Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Alan Merten
Celebrate the life, legacy, and contributions of Mason’s fifth president, Alan Merten. Join us for lunch as we remember Dr. Merten’s innovative vision.
A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Alan Merten
Saturday, Dec. 3
11:30 a.m. Lunch and Program, Center for the Arts Atrium
2 p.m. Alan Merten Classic Basketball Game and Halftime Presentation, EagleBank Arena
RSVP by Nov. 18
Attire: Casual/Mason green and gold
Tip-off for the Alan Merten Classic men’s basketball game against the University of Toledo is at 2 p.m. Dr. Merten’s life and legacy will be celebrated during halftime.
You may also make a memorial contribution to the Merten Scholars Endowment.
Virtual Trivia with the Staff Senate
The Staff Senate has partnered with District Trivia to host a virtual Winter Trivia event for classified staff and non-student wage employees on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from noon to 1 p.m.
on Zoom.
Register by Friday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. as a team or as an individual. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams. Space is limited. Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu for more information.
Parking and Transportation Holiday Donation Drive
Would you like to help someone in need? Parking Services is holding its annual holiday donation drive. Now through Dec. 15 at 4 p.m., you can reduce the cost of an outstanding parking citation by making a donation to benefit the Patriot Pantry. Donations may be dropped off at any Parking Services office. For important details, visit the webpage.
Vision Series with Djola Branner – Real Characters, Imagined Events: Celebrities and Historic Figures as Fodder for the Stage
The next Vision Series event will feature Djola Branner, director of Mason's School of Theater, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 7–8 p.m. From ancient Greek myths to Broadway musicals such as Hamilton, Tina, and Evita, audiences love stories rooted in historic fact. Branner will examine how contemporary playwrights and directors are weaving fact and fiction and creating theater that is entertaining, thought provoking, and inspiring.
The Vision Series will be live streamed through GMU-TV. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in the discussion by submitting questions via email or Twitter using #VisionSeriesMason. RSVP.
Reminder: Mason Shuttles Thanksgiving Service Changes
The Thanksgiving holiday will bring changes to the Mason Shuttle schedules. View the updates in detail.
“Earthsgiving” Sustainable Cooking Event
Join Mason’s Greenhouse and Gardens program for "Earthsgiving." At this sustainable cooking event, attendees will create a meal out of local, wild, foraged, and campus-grown ingredients.
Join them on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5–8 p.m. in the Art and Design Building on the Fairfax Campus. Learn more and register (you must log in or create an account to register).
Starting in 2023, Mason's Greenhouse and Gardens program will focus on food security and student-focused events. Join them as they transition toward food security as the focal point of their efforts. Questions? Contact Donielle Nolan at dnolan6@gmu.edu.
ITS Support Center Thanksgiving Hours
In observance of Thanksgiving break, the ITS Support Center will close on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. and re-open and resume normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 28, at 8 a.m.
If you have an emergency while the ITS Support Center is closed, call 703-993-8870 and listen to the prompts to be connected to a representative. Up-to-date information regarding alerts can be found on the ITS alerts page.
Training and Professional Development
Apply to the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series
Applications for the sixth cohort of the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series (ELSS) are now accepted until Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. Participants must be Mason faculty or classified staff and supervise at least one employee who is faculty or classified staff.
ELSS is a 15-month cohort program designed to support supervisors as they:
- Develop a leadership mindset
- Grow their self-awareness, relationships, and communication skills
- Create a vision for their own leadership and their team
To apply, visit Human Resources and Payroll’s Organizational Development and Learning page.
Crucial Conversations Workshop: Mastering Dialogue
Join the Organizational Development and Learning team on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn how to turn disagreement into dialogue for improved relationships and results.
Facilitated by certified trainers, Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is an engaging classroom course rich with group discussion, real-time practice, and coaching.
IT Security Awareness Training Deadline Approaching
The deadline to complete IT Security Awareness Training is Wednesday, Nov. 16. The training is assigned to Mason employees, affiliates, and associates in MasonLEAPS.
Information Technology Services (ITS) made a change to the program this year: Employees who do not complete their training by the deadline will have their accounts disabled, and their supervisors or managers will be notified. If your account is disabled, you will need to contact the ITS Support Center to re-enable the account to take the training.
Additionally, employees who handle sensitive information are required to take role-based training, also assigned to them in MasonLEAPS. For more information, visit the website.
Registration Open: Engagement Strategies for Supervisors
Supervisors are encouraged to join one of two interactive sessions focused on faculty and staff engagement. Participants will take part in discussions surrounding the Gallup survey engagement data and current best practices, as well as learn new strategies to enhance the faculty and staff experience at Mason.
View the schedule and register for an upcoming session. Contact Faculty and Staff Engagement at engagehr@gmu.edu with questions.
Resources for You
Fall Handmade Marketplace from The MIX
The MIX will host a Fall Handmade Marketplace in Horizon Hall on Thursday, Nov. 17. Browse handmade items made by Mason students, faculty, and staff. Vendors will be set up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items range from artwork, knitted and textile creations, custom jewelry, and more. Contact mix@gmu.edu with questions.
Washington Commanders Celebrate Virginia State Employee Day with Discounted Tickets
The Washington Commanders will celebrate Virginia State Employee Day at FedExField against the New York Giants on Dec. 18. Bring friends, family, and colleagues to enjoy a fun-filled day at the stadium.
Discounted tickets are also available for the game against the Dallas Cowboys in January.
Five dollars from each ticket sale will be donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, the commonwealth's only annual workplace giving program.
Check out the full list of state employee discounts, including theme park tickets, vacation packages, entertainment, flowers, and more. Be sure to check back often for updates on discounts for you and your family.
Commuter Choice Benefit Increasing in 2023
Beginning in January 2023, the maximum Commonwealth Commuter Choice benefit at Mason will increase by $20 to $300 per month. Currently, an Executive Order gives full-time state employees in Northern Virginia up to $280 per month to commute by public transit or vanpool. This is a tax-free benefit paid by the university.
To take advantage of this increase beginning with the January benefit, be sure to submit your Commuter Choice Monthly Benefit Request form by Thursday, Dec. 8. If you are new to the program, also submit an Enrollment Form.
For more information and links to the forms, visit the Mason Transportation website.
Bank On Your Success: Estate Planning Overview
This webinar from Truist Bank will assist employees with trusts and estate planning, covering the following:
- Role of corporate trustee
- Individual vs. corporate trustee
- Importance of updating your current estate plan (i.e., power of attorney, health care proxy, will, insurance, trusts, etc.), and more.
Join the webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. This webinar is offered for Commonwealth of Virginia employees. Register today.
Uncovering the Kingdom of Red Lines: A Conversation with Abdulrahman Naanseh
Visiting artist Abdulrahman (Abi) Naanseh will be joined by Mason faculty members Yasemin Ipek (Global Affairs), Bassam Haddad (Middle East and Islamic Studies), and Lisa Marie Gilman (English and Folklore) for a discussion about Syria’s current and historical conflicts, paths forward, and how Naanseh’s artworks may illustrate these discussions.
Uncovering the Kingdom of Red Lines
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6–8 p.m.
Fenwick Library, Main Reading Room
Naanseh is Mason Exhibitions and the School of Art’s Artist Protection Fund Fellow-in-Residence. The Artist Protection Fund sponsors artists in threatened countries and places them with host institutions in safer countries. He will share what led him to flee Syria and the stories and experiences that inspire his Arabic calligraphy artworks.
"Lives Shatter on Impact" Street Smart Safety Campaign Exhibit
With the recent time change, it’s more important than ever to pay attention while walking, biking, and driving. More than 75% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night.
That is why the Street Smart “Lives Shatter on Impact” safety exhibit will return to Mason on Nov. 29 in the Johnson Center Atrium. Part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Street Smart Safety Campaign, the objective of the exhibit is to educate and remind drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists about the importance of watching out for each other. The display shares heartfelt testimonials from area residents whose lives have been upended when they or their loved ones have been struck by drivers.
Contact Mason Transportation with questions.
Veterans and the Arts Initiative Workshop
Workshop: Exploring Innovative Collage Techniques through Botanical Imagery
Veterans and the Arts Initiative
Friday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m.
Off-campus: Haymarket Gainesville Library
Collage is a versatile art-making technique that combines various things together to create a work. This workshop starts with historical botanical imagery combined with 21st-century mediated imagery. Participants will learn how to incorporate a range of materials and methods to produce contemporary imagery that can be both a vehicle for storytelling and decorative innovation. Free and open to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Jazz4Justice™ Concert: Jazz and Blues in America
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Friday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music presents the 21st annual Jazz4Justice™ concert and fundraiser. The event raises funds to directly support vital legal services for low-income Northern Virginians, as well as financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department, including scholarships, trips, recordings, and student projects. This year’s concert, Jazz & Blues in America, explores the roots and development of America’s greatest contribution to the arts—Jazz. Jazz4Justice™ is presented in partnership with Legal Services of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit legal aid organization that has served the region for more than 40 years.
Mason School of Theater: Sutta
Nov. 18–19, at 8 p.m.
Nov. 20, at 2 p.m.
TheaterSpace
It's 2017, and a young doctoral candidate is in the final throes of his dissertation on ancient religious traditions in the modern world. His research takes him to a Buddhist monastery where he grapples with identity, history, culture, and ultimately with who is entitled to enlightenment. Sutta combines movement, music, and text as theatrical language, and this production marks its world premiere.
American Roots Series: The Seldom Scene
Saturday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
The Seldom Scene, Washington, D.C.’s favorite bluegrass band and pioneers of the “new-grass” movement, are back for an encore set of American Roots Series performances. Their time-tested sound stretches and blends seamlessly in the realm of country, rock, pop, and jazz and has led to a devoted local and international following. This performance is appropriate for all ages.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Immortal Impromptus
Sunday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel is for both music aficionados and those that aspire to be so. He will draw you into the composers’ lives by sharing details about their creative processes. In Immortal Impromptus, Siegel explores Romanticism with passion-filled, freestyling impromptus by Chopin, Schubert, and Fauré. Learn more about the artists and how they expressed the ideals of an era through their musical compositions. An interactive question and answer session will conclude this program. This performance is appropriate for all ages.
Symphonic Band Concert
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Monday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The Mason Symphonic Band presents an evening of historical and contemporary works for wind ensemble featuring Malcolm Arnold's Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo and Fisher Tull's Sketches on a Tudor Psalm. This concert opens with a unique juxtaposition of winds versus brass with Andrew Blair's (anti)-FANFARE for winds and Katahj Copley's “Song for Ursa” for brass choir. Washington, D.C., native Shelly Hanson's Islas y Motańas, a musical rumination about Cuban composer, Alejandro Garcia Caturla, concludes this concert.
The 5 Browns: Christmas with The 5 Browns
Saturday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The 5 Browns, a quintet of talented pianists and siblings—Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra, and Desirae—all simultaneously attended The Juilliard School. They rose to acclaim in the early 2000s after being featured on Oprah and 60 Minutes. Indulge in a festive celebration of the piano that New York Post calls “the biggest classical music sensation in years.” This performance is appropriate for all ages.