College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Katarina Benson — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:45:43 +0000

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students Katarina Benson Wed, 08/12/2026 - 08:45

Last year, Fall for the Book’s annual Writers in the School series reached nearly 1,200 K-12 students in the Fairfax County Public Schools with their Writers in the School series. The program, organized by the 911��-based festival, is designed to introduce students to authors and encourage interest in reading and writing.

Misako Rocks! taught students how to draw manga. Photo provided.

Last fall Japanese writer and artist Misako Rocks! visited Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax to show students how to draw manga. Misako Rocks! has published many graphic novels including Bounce Back, winner of the American Library Association’s 2021 Best Graphic Novels for Children. She also conducted a manga drawing workshop and signed books during 2025 Fall for the Book Festival.

"Having Misako visit was such a joy for the Robinson community. It can be difficult to secure school funding for author talks, and we were so fortunate to receive this opportunity through Fall for the Book. It was really a special day and truly enriched the learning of the 250 students who were able to participate,” said Michael Van Wambeke, Robinson Secondary School Library.

Local author Ann McCallum Staats visited Mosaic Elementary School, also in Fairfax, to teach students about botany with the help of her book Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants.

Award-winning writer and professor of English at William Paterson University Marina Budhos visited Manassas Park High School to discuss teenage life and immigrant families. Her recent book, Tell Us We're Home, follows three eighth-grade girls in Massachusetts.

Author Ann McCallum Staats at Mosaic Elementary School. Photo provided

“We worked with the schools to create meaningful, immersive activities to connect the featured books with their current schoolwork,” said Kara Oakleaf, director of Fall for the Book and a faculty member in 911��’s English Department. “For many of these children and teens, it was their first time seeing an author speak in person.”

Engaging with authors allows students to learn more about the writing process, increases interest in reading, and improves literacy outcomes.

At this year's festival, which runs October 6-10, authors will again visit schools.

Cassandra James, international bestselling author of fantasy epics for teens, will visit Chantilly High School. Her debut duology, Capitana and Libertad, has been translated into multiple languages and was chosen for the Junior Library Guild Gold Selection.

Marcie Flinchum Atkins is a teacher-librarian and the author of When Twilight Comes. The author of several nonfiction books for children, she will speak to Mosaic Elementary students about crepuscular plants and animals active in summer in Virginia. Atkins’s debut historical YA novel, One Step Forward, is about the youngest suffragist imprisoned at Occoquan Workhouse.

Based at 911��, Fall for the Book is an independent nonprofit literary arts organization that promotes reading by sponsoring a variety of year-round events and activities on the 911��’s Fairfax Campus and throughout Northern Virginia.

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Rebuilding after trauma: 911�� psychologist hopes to improve early care for survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries

sholla4 — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:52:46 +0000

Rebuilding after trauma: 911�� psychologist hopes to improve early care for survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries sholla4 Mon, 08/10/2026 - 09:52

A fall from a ladder, a car crash, a gunshot: In the blink of an eye, a spinal cord injury can change someone’s life forever. Adapting to these new circumstances can take some patients years. Leah M. Adams, associate professor of clinical psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is hoping to discover what might make that process easier.

Leah Adams. Photo provided.

Alongside colleagues Renee Madathil from University of Rochester and Chris Hilderbrant of the Rochester Spinal Association, Adams, a clinical rehabilitation psychologist, is researching early psychosocial adaptation in survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries to determine what and when interventions are most beneficial. This spring, they received $285,000 from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to support their research.

Violently acquired spinal cord injuries refer to a subset of spinal cord injuries that are caused by interpersonal violence, such as gunshot wounds, stabbing, or other person-to-person contact. These injuries commonly affect a different demographic than nonviolently acquired spinal cord injuries.

“Violence is the second leading cause for Latinx folks and one of the top two causes for Black folks. Long-term trends suggest that young Black men make up nearly half of all people with violently acquired spinal cord injuries,” said Adams. “They’re also younger, on average, and may be less traditionally established than their counterparts without violently acquired injuries.” Adams also noted that people with violently acquired injuries are more likely to have greater social vulnerabilities due to systemic factors like poverty and the criminal/legal system.

Adams describes that, with violently acquired injuries, "there's a different buzzing in the atmosphere of the care team." There can be increased safety risks to the patient and the healthcare team even while in the hospital, as well as additional risks to the patient once discharged, that can impact how a patient receives care.

"Our hope is to narrow down what's helpful and what's not for these patients, so providers can offer optimal care at the right time," said Adams.

Using the National Spinal Cord Injury Database, Adams, her doctoral students, and collaborators will look at patients from 2016 to present with violently acquired spinal cord injuries and their progression over the first five years living with the injury.

"We're looking at difference trajectories of adaptation and seeing if we can identify which kinds of factors put people in positions to have better outcomes or potentially worse outcomes," she said. "With that baseline, we can start identifying risk factors and create pathways for earlier and more effective interventions."

This quantitative data will be combined with qualitative data from patient and spinal cord injury specialist mental health provider interviews, the latter of which is a unique addition to the project. Their direct experience in caring for patients over multiple sessions and years means they understand what works well, what kinds of gaps exist, and how health care delivery could be improved.

"We wanted to make sure we got multiple perspectives on the project, which is why we have multiple collaborators," said Adams, “including folks with lived experience with spinal cord injuries as part of the study team.”

This multi-method approach is one that Adams sees as essential. For individuals who have undergone a traumatic and life-altering injury, these varied perspectives help paint a fuller, more vibrant picture of the varied pathways patients might take in their healing journey, she said.

"This population is so important. They face unique stressors and barriers, and they’re deserving of focused attention and support," said Adams. “I'm really hopeful that our work can spotlight some of the strengths and resources and ideas that they have, as well as help medical teams make decisions about where to put their valuable resources.”

This intersectionality is part of Adams' overall research philosophy, reflected in her role as core faculty for the Women and Gender Studies Program. And as a two-time 911�� alum—MA Psychology ’10, PhD Psychology ’14—it's a methodology she's refined through her time at 911�� as both student and faculty in the Department of Psychology.

"Both the tangible and intangible resources have made 911�� a really phenomenal place to study and work," said Adams. "This community respects and invests in research all across the continuum, from basic science to translational."

Learn more about the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Topics

Research

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Psychology

GCI-Health

Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones headline the 2026 Fall for the Book Festival

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:22:19 +0000

Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones headline the 2026 Fall for the Book Festival Katarina Benson Mon, 08/03/2026 - 14:22

Fall for the Book, Northern Virginia’s largest literary festival, returns for the 28th year this October with bestselling authors Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones as headliners. Taking place from October 6-10, the festival includes talks from local and national authors as well as events across the 911�� campus and the Fairfax area.

On Thursday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m., horror icon and author of more than 30 novels and collections, Stephen Graham Jones will discuss body of work including his historical vampiric novel, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones headline the 2026 Fall for the Book festival.

Jones will appear at Harris Theatre on 911��’s Fairfax Campus thanks to the sponsorship of the 911�� Friends.

On Friday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m., Celeste Ng will discuss her bestselling novels, Little Fires Everywhere, Everything I Never Told You, and most recently, Our Missing Hearts.

She will appear at the Stacy C. Sherwood Center in Fairfax thanks to the sponsorship of the Friends of the Reston Regional Library and the Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library.

A variety of author events will be held across the 911�� Fairfax Campus during the run of the festival. The full schedule will be available on August 13.

All festival events are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of sponsors like the City of Fairfax, the 911�� Friends, ArtsFairfax, and Virginia Commission for the Arts. Free tickets are required for both headline events and will be available from September 10 on Fall for the Book’s Eventbrite page.

Based at 911��, Fall for the Book is an independent nonprofit literary arts organization that promotes reading by sponsoring a variety of year-round events and activities.

Topics

Campus News

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Fall for the Book

911�� alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service

Katarina Benson — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:22:13 +0000

911�� alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service Katarina Benson Thu, 07/23/2026 - 15:22

When Hannah Dabney, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies ’23, arrived at 911��, she planned a career in business. This summer, she has just returned from Samoa where she served as a Peace Corps Ridge to Reef Resilience Promoter Volunteer, helping communities balance environmental protection with local development needs. The path between those two points wasn't linear, and Dabney couldn’t be happier about that.

Dabney is a big believer in taking risks. "Taking risks and doing what scares you can lead you down amazing paths you may have never considered."

Dabney in Samoa. Photo provided

In Samoa, Dabney worked alongside village leaders to develop projects that improve community well-being while protecting natural resources. Sometimes that meant helping secure funding for community initiatives. Other times, Dabney worked to find nature-based solutions to environmental challenges, such as recommending coastal tree plantings as an alternative to seawalls to reduce erosion.

While the work was meaningful, the challenges of the cultural immersion surprised her. "I spent the two years exploring the United States and thought I had an open mind and knew all there was to know about people and how they operate," she said. "I was so wrong."

Living and working within a Samoan village gave her a perspective few visitors ever experience. Through village meetings, community gatherings, and daily life, she gained a deeper appreciation for the richness of another culture and the value of listening before leading. That openness to new experiences has defined Dabney's journey since her days at 911��.

When she realized her passions lie in sustainability and conservation, she decided to major in environmental and sustainability studies, an interdisciplinary program in the School of Integrative Studies that combines scientific knowledge with policy and ethics, and she headed off to the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation for a semester in Front Royal, Virginia, working alongside Smithsonian scientists.

Those lessons continue to guide her today. “Nearly every class related to my major has helped to prepare me for what I encountered in the field, office, and lab,” she said. “Policy writing and the practical field skills have been a constant across all of my jobs. Skills I learned in my lab classes have been beneficial for the occasional field lab work I have done.”

She said her overarching takeaway from her education is that research is a tool used to help influence decisions and policy. “Each side can exist without the other, but to be effective, there must be cohesion and collaboration.”

Dabney’s 911�� experience was defined as much by what happened outside the classroom as inside it. She completed three internships that exposed her to vastly different aspects of sustainability work. One involved corporate sustainability planning at a mid-sized multinational company. “The internship had a massive learning curve, but I managed to write more than 15 new sustainability plans based on the United Nations Sustainability Goals, as well as help program a tracking system.”

Another had her climbing a 200-foot atmospheric monitoring tower every Monday. A third took her to New Mexico with a Bureau of Land Management assessment and monitoring crew.

That final internship almost didn't happen. Needing one last internship credit to graduate, Dabney decided that if she had to take on another position, she might as well go somewhere completely new.

The decision proved transformative.

The New Mexico experience led to a position with the U.S. Forest Service in Washington state, which in turn helped prepare her for the Peace Corps. Looking back, Dabney sees a clear pattern: Every major opportunity in her career emerged from a willingness to step into uncertainty.

Even joining 911��'s rowing team as a freshman required a leap of faith. Walking onto a Division I team was intimidating, but it led to lifelong friendships, professional connections, and opportunities she never could have predicted. "Having a little wanderlust and spirit of adventure can lead to incredible opportunities with fantastic people," she said.

As she moves forward in her career, Dabney continues to follow the philosophy that has shaped her from the beginning: Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.

Explore the Smithsonian-Mason Schoool of Conservation

Learn more about internships at 911��

Topics

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Integrative Studies

internships

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Katarina Benson — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:18:49 +0000

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline Katarina Benson Thu, 07/16/2026 - 20:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at 911�� has unveiled "Immigrants & America 250: Data, Stories, and Policy Across United States History," a first-of-its-kind interactive digital timeline that explores how immigration has shaped the United States from its earliest years to present day.

The new online experience combines historical population data, landmark immigration policies, notable immigrant contributions, and archival cultural collections into a single educational resource designed for educators, researchers, policymakers, students, journalists, and the general public.

"Understanding immigration requires more than statistics or policy debates alone," IIR assistant director Marissa Kiss said. "By bringing together historical data, public policy, and personal stories, this project helps reveal the human experience behind the numbers while providing trusted information that places immigration within the broader story of America.”

The interactive experience includes:

U.S. population data beginning in 1770, with detailed immigration statistics by decade from 1840 through 2024;
Changes in immigrant populations by country and world region of birth
Eighty-three landmark immigration laws and historical events
Profiles of 80 notable immigrants whose contributions have shaped American society across science, business, sports, arts, government, education, and culture
Eleven curated collections from the Library of Congress' American Folklife Center featuring interviews, photographs, songs, music, dance, and oral histories that illustrate the lived experiences of immigrants across generations

By pairing rigorous research with historical storytelling, the timeline offers a multidimensional look at one of the defining forces in American history.

The project, developed in collaboration with the Immigrant Learning Center, the CHSSWeb team, and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, reflects the institute's broader mission to generate and amplify nonpartisan research on immigration through data, arts, and public engagement. As conversations surrounding immigration continue to evolve, the institute hopes resources like the timeline will foster more informed public dialogue by providing accessible, evidence-based information grounded in historical context.

"This timeline demonstrates that immigration is not simply a contemporary issue—it is woven throughout the American story," Kiss said. "Understanding that history helps us better understand who we are as a nation today."

The release comes as communities across the country commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial, providing educators and organizations with a timely resource for exploring the role immigrants have played in shaping the United States over the past two and a half centuries.

View the interactive timeline

More from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Topics

Campus News

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Research

VA250

Institute for Immigration Research (IIR)

Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event

ckearney — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:28:09 +0000

Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event ckearney Wed, 07/01/2026 - 10:28

911�� faculty members and graduate students from the Department of History and Art History and the Center for Mason Legacies (CML) shared their expertise as speakers at the Fairfax 250 history day, a county event held as part of the statewide commemoration of the nation's semiquincentennial.

Distinguished University Professor Rosemarie Zagarri talked about politics in Revolutionary era Fairfax County. Photo by April Greer/Historical Society of Fairfax County

Sponsored by the Fairfax History Commission with help from the Historical Society of Fairfax County, the daylong “Revolutionary Ideas—Fairfax County’s American Revolution” conference was co-chaired by CML director and history professor George Oberle and community historian Sue Kovach Shuman and presented at the Fairfax County Government Center in April with programming for all ages.

In a day full of guest lectures, hands-on activities, and research workshops, 911�� history professors Rosemarie Zagarri, Cynthia Kierner, and Oberle presented on “The Big Picture,” addressing the American Revolution's effects on political expectations and shaping the right to vote. Zagarri talked about “Politics in Revolutionary Fairfax,” Kierner discussed “Living the Revolution,” and Oberle presented on “Slavery in Fairfax County in the Revolutionary Era.”

Watch their presentations.

911�� doctoral history students David G. Armstrong, Anne Champlin, and Allessandra DelDonna gave presentations in a session titled “Impacts of the Revolution.”

Armstrong, whose dissertation explores how generations of 911��’s family kept a grasp on political power as the United States expanded, spoke about a Mason family daughter-in-law’s assertion of her property rights.
Champlin, who studies colonial Caribbean, Danish, and American ties, presented insights on “revolutionary” tenant-landlord relations that can be traced between the lines of the Mason Family.
DelDonna, a material culture specialist who entered the doctoral program straight from undergraduate studies, presented on what Mason household objects at Gunston Hall can tell us about the constructed role of the iconic “planter’s wife.”

Watch their presentations.

In the event's demonstration and tabling area, 911�� graduate student Andrew Snowman introduced participants to the Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center, where through CML, he has interned and conducted extensive research. Snowman, whose focus area is history of racial policing, works closely with archivist and 911�� alumna Georgia Brown, a longtime CML collaborator and current PhD student.

Hands-on exhibits were designed to engage all ages throughout the day. Photo by April Greer/Historical Society of Fairfax County

Explore the Center for Mason Legacies

Topics

Research

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Center for Mason Legacies

VA250

doctoral students

911�� sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program

sbrown79 — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:45:39 +0000

911�� sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program sbrown79 Mon, 06/29/2026 - 10:45

An innovative partnership between 911��, Fairfax County, and the United Way is shedding light on how guaranteed income can support working families facing economic hardship. 

Throughout the county’s 18-month Economic Mobility Pilot Program, 911�� researchers Amy Best and Eliz Storelli investigated how unrestricted cash payments, when combined with organizational resources from local and state government and community nonprofits, affect the financial mobility of the county’s asset-limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) population, which represent a third of Fairfax County residents, according to the United Way.

ALICE are essential workers—teachers, medical assistants, postal office staff, Lyft, Uber, and bus drivers—that drive the local economy but have wages that are too low to make ends meet living in the county. For the Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot, 180 households were randomly selected from a pool of 2,400 eligible applicants from across 10 zip codes in the county with greater economic vulnerability. This guaranteed income pilot is among more than 150 municipal unrestricted cash pilots across the United States since 2020.

Eliz Storelli (left) presenting the results of the pilot program. Photo provided.

“The county hopes to use the pilot intervention as an opportunity to engage in systems-level change, improve service delivery, support programming, and policy design to better promote economic mobility and prosperity among Fairfax residents," said Best, professor of sociology and director for 911��’s Center for Social Science Research. 

After 20 months of data collection and analysis, the research team submitted four major reports to Fairfax County. They have presented research findings to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Human Services Council, as well as at the 2026 Eastern Sociological Society conference. 

The results were clear: Unrestricted cash payments had a profound stabilizing effect, and in some cases boosted financial mobility for participating ALICE families.

Nearly 42% of participants reported they improved their credit scores, and many used the funds to pay down debts, earn credentials, and move closer to degree completion and better job prospects. The pilot provided participants with the “gift of time” enabling pilot participants to strengthen connections with family and community.

Best and Storelli served as co-principal investigators on the pilot program, which reflects the Center for Social Science Research's strong commitment to community-partnered scholarship.

Funding was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a legislative proposal introduced by the Biden-Harris administration in 2021, and the Human Services Innovation Fund. Each household received a guaranteed monthly income of $750 for the duration of the pilot, in addition to their regular earned income.

“This program differs from other kinds of policy interventions because the unrestricted cash was distributed with a trust and invest philosophy, which is a policy philosophy that assumes that people are the experts in their own lives,” Best said. These families know what they need, so we don’t have restrictions on how the money is spent.” 

The research team also worked closely with a community advisory board to ensure fidelity to the community and benefit from community expertise in research design, collection, and analysis.

That trust proved meaningful. Through three waves of surveys, three rounds of interviews, and 10 focus groups, the team documented both immediate economic relief, and broader changes in well-being and opportunity among the participants.

Emma Vetter Taylor. Photo provided.

For lead graduate researcher, Emma Vetter Taylor, PhD Sociology ’26, the human impact became clear after speaking with participants.

“During the interviews, parents told me about how they bought things like bunk beds and Christmas trees for the first time. It was really meaningful for them and their kids. As a sociologist, seeing their stress levels decrease from the first to the second interview and hearing about the positive impacts it had on their lives was really inspiring,” Taylor said.

“Being part of the mobility project was truly the highlight of my experience at George Mason,” she added. “It was invaluable learning from two really impressive researchers like Amy and Eliz, but then also having the opportunity to be able to conduct research myself.”

Fairfax County’s government works closely with community partners. Storelli, affiliate faculty at the center, Department of Sociology and Anthropology associate professor and undergraduate director, emphasized that these partnerships were essential because economic hardship does not exist in isolation, but is shaped by systems, structures, and long-standing inequalities.

“We have to look at what holds these financial problems in place,” Storelli said. “The government has made investments in people in the past and they can do it again in a way that is more inclusive so that everybody can take advantage of these community resources.”

For Best, Storelli, and their student team, the pilot shows that when local government and its community partners invest in people, the results can extend far beyond finances, building greater community trust, connection, and belonging. They can improve stability, reduce stress, strengthen well-being, and help families prepare for a healthier, more secure future.

Explore Research at 911��

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Community Partners

Economic Development

Center for Social Science Research

City of Fairfax

Research

911�� research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas

sbrown79 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:06:03 +0000

911�� research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas sbrown79 Tue, 06/23/2026 - 10:06

As debates over digital propaganda, misinformation, and media manipulation intensify, audiences are increasingly unsure what’s fact and what’s fiction across news outlets and social media feeds. At 911��, Sergei Samoilenko, associate professor in the Department of Communication,is working to better understand how digital disruption and manipulation practices shape public perception.

In 2016, Samoilenko, MA Communication '06, PhD Communication ’20, co-founded the Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Protection (CARP), where he studies reputational attacks on individuals and organizations, and strategies to counter them. Samoilenko works alongside CARP co-founder Eric Shiraev, an adjunct faculty member at the Schar School of Policy and Government.

Samoilenko (bottom center) with his team, including CARP co-founder Eric Shiraev (right). Photo provided.

Through CARP, Samoilenko recently launched the Subversive Strategic Communication Research Initiative, examining how new era subversive campaigns disrupt conversations, hijack brands, and damage reputations through malicious actors ranging from trolls to angry activist groups that use boycotts, cancellation campaigns, and deepfakes to target brands and corporate executives.

The team is currently focusing on corporate subversive practices. The takeover of corporate identities is often intertwined with the hot-button issues present in public discourse that can be amplified by various agents of chaos and turned into social conflict situations. 

“We call them subversive because they aim to disrupt communication between brands and their stakeholders while subverting the original meaning, ideas, or identity of organizations,” Samoilenko said. “With new technologies emerging every day, artificial intelligence-generated deceptions and deepfakes are being created and spread at an alarming rate.”

By calling public attention to emerging malicious practices, the researchers hope this initiative will expose and combat these tactics—work that aligns with 911��’s broader commitment to strengthening peace, trust, and engagement in democracy, one of the six solutions in the university's Grand Challenge Initiative. 

The center’s research is a collaborative effort, but when it comes to understanding how online culture evolves, Samoilenko said students often have an advantage. “Students are leading the discussions because they’re digital natives. When it comes to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, they’re more knowledgeable about subversive humor—memes, trends, scandals, and general news—and they see a lot of things that faculty don’t,” he said. “My job is to teach them how to synthesize that information and explain it from a theoretical standpoint.”

Valentina Fala. Photo provided.

One of CARP’s defining strengths is the student-centered approach. This model helped shape the careers of students and recent graduates. 

Alumna Valentina Fala, BA Communication ’25, transferred to 911�� from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) through the ADVANCE Program. Initially a CARP videography intern, Fala became a full-time media manager and intern supervisor. She credits that experience and Samoilenko’s mentorship with helping her secure her current role as communications coordinator at Spirit of America. 

“There's so much disinformation, and it’s important to be able to distinguish false narratives from the truth,” Fala said. “It’s one of the biggest challenges to democracy right now, and it’s essential to counter that with the truth.”

Fala helped organize CARP’s fifth international conference at Mason Square, featuring Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for former first lady Jill Biden.

“It was really impactful hearing his perspective and experiences on what he had to go through and manage with the media, and how women often face more character assassination attempts against their image,” Fala said.

Deirdre Prigge. Photo provided.

Deirdre Prigge, BA Communication ’23, MA ’24, also transferred from NOVA through ADVANCE and said she’s fascinated by the darker side of communication. 

“Deception is not just immoral communication, but it’s often used to achieve a certain goal,” Prigge said. “To understand how we're being persuaded, we must understand the ideological conflicts that our society is currently experiencing and how that gray area of communication works.”

Prigge, host of the CARP Radio podcast, credits 911��’s Summer Podcast and Radio Camp with Rodger Smith for preparing her for this role. 

“That's where I learned to edit audio in Audacity. Without Dr. Smith’s guidance, I wouldn’t have been nearly as knowledgeable when it comes to executing this podcast to spread the center’s work,” Prigge said.

After earning two degrees through 911��’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program, Prigge became an adjunct faculty member and CARP research affiliate. “I think a lot of people would like a very simple and easy flowchart of how they should respond in a moment of crisis,” she said. “Unfortunately, there is almost never one clear answer, but I believe that above all, authenticity is one of the most important values in communication.”

The center’s work continues to gain an international audience. CARP’s sixth conference, “Character Assassination in the Era of Permanent Crisis,” is scheduled for May 2027 at University of Piraeus in Greece.

This initiative supports strengthening peace, trust, and engagement in democracy solution of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Learn about 911��'s Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's

In This Story

Eric B. Shiraev

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Communication

Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s

ADVANCE

GCI-Democracy

Research

911�� anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing

Katarina Benson — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:31:49 +0000

911�� anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing Katarina Benson Thu, 06/11/2026 - 18:31

To Kimberly Foecke, studying the past doesn’t need to be a passive experience.

The 911�� assistant professor of anthropology believes in the importance of hands-on learning so much that she created the ANTH 399 Experimental Archaeology course on experimental archaeology to help bridge theory and practice.

This past spring, undergraduate and graduate students got their hands dirty with a variety of experiments in the field that tested theory discussed in the classroom.

Students created new versions of old tech in their archaeology labs. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

Foecke’s course pushes critical thinking and experimental design while focusing on the themes of innovation of technology, exploiting and processing food resources, and cultural and social transmission of knowledge--all subjects she says are applicable and transferrable to other areas of study.

“I think active learning is so important,” Foecke said. “All of these experiments we do have information we can then project back into the archaeological record. This is interspersed with lecture where we talk about how to design experiments for different types of material that we find in the record. This helps students to understand how to test the capabilities of ancient technology and other archaeological items we find and create testable predictions for the artifacts.”

Labs included flint knapping, the art of creating tools out of stone. Students struck obsidian sent from one of Foecke’s peers in Kenya into a sharp flake and used their new tool to cut chicken feet. They also created scale buildings to test the load-bearing capacity of different roof types through experimental architecture, and they cooked ancient recipes for adhesives to test strength, longevity, and flexibility to use for hunting tools.

“I’ve done things in this class I’ve never done before,” anthropology junior Sophia Taylor said. “I got to process oats with a big slab of slate and a grinding stone. I never thought my wrists would be sore from something like that, but I’m finding out new knowledge every day.”

The class culminated with experimental spear throwing on the lawn next to the Mason Pond parking garage at the end of April. Wielding replicated ancient spears that Foecke constructed at her father’s woodshop in Maryland, her students conducted accuracy and penetration tests.

Foecke created a hands-on spear workshop for students. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

“It is a nice break, a nice change having the hands-on,” anthropology graduate student Chuck Tjersland said. “It’s different and really does play a role. You read enough about experimental archaeology filling in some of the gaps.”

Added Tjersland’s class partner, anthropology undergraduate student David Rubalacaba: “How often do you throw spears for a grade?”

Foecke set up targets—featuring a drawing of a wooly mammoth—and hoops for students to throw wooden spears through. Each student attempted five throws, recording points for each target struck.

Foecke said the experiment displays what ancient civilizations encountered when having to use sticks that aren’t the most aerodynamic and while facing tough weather conditions. “They’re learning how difficult it is to throw a non-ideal spear and hit a target first time, every time,” Foecke said. “It is almost impossible, even for professional javelin throwers.”

Another station featured stabbing blocks made from insulated foam. Students tested the differences in cut size using two types of spears: one just whittled on one end and the other with an arrowhead stone attached to the end. The experiment showed that the spear with the arrowhead always made a wider and more jagged cut.

Both the spear throwing and spear stabbing experiments tried to answer the “why.” Why spend all this time throwing a spear with a high miss rate? Why take so much time flint knapping or carving stones to attach to sticks when whittling would only take five minutes?

“That animal bleeds out more quickly and therefore you eat dinner sooner,” Foecke said. “It is these kinds of questions around something weird in the record that we have to explain. We have to explain why and what the process is that causes us to see that pattern in the archaeological record. Experimental archaeology is all about creating predictions and hypotheses for why we see the patterns that we do and the processes that we do.

“This is the favorite part of my job. I love to teach, and I love to create cool experiences in the classroom.”

Students throwing spears. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

Learn more about the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Topics

Students

innovative classes

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup

ckearney — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:38:06 +0000

Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup ckearney Wed, 06/10/2026 - 11:38

Hollis Kosco, BA Speech Communication '94, has built a career that spans continents and stadiums, but her journey began on the soccer fields at 911��. A former member of 911��'s 1993 NCAA national runner-up women's soccer team, Kosco has turned her athletic experience into a global profession in sports management and operations.

Hollis Kosco (center) with the Alumna of the Year Award. Photo by Risdon Photography

Kosco is part of the team supporting FIFA World Cup 2026, adding another remarkable chapter to a journey that includes roles with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, seven Olympic Games, two Asian Games, and the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.

Kosco serves as a senior transportation manager for FIFA World Cup 2026, which is based in the Miami area. Her work requires complex operational planning across three countries, 16 stadiums, and 48 participating national teams.

Her journey began when she arrived at 911�� as a student-athlete. After watching the Patriots win the 1985 NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship, a landmark achievement that helped put the university on the national map, Kosco's interest in 911�� grew. She ultimately chose 911�� not only for its growing soccer program, but also for the opportunity to live on campus, compete at the Division I level, and be part of a diverse university community.

"Mason felt like home," Kosco said. "The soccer program, the people, and the opportunities all stood out to me."

A 2024 Alumna of the Year award-winner, Kosco has watched the university’s rapid evolution. When she enrolled, the university was a smaller regional institution, a world of difference compared to the 911�� of today—a leading public university and the largest public research university in Virginia.

"I've loved watching Mason grow," Kosco said. "The university has become nationally respected while still maintaining the sense of community that made it special."

Kosco credits her time at Mason with shaping both her professional career and her personal outlook. As a communication major, she developed skills that continue to guide her today as she works on the international stage with FIFA.

"Mason taught me how to communicate, connect with others, and understand different perspectives," Kosco said. "Those experiences prepared me for opportunities I never imagined."

Now preparing for a summer surrounded by the world's top soccer nations, Kosco still carries lessons learned as a Patriot. She points to the culture of hard work and perseverance instilled during her time at Mason as a driving force behind her success.

"You don't strive to be the smartest or the best," Kosco said. "You just keep working hard and don't give up."

Fun Fact: During Kosco’s time with the Patriots, she was a teammate of Kelley (Harlow) Pulisic, a standout defender in 911��’s women's soccer program and the mother of current USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Christian's father, Mark, played forward at 911�� from 1986 to 1989 and is in the university’s Men's Soccer Hall of Fame.

911�� Alumni Association

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Student Athlete

Athletics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Related Stories

Topics

Rebuilding after trauma: 911�� psychologist hopes to improve early care for survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries

Related news

Topics

Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones headline the 2026 Fall for the Book Festival

Topics

911�� alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service

Related Stories

Topics

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Related News

Topics

Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event

Related Stories

Topics

911�� sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program

Related Stories

Topics

911�� research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas

Related Stories

In This Story

Topics

911�� anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing

Related Stories

Topics

Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup

Related Stories

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Related Stories

Topics

Rebuilding after trauma: 911���� psychologist hopes to improve early care for survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries

Related news

Topics

Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones headline the 2026 Fall for the Book Festival

Topics

911���� alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service

Related Stories

Topics

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Related News

Topics

Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event

Related Stories

Topics

911���� sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program

Related Stories

Topics

911���� research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas

Related Stories

In This Story

Topics

911���� anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing

Related Stories

Topics

Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup

Related Stories

Topics

Rebuilding after trauma: 911�� psychologist hopes to improve early care for survivors of violently acquired spinal cord injuries

911�� alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service

911�� sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program

911�� research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas

911�� anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing