Faculty and Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Staff Senate Meeting with President Gregory Washington
The October Staff Senate meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, will feature guest speaker Gregory Washington, president, George Mason University. President Washington will join from 10–11 a.m., followed by the business meeting from 11 a.m. to noon. Attendees may join on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or via Zoom.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025
Information Technology Services is hosting events for Cybersecurity Awareness Month throughout October. Follow ITS on X and Instagram for daily online safety and security tips throughout the month. Events include:
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Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Join IT Security Office staff for cybersecurity trivia on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Kiosk C.
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Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Join the IT Security Office staff on Reddit for an Ask Me Anything thread.
October is Campus Sustainability Month
George Mason celebrates Campus Sustainability Month every October. Join Facilities and Campus Operations' University Sustainability team, along with campus partners, for a month of engaging activities and events.
Grow food sustainably on campus, opt for reuse rather than single use to support the Zero Waste George Mason program, donate items you don’t want at a Patriot Packout Swap and Hop, apply for a grant from the Patriot Green Fund, and more. Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn how you can get more involved. Learn more.
Flu Vaccine Clinics
Protect yourself and your community from seasonal flu. Get your 2025-26 influenza vaccine at George Mason. Clinics will be held on the following dates:
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Science and Technology Campus: Thursday, Oct. 2
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Fairfax Campus: Thursday, Oct. 9
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Mason Square: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Get more details and register for an appointment.
Training and Professional Development
Sexual Violence Prevention and Awareness Training
All George Mason employees, including student wage, must annually complete Sexual Violence Prevention and Awareness training. This training requirement can be fulfilled by completing Title IX Non-Confidential Employee Training online through Mason LEAPs, or attending a live training (in person or via Zoom). View the training schedule and register.
AI in Autumn: Training Sessions
Learn about integrating AI into your work through the AI in Autumn event series on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center. For full lineup and more information, see the Powering Artificial Intelligence website.
Fenwick Fellowship: Request for Applications
The Fenwick Fellowship is awarded annually to a George Mason faculty member to pursue a research project that uses and enhances the University Libraries' resources while advancing knowledge in their field.
The fellowship provides one award of $5,000 to be used for the acquisition of library research materials for the fellow's research project, as well as associated research costs, and an office in Fenwick Library for the term of the Fellowship (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026).
The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 10. The 2026 Fenwick Fellow will be announced at the end of the fall academic term. Visit the website for more information. Contact library@gmu.edu with questions.
Upcoming Workshops from the Stearns Center
Reflective Assessments for STEM
Thursday, Oct. 2, 10–11 a.m., Zoom
This new workshop will focus on using feedback to shape your own STEM teaching practices as well as engage students in their own learning and assessment.
Register
In-Class Activities Workshop for Graduate Students
Friday, Oct. 3, 10–11 a.m., Zoom
This workshop focuses on how to manage small and large student discussions and other hands-on learning activities during class. This workshop counts toward the SkillCraft Level 1 Essentials Credential and is open to all graduate students.
Register
Fostering Engagement and Belonging with Inclusive Classroom Techniques
Monday, Oct. 6, 10–11 a.m., Zoom
Are you ready to integrate inclusive teaching throughout your instructional spaces? This is where that journey begins. In this workshop, we will explore some of the definitions and terms often found in conversations about creating more inclusive classrooms.
Register
Resources for You
Trunk or Treat: Registration Now Open
The Mason Trunk or Treat—the spookiest, cutest, and fastest-growing George Mason tradition—is back for its fourth year on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Parking Lot L on the Fairfax Campus.
George Mason offices and departments are invited to decorate a trunk and hand out candy to all of the adorable, costumed kids. The event is open to families in the George Mason and local communities. The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m., and the best decorated trunks win frightfully spectacular prizes. Sign up today.
George Mason Night with Cirque du Soleil
Celebrate George Mason Night with Cirque du Soleil in Tysons as the Patriots gather under the big top to experience the exhilarating debut of LUZIA. With thrilling acrobatics and artistry, the show chronicles the encounters of a parachuted traveler with the culture, nature, and mythology of a dreamlike land inhabited by a mystifying menagerie of characters. The show is Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil is offering special ticket pricing options. Prices include discounted seats and an exclusive experience only available to George Mason ticket purchasers. Included with your Cirque du Soleil ticket, the Mason Nation is invited to stay after the show for an exclusive meet and greet with select performers.
Ombuds Open House
Learn about the George Mason University Ombuds Office at an open house on Thursday, Oct. 9, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Stop by their office on the Fairfax Campus, Buchanan Hall, Room D170. Additional programming will be offered throughout October. Get the details.
Nanotechnology Day
Join Nanotechnology Day on the Science and Technology Campus on Monday, Oct. 13. This family-friendly event invites students of all ages to explore the fascinating world of nanotechnology through hands-on activities, engaging demonstrations, and enlightening talks with real researchers. Discover big ideas on a miniature scale and experience the wonders of this cutting-edge field. This event is free and open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Katherine Johnson Hall, first floor atrium. RSVP.
Jimmy Carter: A Life Rooted in Faith
Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this intimate evening gathering will honor the quiet, yet profound, spiritual foundation of President Jimmy Carter’s life.
Jimmy Carter: A Life Rooted in Faith
Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 6–8 p.m.
Mason Square, Van Metre Hall, Multipurpose room
RSVP
The keynote speaker for the evening is Christi Harlan, veteran reporter, author, and longtime member of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., where President Carter worshipped during his presidency. Harlan will offer a personal and reflective account of President Carter’s spiritual journey, drawn from her unique archival research and lived experience.
Human Rights Dialogues Series
The Department of Social Work invites the George Mason community to the Human Rights Dialogues Series. Join the first event on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 1:30–3 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 1204, and online.
Claudia Mahler, United Nations independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will be the speaker. Mahler will speak to her role in creating the global convention for human rights for older adults. Melisssa Perry, dean of the College of Public Health, will provide opening remarks. RSVP.
Working Moms Support Group: Fall 2025 Meeting Schedule
George Mason’s Working Moms Support Group has been active at the university for more than 20 years. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and advocate for change on campus. Learn more and view the full meeting schedule.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
“Before the Americas” Symposium
Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
“Before the Americas” is an art historical survey exhibit featuring 45 works by Afro-Latino, Caribbean, and African American artists, many of whom have lived and worked in the Washington, D.C., area. Their works span painting, printmaking, sculpture, book art, performance, and video art. The exhibit was curated by Cheryl Edwards and is on display in Gillespie Gallery in the Art and Design Building.
Arlington Artwalk
Saturday, Oct. 4, from 4–7 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington (3601 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia)
The Arlington Art Walk is a self-guided tour connecting local galleries, artist studios, and cultural events. Enjoy a variety of activities, including Mason Exhibitions, Fred Schneider Gallery, Made in Arlington Market at MoCA, Mason Square Plaza activities, and entertainment at Northside Social. At Mason Exhibitions Arlington, hear live music by Reis DeBruyne and Julian Mirran and explore the exhibition “Kî me Ez?”
Mason Artist-in-Residence: Papermoon Puppet Theatre
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Indonesia’s innovative Papermoon Puppet Theatre presents a spellbinding, nonverbal puppetry work. Founded by illustrator, writer, and theater performer Maria (Ria) Tri Sulistyani and visual artist Iwan Effendi, Papermoon has traveled the world with its mixed media productions that are personal, yet universally resonant. A bittersweet and hopeful piece, Puno tells the story of Tala, a young girl who is coping with her father’s passing, exploring how we can hold and appreciate what has been left to us. Recommended for children and adults; ages 7 and older.
Visual Voices with Carolyn Drake
Thursday, Oct. 9, from 4:45–6:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Carolyn Drake works on long-term, photo-based projects seeking to interrogate dominant historical narratives and creatively reimagine them. Her practice embraces collaboration and has in recent years melded photography with sewing, collage, and sculpture. This event will be hosted in-person and also via Zoom. RSVP to receive Zoom link.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: ‘The Lark and the Seasons with William Hagen’
Saturday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Featuring William Hagen, violin. Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending is a lyrical evocation of the English countryside, where a solo violin soars like a birdsong over a shimmering orchestral backdrop. Then, immerse yourself in the spiritual depth and quiet strength of his Symphony No. 5, a deeply moving work born out of wartime darkness and infused with hope and transcendence. Ground-breaking composer Max Richter’s innovative and bold reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons topped the classical charts and continues to captivate audiences in soundtracks, such as Bridgerton and The Crown.
Prince William Little Theatre: ‘The Woman in Black’
Oct. 10–19, multiple performances
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
A lawyer is obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the specter of a woman in black, so he engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. What begins innocently reaches deeper into his darkest memories, leading to a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds.
Manassas Chorale: ‘From Broadway with Love’
Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Join the Manassas Chorale, its instrumentalists, and high school musicians from local schools as they perform Broadway's best from both classic and new Broadway shows.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: ‘Chopin—The Romantic’
Sunday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Experience some of the most stirringly melodious music ever composed in this Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel. The program Chopin—The Romantic features exhilarating polonaises, dreamy nocturnes, charming waltzes, poignant mazurkas, and the Ballade in G minor, Op. 23. The program will conclude with a short Q&A with the audience.
Eva Ayllon with Special Guest Daniela Darcourt
Sunday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Living legend Eva Ayllon is celebrating 55 years of spreading the joy of Peruvian music around the world. She is accompanied by the young, exuberant talent of Daniela Darcourt; together they will transform the stage into a pure musical explosion.
Virginia Opera: ‘A Taste of Opera’
Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 1:30 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall
Experience big talent in an intimate setting with Virginia Opera. Their talented artists will impress you with delightful performances of opera's greatest hits, famous Broadway show tunes, and other diverse and lively selections.
Mason Choirs Concert – ‘Timeless: Choral Voices Across the Centuries’
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
From Renaissance devotion to contemporary reflection, Timeless honors the musical legacies of composers whose anniversaries we mark in 2025. Join the University Chamber Singers and the University Chorale for a program featuring the Renaissance gems of Palestrina (b. 1525), the luminous spirituality of Arvo Pärt (b.1935), and the heartfelt American storytelling of Kirke Mechem (b.1925).
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert Fall 2025
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join the Mason Symphony Orchestra for its opening concert of the season, directed by Soo Han.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: ‘Frankenstein’
Oct. 17–19, multiple performances
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Manassas Ballet Theatre opens its season with the frightful tale of Frankenstein. Set to an original, evocative score by Kim Reynolds and performed by the Kim Reynolds Band, the ballet brings this legendary classic to life in a thrilling blend of drama, emotion, and artistry. Experience the tragic story of creation and destruction through stunning new choreography and captivating live music that reimagine this frightful masterpiece.
Laurie Berkner Band
Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Back by popular demand, “the undisputed queen of kindie rock” (USA Today) Laurie Berkner and her band perform a concert event for the whole family. Trick or treat yourself by wearing your costume for this performance of Halloween songs, as well as classics from the Laurie Berkner Greatest Hits album.