Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Board of Visitors Public Comment Session Scheduled for April 1
The George Mason University Board of Visitors will conduct a meeting with a corresponding Public Comment session on Tuesday, April 1. This meeting will encompass a presentation by Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Deb Dickenson on Mason’s FY 2026 Tuition and Mandatory Fees. Details specific to the meeting and the public comment process are available on the Board of Visitors website.
President's Town Hall Sessions with Faculty/Staff
George Mason University President Gregory Washington will host two 90-minute town hall sessions to discuss the state of the university and to engage with faculty and staff.
The town hall for employees working in nonacademic units will take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 1:30 p.m., on the Fairfax Campus, The Hub, Ballroom.
For those unable to attend in-person, the session will be livestreamed on Zoom. Contact your respective unit leadership for Zoom link and password. While questions will be taken at the conclusion of the town hall, the Zoom chat function will not be enabled. Should virtual attendees have any questions, please provide them to your designated unit contact so they can be shared in-person during the town hall session. Learn more.
The town hall for faculty and staff working in academic units occurred on Wednesday, March 19.
Mason Empty Bowls
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists in cities around the world to raise money for food-related charities that feed the hungry in their communities. All funds raised through George Mason Empty Bowls will be donated to the Student Food and Housing Insecurity Fund, which serves George Mason students experiencing food insecurity.
Mason Empty Bowls will be hosted on Wednesday, April 30, from 6–9 p.m. at the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus. The event includes dinner, dessert, and sounds of Green and Gold Soul. Guests will choose a handmade bowl to take home as a reminder of the students in our community who struggle with food insecurity. For more information and purchase tickets, visit the website.
Training and Professional Development
Harnessing AI for Every Mind: Innovations in Education
This interactive workshop, hosted by the College of Science, explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Whether you are an educator, industry leader, researcher, or student, this event promises to deepen your understanding of how AI can create adaptive, inclusive learning environments for individuals with diverse cognitive profiles, including dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.
Harnessing AI for Every Mind: Innovations in Education
Friday, March 28, from 1–3 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Planetary Hall, Room 124
Register
Call for Programs: University Life Student Success Symposium
George Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to submit program proposals for the 2025 University Life Student Success Symposium. The symposium pre-conference will take place on Tuesday, June 3, and the symposium will be held on Wednesday, June 4.
Review the call for proposals. The deadline to submit a program proposal is Wednesday April 2. Learn more about the 2025 Student Success Symposium.
Upcoming Workshops from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
How to Handle Difficult Classroom Discussions and Situations in the Moment
Friday, March 28, from 1–2 p.m. via Zoom
Register
Are you prepared to handle difficult discussions and charged situations in the classroom in the moment? Do you usually think of things later that you wish you would have said or done? In this workshop, prepare and practice how to handle important and potentially tense classroom conversations. The focus will be on how to support everyone in the classroom—including yourself—during tense times. Contact Rachel Yoho with questions.
Helping Students Learn in Difficult Classroom Conversations and Situations
Friday, March 28, from 2:15–3:30 p.m. via Zoom
Register
In this leveled-up workshop, participants will explore the elements of free speech in an educational context, investigate types of disruptions and situationally appropriate teaching responses, and analyze scenarios with colleagues. Contact Rachel Yoho with questions.
Resources for You
MMR Vaccine Clinic: Thursday, March 27
The Employee Health and Well-Being division of Risk, Safety, and Resilience is hosting a Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine clinic on Thursday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Population Health Center in Peterson Hall. This clinic is open to George Mason faculty, staff, and their families insured under Aetna and Anthem BCBS. Others should verify coverage with their provider. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Register for an appointment.
Your Resilience Recipe: Finding Support in Mason Resources
Just like a great recipe, resilience is built with the right ingredients—confidence, adaptability, purpose, and support. In this interactive workshop, participants will mix these key elements with George Mason’s well-being resources to create their own “Resilience Recipes.” The workshop will discuss:
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Gather Your Ingredients: Explore the essential components of resilience.
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Find the Right Tools: Discover George Mason’s resources that support faculty and staff resilience and well-being.
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Refine Your Recipe: Leave with a personalized plan and practical strategies to strengthen your resilience at work and beyond.
Resilience isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s a recipe unique to each person. This virtual workshop will be hosted on Wednesday, March 26, from 1–2 p.m. on Zoom. Register today to discover the ingredients that best support your well-being.
Patriots Helping Patriots: Alumni and Career Services Offer Job Market Guidance
In times of rapid change and uncertainty, focusing on what you can control is key. George Mason alumni are invited to join University Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations for an interactive workshop that will explore practical strategies to adapt career plans, discover new opportunities, and prioritize well-being throughout a job search.
Session 2: Navigating Your Job Search in Uncertain Times
Wednesday, March 26, at 4 p.m. (virtual event)
Register and view additional sessions.
Participants will gain insights into job search resources available to George Mason alumni, including Handshake, a powerful platform connecting job seekers with employers actively seeking George Mason graduates.
Spring Plaza Season at Mason Square
The plaza event season at Mason Square started March 17 and continues through May 16. Every weekday will feature three events, ranging from the Lunches on the Lawn discussion series to Zumba Power Hour, a fan favorite. Check the University Life at Mason Square website for more information about the individual and special events.
Mason Square Plaza events are free and open to the public. All are welcome!
The Impact of Social Ties on Public Health
Panel Discussion: Stronger Together—The Impact of Social Ties on Public Health
Wednesday, April 9, from 6–8:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 1201
RSVP
Join Melissa Perry, dean of the College of Public Health, for a panel discussion on social isolation and loneliness across the life span. This dialogue will explore the true scope and severity of the issue—is it really a public health crisis? The panel will challenge assumptions, explore solutions, and highlight the role of individuals and communities in fostering connection.
College of Public Health: Dean’s Speaker Series
Strengthening Health and Well-Being for Latinos: Considering the Cultural Context in Parenting within Latino Families
Tuesday, March 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Peterson Hall, Multipurpose Room
RSVP
This event will feature guest speaker Cristina Mogro-Wilson, a Latina scholar and expert in health disparities working with Latino families. Her research has made substantial contributions to improving the lives of families by identifying modifiable factors associated with parenting and how culture influences parenting in Latino families.
Mogro-Wilson is the editor-in-chief of Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, a core journal in social work research. She is co-PI on four federally funded five-year grants totaling more than $20 million from the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Decorate and Connect with Ava Uppal, Alum and Culinary Entrepreneur
Join Ava Uppal, George Mason alum, marketing executive, published author, and on-air expert, as she returns to George Mason to share her inspiring journey from international student to successful culinary entrepreneur. Learn cake decorating tips, connect with fellow Patriots, and be inspired by Ava’s creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and insights from her book. Join the fun on Tuesday, March 25, at 4 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus at The Spot. RSVP.
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 AI and Environmental Justice” on Friday, March 28, 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
Mason Dance Company Gala Concert
School of Dance
Friday, March 28, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 29, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The highlight of the School of Dance season, featuring guest artists of international acclaim. This year’s Gala Concert includes “The Hunt” by Robert Battle, “Cloudline” by Robyn Mineko Williams, a premiere by Christopher d’Amboise, and “The Fracture of Light” by Yin Yue. If you’re up for a party, we throw a great one prior to the performance on Saturday during the Mason Dance Fête!
Jazz Big Band Showdown
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Monday, March 31, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director Jim Carroll) and two special guest big bands for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era.
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 exceptional adaptation 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 2025: 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.