Office of University Branding

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Off the Clock: Sarah Holland runs at peak performance

lclarkg — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:20:21 +0000

Off the Clock: Sarah Holland runs at peak performance lclarkg Wed, 09/30/2026 - 10:20

Long-distance running requires discipline, endurance, and mental toughness. Sarah Holland, CERG Folklore Studies '22, communications officer in the Office of University Branding, has been running in 5ks, half marathons, and trail races across the United States for years.

They recently finished a 28k at The Rut, a trail running festival in Big Sky, Montana. In this race, Holland ascended and descended a rugged mountain summit more than 11,000 feet above sea level, finishing in approximately seven and a half hours.

Across all the different races Holland runs, a variety of terrains—or the novelty of an interesting theme—keep the journey interesting.

“I’d say my favorite type of race is less about distances and more about vibes,” Holland said.

Sarah Holland completed the 28k race at The Rut, a trail running festival in Big Sky, Montana. This section of the race is aptly named Bonecrusher Ridge. Photo provided

Please share a bit about The Rut. What inspired you to participate?

The Rut is one of the largest trail running events in North America. Runners tackle a variety of distances, all of which run up, down, and around Lone Mountain on highly technical and challenging terrain while battling thousands of feet of elevation gain and loss.

The 28k, which is the race I did this year, is about 17.3 miles. A friend of mine did the race in 2019. I watched her and, in a moment of delirious self-confidence, said, “Yeah, I could probably do that.” Mind you, I had never run a trail race before, nor had I ever climbed anything higher than maybe 1,000 feet. But I love unique and unusual running experiences, and this felt like something that would, at minimum, make an entertaining story.

In 2022 I “ran” (it was more like...hiking with purpose) the 28k and somehow not only survived but finished within the cutoff time. Since then, I’ve gotten a lot stronger, a lot faster, and a lot better at trail running. After running the 21k last year, I wanted to give the 28k another shot to see if I could do it faster this time around.

Describe how you felt when you finished the race.

Very, very dehydrated! But proud, for accomplishing my goal of running it faster than the first time. There is a dual sense of elation for doing something incredibly hard and succeeding while also feeling physically depleted and a little delirious. It takes a few hundred calories, a gallon of water, and a good shower to bring your brain back online.

How long have you been running and participating in races? Do you have a favorite type of race?

I started running 5ks in college, and I think my first half marathon was in 2018. I usually do a few races a year, along with running multiple times a week.

My goal is to run a race in every state, including Washington, D.C. I like unique experiences, like the International Half-Marathon that runs from Detroit, Michigan, into Windsor, Canada, and back, or the King Crab Challenge, where you run three races in Maryland and get a massive medal the size of your head as a reward.

I’ve also run the Richmond Half-Marathon a few times, not because the course is unique, but because the crowds for that race are amazing. The whole city turns out to celebrate and support the runners.

Sarah Holland, communications officer in the Office of University Branding, crosses the finish line at The Rut. Photo provided

What has been the most meaningful or memorable experience?

I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences...some good, and some not so good. I fainted in the middle of Ceasar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, after running the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon. That was certainly memorable.

But generally, seeing what my body is capable of is really rewarding: finishing The Rut for the first time or setting a new personal best during my first race after sustaining a partial Achilles tear. It’s wild what you’re capable of when put to the test, and it’s been really cool to watch myself get faster and stronger over the past decade of endurance running.

Have you learned any lessons through your experiences as a runner?

Other than running and working, I write fiction, paint, play the cello, and I've recently started taking acting classes. There are a surprising number of skills and lessons that you can take from running and apply to creative fields: the importance of rest days, the value in pushing yourself to try something difficult even if you won’t do it perfectly, the necessity of practice. These are all things that transfer between running and creative practice. And I think I’m a much better artist as a result.

Nominate a colleague for Off the Clock

Topics

Off the Clock

Health and Fitness

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Alumni

Take your Patriot Pride on the road with a 911�� license plate

lclarkg — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:04:11 +0000

Take your Patriot Pride on the road with a 911�� license plate lclarkg Tue, 08/25/2026 - 10:04

Show your Patriot pride every mile of the journey: New 911�� license plates are now available through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and every license plate purchase helps support student scholarships.

Two 911�� license plate designs are available at select Northern Virginia DMV locations and online. As part of a revenue-sharing program, $15 of every $25 license plate fee goes straight to 911�� student scholarships. Plates can be personalized for an additional $10 annually.

Anyone registering a vehicle in Virginia can purchase a 911�� license plate. Alumni, faculty, staff, current students, community members—all are welcome to make their vehicles stand out as All Together Different.

The first 911�� license plate was released in 1996, and by 2025, the program had raised more than $346,000 for 911�� student scholarships. Under a new agreement with DMV, license plate proceeds will be directed to the 911�� Foundation, enabling matching funds to be applied that can amplify the impact of the scholarship donations. Scholarships will be awarded by the 911�� Alumni Association.

“These license plates are a wonderful way for our alumni and friends to share what George Mason University means to them,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of university advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason University Foundation. “Even better, the license plate campaign provides critical dollars for the scholarships that make a George Mason education accessible for even more students.”

Redesigned by graphic designers in the Office of University Branding, the license plate promotion includes support of partners across 911��, including alumni, Intercollegiate Athletics, Advancement, Parking Services, University Life, and Integrated Enrollment Management.

“Over the past five years, public support for 911�� has soared to record levels. That community pride can now be expressed in a way that directly helps students,” said Paul Allvin, vice president and chief brand officer. “These new plates showcase our new brand expression, which has proven very popular to wear and display since its debut two years ago.”

911�� has grown from a small regional college in the 1970s into Virginia’s largest public research university. 911�� was named to the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education (ACE) highest tier of Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings, in recognition of the university’s commitment to accessibility, return on investment, and upward mobility—one of only 21 schools in the country to receive this designation.

911�� license plate purchases showcase the Mason Nation’s Patriot Pride and help the next generation of students achieve their dreams. For more ways to support the university, visit Mason Now.

Power the Possible

Topics

Alumni

Scholarships

Off the Clock: Susan Kehoe unleashes the potential of service dogs in training

lclarkg — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:19:37 +0000

Off the Clock: Susan Kehoe unleashes the potential of service dogs in training lclarkg Wed, 12/03/2025 - 13:19

Susan Kehoe has worked at 911�� for more than 35 years. As executive director of academic strategies and senior executive producer for GMU-TV, Kehoe leads an award-winning educational television team whose work reaches audiences throughout Northern Virginia and around the globe. GMU-TV’s state-of-the-art facilities and staff provide the university with academic video content, live event production, and more.

A 911�� alum, Kehoe earned her doctorate in communication and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Film and Video Studies Program.

Through her work with GMU-TV, Kehoe supports public access to 911��’s learning opportunities, scholarship, and research enterprise.

Outside work, Kehoe opens doors and broadens the experiences of others in a different way. As a volunteer Puppy Raiser for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), she (along with her family) raises and trains service dogs.

CCI provides service dogs to people with disabilities, professionals working in hospitals, schools, and law enforcement, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and individuals who experience life-threatening blood sugar fluctuations due to insulin-dependent diabetes.

Susan Kehoe (left) with GMU-TV staff and service-dog-in-training Enrique. Photo provided

How did you first get started training service dogs?

Over a decade ago, our high-school-aged son said he’d like a dog. We saw that request as an opportunity to teach responsibility, sacrifice, and charity. What appealed to us about CCI is the fact that their graduating dogs are provided to the recipients at no charge. My husband, son, and I drove to Medford, New York, to pick up Lennon. Since then, we’ve also raised Connor, Dawson, Carli, Colette, and Enrique.

How much time goes into training each dog?

We have each dog until they are one-and-a-half years old. Twice a month, we attend one-hour training classes. Between classes, our job is to teach and practice over 30 basic commands (example: sit, stay, down) and to introduce the pups to new people and experiences. Basically, share all the fun, love, and adventure life offers.

What is the next step for the dogs after you work with them?

After their time with us, we return the pups to CCI to work with professional trainers. Successful pups graduate in six to eight months and are placed in their forever homes.

Colette, service-dog-in-training, at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo provided

What has been the most meaningful or memorable experience you have had in this volunteer work?

My experiences range from the sad to the sublime. While raising Colette, my amazing husband passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. I found Mike and Colette in his office. Colette would not leave his side. She offered me peace of mind, knowing that Mike did not die alone.

The sublime is hearing from the forever homes. I receive cards and texts, updates on how the pups and their people are thriving together. These amazing pups change lives for the better.

What lessons have you learned?

Thanks to our involvement with CCI, my family—my children and grandson—and I have learned to treasure time—knowing you only have a year-and-a-half with each puppy makes every moment more special; that these pups open hearts—when we are out together, we are greeted with smiles and questions from folks wanting to know more about service dogs; that the amazing humans at GMU-TV are the world’s best dog aunts and uncles; and that the pain of saying goodbye is overshadowed by the pride of saying hello to the people with whom the pups match.

Learn more about GMU-TV

Topics

Off the Clock

GMU-TV

Volunteerism

The awards keep coming for 911��’s new brand

ckearney — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:43:45 +0000

The awards keep coming for 911��’s new brand ckearney Wed, 10/30/2024 - 15:43

911��’s new brand, fully unveiled just a half year ago, is already garnering award-winning notice from marketing, communications, and higher education spheres.

The comprehensive university rebranding project, led by the Office of University Branding (OUB), began in 2021 with the revamping of 911��’s editorial brand, done in collaboration with external ad agency Sunshine & Bourbon. The visual rebrand followed, done in collaboration with the agency Ologie. Both efforts included extensive market research, surveys, and roundtables to glean feedback from the university community.

The final outcome included a new brand narrative that emphasized the university’s standing as a rising leader in higher education, and the tagline of All Together Different that celebrates 911��’s unique and inclusive approach. New messaging rallied around themes intrinsic to the university’s identity: grit, audacity, diversity, and inclusivity. The visual rebrand included a new interlocking “GM” logo, a streamlined logo system, and bolder versions of the university’s signature green and gold.

With the new brand in place, the university got to work creating materials that tell 911��’s story using the new look and messaging. And those materials soon began to pick up accolades.

The #ChooseMason video series, a collaboration between OUB and Integrated Enrollment Marketing (IEM), was a Silver Winner at the 2024 Telly Awards in the Educational Institution–Branded Content category. The series featured videos with individual 911�� students telling their stories and sharing why the university was the ideal place for them to learn and grow.

Several print marketing pieces won 2024 Best of District III awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The 2023-24 freshman viewbook, a piece that’s distributed to prospective applicants, won in the design category, while 911��’s entire print recruitment package won in the student recruitment publications category. Both pieces were created by OUB and IEM. And the College of Education and Human Development received recognition for a mailer detailing its advanced programs, winning in the direct mail advertising category.

Each of the award-winning pieces resulted in marked growth in student interest, with a 12% increase in freshman applications, 18% in Honors College, and 8% in transfers. These pieces are all key to telling the 911�� story and attracting future Patriots.

The latest accolade came from Chief Marketer, which awarded 911�� Best Campaign Look and Feel/Design in the Design and Creativity category—surpassing such national competition as the revived Motorola Razr campaign. The Chief Marketer awards are juried by executives from both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, including UnderArmour, AAA, and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Rebranding an institution as large and as celebrated as 911�� is a massive undertaking,” said Paul Allvin, vice president and chief brand officer. “The fact that we’re seeing such a positive response both from the university community but also from industry leaders is a tremendous validation of the thoughtful collaboration and work that went into this effort.”

Go behind the scenes to learn about our growth and journey to modernize 911��'s brand identity

Topics

Integrated Enrollment Marketing IEM

Strategic Direction

Favorite Photos of the Year

lclarkg — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:00:57 +0000

Favorite Photos of the Year lclarkg Fri, 08/02/2024 - 13:00

All year long, photographers in 911��’s Office of University Branding capture the moments that make Mason All Together Different. We asked our photographers to share their favorite photos from the 2023–24 school year.

As we prepare for a new academic year, let’s look back at these recent memories—skillfully frozen in time for the 911�� vault.

Ron Aira, senior photographer, Office of University Branding

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“This photo was taken during a brand shoot, and all of the models were 911�� students,” said Ron Aira, senior photographer in the Office of University Branding. “Someone turned on some music, and they all just started to dance. It was a fun moment that captured the spontaneity of life on campus.”

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“I took portraits of Moussokoura Ouattara to go with a graduation profile video,” said Aira. “She was graduating at the same time as her daughter. This photo captures the joy and pride she was feeling upon reaching this milestone.”

Evan Cantwell, senior photographer, Office of University Branding

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“Capturing the energy and joy of the Indian Student Association and friends during Holi Moli on campus is always one of my favorite events of the year,” said Evan Cantwell, senior photographer in the Office of University Branding.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“One of my first assignments working at 911�� was photographing the Biomedical Research Lab,” said Cantwell. “Twenty years later, I was back—and this time, I was behind the curtains. Even though the lab wasn't ‘hot,’ for illustrative purposes, everyone was wearing biohazard suits. I was just wearing my office clothes.”

Cristian Torres, videographer/photographer, Office of University Branding

Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“During the winter, on one of those snowy days, the university delayed operations until noon,” said Cristian Torres, videographer/photographer in the Office of University Branding. “Two students took advantage of the extra time and got into a snowball fight. Luckily, I was there to capture that moment.”

Eduardo Macedo, student photographer, Office of University Branding

Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding

“This was my first time attending Mason Day,” said Eduardo Macedo, student photographer in the Office of University Branding. “I was fortunate to have front row access as a photographer, which allowed me to capture this moment. Her eyes just popped with the light.” Macedo is majoring in business with a concentration in finance.

Ayman Rashid, student photographer, Office of University Branding

Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“I saw this opportunity to capture the group’s energy after winning the Homecoming Lip Sync battle,” said Ayman Rashid, student photographer in the Office of University Branding. “It’s a bit messy, there are some funny facial expressions, and a whole lot of blinking, but I like that. I feel like it’s one of the more authentic and lively photos I’ve taken, which is why it’s one of my favorites.” Rashid is a graphic design major with a minor in photography.

Topics

Around Mason (E-Files)

Photography

Five no-cost ways to use the new 911�� logo in your work

lclarkg — Wed, 29 May 2024 19:06:35 +0000

Five no-cost ways to use the new 911�� logo in your work lclarkg Wed, 05/29/2024 - 15:06

In late April, 911�� unveiled a redesigned logo as the capstone of its three-year-long comprehensive rebrand. The new look includes a single logo for the university and its athletics program.

Not sure how to start using the new logo in your daily work? Here are some ways to do so—without spending a dime.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

1. Pump up that presentation.

Try out the new 911�� PowerPoint template. (911�� login required to download.)

2. Don’t end that email with just “regards.”

Add an updated email signature to your 911�� email account.

3. TLDR?

Download a brand cheat sheet and post it near your desk for easy reference.

4. Spice up that blurred backdrop.

Download a virtual meeting background for Zoom or Teams to show your Patriot pride.

5. Get your questions answered.

Attend brand training to learn more. The Office of University Branding is hosting regular office hours to answer questions, provide a brand overview, and offer tips for writing and designing in the brand.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Check out the Brand Guide

Topics

Our journey to modernize 911��’s brand identity

jharve9 — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:00:42 +0000

Our journey to modernize 911��’s brand identity jharve9 Wed, 04/24/2024 - 15:00

Dear Fellow Patriots

After three years of work, beginning with highlighting who we are and our accomplishments, and moving into our “All Together Different” brand positioning, today we begin the next leg of our journey to overhaul and modernize 911��’s brand identity. We are unveiling a new logo system that will put the university on par with dozens of powerful university brands that are in our market competing for resources, faculty and staff talent, students, and public support. To get a look at the new logo, click hereor just take a look at the university’s home page.

Why change the logo? Why now?

On every level, 911�� faces fierce competition for resources in order to deliver its mission in an increasingly volatile environment. The greater Washington, D.C., metro area represents not just the source of 84 percent of our student body, but is now the most intensely competitive higher education marketing in the nation. There are more than 140 other universities and counting with an academic presence within a 50-mile radius of 911��’s campuses, including 75 from across the country in Washington, D.C., alone. We must stay current with competition or risk decline into irrelevance.

All brands change their look over time to keep pace with shifting demands. Ours is no exception. Our current logo system, with the “Quill M” design, has served us well, but has grown inadequate to maintain best-in-class presence in the community, especially given the separate logos used to represent our athletics program. Collectively, they cause us to compete against ourselves, and present a fractured profile of the university, with underwhelming popular or commercial appeal. Yet they must compete side-by-side with some of America’s most iconic university brands for students, faculty and staff, public support, and alumni and donor engagement.

All Together Different

Starting in 2021 the Office of University Branding held a series of extensive stakeholder engagements about updating our brand that ultimately involved nearly 1,500 students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community supporters. In those exercises, stakeholders articulated the new essence of our identity and what we are to the public: An unconventional university that has risen to national prominence often by going against the grain, guided by our diversity, inclusivity, grit, and audacity. That narrative represents us well as a university that is “All Together Different.”

Improvements

The new logo system unifies the university under a single look, which now includes athletics. It includes a standard logo structure for all internal units and departments that cleans up our current cluttered unit logo system. It maintains our historic green and gold colors, but in bolder, more confident hues. And its design tells the story of 911�� as it is now: a university with multiple entry points and pathways for student success; an streamlined institution without needless frills, and a diverse learning community whose members harmoniously coexist.

Budget-neutral transition

Starting tomorrow, the Office of University Branding will guide the university on a gradual, two-year transition into the new look. That extended time will be necessary to enable a more natural transition into the new logo usage, because this is designed as a budget-neutral project. University Branding staff will stay in touch with unit marketing and communications staff members to offer guidance and support throughout the transition. Over the course of this summer—some starting tomorrow—units will receive their own new logos and will be guided to start converting in three steps:

First—Start with digital applications, which costs time but not money.

Second—Branded materials that need periodic replenishment—printed collateral and promotional items, for instance—should be allowed to run out, not be thrown out, which will take time. New logos should be used to create replacement supplies.

Finally—Logos of a more permanent nature will be replaced over time with funding supplied by the Office of University Branding, through reallocation of their existing budgets, which are not being augmented to allow for this transition.

Orientation and Compliance

Tomorrow, April 26, University Branding will release a comprehensive new online usage guide at brand.gmu.edu that gives guidance on how to use the new logo. Brand staff will immediately offer ongoing training and orientation, with outreach that began last week to unit staffers in communications, marketing, digital strategy, creative services, and events. In accordance with University Policy 1111, compliance with these brand guidelines is mandatory. Compliance decisions are the responsibility of the Office of University Branding, formerly the Office of Communications and Marketing. Questions on compliance should be directed to creative@gmu.edu.

Adjustment

New logos are often an acquired taste—it’s human nature to view changes like these with a certain amount of reluctance. I encourage everyone to give yourselves time to acclimate to this new look, and help integrate it into our operations by adopting it as soon as you practically can.

Sincerely,

Gregory Washington

President

Topics

Statements

911�� completes long-term rebrand with new logo

ckearney — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:03:05 +0000

911�� completes long-term rebrand with new logo ckearney Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:03

911�� unveiled a completely redesigned logo as the capstone of its three-year-long comprehensive rebrand. The new look, which will include a single logo for the university and its athletics program, asserts 911��’s emerging identity as a national top 50 public university and Virginia’s top-ranked university for innovation and upward mobility, as well as the commonwealth’s largest, most innovative, and most diverse university.

The ongoing rebrand signals 911��’s convention-defying rise to become a leading national public research university by expanding access to excellence through an unwavering commitment to inclusive innovation. The rebrand rollout began in 2021, with preparations to mark 50 years of 911�� as a university in 2022 with updated brand narrative that proclaims the university’s distinct approach to education as All Together Different. The logo system now matches this brand language.

“Higher education in America is at an inflection point, with families having a harder time finding a top-quality, affordable college education at a university that will actually admit them,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “911�� has always offered these things, but few families know of this value because our brand and message have not been adequately heard. This new look is our reintroduction to the community, and a symbol of our commitment to the fundamentals: outstanding and rigorous academics, pragmatic career preparation and internships, flexibility and value, and an atmosphere of belonging for everyone.”

911�� has grown from a small regional college in the 1970s into the youngest institution ever to earn Carnegie Tier 1 research university status, as well as Virginia’s top-ranked university for such high-demand and varied disciplines as cybersecurity, business entrepreneurship, homeland security, criminology, and forensic sciences. It also established Virginia’s first School of Computing in 2021 and its first College of Public Health in 2023.

“Our new brand crystallizes our identity as a great equalizer—a university committed to inclusive acceptance over exclusive status, and the promise of broad access to a top 50 university experience,” Washington said. “We take great pride in opening our doors wider the higher we climb in prestige. That’s what we mean by All Together Different.”

“911�� has always boxed above its weight in Northern Virginia and D.C., and it needs an identity system to compete in the most competitive higher education market in the nation,” said Horace Blackman, rector of 911��’s Board of Visitors. “This identity system brings 911�� shoulder-to-shoulder with leading brands in higher education.”

The new look also fixes several operational challenges with the existing logo system, and visuals that were difficult to maintain consistently across the university’s complex academic environment. All university units will now use a single, streamlined logo system.

“I am thrilled that 911�� Athletics will lead the charge to a unified look that reflects the modern character of this great university,” said Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “911�� Athletics develops true scholar-athletes and serves as the front porch of the university, so it’s important to promote one consistent identity to unify our community.”

911�� student-athletes Lauren Splett, women’s tennis, and Dean Johnson, track and field, modeled the new logo. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Input gathered from faculty and staff, students, parents, alumni, donors, and community leaders confirmed that 911�� is “All Together Different,” and in need of a new logo system to unify the community. The new look features clean lines and open ends, symbolizing multiple entry points and pathways to success. An interior gold shape hugged by green on both sides depicts the university's signature diversity and inclusivity. The clean lines represent the university’s efficiency and pragmatism.

The familiar green and gold color palette remains, paying homage to the university’s origins, as those school colors were voted on by students in the late 1960s. However, bolder shades will be adopted to signify its confidence as a rising national leader.

The “GM” monogram distinguishes the university as the world's only university to use those initials in its logo and recognizes that the broader community commonly refers to the university as “911��,” not just “Mason” and no longer “GMU.”

“This is a new look for a new era with new expectations of American higher education,” said Paul Allvin, vice president and chief brand officer at 911��. “The rebrand reintroduces Mason as elite yet never elitist, prestigious yet eminently accessible, confident in blazing a fundamentally new path for public higher education in the 21st century and beyond.”

The change to the new look is planned to happen over time and is being accomplished without additional university spending. Over the next two years, assets that can be converted at no cost, like digital displays, will be converted first, followed by branded materials that naturally run out periodically and are already budgeted for replacement. Durable assets including external signage will be paid for by reallocation of existing budgets within the Office of University Branding.

Below is an example of how the individual units will look in a new two-tiered logo strategy.

Go behind the scenes to learn about our growth and journey to modernize 911��'s brand identity

Check out the new Brand Guide

The toolkit, editorial guide, and other tips for sharing Mason's new look and feel are available here. Take a look.

You have questions? We have answers

Want to know how to use the new logo in materials? Find out what's changing and how you can boost the new brand in the FAQ.

Topics

Mason Athletics

impact fall 2024

These pathbreaking teams give a new look and feel to Mason’s public spaces

lclarkg — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:13:35 +0000

These pathbreaking teams give a new look and feel to Mason’s public spaces lclarkg Thu, 04/20/2023 - 12:13

The Patriot Pathbreakers Award, established by Human Resources and the Staff Senate, honors high-performing staff teams that embody the 911�� value of “Thriving Together.” These innovative teams use individual talents to overcome obstacles and make progress toward their goals. They have adapted their services and processes when necessary to meet the changing needs of the Mason community. Their work makes Mason All Together Different.

The Patriot Pathbreakers Award recipients will be recognized with other faculty and staff honorees at Mason’s Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 25, from 10–11:30 a.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. The ceremony will also be live streamed on GMU-TV; the link to watch the ceremony is posted on the Outstanding Achievement Awards website.

Creative Services, Office of University Branding

Creative Services designed the signage and banners displayed at Mason's 50th anniversary celebration in the Johnson Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Team members: Ron Aira, Claire Brandt, Melissa Cannarozzi, Evan Cantwell, Priyanka Champaneri, Joan Dall’Acqua, Brian Edlinski, Sierra Guard, Rebecca Kobayashi, Jeeun Namgoong, Kerianne Plunkett, Michaela Reilly, DeRon Rockingham, Corey Schaut, Rebecca Siddon, Azriel Towner

The Creative Services team provides creative support, brand stewardship, resources, and consulting to departments, schools, and colleges across Mason. This team of graphic designers, writers, editors, photographers, videographers, and production staff creates materials that capture and convey the university’s brand to internal and external audiences.

Mason’s 50th anniversary celebration was one of the team's biggest projects to date.

“The 50th anniversary was a momentous occasion in Mason’s history, and Creative Services was tasked with creating materials that both celebrated Mason’s past while also generating excitement in our community toward the future,” wrote a nominator. “The production staff researched new and innovative media and delivery methods to mark the anniversary in ways that Mason had never showcased before, including large-scale environmental advertising.”

Creative Services helped set the scene for the anniversary celebration with window clings on Mason buildings, new light pole banners, sidewalk stickers, column wraps in EagleBank Arena, staircase decals, and more.

Through a cohesive campaign of print, digital, and large-scale environmental collateral, Creative Services succeeded in creating an environment that celebrated Mason’s 50th anniversary and generated excitement and energy about the university’s next 50 years—and beyond.

“The 50th anniversary celebration was an all-in effort for every team in the Office of University Branding, and the work of the Creative Services team was absolutely pivotal to our success,” said Paul Allvin, vice president and chief brand officer. “From designing the now-familiar event graphics to giving the celebration both graphics and audiovisual excitement, the work of this team helped to make this university-wide celebration an unqualified success.”

Mason Square Plaza Activation Initiative

Mason students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered for a concert on the plaza at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Team members: Toni Andrews, Kenneth Darby, Margaret Duke, Sophie Gorshenin, Sara Hawes, Cathy Pinskey, Colin Stucki, Melissa Thierry

The Mason Square plaza activation initiative focused on the outdoor programming space at 911��’s campus in Arlington, Virginia. With the construction of Fuse at Mason Square underway—which will add more than 345,000 square feet of space to the campus—vibrant new programming has already arrived on the plaza, making it a lively gathering place for the campus and nearby community.

The launch and continued success of new public programming on the plaza is due to the work of a collaborative team of staff from University Life, Mason Square Administration, Facilities, and the Office of Community and Local Government Relations.

The activation project was modeled after a similar project at Bryant Park in New York City, with a goal of turning Mason Square’s plaza into a gathering place that would revitalize its neighborhood, offering free events and activities for the community.

Chess game on the plaza at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

The schedule includes exercise classes, musical performances, a farmers’ market, informal speakers, and more. The team did not have a manual or a guidebook when building this initiative, a nominator wrote. They learned as they went along. They visited Bryant Park to see ideas in action. They followed their instincts and tested ideas to discover what would work best for Mason and the local neighborhood.

By turning the plaza into a lively gathering place, they are helping establish Mason as an anchor for the local community.

“Mason is always looking for innovative pathways to engage our community partners,” said Paul Liberty, vice president for government and community relations. “With the plaza activation and the development of Fuse at Mason Square, Mason students and staff and the Arlington community are coming together for a unique experience due to the efforts and creativity of this partnership. The Mason Square plaza activation team has brought Mason to the community and the community to Mason.”

Topics

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Patriot Pathbreakers Award

Human Resources

Mason Square