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911�� students explore public service during Government Careers Week

lclarkg — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:52:27 +0000

911�� students explore public service during Government Careers Week lclarkg Thu, 10/22/2026 - 12:52

911�� students and alumni explored career opportunities in local, state, and federal government during Government Careers Week, hosted by University Career Services from September 14–18.

The six-event series drew more than 200 attendees across virtual and in-person programming. Participants explored government career paths and received practical guidance on internships, federal resumes, and the government hiring process.

Students visited the Arlington County Government during Government Careers Week. Photo provided

One group visited Arlington County Government, where they met county leaders and employees, including Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz and Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Maureen Coffey, among others.

“It was a great pleasure to host bright, engaged students from 911�� and reflect on my own career,” Schwartz said. “I hope the students were inspired to see the many unique ways they can join public service.”

Coffey encouraged students to see themselves as leaders and explore ways to serve in roles in their local communities.

“There are so many great opportunities to serve at the local level—whether as a civil servant or as an elected leader,” Coffey said. “I hope that the conversation around my personal journey as the youngest person elected to the Arlington County Board helps to show that public service isn’t as daunting as it may seem and that there is, in fact, a place for young leaders in serving our community.”

Other programming during the week introduced participants to different areas of government service. An “Exploring Government Careers” session highlighted career opportunities across the public sector, while additional events focused on careers on Capitol Hill and in the intelligence community.

Photo provided

A government internships panel featured 911�� students and alumni with current and previous government internship experience, who shared tips about pursuing internships and entering the field.

"I learned that first impressions are key, since a lot of communication is done on the phone for jobs on Capitol Hill,” said Clay Anderson, a junior studying Political Science and International Politics. “Being a professional and polite speaker goes a long way when speaking to officials, coworkers, and clients.”

Rachel Melton Stockdale, a career advisor with University Career Services, led a federal resume workshop. She advised students to focus on accomplishments rather than simply listing duties, quantify results when possible, and tailor each resume to the job announcement.

“Your goal is to make it easy for the reviewer to see that you can do the job,” Stockdale said.

Opportunities like Government Careers Week inspire students to take the next steps in their job search or consider new possibilities for their career journey.

“One of our goals is to help students move from career exploration to career action,” said Saskia Campbell, executive director of University Career Services.

911�� students are encouraged to participate in Internship Week from October 26–30, attending the Internship Fair on October 28 to connect with employers and explore hands-on experiences that support their career goals. Find more details about upcoming programming on the events tab in Handshake.

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In the ‘End Hunger Games,’ the tributes fought food insecurity on 911��’s campuses

lclarkg — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:36:55 +0000

In the ‘End Hunger Games,’ the tributes fought food insecurity on 911��’s campuses lclarkg Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:36

911��’s Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) empowers students to navigate barriers to academic success and well-being through advocacy, holistic support, inclusive services, and prevention education—fostering resilience, safety, stability, and lifelong success for students.

The center recently honored its 10th anniversary with a series of events, including a donation drive to benefit one of its key services: the Patriot Pantry, which provides access to nonperishable food and hygiene items to 911�� students who are experiencing food insecurity. The “End Hunger Games” competition brought the campus community together for a common cause and highlighted the work SSAC does to address food insecurity.

The Student Support and Advocacy Center hosted the "End Hunger Games" donation drive to support the Patriot Pantry. At the wrap-up event, attendees relished in the spoils of victory and celebrated the successful initiative with carnival games. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Each team in the competition was assigned a specific item to donate. The Office of University Branding was dubbed "District Black Bean." Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“The purpose of the event was to demonstrate that anyone can be a part of addressing food insecurity on our campuses,” said John Eichler, coordinator for Basic Needs Services in SSAC.

Twenty-six teams participated across the Fairfax Campus and Mason Square, representing university offices, departments, and student organizations. Each team was assigned a specific nonperishable food item or hygiene product to collect for the pantry.

As a result, 1,730 pounds of nonperishable food items and hygiene products were collected during the month-long donation period. The Office of University Branding claimed first place in the competition, collecting a total of 500 pounds of black beans.

“Students often feel they face food insecurity alone,” said Eichler. “Creating a campus-wide event brings more visibility to college students’ hunger and lets students know there is a community that strives to support their right to basic needs like food.”

With the large influx of donations through the End Hunger Games, community members can support the Patriot Pantry in the following ways:

Donate to the Student Food and Housing Insecurity Fund and the Patriot Pantry Expansion Fund;
Order still-needed items from the Amazon wish lists for the Fairfax and Mason Square pantries. Ship directly to the pantry address included on the wish list, or drop off items in the donation bins on the Fairfax Campus, Student Union Building I, Room 3011, or at Mason Square, Van Metre Hall, Room 211;
Sign up to receive information about individual or group volunteer opportunities with the Patriot Pantry. Contact pantry@gmu.edu with questions.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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One on One with Rector Sumeet Shrivastava

Katarina Benson — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:43:25 +0000

One on One with Rector Sumeet Shrivastava  Katarina Benson Thu, 10/22/2026 - 08:43

In July, 911�� alumnus Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, was elected rector of 911��’s Board of Visitors (BOV), after previously serving as vice rector. Shrivastava is president and CEO of federal consulting and software development company Unissant. He has served in many capacities at 911��, including past chair of the 911�� Foundation Board of Trustees and past president of the Alumni Association board. 

You’ve seen 911�� from just about every angle—student, parent, alumnus, employer, philanthropist, leader of various university boards and now as rector. Given all those vantage points, what do you find most remarkable about 911��?

Every vantage point has opened my eyes to how much 911�� is doing, how comprehensive it is, how deep we are. What’s amazing me right now, even as rector with just a few months of seeing from this perspective, is how much more there is still to discover. At the Grand Challenge Initiative Exchange Day in September, every time I’d run into a faculty member, I found myself exposed to another new capability, and then it makes me want to keep exploring.

Rector Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94. Photo by William T. Gallagher

You moved to the United States when you were 5, and you were a working parent while earning your MBA here. How is your story similar to many 911�� students, and how does that inform the work you do on behalf of the university?

That story is part of the core ethos of 911�� from its beginning. When I talk to our Golden Patriots, who graduated 50 or more years ago, you hear the same stories. We've always been this sort of heads-down, high work ethic university. The fact that we started as a commuter school is something we embrace. It's something that builds on who we are, because it meant that we were always highly relevant to industry. We were always delivering talent.

As rector, you lead the Board of Visitors, a group with extensive experience in business, technology, education, finance, real estate, law, government, and a host of other areas. What are the board’s goals for the university at this pivotal time in higher education?

Almost all of us have a direct relationship with 911�� whether as a corporate partner, philanthropist, engagement in one of the centers, programming, or research. That has allowed us to step into our respective roles and be running right away. I think a primary focus right now is to understand the current aspects of how 911�� is operating, in the context of the broader challenges that higher education is facing and then being the best advocates and supporters for the strategy that President Washington and the team are implementing to move through those challenges. In doing so, it’s also our responsibility to make sure we're challenging assumptions and creating the environment for positive and effective dialogue amongst all stakeholders—especially strategically.

As an employer who hires interns and graduates from 911��, what are the critical skills that our graduates need to be successful?

A 911�� student is typically one that is juggling jobs, family, life, and studying, all at the same time. They aren't single threaded. And that already brings with it a lot of character, a lot of discipline, a lot of the basics and foundational things you want in an employee. The Mason Core highlights the importance of critical thinking, the importance of working in an environment where you're running into people from all sorts of backgrounds. Some people call those soft skills. I heard someone use the term “enduring skills,” and I really like that because those really are the things that you carry with you, no matter what technical skills or degrees you pick up along the way. It’s also important to make sure that we’re training people to learn how to learn so they understand how to evolve with change and how to augment that with the capability that is coming forward now, especially in the world of AI.

You’ve been actively involved in many George Mason launches and expansion efforts. What impact do you see our responsive growth and our centers and institutes having on the region?

They're critical. By default, they tend to be interdisciplinary. They're developed with a high degree of collaboration with industry input. We’ve seen that recently with the launch of the Virginia Quantum Hub. The relevance to local industry and employers in the region comes in the form of the way we're training students through programs from centers, the way we're doing research coordinated through centers, and delivering thought leadership into that industry. And then the convening capability, because academic institutions have a great role to convene government, industry, academia, all in one place, and be sort of a safe space for the kind of conversations you have to have, especially about things like grand challenges.

You and vice rector Anne Altman for years now have led the fundraising efforts for what would be the university’s first building devoted solely to the business school. What would the benefit be to the Costello College of Business, and what would the benefit be to the region and state?

The Costello College of Business enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduates and 800 graduate students. A modern, purpose-built home with smart classrooms and labs for AI, analytics, fintech, and risk management will match the space to the quality of the school. It also positions our Centers of Excellence under one roof, including the Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship, and the Baroni Center for Government Contracting, so students, faculty and industry leaders can work side by side. The Northern Virginia Technology Council estimates more than 130,000 open jobs in our region, and 87% of Costello's 44K+ alumni stay here, generating an estimated $360 million in economic impact across the DMV. The new Innovation and Workforce Exchange will bring workforce development, executive education, career services, and those centers together in one hub where employers can upskill their people, connect with students and encourage lifelong learning. Anne and I, along with the more than 220 business leaders from 168 companies who already advise Costello, see this building as a strategic investment in Virginia's workforce and competitiveness, and in 911��'s role as one of the commonwealth's strongest engines of economic opportunity.

911�� is about two-thirds of the way to its goal in Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university’s one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. What would you say to fellow business leaders and alumni who are considering supporting 911��?

My first question would be—why haven’t you? The dollar you put into 911�� has such reverberating effects that go far beyond a dollar put into other institutions. As a comprehensive campaign, we are making it clear to anyone considering supporting the university that there are many, many ways that you can impact the community through this campaign. But to me what it really boils down to is the role that 911�� has in this community for the last 50 years, delivering an ROI that is at the top tier nationally. It’s kind of a unicorn. At scale, to be able to have an upward mobility story that we do, to be able to have the corporate and industry integration that we do, is remarkable. We were built by industry as an institution. We continue to be supported by that integration with industry. To my friends in the community who are not alums, my pitch to them is: This is the region that raised us. This is where our parents decided to settle. This is where you’re raising your families. And this is the institution that made Northern Virginia what it is today. We can't achieve our vision if we don't have this strong standalone university here in Northern Virginia.

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911�� breaks ground on Basketball and Academic Performance Center

Katarina Benson — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:49:47 +0000

911�� breaks ground on Basketball and Academic Performance Center Katarina Benson Wed, 10/21/2026 - 12:49

911�� celebrated a major milestone for the future of Athletics today with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Basketball and Academic Performance Center (BAPC), a transformational project that will elevate student-athlete development, enhance academic support services, and strengthen Patriots Basketball.

Located at the northwest corner of the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC), the approximately 34,000-square-foot facility will serve as the future home of 911��'s men's and women's basketball programs while expanding academic resources that benefit more than 500 Patriots student-athletes across all 22 sports. The center is expected to be completed in spring 2028.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together university leadership, student-athletes, alumni, supporters, community partners, and donors to celebrate the next phase of a project that reflects 911��'s continued investment in competitive excellence and holistic student-athlete development.

“Today we're not just breaking ground on a building. We're actually strengthening a promise and we have been defined by our momentum,” President Gregory Washington said, noting that the idea of the BAPC originated 20 years ago, when the men's basketball team went to the Final Four. "We're going to build a championship culture in every sport, and we're going to invest in getting support like we're building champions."

Rendering of the BAPC exterior. Illustration by Perkins&Will

“Today represents an exciting step forward for 911�� Athletics and the future of our student-athletes," said Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis. "The Basketball and Academic Performance Center is much more than a basketball facility. It is an investment in people, providing the resources, support systems, and environment that will allow our student-athletes to thrive academically, athletically, and personally. This project demonstrates our commitment to competing at the highest level while delivering a world-class student-athlete experience.”

Designed by Perkins&Will and constructed by Doyle Construction, the BAPC project includes a multi-story addition and renovation to the RAC, creating a modern facility designed to support student-athletes through every aspect of their collegiate experience. The center will feature two dedicated basketball practice courts, coaching staff suites, locker rooms, student-athlete lounges, strength and conditioning areas, athletic training space, and approximately 4,000 square feet of academic support space.

Marvin Lewis at the BAPC groundbreaking. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The Academic Services suite will serve student-athletes from all varsity programs, providing study areas, tutor rooms, collaborative learning spaces, and staff offices. The facility will replace the academic support trailers and create a centralized hub focused on academic achievement and student success.

As NOVA's Team, 911�� Athletics serves as a prominent gateway to the university, connecting students, alumni, supporters, businesses, and community leaders across Northern Virginia. The new center will strengthen that platform while creating opportunities for continued growth and engagement throughout the region.

The BAPC is a key philanthropic priority for 911�� Athletics. Naming opportunities and other investment options remain available throughout the project. To learn more about supporting the Basketball and Academic Performance Center, contact the Patriot Club.

"The momentum behind this project reflects the belief our alumni, donors, and supporters have in the future of 911�� Athletics," Lewis added. "We're grateful for everyone who has helped bring this vision to life and look forward to welcoming future generations of Patriots into this facility."

For more information on the BAPC, contact the Patriot Club at masonpc@gmu.edu or visit the Future is Now BAPC Information Page.

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2026 Celebration of Distinction honors alumni leaders from across the university

Katarina Benson — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 20:59:35 +0000

2026 Celebration of Distinction honors alumni leaders from across the university Katarina Benson Fri, 10/16/2026 - 16:59

The 911�� Alumni Association’s annual Celebration of Distinction recognizes outstanding alumni, faculty members, and students.

Since 1975, the 911�� Alumni Association has recognized alumni, faculty, and students for outstanding achievement, service, and leadership at its annual Celebration of Distinction.

Guylaine Saint Juste. Photo provided

Each year, the Alumni Association presents its highest honors—including Alumnus/a of the Year, Alumni Service Award, Faculty Member of the Year, Senior of the Year, and Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.)—while also celebrating distinguished alumni from 911��’s colleges, schools, and alumni chapters.

At this year’s celebration, held on October 15, the association honored these five alumni:

Guylaine Saint Juste, BA International Studies '94, is Alumna of the Year. She is the president and CEO of NABA, a national organization representing more than 200,000 business professionals in accounting, finance, and related fields. Saint Juste has more than 30 years of executive experience in financial services, governance, and organizational transformation. In 2025, Accounting Today named her one of its Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for the fifth consecutive year. Learn more.

Charity Rankins. Photo provided

Charity Rankins, BS Psychology '22, received the Alumni Service Award. While Rankins is a human resources leader professionally, her most visible impact is through her entrepreneurial work in the community. She is the founder of P.S. Karma Arts and Crafts Enrichment Company, an organization dedicated to the creative and emotional development of children, particularly in high-risk communities. The organization’s work has been recognized as among the best arts and crafts programs in the region for five years.

Anthony Amos. Photo provided

Anthony Amos, MPP '24, received the Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Award. He is only the second African American to serve on the City of Fairfax City Council. He leads multiple council committees and initiatives and serves as the city’s representative on the water and air quality committees with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Virginia Municipal League. Among Amos’s projects are creating the city’s first-ever affordable housing strategic plan and Virginia’s first kindergarten-to-college fund.

Cher Weixia Chen. Photo provided

Cher Weixia Chen, a professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ School of Integrative Studies, is the Faculty Member of the Year. She is the founder of the Human Rights and Global Justice Initiative, a senior scholar of the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, and a faculty fellow of the Institute for a Sustainable Earth. Her teaching and mentoring work have received numerous awards. Chen’s research focuses on women’s and Indigenous rights, among other marginalized groups. She has written and edited six books and numerous articles and chapters related to human rights law and policy.

Rakibul Alam. Photo provided

Rakibul Alam, BS Management; Marketing '26, is the Senior of the Year. As a student, Alam focused on connecting his business education with real-world impact. He held eight internships, five leadership roles, and went on three study-abroad experiences. He was the cofounder and president of Mason Consulting Group, which offers pro bono consulting for local Fairfax businesses. He also helped to found the Collective Organizations of South Asia and served as a student senator for Student Government. He was a U.S. State Department Gilman Scholar and an OSCAR research grant recipient and led research and community impact programs in South Asia.

In addition to the five honorees, 18 alumni received Distinguished Alumni Awards from their school, college, or affinity alumni chapter at this year’s event. See the full list.

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Ferrer wins 2026 New American Voices Award

Katarina Benson — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:04:47 +0000

Ferrer wins 2026 New American Voices Award Katarina Benson Fri, 10/16/2026 - 10:04

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ada Ferrer received the ninth annual Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Award for her memoir, Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter, at the Fall for the Book Festival at 911�� on October 8.

Ferrer received a $5,000 prize in recognition of her work, which explores the experiences of immigration, family separation, and the challenges of starting over.

“The New American Voices Award is a very special prize,” Ferrer said. “Especially in a moment such as this, it is important to share immigrant stories as part of the fabric of American life. I am moved and honored to be this year’s recipient.”

Established in 2018 by Fall for the Book and the Institute for Immigration Research, the award recognizes recently published works by immigrants and first-generation writers whose voices have historically been underrepresented in literature and publishing.

Ada Ferrer eceived the ninth annual Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Award. Photo provided

The award's two other finalists, Bindu Bansinath, author of the novel Men Like Ours, and Chantel Acevedo, author of the novel Cages, each received $1,000.

The winner and the finalists each read excerpts from their books and discussed their work during the event.

Judges Angie Cruz, Donna Hemans, and Weike Wang praised Ferrer’s memoir for its portrayal of immigration and the emotional struggles experienced by families separated by political and historical upheaval.

“Through vivid imagery and a scrapbook-like accumulation of letters, documents, and family stories, Ferrer gives a human face to histories too often reduced to politics, sanctions, and humanitarian crises,” the judges wrote.

The judges also highlighted the memoir’s exploration of maternal relationships, family separation, and the difficult choices faced by immigrants.

Ferrer is the Dayton-Stockton Professor of History at Princeton University. Before joining Princeton, she taught at New York University from 1995 to 2024. Her previous book, Cuba: An American History, won the Pulitzer Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in history and was a finalist for the Cundill History Prize.

Previous recipients of the New American Voices Award include Hernan Diaz, Patricia Engel, and Rachel Heng.

Fall for the Book is Northern Virginia’s oldest and largest festival of literature and the arts. All events are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of sponsors including 911��, the City of Fairfax, ArtsFairfax, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The Institute for Immigration Research is at the forefront of immigration research, producing high-quality, timely research and analysis that examines the economic contributions of immigrants in the United States.

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From Sea to Space: Schar School Energy Forum Explores New Frontiers in National Security

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:15:29 +0000

From Sea to Space: Schar School Energy Forum Explores New Frontiers in National Security Andrew J Schappert Wed, 10/14/2026 - 15:15

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Admiral (ret.) Charles Richard delivers the morning keynote address regarding maritime strategy and security. Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Protecting maritime trade routes, securing energy supplies, and governing an expanding space economy present interconnected challenges for policymakers. At 911��’s Schar School of Policy and Government, faculty expertise in energy geopolitics, international security, and space policy helped bring those challenges into focus at the eighth annual Mason Energy Forum.

Antares chief nuclear officer Rian Bahran discusses the future of portable nuclear generators.

Held October 7 at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, the daylong symposium, “From Sea to Space: The Challenges for Energy, Trade, and National Security,” brought together scholars, government officials, and industry leaders. The event was hosted by the Center for Energy Science and Policy (CESP) and the Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS).

The collaboration connected complementary areas of research: energy security, sustainability, and resilience at CESP, and multidisciplinary analysis of defense and security challenges at the CSPS.

Organizers hoped attendees would leave with a greater appreciation for “the interconnectedness of national security, energy policy, and local infrastructure for commercial space and data centers,” said Richard Kauzlarich, Distinguished Visiting Professor and CESP codirector.

Energy and maritime security are crucial topics to address as “both have an immediate sense of urgency, the preoccupation of our policymakers, but also long-term consequences,” said cohost Ellen Laipson, director of CSPS and the Master of International Security program.

Those immediate pressures and longer-term implications shaped discussions throughout the day. Following a keynote address by retired Admiral Charles Richard, president of the Institute for Defense Analyses, on the state of international maritime strategy, panels of government and private-sector practitioners examined the challenges of maritime security and the relationship between energy and national security amid global conflict.

The first panel followed in Richard’s wake with a thorough discussion of “Maritime Security: 21st Century Challenges,” moderated by Schar School adjunct Joe Petrucelli, a Schar School 2022 PhD graduate in international relations and national security studies. Among other topics addressed, Steven Wills, a navalist for the Center for Maritime Strategy, reviewed maritime warfare developments on oceans around the world.

A midday discussion shifted to dry land as David Hart, a former Schar School professor now with the Council on Foreign Relations, set the stage for the second session’s topics of energy security, technological innovation, and modern leadership.

Hart was followed by a keynote address from Rian Bahran, chief nuclear officer for Antares, a California-based company developing portable nuclear reactors for military and space applications. Bahran described a future with governments, commercial clients, and international markets relying on nuclear technology, not just for energy but as a means of safeguarding national security.

Later panels explored space as economic infrastructure and the evolving mix of energy technologies, including nuclear, solar, and geothermal power. A key focus was the discussion of Northern Virginia’s energy demand driven by explosive AI data center growth. Industry experts explored behind-the-meter power generation based on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), solar and geothermal microgrids, and the challenging economic question of how “hyperscalers” will deploy next-generation power solutions.

Schar School adjunct Hina Kazmi, left, moderates a panel on space as economic infrastructure.

Schar School adjunct professor Hina Kazmi, a NASA veteran who also helped to organize the event, moderated the space infrastructure discussion.

Kazmi called the symposium “a very intellectually engaging environment” and was particularly encouraged by the student participation. She noted that the rapidly expanding space sector offers significant career opportunities across disciplines ranging from STEM to law.

Asked whether space represents a growing employment field for students, her answer was emphatic: “Big time.”

Schar School students in attendance the forum connected their coursework with current debates in energy policy and national security.

“I’ve always wanted to find a way to combine my interests in energy policy and national security, so this is the first time I’m going to a summit at 911�� where I can explore both those interests—and so far I’m really loving it,” said Master of Public Administration student Charessa Fryc.

The forum also offered something beyond the classroom: direct access to practitioners and experts confronting many of the same national security and policy challenges they study in their graduate programs. Fryc had the opportunity to meet Colin Grabow, associate director of the Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, whose published work she already knew.

“It’s like a marketplace of ideas,” she said. “There are so many different perspectives that I can learn from.”

Marine veteran Jeff Hanrahan found similar value in hearing perspectives beyond those he encounters in his coursework.

“I like being able to hear from a wide range of new experts,” said Hanrahan, a master’s student in the Schar School’s International Security program (ISEC). “My professors are all great but getting to hear close to 10 other people who I don’t normally get to hear from every day is important.”

The “Sea to Space” symposium is one of several special events celebrating the Schar School’s 10th anniversary in 2026. Programs such as these underscore the Schar School’s role as a convening place for scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners to examine the forces shaping public policy and national security.

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911�� receives $6 million grant to increase supports for low-income students

Susan Martonik — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:48 +0000

911�� receives $6 million grant to increase supports for low-income students Susan Martonik Wed, 10/14/2026 - 09:00

As one of Virginia's leading institutions for enrolling and graduating Pell Grant recipients, 911�� has a strong track record of increasing educational opportunities for low-income students. A recent grant from the Pell Initiative for Virginia will provide $6 million to enhance programs and services supporting these students during the 2027 fiscal year. With this latest investment, the university has received a total of $16.7 million from the initiative since 2023.

Administered by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), the Pell Initiative for Virginia aims to expand access to higher education for Pell-eligible students across the commonwealth, as well as improve their retention and completion rates. The program is part of Virginia’s Pathways to Opportunity strategic plan, which seeks to make Virginia the “best state for education” by 2030 by focusing on equitable access, affordability, and transformative experiences.

“The grants from the Pell Initiative for Virginia have been instrumental in supporting pathways to enrollment and degree completion for Pell‑eligible Virginians over the past several years,” said Sally Lorentson, interim vice president for University Life, who serves as chair of the Pell Initiative for Virginia Implementation Committee and primary investigator for the grant at 911��. “Our programming has reached 13% of current Pell‑eligible students at 911�� and thousands of prospective students, plus we’ve awarded more than $6 million in direct student aid through fiscal year 2026.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Initiatives to date have included expanding the Early Identification Program, establishing financial well-being mentors, and offering campus tours and transition workshops for Pell-eligible applicants. The funding has also supported a first-year laptop program, need-based housing and completion grants, digital purchasing cards to address basic needs, and summer math boot camps. In addition, the university used Pell Initiative for Virginia funds to purchase access to Single Stop, a platform available to all students, faculty, and staff that connects users with community and federal resources.

An Institution-Wide Barrier Review Report submitted to SCHEV in fall 2025 found that these programs are producing positive results. 911�� experienced a 15% increase in Pell-eligible student enrollment from fall 2023 to fall 2024, along with greater parity with non-Pell-eligible students in GPA, credits, and time to degree.

Looking ahead, this year's efforts will focus on continued expansion of programs with the greatest impact, such as housing and completion grants, along with the Patriot Fellows program supporting students through financial well-being mentoring and success coaching. Additional institutional work will focus on building and sustaining the infrastructure to support students with the greatest need across campus.

“As we continue to support the recruitment, enrollment, retention, and completion of Pell-eligible students, we are helping create pathways to opportunity for individuals whose talents will strengthen communities across the commonwealth,” said Lorentson. “These programs, and the dedicated faculty and staff who run them, are opening doors to higher education while preparing graduates for long-term academic and career success.”

According to new research published in AERA Open, a journal of the American Educational Research Association, 911�� ranks among the nation’s highest-performing Pell institutions. The university placed in the top 10% of more than 1,400 colleges and universities evaluated on access for Pell Grant recipients, degree completion, and postgraduation earnings.

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Mason Arts Draw Crowds and Support at 2026 ARTS by George!

Laura Mertens — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:27:26 +0000

Mason Arts Draw Crowds and Support at 2026 ARTS by George! Laura Mertens Mon, 10/12/2026 - 11:27

911��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) celebrated the 21st annual ARTS by George! benefit event on October 3, raising $400,000 to support student scholarships and Mason Arts programs. The event, headlined by actor and musician Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, brought the total raised through ARTS by George! to more than $5 million since the event began in 2006.

L to R: Dean Rick Davis and Jeff Goldblum address guests onstage after Goldblum's headlining performance during the 21st ARTS by George! event on October 3, 2026 on the stage of the Center for the Arts Concert Hall on the Fairfax Campus of 911��. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

Funds raised support of student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, and arts management, as well as programs including the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts.

L to R: President Gregory Washington, Jeff Goldblum, and Nicole Washington pose together backstage after Goldblum's headlining performance during the 21st ARTS by George! event. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

“We take tremendous pride in 911�� serving as the cultural hub of our region,” 911�� President Gregory Washington said at the event. “When you come out here today and you support these artists, and you supported our students earlier today, you are not just supporting an individual going through a program. You are literally becoming a part of someone’s life. You have impacted them in a way that they will, quite frankly, never, ever forget.”

Green and Gold Soul, of 911��'s Green Machine Ensembles, performed on Wilkins Plaza to welcome guests as they arrived at the 21st ARTS by George! event on October 3, 2026, on the Fairfax Campus of 911��. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

Throughout the evening, more than 270 CVPA students and faculty presented a wide variety of performances and exhibits. Arriving guests were welcomed to the festivities by lively music from Green Machine’s Green & Gold Soul on Wilkins Plaza. The School of Theater offered a preview of their fall production of Urinetown, while students from the School of Music captivated audiences with jazz, piano, opera, and symphonic works. At the Virginia Serious Game Institute showcase, guests played games created by Computer Game Design students and watched virtual reality demonstrations, including a tour of a state-of-the-art nanofabrication lab.

Guests watched student films in the specially designed screening room during the 21st ARTS by George! event. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

Just down the hall, the School of Art and Mason Exhibitions collaborated to create an interactive gallery space featuring prints, sketches, and handmade books, where student and alumni artists discussed their work. A screening room showing films from students in the Film and Video Studies Program drew guests who sat down, slipped on headphones, and quickly became absorbed in the stories unfolding in front of them. School of Dance students and faculty packed their studio with performances that included “Without,” a moving work choreographed by School of Dance Professor Shaun Boyle D’Arcy that explored the nature of grief. And alumni from the Arts Management program reconnected with friends and faculty alike, posing for photos throughout the event, and offering guests an opportunity to create miniature art for a Free Little Art Gallery.

Freshman students from the School of Dance performed during the 21st ARTS by George! event in the deLaski Performing Arts Building. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

Alumna Adelina Mitchell. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

As the showcases wrapped up, guests gathered at the Center for the Arts, where this year’s distinguished alumni performer Adelina Mitchell sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” a nod to her own involvement in the Wicked universe, as well as to “the Wizard” himself, Jeff Goldblum. She told guests that the support she received from 911�� played a key role in her success. “Having access to that scholarship was the sole reason I began working professionally as quickly as I did in 2019. That is exactly what scholarship support can do. It gives young artists a way in, and a way forward.”

Following Mitchell’s performance, CVPA Dean Rick Davis led the annual Fund-A-Student appeal, which raised more than $83,000.

Dean Rick Davis of the 911��'s College of Visual and Performing Arts encouraged the crowd to support student success by donating to the "Fund a Student" appeal. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra took the Center for the Arts stage at 8:30 p.m., where—before opening with the rousing number “Grease Patrol”—Goldblum told the audience about his own lifelong passion both the arts, which, he said, “saved my life.” Over the following 90 minutes, Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra entertained the crowd as jazz vocalist Khailah Johnson occasionally joined in on songs that included “If I Only Had A Brain” and “Mean To Me.” In one of the night’s highlights, Goldblum invited three CVPA students, saxophonist Jeremy Fagen, vibraphonist Phillip Todd, and guitarist Silas Lewis, to perform with him and the orchestra during “The Kicker,” where each delivered solos that brought down the house.

L to R: Jeff Goldblum shares a laugh with Silas Lewis, Phillip Todd, Kenny Elliott, and Jeremy Fagen. Fagen, Todd, and Lewis are all current students at 911��. Photo by Cable Risdon/Risdon Photography

The evening’s program concluded with an onstage champagne toast, during which Goldblum and Davis mingled with CVPA students and faculty as well as with ARTS by George! guests and supporters, including snapping selfies and sharing hugs.

“There was a special feeling at this year’s ARTS by George!—you could sense it from the earliest student showcases,” said Davis. “With the record-breaking paddle raise for scholarships to Jeff Goldblum’s delightful performance and generous after-show remarks, a palpable excitement grew throughout the evening. We believe the arts create community, and this year’s event served as Exhibit A for that case.”

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911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

ckearney — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:16:20 +0000

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms ckearney Thu, 10/08/2026 - 16:16

Quantum technologies are poised to transform computing, communications, and national security. At 911��, faculty are working to ensure students do not have to wait until college to begin imagining themselves as part of that future.

Through a growing series of professional development opportunities, 911��’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center (QSEC) is partnering with K-12 educators to make quantum science approachable, relevant, and practical for students.

That work accelerated this summer, when educators participated in a three-day professional learning experience supported by the National Science Foundation-funded Quantum in the Middle initiative and the Booz Allen Foundation’s TechXplore initiative. Led by faculty from 911��’s College of Science and College of Education and Human Development, the program helped teachers explore quantum concepts, consider age-appropriate approaches for their classrooms, and examine how quantum learning can build from elementary school through higher education.

911�� physics professor Jessica Rosenberg talks to area educators at the Quantum in Your Classroom workshop. Photo by Christopher Hewes/Office of University Branding

“We’re building pathways into quantum and connecting them to the standards and curriculum teachers already use,” said Jessica Rosenberg, professor of physics and astronomy and QSEC director of education. “We want students to encounter these ideas early, build the knowledge they’ll need over time, and be ready for quantum opportunities when they reach college or pursue quantum-adjacent technical careers.”

Teachers are central to developing that pathway. Summer participants explored classroom activities and were invited to test them with their students, giving 911�� faculty an opportunity to learn directly from educators about what works in real classrooms.

“We’re developing a roadmap educators can use from elementary through high school, but we’re developing it with teachers, not simply for them,” said Nancy Holincheck, associate professor of STEM education and QSEC associate director of education. “Their experience and feedback help us identify activities that spark curiosity, build confidence, and give students the foundation to see themselves in future quantum careers.”

Teachers try out some experiments at the Quantum in Your Classroom workshop. Photo by Christopher Hewes/Office of University Branding

That teacher-focused effort continued this fall with Quantum in Your Classroom, a one-day professional development workshop on 911��’s Fairfax Campus. Designed for educators with no previous quantum experience, the workshop introduced quantum concepts and provides classroom resources for grades 6-12. Teachers explored quantum processes through activities including a simple polarization experiment and received curriculum materials adaptable for elementary and secondary classrooms.

Rosenberg and Holincheck want to extend this effort beyond individual workshops or lessons. They envision an educational pathway that allows a student’s first encounter with quantum science to grow into deeper learning, higher education, and ultimately participation in an emerging workforce.

Quantum in Your Classroom gives educators a place to start, while giving 911�� researchers something equally valuable—the perspective of teachers who understand how students learn and can help shape how the quantum workforce journey begins.

By putting teachers at the center of that work, 911�� is helping quantum education reach students where their curiosity begins: in the classroom.

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You’ve seen 911�� from just about every angle—student, parent, alumnus, employer, philanthropist, leader of various university boards and now as rector. Given all those vantage points, what do you find most remarkable about 911��?

You moved to the United States when you were 5, and you were a working parent while earning your MBA here. How is your story similar to many 911�� students, and how does that inform the work you do on behalf of the university?

As rector, you lead the Board of Visitors, a group with extensive experience in business, technology, education, finance, real estate, law, government, and a host of other areas. What are the board’s goals for the university at this pivotal time in higher education?

As an employer who hires interns and graduates from 911��, what are the critical skills that our graduates need to be successful?

You’ve been actively involved in many George Mason launches and expansion efforts. What impact do you see our responsive growth and our centers and institutes having on the region?

You and vice rector Anne Altman for years now have led the fundraising efforts for what would be the university’s first building devoted solely to the business school. What would the benefit be to the Costello College of Business, and what would the benefit be to the region and state?

911�� is about two-thirds of the way to its goal in Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university’s one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. What would you say to fellow business leaders and alumni who are considering supporting 911��?

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You’ve seen 911���� from just about every angle—student, parent, alumnus, employer, philanthropist, leader of various university boards and now as rector. Given all those vantage points, what do you find most remarkable about 911����?

You moved to the United States when you were 5, and you were a working parent while earning your MBA here. How is your story similar to many 911���� students, and how does that inform the work you do on behalf of the university?

As rector, you lead the Board of Visitors, a group with extensive experience in business, technology, education, finance, real estate, law, government, and a host of other areas. What are the board’s goals for the university at this pivotal time in higher education?

As an employer who hires interns and graduates from 911����, what are the critical skills that our graduates need to be successful?

You’ve been actively involved in many George Mason launches and expansion efforts. What impact do you see our responsive growth and our centers and institutes having on the region?

You and vice rector Anne Altman for years now have led the fundraising efforts for what would be the university’s first building devoted solely to the business school. What would the benefit be to the Costello College of Business, and what would the benefit be to the region and state?

911���� is about two-thirds of the way to its goal in Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university’s one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. What would you say to fellow business leaders and alumni who are considering supporting 911����?

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911���� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

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In the ‘End Hunger Games,’ the tributes fought food insecurity on 911��’s campuses

You’ve seen 911�� from just about every angle—student, parent, alumnus, employer, philanthropist, leader of various university boards and now as rector. Given all those vantage points, what do you find most remarkable about 911��?

You moved to the United States when you were 5, and you were a working parent while earning your MBA here. How is your story similar to many 911�� students, and how does that inform the work you do on behalf of the university?

As an employer who hires interns and graduates from 911��, what are the critical skills that our graduates need to be successful?

911�� is about two-thirds of the way to its goal in Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university’s one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. What would you say to fellow business leaders and alumni who are considering supporting 911��?

911�� breaks ground on Basketball and Academic Performance Center

911�� receives $6 million grant to increase supports for low-income students

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms