Advancing 21st-Century Education for All
At George Mason, we believe talent is equally distributed among people, but opportunity is not. Education helps create more productive ways to participate in civil society, allows more choice in how to contribute to the economy, and prepares people to make more informed choices for a healthy and prosperous life.
Access is created by breaking down systemic barriers, expanding pathways and training, and preparing critical thinkers with knowledge and skills that meet evolving workforce demands. By ensuring diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought in education and careers, societies are more agile and resilient, capable of innovating and solving problems faster.
As Virginia’s largest and most diverse university, George Mason is transforming excellence and access through flexible and scalable learning experiences, accessibility research, focused PreK-12 skill development, and robust STEM and systems-thinking education alongside critical thinking and cooperation skills.
Grand Challenge Initiative
George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative is a university-wide collaboration addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges through six interlocking strategies, supported by a $15 million investment over five years.
Watch: Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy
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THE GEORGE MASON ADVANTAGE
The ADVANCE Program, George Mason’s highly successful transfer partnership between Northern Virginia Community College, has been recognized as a national model by the U.S. Department of Education and been showcased on “PBS News Hour” and in Transfer Playbook 2.0, a joint publication of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Community College Research Center. With an initiative called the Mason Virginia Promise, the university has taken that collaboration a step further and begun partnerships with community colleges systems throughout Virginia, creating pathways that help students save time and money when pursuing a four-year degree.
RESEARCH IN ACTION
Students in Math EdVentures Camp explore how many water drops could fit on a coin. Photo provided
AI + Mathematical Modeling = New Teaching Tool
With support from the National Science Foundation, George Mason researchers Ziyu Yao of the College of Engineering and Computing and Jennifer Suh of the College of Education and Human Development are creating a virtual classroom called MathVC where middle school students can work through mathematical modeling problems with artificial intelligence-powered chatbot “students.”
Within the virtual classroom, the human student can work with generative AI student personas on problems that combine computational skills and soft skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Once the program is deployed, access will be as simple as logging into a website.
Mason LIFE students and peer support staff in Washington, D.C. Photo provided
Congressional internships teach Mason LIFE students independence, resume skills
At George Mason, we know how valuable hands-on workplace experience can be for all students. An internship can even lead to the experience of a lifetime. During the fall semester, eight Mason LIFE students got to experience one of the ultimate Washington, D.C., area internships—working on Capitol Hill.
The Gregg and Livingston Harper Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities matches Mason LIFE students with U.S. House of Representatives and Senate congressional offices. Gregg Harper, former House Representative from Mississippi, established the program in 2010. Students start their internships in their second year and continue through completion of the four-year program.
STUDENT RESOURCES
Early Identification Program (EIP)
Since 1987, the Early Identification Program (EIP) has been working with Northern Virginia public school systems to bridge the opportunity gaps faced by motivated and talented first-generation students in achieving their goal of higher education with year-round academic enrichment, familial support, and leadership training opportunities.
Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities
The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities is an interdisciplinary campus-based organization focusing on improving the lives and productivity of children and adults with disabilities.
Mason Career Academy
Through Mason Career Academy students and alumni have access to online courses, professional certificates, and microcredentials from leading companies to support career success.
Mason LIFE Program
The Mason LIFE Program is a four-year postsecondary transition program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who desire a university experience in a supportive academic environment.
Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Founded in 2007, Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to work one on one with faculty researchers across many disciplines. In summer 2025, nearly 400 students participated in the eight-week program.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS
Christan Coogle of the Special Education Program is the principal investigator of the Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance Center. She is working to expand and improve the resources for Virginia to better support students with delays and disabilities.
Padmanabhan Seshaiyer of the Department of Mathematical Sciences has been recognized for his contributions to STEM education across the commonwealth. In 2025 he received to two “Programs That Work” Awards from the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition.
Anya Evmenova of the College of Education and Human Development received the David Rose Universal Design for Learning Research Award from the Center for Applied Special Technology for her technology-based writing intervention package has been used to translate years of research into practice and get access to the tools to support essay writing for students with and without disabilities and into the hands of local communities.
Seth Hunter, senior fellow of EdPolicyForward: George Mason’s Center for Education Policy, is collaborating with the University Libraries to receive seed funding from EBSCO—a library database service—to develop a tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to help practitioners in education find and interpret evidence-based practices and research that can be implemented to improve student outcomes.
PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College
The Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College Partnership Laboratory School for Data Science, Computing, and Applications is working with Frederick County Public Schools, Mountain Vista Governor’s School, and Laurel Ridge Community College to support students in grades 10–12 through academic programming that builds data literacy and showcases the latest innovations in STEM.
Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy
The Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy is an innovative partnership between the College of Education and Human Development, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Northern Virginia Community College serving students in grades 9–12 and designed to provide access to information technology education and career-ready skills.
Tutors-to-Teachers (T2T)
The Tutors-to-Teachers (T2T) program, developed by the College of Education and Human Development and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is a statewide initiative designed to strengthen tutoring skills and improve academic achievement among elementary and middle school students.
Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia
With support from a U.S. Department of Justice training grant, College of Education and Human Development researchers are working with Prince William County Public Schools to integrate comprehensive school-based mental health systems as part of proactive violence prevention programming in public middle schools.
Governor’s School at Innovation Park
Founded in 2010 through a collaboration among George Mason, Prince William County Schools, Manassas City Public Schools, and Manassas Park Public Schools, the Governor’s School at Innovation Park serves 150 students annually from 15 high schools and is Virginia’s only academic-year Governor’s School located on a four-year college campus.
PODCASTS
Serving those who serve: A deployment of education and research
Senior Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Psychology Keith Renshaw joins President Gregory Washington to discuss the role George Mason plays in providing service members, veterans, and their families the means to find community, purpose, and fulfillment beyond their military service.
Marking a decade of success at Mason Korea
To recognize Mason Korea's 10th anniversary, President Gregory Washington is joined by former campus dean Robert Matz and associate professor Gyu Tag Lee to discuss the growth of Mason Korea, the influence of Korean pop on global culture, and more.
NEWS
- November 3, 2025
- September 4, 2025
- August 28, 2025
- May 23, 2025