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General David W. Allvin named featured speaker for Spring 2026 Commencement

Katarina Benson — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:46:36 +0000

General David W. Allvin named featured speaker for Spring 2026 Commencement Katarina Benson Wed, 04/01/2026 - 13:46

General David W. Allvin, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, will be the featured speaker at 911��’s Spring Commencement ceremony on May 14 at EagleBank Arena.

Allvin served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force from November 2023 to November 2025, under President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. His stint as chief of staff capped a nearly four-decade career defined by his Air Force’s focus on strategy, modernization, and international affairs.

General David W. Allvin. Photo provided

As chief of staff, Allvin served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving domestically and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Allvin served as a military adviser to the secretary of defense, National Security Council, and the president.

Allvin has received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (three times), the Legion of Merit (twice), and the Bronze Star Medal.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. In addition to chief of staff and vice chief of staff, the four-star general’s many leadership positions included:

Commanding General, NATO Air Training Command—Afghanistan
Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan
Commander, 618th Air and Space Operations Center
Director, Strategy, Concepts, and Assessments
Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force
Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command
Vice Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff
Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff

He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours in more than 30 aircraft, including 800 flight test hours and 100 combat hours.

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Ilia Malinin wins his third consecutive world championship

ckearney — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:58:37 +0000

Ilia Malinin wins his third consecutive world championship ckearney Mon, 03/30/2026 - 15:58

911��’s Ilia Malinin gave a resounding performance at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague that resulted in his third consecutive world championship.

lia Malinin celebrates with the U.S. flag after winning the men's free skating program of the 2026 ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic on March 28, 2026. Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images

Malinin, a 21-year-old exploratory studies major from Vienna best known as the "Quad God,” was just six weeks removed from a free skate at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics that saw the heavy gold medal favorite fall from medal contention. In the immediate days afterwards, he spoke of the relentless pressure on him and others at the Olympic level.

With a fresh outlook, Malinin delivered an impressive two-minute, 49-second short program that included a quadruple flip, a triple axel, a quadruple lutz-triple toe loop combination, and a backflip for good measure, affirming his status as the world’s most dominant skater.

“I was definitely coming back to prove myself that [the Olympic performance] was a one-time thing, but now I realize this is much more than just skating,” Malinin told the media afterward. “It’s being able to go and enjoy and have fun.”

Malinin finished with a total score of 329.40, placing him well ahead of silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan (306.67). Another Japanese skater, Shun Sato, finished third with 288.54 points.

Malinin plans to spend the next few weeks touring across America on the Stars on Ice tour.

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with Ilia Malinin >>

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Celebrating Our Champions: An evening honoring faculty and staff donors

Katarina Benson — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:33:46 +0000

Celebrating Our Champions: An evening honoring faculty and staff donors Katarina Benson Mon, 03/30/2026 - 15:33

911��’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations recognized the contributions of its champions—911��’s faculty and staff donors—with an evening of thanks. The March 18 Celebrating Our Champions event focused on the generosity and support that faculty and staff offer the university while serving 911�� students. “I know that you care about students, but you all have taken it a step further,” said 911�� President Gregory Washington. “You have decided to give back to the very institution that you serve every day. That is profound.”

Nena Rogers (left) received the 2026 Spirit of Giving Award. Photo by Sean Kelley

The annual event reflects the importance of faculty and staff engagement with the university. “Your participation strengthens a legacy of generosity that connects our past, our present, and our future,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the 911�� Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “Tonight is about a tradition where we recognize a staff and a faculty member for their philanthropy in the many years they give to our institution.”

The Luminary Award honors faculty donors whose philanthropy, advocacy, and commitment serve as an example for the community. This year, it was awarded to Keith D. Renshaw, a professor of psychology and senior associate provost for undergraduate education. Described as a respected colleague, Renshaw was recognized as a collaborator, a mentor, and a friend.

“I truly believe it is hard to find a more compelling place than 911��,” said Renshaw. “I take very seriously the responsibility that comes with this award. I will continue to support all that I can and to inspire others to support as much as they can, because it is hard to find another place that is more deserving of that support than 911��.”

Keith Renshaw (center) received the Luminary Award. Photo by Sean Kelley

Nena Rogers, BS ’89, MA ’19, deputy athletics director for student services and performance, received the 2026 Spirit of Giving Award, which recognizes a staff member who embodies the university’s philanthropic spirit. A former student-athlete herself, Rogers was noted for having the ability to see the possibilities and strengths hidden within her students, for the benefit of not only the athletic programs at 911�� but the athletes themselves.

“To me, the spirit of giving is simple. It’s believing in someone’s future. It’s extending a hand toward opportunity,” said Rogers. “Together, we know that the investments we make today will shape the leaders of tomorrow.”

Because of faculty and staff members like Renshaw and Rogers, students at 911�� not only thrive for a semester, but for years to come. “My experience here has been invaluable,” said Madison Preis, a criminology major who received support from the Stay Mason Fund and spoke at the event. “There’s truly nothing like it. I want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you because you’re enabling our futures and supporting our dreams.”

This new annual tradition, launched last year, aims to convey 911��’s gratitude to its faculty and staff, both on campus and through philanthropic support for its students and programs. Their advocacy and commitment champion the university’s mission now and into the future.

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Washington receives Incheon Mayor’s Award for contributing to a trusted Korea-U.S. global hub

Katarina Benson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:32:29 +0000

Washington receives Incheon Mayor’s Award for contributing to a trusted Korea-U.S. global hub Katarina Benson Fri, 03/27/2026 - 15:32

911�� President Gregory Washington received the Incheon Mayor's award for his contributions in helping to raise Incheon's international profile through global cooperation, including the university’s Mason Korea campus.

Washington was recognized for his contributions in elevating Incheon's international standing through global cooperation, promoting the Incheon city brand through U.S. media, and contributing to various fields including the establishment of the Center for Korean Culture and Society at Mason Korea.

From left, Vice Provost Renate Guilford, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Ajay Vinzé, Mason Korea Dean Joshua Park, President Gregory Washington, Junho Jeon, special advisor to the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, and Vice Provost Janette Muir. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Since opening its Korea campus in 2014, 911�� has maintained a cooperative relationship with Incheon City across a range of areas including research and community service. The university is currently conducting the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Project, an international joint research initiative on future-oriented urban planning, together with Incheon City and Seoul National University.

Through its Mason Cares program, the university also carries out ongoing community service activities, such as mural painting, global career camps, coastal cleanups, donations of daily necessities to local orphanages, and fuel briquette donations to low-income households.

"This award is a meaningful reflection of the close collaboration between 911�� and Incheon City,” Washington said. “We will continue to contribute to elevating Incheon's international standing through global education and research cooperation, and remain committed to expanding exchanges between our two countries."

Junho Jeon, special advisor to the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City and chief of strategic content planning, and Mason Korea Campus Dean Joshua Park attended the award ceremony at the Fairfax Campus on March 26. "This award will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership with Incheon City,” said Park. “We will contribute to nurturing Korea-U.S. global talent and local development, and fulfill our role as a trusted Korea-U.S. global hub where students, researchers, businesses, and institutions collaborate and grow together."

Mason Korea is an extended campus of 911��, the largest public research university in Virginia. 911��’s proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it a talent pipeline for government agencies, global corporations, and leading IT companies, providing students with a favorable environment for building internship and employment networks in the United States.

911�� ranked 32nd among U.S. public universities and 71st overall among the Wall Street Journal’s best colleges rankings. The Korea campus offers the same curriculum and degrees as the U.S. campus, and students have the opportunity to spend one year studying at the U.S. campus to gain global experience.

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In its first year, ACCESS Academy doubles applications and delivers strong academic results

ckearney — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:44:46 +0000

In its first year, ACCESS Academy doubles applications and delivers strong academic results ckearney Thu, 03/26/2026 - 15:44

In its first year, 911��’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy is already demonstrating strong indicators of demand, academic rigor, and early student achievement. Interest in the program has grown rapidly. For the 2026-27 admissions cycle, ACCESS received 387 applications from ninth graders, double the 193 applications submitted the previous year.

With only 30 seats available for the incoming ninth-grade cohort, the program has quickly become one of the most selective emerging innovation pathways in the region. Participation in the program allows advanced freshmen in high school to take college classes.

In December, ACCESS Academy students demonstrated projects and discussed their experiences with then-Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera in a robotics lab at Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Early academic outcomes among the inaugural cohort also reflect the program’s rigor. The current ninth-grade ACCESS Academy class maintains an average GPA of 3.72, demonstrating strong performance across a curriculum that integrates advanced technical coursework with core high school instruction. These early indicators highlight the momentum behind the academy and the role of 911�� and its College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in developing research-informed, workforce-aligned learning models for secondary education.

One of the most significant milestones for the academy this year is the launch of its first dual enrollment course. Thirty-seven ACCESS Academy ninth-graders are currently enrolled in a Python programming course offered through Northern Virginia Community College. Introducing a college-level computing course at the ninth-grade level represents an acceleration point within the academy’s academic pathway, providing students with foundational programming skills relevant to software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science.

Potomac Falls High School teacher Matt Wax, one of the academy instructors, said launching a new academic model required both flexibility and innovation in instructional practice. “Because the program is brand new, there aren’t many existing resources to draw from,” Wax said. “We’ve had to adapt instruction in real time, creating opportunities for students to think outside the box while adjusting expectations and course design as the program evolves.”

Early implementation has also highlighted the collaborative learning environment developing among students. While some ninth-graders are adjusting to the rigor of college-level coursework, Wax noted that peer support has become an important element of the classroom culture. “It’s been encouraging to see students who are doing well step up to help classmates who are struggling,” he said. “That willingness to support one another is one of the most positive outcomes so far.”

In addition to rigorous coursework, ACCESS students are already engaging in technical and professional learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Last fall, 31 ACCESS Academy students attended the BSidesNoVA Cyber Security/Hacker Conference, where they participated in sessions focused on cybersecurity tools, ethical hacking, and emerging digital threats. Participation in professional cybersecurity conferences at the ninth-grade level represents a distinctive feature of the academy’s early exposure model.

In the summer of 2025, ACCESS Academy offered an AI Camp to 9th through 12th graders at Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Thirty ACCESS students participated in Virginia CyberSlam 2026, an event sponsored by 911��’s Cyber Security Engineering Department and Loudoun County Public Schools. The event challenged students to apply cybersecurity concepts in simulated threat-response scenarios and collaborative problem-solving environments.

ACCESS students have also had opportunities to present their learning to state-level education leaders. During a recent visit to Fuse at Mason Square, students demonstrated projects and discussed their experiences with former Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, providing visibility for the academy’s instructional model and student work.

At the curricular level, ACCESS Academy is emerging as a leader within Virginia’s expanding lab school network through its use of problem-based learning as core instructional framework. Rather than relying on traditional lecture-based instruction, students engage with complex, real-world problems that require research, collaboration, and iterative design. This curriculum model, developed with support from CEHD faculty, is attracting statewide attention.

Faculty affiliated with the program will present the ACCESS Academy curriculum framework at the upcoming Innovation Summit hosted by Old Dominion University, highlighting how the academy integrates computing education, interdisciplinary learning, and research-based instructional design.

For instructors, one of the most notable aspects of the program has been the diversity of students who have chosen to participate. Wax observed that the inaugural cohort includes a wide range of ability levels, interests, and backgrounds, creating opportunities for varied perspectives within collaborative learning environments. The program’s rapid growth in applications reflects the special opportunities it provides, he added.

“ACCESS offers opportunities free of charge that many students might not otherwise have access to,” he said. “For students who are looking for something different from a traditional model of schooling, it offers an accelerated and more professionally oriented pathway.”

“What we’re seeing with ACCESS Academy is early evidence of what becomes possible when we design learning as a connected pathway rather than a series of disconnected experiences,” explained Ingrid Guerra-Lopez, dean of CEHD, who led the vision and design of ACCESS Academy. “ACCESS is giving us a living platform to study and continuously improve how teaching and learning can better prepare students for the complexity of the future. This model invites us to rethink readiness not as something that begins after high school, but as something we intentionally build across the entire educational ecosystem.”

This initiative supports the Advancing 21st-Century Education for All solution of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

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Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree

Katarina Benson — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:36:29 +0000

Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree Katarina Benson Wed, 03/25/2026 - 14:36

Colleges and universities face significant demographic, financial, technological, and political changes that affect enrollment, tuition and financial aid, athletics programs, and career outcomes. The institutions that will succeed in the future are the ones today transforming their operational models and establishing robust alliances across sectors.

That was the prevailing sentiment March 17 when higher education leaders from across the country convened at Fuse at Mason Square for the inaugural P3•EDU MAP Summit. (P3 is short for public–private partnerships, and MAP stands for mergers, affiliations, and partnerships.)

“Depending on how you count them, we have 6,000 institutions of higher education in this country, and not all of them are going to make it out of the next decade,” said U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. “And quite honestly, not all of them need to make it out of the next decade or should. And the ones that do are going to be the ones that adapt in a variety of ways.”

The Colleges and Universities at an Inflection Point panel at the P3•EDU MAP Summit. From left, moderator Ted Eismeier, Senior Vice President, Head of Postsecondary Communications, Whiteboard Advisors; Robert Kelchen, Professor and Department Head, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Brad Wolverton, Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education; Mike Gavin, President and CEO, Alliance for Higher Education; and Sara Custer, Editor-in-Chief, Inside Higher Ed. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine referenced the state’s many successful public–private partnerships, including Fuse at Mason Square itself, noting different kinds of P3s he’s brokered in his many elected offices in Virginia, including urban infrastructure, Metrorail extension, and student housing near college campuses. Higher education needs to "change course and change direction while still meeting the needs of the workforce and families,” he said.

“There's this sort of false narrative about higher ed institutions needing to do everything themselves,” said James Sparkman, the P3•EDU producer whose organization is a catalyst for higher ed alliances. “I think this is unsustainable for a lot of institutions, and it's definitely not the model for the dynamic colleges and universities that I know that thrive on partnerships.”

911�� President Gregory Washington acknowledged the importance of colleges finding “a new set of solutions” by collaborating with industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public K-12 sector.

“If you have these conversations with members of government, and with many of our well-placed corporates, they will tell you there are too many universities,” Washington said. “And that the value proposition is in question. So what that means is that the calvary probably isn't coming. We’re going to have to find ways to survive, which means looking more toward partnerships and frameworks working together. Those institutions that don't do that do so at their own peril. And part of that peril is their own survival.”

Washington mentioned his “co-opetition” model in which institutions find more ways to align resources while continuing to compete against each other. But those alliances can be elusive because colleges and universities and reluctant to relinquish their autonomy.

Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, found in a previous role that it was difficult to convince neighboring colleges to sync academic calendars or library loan agreements, let alone establish the cross-institutional partnerships that higher ed survival increasingly demands.

“Our blessing is that we are not a federal higher education system,” Hass said. “Our curse is that we are individual institutions and organizations with individual histories, individual mascots, individual sports teams…. We have this radical independence, and it is, in many ways, our strength. And it does make the system more complex, more flexible, and more redundant in a way that probably increases the overall resiliency of the system. But that doesn't mean individual institutions have that resiliency.”

“We have been at inflection points before in the history of higher ed,” Inside Higher Ed editor-in-chief Sara Custer said during one of the summit panels. “This one feels completely different. One thing that is a blanket cause of where we are right now is the overcompliance and fear we’re seeing on college campuses from leadership right down to junior staff.”

Kent, who was deputy education secretary in Virginia before joining the U.S. Department of Education, said that more intentional conversations are taking place now between potential partners in and around higher ed and that the role of his department is to facilitate those partnerships through “cutting regulatory burden.”

“We are all about breaking down silos,” Kent said. “We are all about doing things in a different way. We are all about questioning the status quo in this administration. We are breaking a lot of molds in the way that we do things, and we think for the betterment of students and taxpayers, and quite honestly, for the betterment of higher education as a whole.”

“P3s are something that Virginia embraces, and we're very excited about it, being able to put all stakeholders around the table,” Kaine said. “Because without that, it's really hard to do projects. And it's just a tribute to the fact that good things in life now hardly happen by the say-so of a dynamic president or the say-so of a dynamic governor. It takes a lot of people around the table.”

This initiative supports the Advancing 21st-Century Education for All solution of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

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Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will headline this year’s ARTS by George!

ckearney — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:22:51 +0000

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will headline this year’s ARTS by George! ckearney Mon, 03/16/2026 - 12:22

911��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announces the ARTS by George! benefit event, headlined by acclaimed actor and musician Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. ARTS by George! takes place on Saturday, October 3, on 911��’s Fairfax Campus.

Jeff Goldblum. Photo by Pari Dukovic

The event raises vital support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, and arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase on the event website.

Goldblum’s storied career spans nearly six decades of award-winning work as a starring actor in film, television, and theater. He recently co-starred as the Wizard of Oz, alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, in the global box office smash Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good. He has also produced film and television projects and is an Academy Award-nominated director for his short feature film, Little Surprises.

Goldblum’s many film credits include The Big Chill, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Fly, Independence Day, Jurassic Park, and Thor: Ragnarok. He has received Emmy nominations for his work on Will & Grace and for the National Geographic/Disney+ series, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, which he also executive produced. Onstage, he has starred in Broadway’s The Pillowman, the Off-Broadway production of Domesticated, as well as the London production of Speed-the-Plow.

Goldblum launched the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra 30 years ago. Since then, he and his band have performed for audiences throughout the United States and around the world. The group has released four albums with Decca Records, featuring guest artists that include Gregory Porter, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Fiona Apple, Freda Payne, Haley Reinhart, Imelda May, and Maiya Sykes. On June 5, 2026, Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are set to release Night Blooms, the companion album to Still Blooming, under Universal’s recently relaunched Fontana label, featuring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Charlie Puth, dodie, Haley Reinhart, Melody Gardot, Scarlett Johansson, and others.

ARTS by George! begins at 5 p.m. in the de Laski Performing Arts Building with CVPA students and faculty collaborating in a series of showcases and exhibits in art, music, dance, theater, film, and more. At 8:30 p.m., Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra headline a performance in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The concert will feature contemporary arrangements of jazz classics and American Songbook standards, brought to life with Goldblum’s signature improvisation and charm.

Mason Arts Board member Annie Bolger serves as event chair. Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner, immersive presentations by CVPA students and faculty, premium orchestra seating for the headlining concert by Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, an onstage toast and dessert reception following the concert including a special appearance by the artist, and free garage parking. Each ARTS by George! ticket includes a charitable donation directly supporting CVPA student scholarships and community arts programs. Since 2006, the event has raised more than $4.6 million for Mason Arts.

Subscribers to the Center for the Arts 2026–27 season can add tickets for the 8:30 p.m. performance to their subscription package beginning on May 28. Individual tickets to the 8:30 p.m. performance go on sale August 4 through the Center for the Arts website.

Join us at ARTS by George!

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Strengthening trust and resilience: How 911��’s new CRO is advancing enterprise risk management

ckearney — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:15:10 +0000

Strengthening trust and resilience: How 911��’s new CRO is advancing enterprise risk management ckearney Mon, 03/16/2026 - 09:15

Aurali Dade was recently named vice president for enterprise risk management and chief risk officer at 911��. Learn more about her and her role.

Aurali Dade. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Tell us about yourself and what brought you back to 911��?

My journey with 911�� started in 2012. In my first decade here, I served in a series of leadership roles in Research Integrity and Assurance, then Research and Innovation Initiatives, followed by serving as interim vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. I then spent more than three years at the National Science Foundation funding nationally impactful research and education programs as an Intergovernmental Personnel Act appointee.

What ultimately brought me back was 911��’s sense of purpose and momentum. Stepping into the role—first as interim and now permanently—of vice president for enterprise risk management and chief risk officer (CRO) felt like a meaningful way to contribute to an institution that has been such a major part of my professional life. It brings together everything I care about: building strong governance, supporting strategic decision‑making, and creating systems that protect and enable the university’s mission. It felt like a natural homecoming to return and continue serving a community I believe in.

For someone who might not be familiar with enterprise risk management, explain what it is and how it protects our university?

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is an institution‑wide approach to identifying, assessing, and managing potential risks that could affect operations, people, finances, reputation, or mission. Rather than working in silos, ERM looks at the entire organization to understand what could go wrong, how likely it is, and what actions can reduce the impact. This helps leadership make informed decisions, prioritize resources, and respond to challenges proactively rather than reactively.

For a university, ERM acts as a safeguard that helps protect students, faculty, staff, and the institution’s long‑term stability. It helps ensure risks are spotted early around everything from safety and compliance to cybersecurity and financial stability. ERM also supports strategic planning by aligning risk awareness with the university’s goals, so innovations or new initiatives move forward with a clear understanding of potential challenges. In short, ERM helps the university operate responsibly, stay resilient, and maintain the trust of its community.

How has the ERM program evolved at 911��?

As 911�� has grown, so has ERM. Our approach has matured to reflect and support 911��’s rapid expansion in size, complexity, and ambition. We’ve been intentional about building on the strong foundation that [Dr.] Julie Zobel established—she had a clear vision for how ERM could move beyond traditional risk mitigation and become a true strategic decision‑making and prioritization tool. One of the biggest shifts has been ensuring ERM stands on its own as an independent, university‑wide function, which has allowed us to take a broader, more holistic view of risk and its connection to institutional goals.

Today, ERM serves as the organizing concept for a wide range of efforts that address institutional risks. The unit encompasses work focused on policy management including policy standardization, maintenance, and strengthening our approach to governance at every level. Most importantly, ERM helps ensure every risk mitigation strategy intentionally ties back to 911��’s strategic priorities, helping the university invest its resources wisely and advance its mission with clarity and confidence.

You've updated the university's policy on policies, why is that important?

One of the important developments in the ERM and governance work over the past year has been the recent update to Policy 1101, our policy on policies. Partnering with Melissa Brockelman‑Post, assistant provost of academic affairs, we modernized the policy to create a stronger, more transparent framework for how policies are developed, reviewed, approved, and maintained going forward. This update wasn’t just procedural—it was designed to build consistency, strengthen accountability, and treat policy management as an essential component of institutional risk mitigation.

We also expanded and formalized our broader Policy Management Group, chartered by the provost and the chief operating officer. Bringing in more diverse campus perspectives— instructional, research, operational, academic, compliance, legal, student‑facing, and more—helps us anticipate issues early and avoid unintended consequences. This ensures that policies not only meet compliance requirements but work effectively in practice, support our strategic direction, and minimize downstream risk. It’s a great example of how ERM is strengthening our structures to help prevent or mitigate risks before they emerge.

What’s next for ERM at 911��?

This is an exciting new era where ERM does not just identify risks, it connects the dots across the institution and helps the university “see around corners.” As 911�� continues to grow in size and complexity, ERM is becoming an even more strategic partner, helping leadership make informed decisions and anticipate challenges before they arise.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on leveraging new tools and technology to strengthen how we gather data, monitor risks, and identify trends. We continue to foster partnerships across campus, deepening our engagement and broadening our network. The next phase of ERM at 911�� is about continuing to expand our impact, modernize our approach, and ensure we’re supporting the institution in a holistic and forward‑thinking way.

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911��’s Marvin Lewis serves on NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee as March Madness nears

Katarina Benson — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:25:57 +0000

911��’s Marvin Lewis serves on NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee as March Madness nears Katarina Benson Wed, 03/11/2026 - 19:25

Marvin Lewis knows a little something about the anxiety that comes with waiting for your team’s name to be called on Selection Sunday, and the euphoria that follows when that dream of playing in the NCAA Tournament becomes a reality.

Lewis, 911��’s assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, is now in his inaugural season among those charged with making it happen for those lucky few as part of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee.

Lewis, who played in two NCAA Tournaments as a standout player at Georgia Tech and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2004 NCAA Championship game, called his addition to the selection committee last April as the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) representative “a huge honor.”

Lewis was chosen for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“As a kid, I always dreamed of playing in the NCAA Tournament,” he said. “Then to have the experience at Georgia Tech to actually play in it, and then make it to the final game was special. But I feel like this is now a full-circle moment—with me now being an administrator helping to decide who’s in it. That’s probably the coolest thing for me. It’s pretty special.”

Lewis, however, won’t have much time to wax nostalgic because Selection Sunday is fast approaching on March 15, and there are scores of basketball games for him to watch between now and then from among the six conferences he’s been assigned.

He’s part of a 12-member committee charged with identifying the 31 best at-large teams to join the tournament’s 31 automatic qualifiers for the 68-team field that will compete for the national championship.

Committee members, who are led by chair and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Athletics Director Amanda Braun, have long been meticulously watching games, analyzing statistical profiles, reviewing results and weekly rankings, and applying a range of metrics and evaluation tools to build the most competitive tournament bracket possible.

“Over the past four months, I’ve watched more women’s basketball than I ever have,” Lewis said.

The selection to the high-profile committee is the most prestigious assignment yet for Lewis, whose star continues to rise in the field. But those who know him best are hardly surprised.

Former ACC Senior Associate Commissioner for Women’s Basketball Mary McElroy was the athletics director at Georgia State when she gave Lewis a reprieve from life as a certified public accountant by hiring him as an assistant athletics director for business in 2008. McElroy is a former Georgia Tech athletics department administrator and had known Lewis from their time there, recognizing his maturity and focus early on.

“I needed the help, and he had the experience and maturity I needed,” McElroy said. “So I took a chance on him.”

His new time-intensive duties mean that Lewis won’t be in Pittsburgh to watch the men’s basketball team compete in the A-10 Tournament. He’ll instead be in Indianapolis with fellow committee members as they absorb all the last-minute information before determining the women’s NCAA Tournament field.

Committee members cannot be present during discussions regarding the selection or seeding of a school or conference they represent.

“You just watch it on TV and everyone has an opinion or perspective on where their team should be seeded, whether their team should be in, or who should be placed in what order,” Lewis said. “But we spend hours debating, using the criteria the committee has established to make those determinations. It’s a lot more detailed than people would think.”

Under Lewis’ leadership, 911�� Athletics delivered a historic 2024–25 season, capturing five A-10 Conference titles. Key highlights included:

Men’s basketball captured a share of the program’s first regular-season title, finishing with a school-record 27 wins and earning the team’s first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance since 2009.
Women’s basketball won its first A-10 Tournament championship, recorded a program-best 27 victories, and advanced to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Men’s soccer secured the program’s first regular-season title, finishing 13–4–1 overall and 6–1–1 in conference play, while Head Coach Rich Costanzo was named A-10 Coach of the Year.
Women’s indoor track & field won first championship since 2014.
Men’s outdoor track & field won first championship since 2010.

The five championships marked the most conference titles in a single season in program history, surpassing the previous record of four titles set during 911��’s inaugural A-10 campaign in 2013-14. The achievement also represented the program’s most successful competitive year since the 1994-95 season. George Mason student-athletes also earned 18 all-conference selections or individual titles, while 75 received weekly A-10 awards.

Lewis’ close relationship with A-10 Coach of the Year Tony Skinn, a 911�� alum who helped lead the Patriots to the 2006 Final Four, helped pave the way for a breakthrough season for the men’s basketball program last winter.

The women’s basketball team also delivered a historic season under Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, who guided the Patriots to the program’s first A-10 championship and was later named a finalist for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award.

Lewis’s impact has been equally significant off the courts. During his tenure, a record number of student-athletes were named Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athletes, including 78 in 2024-25 and 74 in 2025-26, the first time 911�� has recorded back-to-back years with more than 70 honorees.

Beyond competitive success, Lewis has also focused on building the long-term foundation of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 2025, he introduced “Patriots United. Together We Thrive,” a five-year strategic vision designed to strengthen 911�� Athletics through enhanced student-athlete support, improved resources and facilities, and deeper engagement with the Northern Virginia community.

His success and extensive college basketball background made Lewis an easy choice when the opening as the committee’s A-10 representative unexpectedly came up last spring. His appointment also marked the first time 911�� has had a representative on the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Committee.

Lewis now gets to experience March Madness again, this time from a vastly different vantage point. Following the announcement of the NCAA field, he’ll attend tournament games at various sites before heading to the Women’s Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.

“For a basketball junkie,” he said, “it doesn’t get much better.”

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BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase

sholla4 — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:39:14 +0000

BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase sholla4 Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:39

The 911�� Board of Visitors welcomed 12 new members and elected new board leadership at its Feb. 26 meeting in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

The new rector is Michael J. Meese, formerly the vice rector. The new vice rector is Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, one of the dozen new members appointed to the board in January by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Returning visitor Armand Alacbay, JD ‘04, will continue in his role as secretary. The other two members of the board’s executive committee are new board members Anne Altman, BS Marketing ’82, and Paul Misener, JD ’93. Altman served on the BOV from 2006 to 2010.

Four of the board’s six standing committees are chaired by newly appointed board members.

“This reflects their willingness to serve and our commitment to bringing fresh perspectives into leadership,” Meese said. “I am very grateful for the willingness of the new and returning members to step into these roles.”

The new terms for the new executive committee and committee assignments will remain until the annual board of visitors meeting on July 31, 2026, when the board will reorganize based on the eligible board members.

In one early decision, the board voted to raise housing and dining meal plans by 4% to help offset rising costs in the state’s most expensive region and fund a backlog of deferred maintenance projects. The increase will be about $580 per student for the academic year. Rates vary by room style and meal plan. About 6,000 students, or 15% of the university’s enrollment, lives on campus.

Even after that increase, 911��’s room and board rate for the 2026-27 academic year will be lower than the other five Virginia doctoral universities’ rates are for 2025-26.

“911�� strives to balance the continued pressures of inflation and the high cost of living with the need to provide affordable food and housing to our students,” said Julie Zobel, senior vice president and chief operating officer in administration and operations. “The proposed housing increase allows us to keep pace with inflation and cover the costs of operating and staffing 40 residence halls in an environment where costs continue to rise.”

Last year the university provided more than $2 million in housing grants for lower-income students, Zobel said. The university also offers a housing and food insecurity fund.

There will be a tuition town hall for students at 4:30 p.m. on March 23 in Merten 1203 on the Fairfax Campus. The BOV will hold a public comment session on tuition on March 31, committee meetings on April 15 and a full board meeting on April 30.

The board approved two items regarding academic programs. Pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, 911�� will expand existing curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development to launch a BS in hospitality, tourism and events management, a change that will “align the degree more closely with industry standards and course demand,” Interim Provost Ajay Vinzé said.

The BA in government and international politics in the Schar School will become a BA in political science, a name change that will be clearer to students and families and align with national norms, Vinzé said.

Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, noted that 911�� research expenditures have grown from $84 million in 2010 to $282 million in 2024 but added that recent federal policy actions have resulted in 53 terminated awards representing about $16 million in lost funding. The Grand Challenge Initiative, which will soon announce grant recipients, has focused the university’s research on areas most likely to attract external funding.

Marshall also highlighted the opportunities that Fuse at Mason Square provides for collaboration across industry, academia and government. “There is a great community that is building there,” he said. “Not just with the faculty and the labs, but the tenants. Not the least of which is also the presence of Mason Enterprise in order to support startups and commercialization of technologies that are coming out of 911��.”

One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation on Mason LIFE, an inclusive postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, from program director Linn Jorgenson. Mason LIFE is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and there will be more coverage of the milestone in The George in April. Student Nominzul Otgonbayar shared her experiences in the program. In Virginia, there are four universities with Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs. 911�� is the only university in the state to also have a Comprehensive Transition Program designation.

“That can only happen at a place as inclusive as this one,” Washington said. “There is a reason it is happening at Mason and not other places – because everybody can be at home here. That is the kind of institution we have. That is who we are.”

David Burge, vice president for enrollment management, noted that the university enrolls more undergraduate students now – 28,137 – than at any point in its history. That influx has helped offset a drop in international students as a result of changing federal policy. “We are educating more Virginians than we have ever educated as an institution,” Burge said.

One reason for the undergraduate surge is the university’s direct admission partnerships with 40 high schools across eight Northern Virginia school divisions. Students who meet certain academic criteria are informed they have been accepted to 911��, even if they have not applied to the university.

“We have talented students in Virginia who were self-selecting out of college,” Burge said. “We are doing a better job of getting them in at this point.” A projected 30 percent of the university’s incoming freshmen this fall will be from direct admission.

“I can guarantee you within 10 years, this will be the norm of how institutions admit students,” Washington said. “And by that time – even before that – five years from now, we need to be on to something else.”

Trishana Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the GMU Foundation, said the university has raised $620.3 million toward its $1 billion goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign. She also offered a reminder for Giving Day on April 2.

“This day is about giving to 911�� and to anything that you care about within our university, so it is something that strongly resonates with our community,” Bowden said. “We have seen the number increase every year and so we’re hoping that we will have the support of all our leadership boards and committees and advisory councils.”

Marvin Lewis, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, gave an overview of 911�� student-athletes’ success in the classroom (3.4 overall cumulative GPA) and in competition, new facilities (a planned groundbreaking in late spring for the Basketball & Academic Performance Center) and upcoming Atlantic 10 championships that will take place locally – the outdoor track and field championships at 911�� on May 2-3 and the baseball championship May 20-23 at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Washington gave a shoutout to 911�� student Ilia Malinin, a gold medalist U.S. figure skater in the recently concluded Winter Olympics. Malinin schedules his course work around his skating training and competitions. “He is a contemporary student,” Washington said. “He is working, in terms of his craft and he is doing that while also being a student.

“At 911��, that’s Tuesday. We have a lot of folks like that and we know how to integrate and work with those young people while they are pursuing their dreams and also their academic pursuits.”

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