Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Information Technology Services Technical Support Now Available 24/7
Information Technology Services (ITS) is pleased to announce that technical support is now available 24/7. George Mason students, faculty, and staff can receive technical support any time—day or night, on weekends, and even holidays. ITS has partnered with Anthology, a market leader in education technology, to expand coverage for technology support that meets the needs of George Mason’s student population. If you need technical assistance, call 703-993-8870 anytime to receive support or submit a request ticket via the ITS website.
Veterans Day Luncheon
Join the Office of the President, George Mason ROTC, and the Office of Military Services to celebrate and honor Veterans Day. The Annual Veterans Day Luncheon will be hosted on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11:45 a.m. on the Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts lobby. Mason community members who have proudly served the country are invited and encouraged to attend the luncheon.
At George Mason, we aspire to serve our veterans with as much dedication and devotion as they have provided to our country. Veterans, George Mason University salutes you! Registration is required. Space is limited. RSVP today.
Internship Week and Internship Fair
Students are invited to join University Career Services for Internship Week, which includes in-person and virtual events to help students learn about the impact an internship can have on their career journey. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share details with their students.
Workshops and panel discussions will cover topics like how to boost the chances of getting an internship, application strategies, and ways to avoid common mistakes. Plus, students can meet directly with employers recruiting for spring, summer, and fall 2025 internships at the Internship Fair on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5–7 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall.
November Staff Senate Meeting
George Mason University Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson will be the guest speaker at the Staff Senate meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 10–11 a.m. The general business meeting will follow from 11 a.m. to noon. Constituents are invited to attend in person on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or join the meeting via Zoom.
The Staff Senate will collect questions in advance for consideration. Submit a comment, question, or concern by Monday, Oct. 28. Live questions will also be accepted, time permitting.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Information Technology Services (ITS) is observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month during October. Check out five ways to stay cyber smart. Events include:
- Ask Me Anything Reddit thread: Hosted by the IT Security Office staff on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 1–3 p.m.
- Speaker: ITS will host speaker Dennis Marti on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m. Marti is a George Mason alum who manages Verizon’s Network Intelligence. The event will be on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1204, and on Zoom.
- Follow @GeorgeMasonITS on X and Instagram for daily info about online safety.
George Mason Introduces Brave and Bold: The Patriot Roast
George Mason and Tinycup Coffee, an alumni-owned business, have collaborated on a co-branded coffee called Brave & Bold: The Patriot Roast. It is a medium-dark roast featuring a blend of premium, specialty-grade coffee beans from Central and South America using a traditional drum roasting method. The coffee is currently available to purchase by the bag online and on the Fairfax Campus at the Express store (located in the Johnson Center) and One Stop Shop.
James Buchanan and Vernon Smith Seminar
George Mason's Department of Economics invites the university community to the James Buchanan and Vernon Smith Seminar on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5–6:30 p.m. at the Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts, on the Dr. Linda Apple Monson Grand Tier.
This seminar series is designed to appeal to a broad audience and is named to honor the department's two Nobel Laureates and to recognize scholars who have made outstanding contributions to economics. Matthew Jackson, the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, is the featured speaker. He will discuss "The Role of Networks and Social Capital in Determining Patterns of Economic Mobility." A reception will follow the presentation.
One-Year Naming Anniversary of the Costello College of Business: Donation Drive and Service Event
The Costello College of Business invites the Mason community to participate in a donation drive and service event to benefit the Patriot Pantry. This event is hosted in celebration of the one year anniversary of the naming of the business school as the Donald G. Costello of College of Business.
Donation items for the Patriot Pantry can be dropped off on the Fairfax Campus in Enterprise Hall, Room 008, and at Mason Square in Van Metre Hall, Room 402, through Thursday, Oct. 31. Find out what items are needed.
The campus community is invited to participate in a service event at the pantry on Friday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A reception for all volunteers will follow the service event, from 1:30–2 p.m. Learn more and RSVP. The first 300 volunteers to register will get a free Costello College backpack.
Sprucing up Campus for the Fall Semester
Have you ever wondered how George Mason gets the campuses ready to welcome students back to school in the fall? During the summer months, in preparation for the start of the semester, George Mason Facilities and Campus Operations went through an extensive checklist to get all campuses ready. From landscaping to classroom refreshes to updating signage, Facilities ensures that each experience on campus is one of quality. Learn more about how they prepared for the new semester.
Training and Professional Development
Title IX Mandatory Reporter Training for George Mason Employees
The Title IX Office is providing in-person and virtual training this fall, open to all employees needing to complete mandatory annual Title IX Training. Sessions will be offered at the Fairfax and SciTech campuses, Mason Square, and online. This training should be completed annually by employees who are mandatory reporters. View the upcoming training schedule and register to attend. Contact titleix@gmu.edu with questions.
Resources for You
Ombuds Programming during October
The Ombuds office will host a variety of programming during October to help the George Mason community learn about its services. Activities include a scavenger hunt, tabling at different campuses, community building circles, campus walk, and Verbal Aikido training. Learn more and register.
New Affinity Group for Southwest Asian and North African/Middle Eastern Employees
Faculty and staff are invited to join a new Southwest Asian and North African/Middle Eastern affinity group to build community. The group offers a space for faculty, staff, and GTAs to get to know each other, share stories, and share food. It's social, casual, and just a good way for folks from similar backgrounds to connect. If interested, fill out a brief form to be added to the email list with information about events and gatherings. For questions, contact Holly Mason Badra and Austin A. Deray.
Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group: Fall Sessions
The Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group will meet on Friday afternoons this fall. Kritikos engages in discussions on writing about the arts, critical studies, translation, the artist in society, and art as speech. Learn more.
Join them for the topic “Water Justice” on Friday, Oct. 25, from 1–2:30 p.m. via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
Visiting Filmmakers Series: Alex Plank discusses the film Ezra
Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center Cinema
Join the Visiting Filmmakers Series as George Mason University welcomes alum, filmmaker, and autism advocate Alex Plank back to campus to screen and discuss his film, Ezra, starring Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, and more.
Villalobos Brothers
Hylton Artist-in-Residence
Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
Celebrate Día de los Muertos early with Mason Artist-in-Residence and Grammy Award-winning Villalobos Brothers, who are redefining contemporary Mexican music while delivering positive messages of brotherhood, equity, and love. This lively trio of virtuoso fiddlers, singers, and songwriters blends Mexican folk music with Latin, jazz, rock, and classical, creating a fun-loving and cheerfully expressive sound that has delighted audiences across the United States and around the world.
School of Theater: 110 in the Shade
Nov. 1–3, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Sharply intelligent Lizzie Curry is considered unlucky in love by her father and brothers but remains unwilling to settle for a man who can’t live up to her standards. As her family schemes to change her fortunes amid a blistering hot summer in the Dust Bowl, a smooth-talking stranger arrives in town, promising to bring down the rain within 24 hours. As the town waits for the skies to open, Lizzie considers how to find the place between what is possible and what she dreams could be.
The U.S. Army Concert Band: A Salute to Veterans
Veterans and the Arts Initiative
Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" returns to the Hylton Center for a special performance dedicated to our nation's heroes in A Salute to Veterans. Through the powerful combination of music, storytelling, and shared moments of reflection, the concert band will showcase the timeless themes of selfless service across generations. This performance will express our deepest gratitude to those who exemplify unwavering dedication and determined commitment to duty, inspiring us all to strive for excellence and service in our own lives.
School of Dance – Fall: New Dances
Friday, Nov. 8, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
An evening of faculty and student work that showcases the talented dancers of the School of Dance in a wide range of stories, ideas, and styles.
Mandy Gonzalez in Concert
Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Join Mandy Gonzalez for an evening of Broadway songs, film scores, and music from her debut album, Fearless. Gonzalez starred on Broadway in Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler, in Wicked as Elphaba, and as Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. Miranda wrote her the song, “Fearless,” which tells the story of how her parents met while serving their country during the Vietnam War. Gonzalez’s debut at the Hylton Center will also honor the veterans in the community. The Osbourn Park High School Madrigal Singers, conducted by Dominick Izzo, will join Gonzalez for a special guest appearance. This performance is part of George Mason’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative, providing free tickets for veterans and servicemembers.
Arturo Sandoval
Sunday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval is an acknowledged virtuoso of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, and he is just as dynamic and vivacious on the piano, timbales, vocals, and keyboard. He delights in presenting a diverse, exhilarating show featuring Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, straight-ahead jazz, and more. Sandoval has received six Billboard Awards, an Emmy, the Hispanic Heritage Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Obama. He was recently honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Monday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, the DownBeat award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and Stone Bridge High School (director Christine Tarrant) for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook.
Virginia Opera: Carmen
Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Virginia Opera presents French composer Georges Bizet’s passion-filled masterpiece, Carmen. Set in Spain around 1830, the drama centers on Carmen, who is bold, uninhibited, and independent. She becomes infatuated with Don José, who throws away everything to be with her, only to be rejected when Carmen moves on, falling for a bullfighter named Escamillo. Carmen confronts the dangers of jealous obsession and falling madly in love with the wrong person. Sung in French with English surtitles.
Cirque Kalabanté
Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Cirque Kalabanté invites the whole family to Afrique en Cirque, a unique fusion of African arts and European circus traditions that makes for a multi-sensory extravaganza like no other. With colorful costumes and scenery, daring acrobats and dancers perform gravity-defying feats, accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of a live Afro jazz ensemble.
George Mason School of Theater: More Dogs
Nov. 21–24, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheaterSpace
An estimated two million Irish people immigrated to the United States in the 1800s in search of better lives, but they often confronted blatant discrimination and oppression. Irish immigrants found limited places to live, work, and thrive. Over time, they organized locally and nationally, built stronger communities, and acquired more social and political power. This compelling work asks audiences to confront hard truths and make hard choices.
Jazz4Justice™
Friday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Jazz4Justice™ brings attorneys, judges, students, and members of the Northern Virginia community together to celebrate their love of jazz. Proceeds from the evening benefit Legal Services of Northern Virginia, continuing its mission of service to the community, as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies program for scholarships, trips, recordings, and student projects.
Enchantment Theatre Company: My Father’s Dragon
Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall)
Sunday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts)
Elmer Elevator is on a mission to rescue a baby dragon held captive on Wild Island. How will he pull off such an adventurous rescue? With pure luck—plus chewing gum, lollipop sticks, and rubber bands. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery Honor-winning adventure book, My Father’s Dragon, Enchantment Theatre Company brings to life the story of an unlikely friendship between a courageous boy and a yellow and blue-striped dragon. Recommended for ages 4–10.
Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright
Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
“With their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor” (Washington Post), Canadian Brass kicks off the holiday season with a program of original arrangements and signature takes on beloved classics such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Christmas Time is Here,” “Silver Bells,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and songs of Hanukkah.
Take 6
Sunday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The most awarded a cappella group in history, Take 6, brings its vocal genius to the Center for the Arts for a gospel-infused holiday concert. Heralded by Quincy Jones, experience vocal artistry with their silky-smooth program that slips and slides from jazz to pop to R&B, doo-wop, and blues.
Chanticleer: A Chanticleer Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
The holidays shine brighter when Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer comes caroling to the Hylton Center with their beloved program, A Chanticleer Christmas. With 12 expressive voices ranging from countertenor to bass blended with precision, clarity, and breathtaking beauty, “it’s impossible to resist the voices of Chanticleer” (San Francisco Chronicle).