Faculty and Staff News

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.

For most people, planning for an emergency might only come to mind every now and then. But some George Mason University employees spend each day preparing for emergencies and planning how to protect the Mason Nation in a crisis. As director of emergency management and fire safety in the Office of Risk, Safety, and Resilience, Gregg Black, MPA’13, helps the university plan for the unexpected.

For her efforts to ensure George Mason University is an environment where all students can succeed, Shekila Melchior, director of strategic initiatives and partnerships in George Mason University’s Office of Access, Compliance and Community, has been named February Employee of the Month.

Jeffrey Kenney, an associate curator for Mason Exhibitions, is a recipient of a 2025-26 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fellowship.

University Libraries at George Mason University has named Samaine Lockwood, associate professor of English, the 2026 Fenwick Fellow.

As the spring 2026 semester starts, George Mason students, faculty, and staff are reminded that traffic on and around the Fairfax Campus greatly increases during the first few weeks of the semester. We hope that the following campus parking and transportation guide will help minimize potential parking and traffic delays.

January Employee of the Month Oscar Ferrufino is a member of George Mason University’s Essential Employees group, so he is one of the first to respond when severe weather is forecasted. A heavy equipment operator in Facilities Management, he has been an integral part of the Facilities and Campus Operations department for almost 20 years. Since 2006, his work has helped make George Mason’s campuses a better place. 

Student Affairs and Academic Advising professionals from across the country attended the first Student Success Coaching Conference: Ignite Your Success Through Coaching in October. The conference, hosted by George Mason University’s Student Success Coaching (SSC) unit, provided an opportunity for more than 400 coaching professionals from 100 institutions—including Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, and others—to collaborate and learn from each other. 

Costello College of Business dean Ajay Vinzé has been named interim provost at George Mason University, President Gregory Washington announced Wednesday.

As executive director of academic strategies and senior executive producer for GMU-TV, Susan Kehoe leads an award-winning educational television team whose work reaches audiences throughout Northern Virginia and around the globe. Outside work, Kehoe opens doors and broadens the experiences of others in a different way. As a volunteer Puppy Raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, her family raises and trains service dogs.

Julie Hudson, executive assistant to Dean Mark J. Rozell at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, played an integral role in maintaining the school’s operations during the pandemic and has demonstrated exceptional flexibility as her position evolved over the years. For her leadership and outstanding work ethic, Hudson is being recognized as the December Employee of the Month.

George Mason University recognized faculty and staff for their years of service at the University Day Service Awards this week.