura Bush, former President George W. Bush, and those of Indigenous populations and racial and Dilafruz Khonikboyeva. ethnic minorities, have a place at the table. Diverse representation is critical, she says, as multiple perspectives help strengthen the nation. This April, Khonikboyeva is among those featured by former President George W. Bush in his book, Out of Many, One: Portraits She also says that the skills she learned at Mason come in handy. of America’s Immigrants. Each chapter opens with an oil portrait of “Conflict resolution helps you at the interpersonal, organizaone of the immigrants, painted by Bush. The chapters are written tional, and, certainly for my career, at the international level,” from his perspective, telling the inspiring stories of immigrants and Khonikboyeva says. “The need for the Carter School grows with their contributions to America. every single moment and every single year.” “I’m deeply touched by this book,” Khonikboyeva says. “It doesn’t try to hide how difficult it is to immigrate, [or] how difficult it is to —Mariam Aburdeineh, BA ’13 build back up from absolutely nothing.” 44 | SPI RIT.GMU.EDU
class notes
1970s
Nancy Michael Schwab, BSEd Elementary Education ’73, retired from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools in 2013.
1980s
Bill McClain, MBA ’82, has written two books that reflect both 40 years of corporate strategic planning and a futuristic vision of the next decade. The first, Strategic Planning in This Age of Disruption (Amazon, 2018), reflected on the arriving digital transformation technologies and their impacts on society. The second, The 4 Horsemen: Envisioning 2030 (Amazon, 2021), deals with COVID, politics, social unrest, and the arriving digital transformation of the early 2020s, and then applies the understanding of the interrelationships to more clearly see 2030. Kristina Rose, BA Sociology ’84, was recently appointed by President Biden to lead the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Previously, Rose spent nearly 20 years at the U.S. Department of Justice, serving in numerous roles including as deputy director at OVC, as acting director and deputy director for the National Institute of Justice, and as the chief of staff
for the Office on Violence Against Women. Kenneth Sosne, MBA ’86, has retired after working for 28 years in the federal civil service. He and his wife are doing nonprofit development work for a food pantry and enjoying the outdoors on the Delmarva. Ken Budd, BA English ’88, MA ’97, wrote a feature for the Washington Post Magazine in May 2021 on why men struggle to tell each other “I love you,” based on his friendship with his old roommate from the Mason student apartments, Todd Cullop, BA English ’90. Additionally, Budd’s 2019 piece for the Washington Post Magazine, “The Moral Dilemma of Volunteer Tourism,” appears in the 2020 edition of The Best American Travel Writing.
1990s
Cindy Squires, BA International Studies ’90, was named the CEO of the American Composites Manufacturers Association. M. Brian Blake, PhD Information Technology ’91, was named president of Georgia State University by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Marcia Friedman, MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’91, recently published her second cookbook, The
Essential Jewish Cookbook. The book includes a brief history of Jewish culinary traditions along with 100 recipes. Her first cookbook, Meatballs and Matzah Balls: Recipes and Reflections from a Jewish and Italian Life, was published in 2013. In June 2021, she received the honor of membership in Les Dames d’Escoffier, a prestigious international culinary organization. Brian Trent, BS Public Administration ’91, MPA ’95, has been appointed vice chancellor for business affairs for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He previously served as the executive officer for the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dave Alpern, BA Speech Communication ’92, recently published the book Taking the Lead, with a foreword by Joe Gibbs. The president of Joe Gibbs Racing—the winningest team in NASCAR history— Alpern shares the secrets of succeeding in business and in life. Alpern, who started his career as an unpaid intern selling T-shirts for the team, shares the
wisdom he’s learned over his three-decade career in NASCAR. Richard Beck, PhD Public Policy ’93, published Engaging the Organization in Effective Performance Management—Translating Vision into Results after retiring in 2018 from a 37-year federal career at NASA and the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also taught Performance Measurement (PUAD 720) for several semesters as an adjunct instructor at Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government. The book is based on his dissertation research at Mason and career experiences, and it presents a holistic approach guided by three main principles to help government agencies realize the vision established by their leadership. The book is available through Amazon and Kindle books. Jennifer Enriquez, JD ’93, recently received a Becoming Beloved Community grant to continue working with children ages 4 to 12 to dismantle racism. Enriquez and a colleague developed a workshop to prepare people to talk to kids about race.
Grace A. Cular Yee, BA Psychology ’93, owner of Pineapple7, a full-service travel firm, has been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the Top Travel Specialists for 2021. Michele Davidson, BSN ’93, PhD Nursing ’99, recently opened Chesapeake Bay Psychiatry, her own psychiatric practice focusing on perinatal mental health. In 2021, Davidson was elected to the board of directors of Postpartum Support International, where she has served as the postpartum psychosis coordinator for the past 11 years. She is also celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, Nathan S. Davidson II, BSN ’96, MSN Nurse Practitioner ’98. They reside in Chesapeake, Virginia, with their four children. Paul Arnett, BA Administration of Justice ’94, MA Sociology ’00, was selected by the Eastern District of Virginia Federal Court to serve as the next chief U.S. probation officer. He has worked in the probation field for the past 25 years. Beom Joon Yun, BS Finance ’97, has started his own
What’s New with You? We are interested in what you’ve been doing since you graduated. Moved? Gotten married? Had a baby? Landed a new job? Received an award? Submit your class notes to alumni.gmu.edu/whatsnew. In your note, be sure to include your graduation year and degree. Fall 2021 M A S O N S P I R I T | 45
class notes
investment company after working as a vice president at Morgan Stanley.
Dear Fellow Patriots,
T
hroughout this issue of Spirit, we’ve been exploring the question What does it mean to be a Patriot? While there are many different answers to this question, I think there are several defining characteristics that all Patriots share. We work hard, we don’t give up when things get tough, and we work to make sure others also have the chance to succeed. We are always growing, always building. We’re forward-thinking—learning from where we’ve been, while looking ahead to where we’re going. Mason Patriots are champions of diversity and makers of opportunity.
From the notable accomplishments of our fellow alums, we know many Patriots are trailblazing leaders in their industries. Mason has been home to CEOs and university presidents, to authors and astronauts, and to health care providers and researchers working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on local, national, and global scales. Our alma mater is a place where people come to create opportunities that didn’t previously exist. It is a home to first-generation students, DREAMers, and those who need to balance their work and education. All of these different experiences exemplify what it means to be a Patriot. Mason has had a multigenerational impact on my family as well. My father started our Mason tradition in the 1980s, when he began teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the Computer Science Department after starting his own company. Some of his company’s earliest successes were due in part to the Mason grads he employed. Mason took a chance on me early in my career, and my time in the MBA program helped me gain the confidence I needed to succeed. I have made lifelong connections at Mason, and I still keep in touch with many of my classmates. My wife is an engineering alumna, and one of my sons is enrolled in the School of Business. We are a family of proud Patriots. As we unite to celebrate 50 years of Mason in 2022, let’s look forward to what the next 50 years will bring! With Patriot Pride, Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94 President, George Mason University Alumni Association
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Brian Simpson, MA Economics ’98, PhD ’00, recently published the book A Declaration and Constitution for a Free Society: Making the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution Fully Consistent with the Protection of Individual Rights. It was published in March 2021 by Lexington Books as a part of Lexington’s Capitalist Thought book series. Sheri (Keyser) Kent, BA Communication ’99, MA Telecommunications ’02, published her newest children’s picture book, The Little Monster: A Glow-in-theDark Storybook about Being Afraid of the Dark. It is her 14th book, and the seventh in The Little Series, published by Whimsical World. Diane Williams, MA English ’99, recently became the senior scientific technical writer for the Joint Science and Technologies Office (JSTO) of the Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program. She edits articles for the “JSTO in the News” monthly report and video scripts for social media, reaching 8,000 DoD contacts.
2000s
Robert Fowler, MS Statistical Science ’03, is a senior data scientist at IBM Watson Health, where he performs health outcomes research based on IBM’s large health insurance database.
Hal Nesbitt, BS Marketing ’03, was promoted to senior vice president for information and outreach at the American Society of Nephrology, where he will oversee all of the society’s marketing, communications, business intelligence, and information technology initiatives. Deborah Willis, PhD Cultural Studies ‘03, was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of her life of activism as a photographer. The academy recognizes extraordinary people who help solve the world’s challenges, create meaning through art, and contribute to the common good. Willis is university professor and chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Marianne Hedrick Weant, BA Anthropology ’04, and her husband welcomed their sixth child, Russell. Thomas J. Snee, MEd Education Leadership ’06, stepped down as the 12th national executive director for the Fleet Reserve Association in Alexandria, Virginia, in December 2019. During his term as the executive director, he represented more than 45,000 sea service personnel and their families on various boards and congressional committees for military and veterans’ benefits. He was the managing officer at the national headquarters and served on its board of directors. Snee also served (continued page 48)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN WHITE
class notes
The Show Must Go On
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hen George Mason University’s classes went online because of the pandemic, Christian White, BA Communication ’21, was able to pursue his acting career and finish his degree.
White recently appeared in four episodes of the second season of City on a Hill, a Showtime crime drama set in Boston that stars Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge. He didn’t have to miss classes while filming on set as he could use Zoom to continue his course work at Mason from New York City, where the show is filmed.
Christian White on the set of City on a Hill
“Working with stars like Kevin Bacon was a surreal experience,” says White, who was a student in Mason’s Honors College. “I’ve watched these actors on TV, and now I’m working alongside them.” Seeing how Bacon and Hodge interact and getting acting notes from them was like having a master class, White adds. And shining in the role of Isaac, a young teen living in the Braxton Summit projects of Boston, was what White calls a lesson in confidence. “I actually had to miss class last year to go to New York to audition,” says White, who was thankful for the professor who worked with him to make up the work he missed. A couple of days later, he received a text from his manager saying he booked the role. White was able to film two episodes of City on the Hill in March 2020 before COVID-19 hit and the industry shut down for seven months. The show started production again in October 2020 with safety protocols and COVID testing in place. White has other acting opportunities on the horizon. He has booked another role on a show on Amazon, though he says he is not yet authorized to disclose the name of the show. The Spotsylvania County, Virginia, native says he first caught the acting bug his senior year in high school when he took a theater class. While at Mason, White also took acting workshops in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Did You Know?
One of White’s favorite courses, COMM 384 Public Relations and Social Media with Professor Suzanne Mims, gave him a framework for working on the business side of his acting career. In this class, he says he learned ways to use social media strategically to build his personal brand, expand his network, and share the projects he’s been working on— something he considers essential for an actor.
—Jeanene Harris Lexi Reyes contributed to this article.
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as the co-chairman for the Military Coalition, representing more than 35 veteran service organizations, and more than five million active duty, reserve, veterans, and retirees. Jessica Monte, MA English ’07, is the director and founder of Loudoun Community Press, a 501(c)(3) that produces Loudoun County Magazine in partnership with Loudoun County Public Schools, the Loudoun County Public Library system, and the Loudoun Literacy Council. On June 22, Loudoun Community Press and its students and
teachers were recognized for releasing the inaugural student issue of Loudoun County Magazine to county residents and businesses. Additionally, Monte was admitted to a doctoral program in education at George Washington University and plans to graduate in 2025. Lana K. W. Austin, MFA Creative Writing ’08, recently published her first novel, Like Light, Like Music (West Virginia University Press), and her first poetry collection, Blood Harmony (Iris Press), which was named Alabama State Poetry Soci-
ety Book of the Year. She has published widely in literary journals such as Sou’Wester, Mid-American Review, and The Pinch. Austin is also the winner of the 2018 Words and Music Poetry Award and a 2019 Hackney Award. She currently teaches creative writing and composition at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Kathryn Crump Teague, MEd Counseling and Development ’08, was named Fairfax County Public Schools’ 2021 Outstanding School-Based Leader. She is Lanier Middle School’s director of student services.
Lindsay N. Trout, MEd Education Leadership ’08, was named Fairfax County Public Schools’ 2021 Outstanding Principal. She is the principal of Terraset Elementary School in Reston, Virginia.
2010s
Jeanine Gravette, MSW ’13, began working at Prince William County’s Homeless Services Division. As a human services program manager, she oversees the coordinated entry system, drop-in center, and COVID19 motel program. Gravette
is a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult (QMHP-A) working with home-based services and primarily works with adults. She is also in the process of working on her licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) license. Chelsea Morris, BA Communication ’14, recently became the development director of La Casa Norte. She now leads development for Chicago’s largest nonprofit organization focused on serving youth and families confronting homelessness by providing access to stable housing and (continued on page 50)
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021–22 Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, President
Whitney Ward, BA ’08, Director-at-Large
Christine Landoll, BS ’89, MS ’92, PresidentElect
Janae Johnson, BS ’11, MAIS ’15, President, Black Alumni Chapter
Yoshie Davison, MSW ’09, Vice President, Live
Vacant, College of Education and Human Development Alumni Chapter
Darcy Kipp Kim, BS ’02, MPA ’20, Vice President, Work Raymond Wotring, BA ’05, Vice President, Play David Atkins, BS ’90, Treasurer
Hadi Rezazad, ENGR ’03, PhD ’09, President, College of Engineering and Computing Alumni Chapter
Elizabeth Stern, BA ’09, President, Honors College Alumni Chapter Christopher Campos-Perez, BA ’19, President, Lambda Alumni Chapter Daniel Logroño, BS ’20, President, Latino Alumni Chapter Vacant, Antonin Scalia Law School Alumni Chapter (contact lawalum@gmu.edu)
Kathi Huddleston, PhD ’08, President, College of Health and Human Services Alumni Chapter
J. J. Stakem, MS ’12, President, Schar School of Policy and Government Alumni Chapter
Mary Bramley, BA ’07, Director-at-Large
Daniel Lash, BS ’97, President, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Chapter
Scott Hine, BS ’85, President, School of Business Alumni Chapter
Harold Geller, MAIS ’92, DA ’05, Directorat-Large
Mark Monson, BS ’74, President, College of Science Alumni Chapter
Steve Kann, BA ’85, Director-at-Large
Molly Grimsley, BA ’81, President, College of Visual and Performing Arts Alumni Chapter
Tim Plum, MS ’16, Chapter Representative, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution Alumni Chapter
Ailsa Ware Burnett, BS ’93, MA ’96, MPA ’08, Historian
Jimmy Martin, BA ’07, Director-at-Large Molly McLaurin, BA ’08, Director-at-Large
Sawyer Dullaghan, BS ’15, President, Green Machine Alumni Chapter
Natalia Kanos, Student Government Representative
If you would like to become involved in the Alumni Association, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@gmu.edu.
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class notes
An Influential Advocate for Refugees PHOTO BY ISSA KADDISSI
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ell before she became the director of communications at United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) USA, the American nonprofit that provides support for UNRWA’s programs for Palestine refugees, Laila Mokhiber, BA Global Affairs ’09, was a child holding protest signs in human rights demonstrations. Before then, her mother held her as a baby in the gallery of the U.S. Supreme Court, as her father argued to incorporate Arab Americans into the Civil Rights Act in 1987.
UNRWA USA raises awareness about the plight of Palestine refugees to support their humanitarian needs. “We’re trying to create our own narrative around who Palestine refugees are and demystify what it means to be a refugee,” Mokhiber says. “I love being able to advocate for the people who I see as my sisters and brothers and being able to measure the impact.” The nonprofit supports UNRWA, mental health resources, and urgent assistance for those living in and around refugee camps, says Mokhiber, who leads a content team that helps tell the stories of refugees. “To be that link and bring their stories to my fellow Americans, I see that as a great responsibility and duty,” she says. “Once you see what life under occupation looks like with your own eyes, you can’t ever stop speaking up or advocating about it.” Mokhiber’s work has sent her to Gaza several times—a rare privilege for an Arab American, due to the area’s land, sea, and air blockade. Each time, she brings back stories and is inspired by Palestinians she meets who make an impact with nearly nothing and are resilient despite supplies not being allowed into Gaza. Those included a young man who built a 3D printer from recycled materials and a young woman who engineered a way to turn rubble from bombed buildings into bricks to help families rebuild.
Mason alumna Laila Mokhiber visits Palestine refugees from Syria displaced for a second time to the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, in February 2016.
As an adult, the George Mason University alumna has made a name for herself. In 2020, she was named one of the top 40 influential Arab Americans under 40 by the Arab America Foundation. “The work I do is a labor of love,” says Mokhiber, “and if this brings more attention to the cause that I work on, I’m pleased to have received this recognition.”
Mokhiber, who also co-hosts the Latitude Adjustment podcast, says she seeks to advocate for people who don’t have a platform to do so themselves. The same was true on campus, where Mokhiber expanded her community with student organizations like the Arab Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Orthodox Christian Fellowship. “I amplified what these organizations were doing, which is how I ended up in my current line of work,” says Mokhiber. “I loved my days at Mason because it exposed me to a rich diversity of people and perspectives that encouraged my curiosity about the world and would have taken years of global travel to gain.” —Mariam Aburdeineh, BA ’13
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delivering comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities in Chicago. Previously, Morris was associate director of development at Cradles to Crayons. Prior to that position, she led corporate fundraising and digital media marketing at Children’s Hospital Foundation.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALAHAN YOUNG
Calahan Young, MHA ’21, traveled to Tokyo in August with the U.S. men’s goalball team to compete in the Paralympic Games. Young, who is the team captain, has been playing goalball for 13 years. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age and is legally blind. Goalball is a team sport for the blind. Using ear-hand coordination, participants compete and try to throw a three-pound ball that’s been embedded with bells into the opponent’s goal. The team lost the bronze medal to Lithuania, but you can check out one of their games at bit.ly/GoCalahan.
Omar Battle, MS Peace Operations ’15, founded his own business, End Your Conflicts LLC, after becoming a trained and certified mediator. End Your Conflicts is located in Maryland and performs services virtually. Its mission is to help youth, adults, families, communities, and organizations resolve conflicts through peaceful, non-adjudicative, alternative dispute resolution processes. End Your Conflicts also offers conflict resolution training, education, and coaching to individuals and organizations, empowering them to prevent and manage their own conflicts. Meredith Coad, BS Civil and Infrastructure Engineering ’18, represented Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington for Engineers Week. She is an environmental engineer who serves in the environmental business line at NAVFAC Washington’s Core in Washington, D.C. Melissa Duluc, MA Foreign Languages ’18, was named Fairfax County Public Schools’ 2021 Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher. She is a Spanish
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language teacher at McLean High School. Katie McCarty, BS Recreation Management ’18, and Connor Claytor, BS Marketing ’19, celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary. They were married on July 18, 2020. Beth Young, PhD Education ’18, received one of the inaugural Virginia Business Women in Leadership Awards. The awards spotlighted a cohort of 30 executives who have excelled in their careers and are paving the way for other women to follow in their footsteps. More than 200 women business leaders were nominated. Liz Andrews, PhD Cultural Studies ’19, was recently named executive director of Spelman College’s Museum of Fine Art. She began her new role August 2. Shruti Sanghavi, MEd Education Leadership ’19, was chosen to be the keynote speaker at a national SMART Technologies virtual summit. She worked with a Mason professor to write “Mathematical Representations in an Online Math Specialist Program,” which was published in The Journal of Science and Mathematics: Collaborative Explorations. She was also chosen to be one of 20 teachers to participate in an Amazon/George Mason University externship program to bring computer science programs to schools and introduce computer science to historically underserved students.
class notes
Breana Turner, BS Kinesiology ’19, was crowned the first-ever Miss Virginia Volunteer in August 2021. As the winner of the statewide scholarship pageant program, Turner receives $10,000 in scholarship funds and use of an apartment and vehicle for her year of service. She holds a master’s degree in public health from Virginia Tech, where she is currently working on her PhD in translational biology, medicine, and health.
2020s
Susan Howard, PhD Environmental Science and Policy ’20, and her team at Game of Choice, Not Chance are implementing methodology from Howard’s dissertation to change people’s attitudes and behaviors through mobile gaming innovation to support young people in becoming
active decision-makers in their own lives. The work has received a multimilliondollar grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Heidi Sloan, MEd Education Leadership ’20, was named head of school at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas. She has served as director of academics at the school for the past five years. Alexander Hammett, BA Film and Video Studies ’21, received the Miami Indie Films’ Best Director award for directing Tale of Tarot. The film is available on Amazon Prime.
We’re 50 and Fabulous! Happy anniversary to us! In 2022, we will be celebrating 50 years as an independent university. It was on April 7, 1972, that Governor Linwood Holton signed legislation separating George Mason College from the University of Virginia. Celebrating our past while looking toward the university’s very bright future, we will be incorporating Mason at 50 into many events throughout the year, which will culminate with a week of festivities April 4–10, 2022, and a commemorative issue of the Mason Spirit. We hope you’ll join the celebration. Check out 50th.gmu.edu for updates on what’s planned.
Obituaries ALUMNI AND STUDENTS
David S. Cutlip, BS Biology ’72, d. April 28, 2021 Dorothy B. Montague, BSEd Elementary Education ’72, MEd Counseling and Development ’81, d. April 10, 2021 Joy G. Vick, BA Psychology ’73, d. June 10, 2021 Sherry M. Miles, MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’75, d. May 5, 2021
Jorge L. Hazera, BA Sociology ’76, MA Economics ’80, d. June 30, 2021
Jacqueline M. Lohr, MA English ’79, d. April 26, 2021
Steve L. Payne, BS Biology ’76, d. April 13, 2021
Norbert Flatow, BS Business Administration ’80, d. May 3, 2021
Patricia S. Kobus, MBA ’77, d. July 3, 2021
Barbara B. Shea, JD ’80, d. April 11, 2021
Carl J. Seaton, BIS ’77, d. June 1, 2021
Helen L. Winter, BS Business Administration ’80, MEd Counseling and Development ’84, d. May 1, 2021
Diane L. Bode, BS Business Administration ’78, d. June 26, 2021
Linda M. Buhl, BS Business Administration ’81, d. April 10, 2021
Deborah Y. Lipsey, MEd Counseling and Development ’83, d. June 25, 2021
Kenneth W. Horn, BS Business Administration ’81, d. April 14, 2021
Ingrid S. Dinsmore, BA Mathematics ’84, d. May 2, 2021
Margaret M. Moss, BSN ’82, MSN ’91, PhD Nursing ’07, d. May 28, 2021
Jane U. Phillips, BA Sociology ’84, MA ’91, d. May 28, 2021
Margaret E. Abenante, BS Accounting ’83, d. April 4, 2021
James H. Allamong, JD ’85, d. June 14, 2021
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Gerald W. Oakley, JD ’85, d. May 21, 2021
Patricia A. Bennett, JD ’94, d. June 10, 2021
riculum and Instruction ’04, d. June 5, 2021
Edward W. Arnold, BA History ’86, d. June 15, 2021
Judith D. Nossaman, MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’94, d. April 26, 2021
Kristen Jennings, BA Communication ’01, d. June 13, 2021
Ralph E. Beatty, BS Marketing ’95, d. April 24, 2021
Bryan F. Holland, MEd Education Leadership ’02, d. May 12, 2021
Peter J. Beim, BS Decision Science ’87, d. May 27, 2021 Francklyn “Wynne” Paris II, BA Biology ’87, d. March 22, 2021
Melynda M. Griggs, BA Psychology ’95, d. May 14, 2021
Andre F. Peronneau, BS Law Enforcement ’88, d. June 11, 2021
Louisa E. Atchison, BS Accounting ’96, d. June 15, 2021
Sharon S. Winstead, MEd Elementary Education ’89, d. June 18, 2021
Marc R. Amos, JD ’97, d. April 17, 2021
David J. Leader, BSN ’90, d. May 27, 2021 Melvin W. Little, BA Biology ’91, d. June 26, 2021 Raymond J. Mataloni Jr., MA Economics ’91, d. April 25, 2021 Mary M. Dorsey, MSN Nurse Practitioner ’93, d. June 18, 2021 Carol J. Hallauer, MEd Counseling and Development ’93, d. June 26, 2021
Kevin L. Gilbert, MS Software Systems Engineering ’97, d. May 28, 2021 Robert J. Peldo, BS Public Administration ’98, d. March 21, 2021 Richard J. Busch, MS Accounting ’99, d. May 20, 2021 Jessie D. Duncanson, BA Theater ’00, d. April 23, 2021
Alice V. Leaderman, MFA Creative Writing ’02, d. May 20, 2021 Allison D. Roberts, MEd Education Leadership ’02, d. May 12, 2021 Heather M. Creed, BFA Dance ’04, d. May 7, 2021 Dean D. Bellas, PhD Public Policy ’05, d. June 23, 2021 Tracey M. Hrovat, BA Communication ’05, d. April 23, 2021 Joyce A. Lightner, MA New Professional Studies ’05, d. June 1, 2021
Mieke J. Frishman, BS Biology ’00, d. June 15, 2021
Janessa R. Neal-Brewer, MEd Special Education ’05, d. May 11, 2021
Michelle J. Biltcliffe, BA Foreign Languages ’01, MEd Cur-
Louis A. Pharao, MA History ’05, d. June 8, 2021
Barbara V. Wilhelm, MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’05, d. June 22, 2021
Sean C. Mattingly, BS Applied Information Technology ’18, d. May 16, 2021
Vivek K. Chopra, BS Public Administration ’06, d. May 31, 2021
Sachin Jain, former student, d. May 13, 2021
Candace S. Rogers, MEd Education Leadership ’06, d. June 18, 2021 Roderick L. Zollinger, MEd Education Leadership ’08, d. May 12, 2021 Daniel C. Hearlihy, MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’09, d. June 20, 2021 Kevin Fandl, PhD Public Policy ’10, d. June 29, 2021 Susan M. Llewellyn, MA History ’10, d. April 26, 2021 Penny S. Waite, BA History ’10, d. May 28, 2021 Russell P. McCullough, BS Finance and Information Systems and Operations Management ’11, d. April 19, 2021 Sarah J. Jenkins, MA Art History ’12, d. May 18, 2021 Kathleen N. Teets, BSN ’15, d. June 25, 2021
Frank Jenkins, former student, d. May 16, 2021 Sang Ho Baek, student, Biology, d. June 12, 2021
F O R M E R FAC U LT Y / S TA F F Nancy K. Burnett, d. April 30, 2021 Bruce B. Cooper, d. November 3, 2020 William F. Garney, d. June 21, 2021 Helen S. Garson, professor emerita of English, d. October 19, 2020 Maria Z. Kolker, d. May 1, 2021 Robert E. Pugh, d. May 25, 2021 Edith M. Rob, d. July 2, 2021 Florence I. Smoczynski, d. June 5, 2021
FA C U LT Y, S TA F F, A N D F R I E N D S Col. (ret.) Douthard R. (D. R.) Butler, PhD Public Administration ’92, who retired last year after serving as an adjunct professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government for 20 years, died on July 10 at age 86. Butler enrolled at Texas’s Prairie View A&M University at age 16, joined the campus ROTC program, and entered the U.S. Army after earning his degree. The Vietnam veteran flew helicopters and served at the Pentagon during his military career, retiring as colonel in 1985. He was the author of The Butler Report, a 16-page statistical analysis of the Army’s officer evaluation rating system. The findings of the report revealed startling disparities in the ratings given to officers based on race. These disparate ratings showed a devastating impact on Black officers’ advancement potential, and, ultimately, their underrepresentation in the leadership of the Army’s officer corps. A longtime Mason benefactor, Butler established the Butler Family Endowment in Women’s Athletics in 2010. The fund now totals more than $125,000. Butler is survived by his wife, three daughters, and two grandchildren. Edwin A. Fleishman, professor emeritus of psychology, passed away on February 17 at the age of 93. An internationally renowned industrial and organizational psychologist and prolific author on the subject, Fleishman was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran who went on to work for the U.S. Air Force. His role included participating in the design of the cockpit of the first capsule for the Project Mercury Program and developing a program to increase motor skills efficiency for Air Force
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pilots. As a professor in Yale’s psychology department, he founded the human skills research laboratory and published the book Psychology and Human Performance, which helped delineate the most effective exercises to achieve physical fitness. Fleishman was a Guggenheim fellow and a guest lecturer around the world. He joined Mason’s faculty in 1986 and founded the Center for Behavioral and Cognitive Studies. He is survived by his wife, two sons, a brother, and two grandchildren. Bruce Earl Johnson, BS Biology ’70, of Henrico, Virginia, passed away at home surrounded by family on May 21, 2021. He was 72. Bruce is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mariann Hilts Johnson, BS Biology ’71, who he met at Mason. Together, the Johnsons enthusiastically supported numerous Mason functions and fundraising events for more than 35 years. Bruce served on the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees and as a member of the Finance Committee, along with other volunteer positions. The couple was recognized for their generosity with the Alumni Association’s Alumni Service Award in 2007. There is also a Mariann and Bruce Johnson Award for biology students in Mason’s College of Science. Bruce was a practicing OB-GYN physician in Richmond for 40 years, during which time he estimated he delivered more than 3,000 babies. He is also survived by a son, a daughter, and four grandsons.
P R OMF AE SS O SO N RMS EW MEO LROI EV SE ‘ K E L S O ’ S K R E W ’ G AT H E R S T O C E L E B R AT E D O N A L D K E L S O
PHOTO BY CARL ZITZMANN
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enerations of students and colleagues revere professor emeritus Don Kelso. Chris Powell, BS Biology ’73, MS ’77, Dr. Kelso’s very first advisee, took every Kelso course he could. He marvels at how his favorite professor put a “tremendous amount of time and effort into field trips,” from Martha’s Vineyard to Jamaica to the Eastern Shore. As a member of “Kelso’s Krew,” Powell helped assess aquatic life in Fairfax streams, ready the boat R/V Gunston, and build Kelso’s field program. In return, the professor provided him many free books, “a solid foundation for a career in fisheries and marine science,” and lifelong mentorship. “All these experiences increased my desire to become a marine biologist,” Powell says. “I would truly credit the success of my career as a marine and fisheries biologist to Don’s encouragement, influence, and guidance.” For my part, Dr. Kelso introduced me to unimagined aquatic life: the winged sea robin, actually a featherless fish, that breached the waves trying to escape our trawl net, and an 18-inch mantis shrimp, its vorpal claws a blur, slicing everything in its bucket into sashimi. He taught me how to do boat-based research and showed me that the seaweed on Virginia beaches was actually edible laver. Many students loved Kelso’s signature estuarine ecology class. The friendships we forged on our field trips to the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva’s Atlantic lagoons are sustained a quarter century later, thanks largely to Dr. Kelso’s inviting every student to be an equal partner of his crew and research team. Powell has spent years championing the creation of a Don Kelso Learning Pier at Mason’s Potomac Science Center. He now leads our alumni effort to raise support to build the pier. Co-chairs include Mason graduates Cheryl Bright, Gary Johnston, Chuck Parker, Mike Cooke, and me. College of Science dean Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm has resourced the feasibility study. Dr. Kelso’s former crewman Sean Gagnon, BS Earth Science ’10, is doing the civil engineering and environmental work. Before lifting anchor, Gagnon wrote to me, “I’ll be out on a boat counting [submerged aquatic vegetation], just like the good ol’ days.” Gagnon spent the summer of 2006 counting aquatic wildlife aboard one of Dr. Kelso’s boats. Modest, wise, resourceful, and kind, Dr. Kelso embodies so much of what we cherish in learning and discovery at Mason. In describing him, our colleague and Mason professor Chris Parsons even suggested a new title for our friend: “the Mr. Rogers of estuarine ecology.” So, it was no surprise that it has been all hands on deck as we gathered twice this year to pay tribute to one who has selflessly provided so much to so many.
Cover of the Spring 1985 issue of George Mason magazine featuring Don Kelso.
Dann Sklarew, PhD Environmental Science and Public Policy ’00, is now a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy. If you would like to know more about the learning pier or the new Mason Environmental Alumni Network, you can contact him at dsklarew@gmu.edu. To see coverage of the Kelso tribute, visit bit.ly/kelsokrew.
Do you fondly remember certain places within the Mason commu nity that exemplified the “college experience”? Did a specific Mason professor or mentor influence your life and career? If so, tell us about it. Send your submission to spirit@gmu.edu. Please keep submissions to a maximum of 500 words.
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4400 University Drive, MS 3B3 Fairfax, Virginia 22030
GET OUT THE VOTE—“Your vote is an expression of your voice, and we should never support anything that would stifle somebody’s voice or take their power,” Vice President Kamala Harris told students when she appeared on Mason’s Fairfax Campus September 29 to commemorate National Voter Registration Day. Photos by Ron Aira
