Honor College student Cashlyn Bonds said her time at George Mason University has been defined by her passion for justice, human security, and international understanding.
She graduates in December with a BA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in human security and justice, from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. She also has minors in intelligence studies and Spanish.
Her commitment to understanding and resolving global conflicts through empathy, research, and collaboration are the driving forces behind her academic success, she said.
Bonds has studied all over the globe. In the summer of 2023, she participated in a study-abroad program in the Balkans, traveling to Bosnia and Croatia through Mason Korea to study the aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars.
Most recently, she completed a semester-long exchange program in Madrid, Spain, where she furthered her cross-cultural understanding and Spanish proficiency.
“The global perspective and meeting people from all around the world has proved to be the most influential thing in my life,” Bonds said of her time at George Mason.
Her commitment to service at George Mason began her first year when she joined George Mason’s chapter of Camp Kesem, for children whose parents have had cancer. She attended the camp as a child growing up in Metairie, Louisiana.
“Knowing that you were part of something as a child and seeing how you can continue the cycle and continue spreading joy fulfills you and fulfills the community,” she said.
She also served as the communications director for the university’s chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society in Social Sciences.
After graduation, she plans to continue her education and pursue a career in international law and humanitarian advocacy. She hopes to use the knowledge and perspective she gained at George Mason to create meaningful change and promote peace and equity across communities.