Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Freedom and Learning Forum
The Freedom and Learning Forum is an interactive dialogue series featuring the university president and thought leaders from around the world. The program emphasizes that freedom and learning are mutually interdependent and that one cannot happen without the other.
Join President Gregory Washington and Don Graham, co-founder of TheDream.US and chairman emeritus of Graham Holdings Company, on Thursday, April 10, from 1–2:30 p.m. in The Hub ballroom on the Fairfax Campus. Learn more.
Annual Tornado Drill: Tuesday, April 8
George Mason employees are encouraged to participate in the annual tornado drill on Tuesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. This drill is a great opportunity to refresh your understanding of tornado response procedures. To prepare, take a moment to review George Mason’s Tornado and Severe Weather Guide.
The drill will be announced via Mason Alert (email and text) and will conclude at 10:15 a.m. For questions about participation—whether for yourself, your department, or your classroom—contact Risk, Safety, and Resilience at rsr@gmu.edu or 703-993-8448.
Fenwick Fellows Lecture Series
Join University Libraries on Tuesday, April 8, from 2–4 p.m. for presentations of research findings by George Mason University's Fenwick Fellows: Jesse Kirkpatrick, research associate professor of philosophy; Huwy-min Lucia Liu, associate professor of anthropology; and Amaka Okechukwu, associate professor of sociology. Lectures will occur on the Fairfax Campus in the Fenwick Library Main Reading Room (2001).
Volunteer for Mason Day
Mason Day, one of the longest-running traditions at George Mason, is right around the corner! The Fairfax Campus event features a carnival with rides, games, delicious treats, food trucks, inflatables, novelties, performances, and more. The Student Involvement team invites faculty/staff to volunteer to help facilitate Mason Day on Friday, April 25. View volunteer opportunities and sign up.
Volunteers are asked to sign up by Friday, April 11, for planning purposes. Student Involvement will follow up with volunteers via email a week before Mason Day with day-of information. For more information or questions, contact Brian Greene or Ayleen Leonhardt.
April is Earth Month
Join University Sustainability and Facilities and Campus Operations, along with many campus partners, for fun, educational, and engaging activities and events during Earth Month. Learn about Zero Waste Mason, Patriot Packout, the Patriot Green Fund, sustainable agriculture on campus, the Better Bins Preview, enhancements to recycling and composting, and much more. Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved. Visit University Sustainability’s Earth Month page for details.
Training and Professional Development
University Life Student Success Symposium
The University Life Student Success Symposium is a chance to connect with colleagues, learn about innovative practices to support your work, and explore strategies to foster student engagement. The symposium will take place at the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, June 4, with pre-conference sessions on Tuesday, June 3. Get the details and register. Faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to submit program proposals by Wednesday, April 2.
Mental Health First Aid
Complete Mental Health First Aid training to learn how to help someone suffering from a mental health crisis, increase your mental health literacy, and dismantle the stigma associated with mental health and substance use challenges. Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being online for upcoming sessions. Training occurs across multiple dates:
Beyond the Numbers: Reporting through Storytelling
Join the University Life Supervision Collective for the April Manager Meetup: “Beyond the Numbers: Reporting through Storytelling,” on Thursday, April 17, at 2 p.m. This virtual, interactive session will focus on how to leverage storytelling as a reporting tool to better share the success of your team. The conversation will be centered around understanding the components of storytelling, importance of narrative development, and reviewing provided case studies to build understanding. Register. Contact Meeghan Milette with questions.
Resources for You
Introducing the Spiritual and Interfaith Center
The new Spiritual and Interfaith Center at George Mason University offers a serene and inclusive environment for reflection, meditation, and connection. Located on the Fairfax Campus in Fenwick A Wing, this multi-level center is open to all students, faculty, and staff, providing a peaceful retreat from campus life.
The lower level features a quiet space for mindfulness and prayer, while the upper level offers a semi-quiet area for community engagement, conversation, and studying. The center also provides reservable spaces for group prayer, spiritual holidays, or group mindfulness activities, fostering a vibrant hub for personal growth and interfaith dialogue. For more information, contact clie@gmu.edu or visit the website.
Take Your Junior Patriot to Work
Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day is Thursday, April 24. Invite the youth in your life to campus to learn what it's like to work at George Mason. Activities are planned at the Mason Square, Fairfax, and Science and Technology campuses. Visit the website for guidance on participation, to complete the consent form, and view a schedule of activities. Register by Tuesday, April 22, to give your junior Patriots a peek into life at George Mason.
Apply for the Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship
George Mason faculty and staff are eligible to apply for the $250 scholarship to cover books, software, and supplies for George Mason courses. Eligibility requirements include:
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Enrolled in a George Mason degree or graduate certificate program
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Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
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At least one year of service at George Mason
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“Successful,” “High-Performing,” or “Outstanding” rating in the most recent performance evaluation
Learn more and apply by May 23. The application includes a 500-word statement on your goals, program of study, and how the scholarship supports your academic journey. Questions? Contact awards@gmu.edu.
Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group: Spring Sessions
The Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group will meet on Friday afternoons this spring. 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 “Imagining Love: Loving v. Virginia” on Friday, April 4, from 1–2:30 p.m. via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public.
‘Imagining Joy’ with James Baldwin and the Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group
Join Kritikos on Friday, April 11, from noon to 3 p.m. at Mason Exhibitions Arlington for a special event related to the current art exhibition, Nothing Personal: A Collaboration in Black and White. This in-person meeting of Kritikos will include a chance to view the exhibit, group discussion, and light refreshments.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
Visual Voices with Jordan Nassar
School of Art and Mason Exhibitions
Thursday, April 3, from 4:45–6:30 p.m.
Virtual event
The next event in the Visual Voices lecture series will feature Jordan Nassar, a Palestinian-American artist who was born and raised in New York City. Extending from this, his work evokes a very particular kind of imagined space: the sort of utopian vision of Palestine held by the displaced constituents that comprise the region’s diaspora.
George Mason School of Theater: 'The Tempest'
April 3–6, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
When Prospero, a gifted sorcerer, and his young daughter, Miranda, are banished by his scheming brother, Duke Antonio, Prospero seeks shelter on a remote island and bides his time, waiting for the perfect moment to enact his revenge. A conjured storm shipwrecks Duke Antonio and his allies on Prospero’s island, offering him the opportunity he’s been awaiting. But love and magic throw a wrench into Prospero’s plans, and he must consider what matters the most in his quest for justice. Set in an alternate universe of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, this production will be directed by Rick Davis, dean of George Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Cirque Mechanics
Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Known for their modern circus incorporating mechanical marvels, Cirque Mechanics introduces the wildly astonishing Pedal Punk, set in a Steampunk-inspired world where cycling provides wondrous escape from pervasive obsession with technology. A 22-foot, pedal-powered performance platform (dubbed the Gantry bike) serves as the caravanning mobile centerpiece of this high-flying thrill ride, featuring spectacular storytelling and daredevil acrobatics.
Family Series – 'Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey'
Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Called “absolutely incredible” by Rolling Stone and featured as a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent, Lightwire Theater uniquely combines technology and theater to bring stories to life in complete darkness, through its signature brand of electroluminescent artistry. In this production, Marvin the Mouse wants to be popular, but is constantly bullied by the “cool” rats. He retreats into his science books and a world of fantasy as respite, longing to have adventures and be the hero. Join Marvin on the space adventure of a lifetime: a trip to the surface of the moon on his homemade rocket where he meets a strange cast of misfit creatures and views awesome beauty in this cosmic adventure about celebrating differences. Recommended for ages 10 and under.
'Mountain Stage' hosted by Kathy Mattea
Sunday, April 6, at 7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Become a part of broadcast history as two-time Grammy winner and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea hosts a taping of Mountain Stage, live from the Hylton Center. Since 1983, Mountain Stage has given listeners the best seat in the house for performances by rising stars and longtime legends. Recorded in front of a live audience, each two-hour episode features contemporary artists in genres ranging from roots, folk, blues, and country to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond.
Jazz Workshop
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, April 9, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in a medium-size jazz ensemble. Enjoy a night of modern jazz music written for ensemble configurations other than the typical “big band." This program will focus on developments in jazz since the 1960s, such as modality, modern grooves, novel orchestrations, and contemporary harmonies.
Chorale Broadway Showcase: 'A Choral Tribute to Disney Magic'
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Friday, April 11, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join the University Chorale for its annual Broadway Showcase. Experience the magic of timeless Disney melodies, reimagined with the dynamic energy of Broadway, as the University Chorale delivers a performance that promises to entertain audiences of all ages.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Monday, April 14, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, and the DOWNBEAT award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards, Brazilian songs, and classic hits from the Great American Songbook.
Jazz Combos/Braddock Road Brass Band
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Tuesday, April 15, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Combo Italia/Combo 336 (directed by Shawn Purcell) and the Braddock Road Brass Band (directed by Graham Breedlove) perform their spring 2025 concert.
Mason Symphonic Band Concert
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, April 16, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Enjoy the Mason Symphonic Band in a celebration of traditional and contemporary works for wind band in this final concert of the ensemble for the semester. Led by graduate conducting student Derik Wright, the Mason Symphonic Band comprises nonmajors from across the university’s disciplines and music majors from the Dewberry School of Music.
Mason Wind Symphony Concert: ‘Niagara Falls: A Journey Through Power, Reflection, and Motion’
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Thursday, April 24, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The Mason Wind Symphony’s final concert of the performance season presents traditional and contemporary works. Embark on a musical journey through both natural and emotional forces at Niagara Falls, a program capturing the boundless energy of human expression and the unstoppable power of nature. Join an unforgettable evening as we traverse landscapes of energy, introspection, and unrelenting motion at Niagara Falls—a concert that surges with life.
Mason Opera: ‘27,’ an opera by American composer Ricky Ian Gordon
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
April 25–27, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Featuring Mason’s talented vocal students in collaboration with an instrumental chamber ensemble, these live, in-person performances will showcase great vocal skill and dramatic ability. Follow American writer Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas as they weather two wars in their famed Paris home at 27 Rue de Fleurus. As the paintings sing, meet Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and other great artists and writers who Stein hosted and mentored.
International Jazz Day
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, April 30, at 8 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Center
Share the vibrance and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty. George Mason University’s Jazz Studies celebrates International Jazz Day with performances by the Mason Jazz Ensemble, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, Braddock Road Brass Band, and Jazz Combo I.
George Mason School of Theater: ‘12 Angry Jurors’
April 30 to May 4, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheaterSpace
Trapped together in a sweltering jury room, the tensions rise along with the heat as 12 ordinary people must decide the guilt or innocence of a young person accused of murder. What begins as a seemingly simple decision becomes more complex as ingrained ideas, systemic racism, and diverging perspectives collide. A thoughtful and poignant look at the consequences of our actions (or lack thereof), this show asks how you determine the truth when faced with a life-or-death decision.