Faculty/Staff Announcements
Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form.
Campus Updates
Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service
Join the 11th annual Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service on Monday, Sept. 11. A variety of service projects are available for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Registration is now open. RSVP for a service project(s). For program highlights, including details on service projects, the Service Fair, blood drive, opening ceremonies, and lunch for first responders and veterans, visit 911day.gmu.edu. Contact Lisa Snyder with questions.
Staff Senate Election Results and September Meeting
The Staff Senate election took place in July, and the results are in. Check out the list of new and re-elected Staff Senators.
The September Staff Senate meeting will feature guest speaker Andrew Lane, director or performance management and employee engagement, on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1204, or via Zoom.
Fall Career Fair
Faculty and staff should encourage students and alumni to attend the Fall Career Fair on Sept. 27–28 at the Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. This job fair brings those seeking professional opportunities together with employers to network regarding part-time and full-time positions. No registration is required for students and alumni. Contact Bernadette Davey, career fair manager, with questions.
Study Abroad Fair
The Global Education Office is looking forward to hosting the Fall 2023 Study Abroad Fair at Mason. Join us on the Fairfax Campus on Wilkins Plaza on Sept. 19 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to learn more about global education, talk to faculty and partners, and enjoy some light refreshments. Contact goabroad@gmu.edu with questions.
Access: Mobile ID Launch Event
Celebrate the launch of the Mason Mobile ID at a special event on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus, Wilkins Plaza. Meet with Mason Card Office representatives and other vendors to ask any burning questions you may have about the Mobile ID. Show your Mobile ID for a chance to win giveaways and prizes. Learn more.
Mason Now: Power the Possible—Faculty and Staff Reception
The Mason community is celebrating the launch of the biggest, boldest campaign in the university’s history. Join us for an afternoon of food, fun, and giveaways as we get ready to make a difference—together!
Mason Now: Power the Possible—Faculty and Staff Reception
Thursday, Sept. 28, 4–6 p.m.
Merten Hall Lawn, Fairfax Campus
RSVP
If you are joining from another campus, parking will be available in the Rappahannock Parking Deck. Shuttles to the Fairfax Campus are also available.
Patriot Green Fund
Do you have an idea for how to make your workspace, projects, or operations more sustainable? The Patriot Green Fund (PGF) can help. The PGF from Mason Facilities finances infrastructure improvements and student research efforts that reduce Mason’s environmental impact.
Any current student, faculty, or staff member may apply for funds to support a sustainability project, and quick fund applications can be submitted any time. The next deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 22. Learn more.
Check out the PGF-supported recycling station at the Center for the Arts and enhancements to the Green Studio, a permaculture garden and outdoor studio and lab space.
Carter School International Day
As part of Carter School Fall 2023 Peace Week, students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to celebrate the International Day of Peace on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. on the plaza at Mason Square. This event will highlight the many nationalities represented at Mason, showcasing several countries from around the world.
This year’s Carter School Peace Week theme is "Building Peace in Partnership." We hope you take this opportunity to connect with community members and share your voices. Walk around Mason Plaza and celebrate diverse cultures through live entertainment, food, crafts, and more. RSVP.
SUB I Mural Unveiling
Join Mason Exhibitions, Murals at Mason, and campus partners to celebrate the newest murals on campus. The Ideal of Community murals in SUB I were painted by School of Art alum Alecsis Pillar.
Wednesday, Sept. 13
Student Union Building I (SUB I), Patriots Lounge
1–2 p.m.
The event will include light refreshments and remarks from the artist and project partners.
Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk
Registration is now open for the 2023 Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk. The event will be hosted on the Fairfax Campus on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m. on the Merten Hall lawn, or virtually from any location that weekend. Register today.
Registration for the 5K is $15 for Mason students and $35 for everyone else. Registration for the 1-Mile Run/Walk is $25 for all participants. Race proceeds will support Mason students in need.
LGBTQ+ Student Showcase and Call for Proposals
This fall, the LGBTQ+ Resources Center, Women and Gender Studies Center, and Graduate Student Life are sponsoring Mason’s first LGBTQ+ Interdisciplinary Showcase. This event will spotlight Mason’s graduate and undergraduate students’ outstanding scholarly, research, and creative works through posters, oral presentations, and creative, visual, and performing arts that highlight the work of our LGBTQ+ students.
The event will take place Monday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall. RSVP.
The conference planning committee invites Mason students to submit abstracts for consideration. Students are encouraged to submit current and/or in-progress work they are interested in sharing with the Mason community. The deadline is Oct. 1. Learn more.
Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest
In observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ITS is hosting a poster contest for all Mason students. The contest window for participation is Tuesday, Sept. 5, to Sunday, Oct. 8. The winner will receive a basket full of prizes worth more than $100. Must be a Mason student to participate; faculty and staff are encouraged to share this information with their students. Learn more.
Training and Professional Development
Sign Up for Mason 101
Register for Mason 101 to learn more about George Mason University—its structure, history, resources, and its future. Upcoming sessions include (all are hosted from 10 a.m. to noon):
- Friday, Sept. 8 (Zoom)
- Monday, Sept. 25 (in-person)
- Friday, Oct. 20 (in-person)
- Friday, Nov. 10 (Zoom)
- Friday, Dec. 8 (in-person)
To register for an upcoming session:
- Go to masonleaps.gmu.edu
- Log in with your Mason credentials
- In the search bar in upper right corner of the page, search for “Mason 101”
- On the screen that opens, click “Mason 101”
- Available Mason 101 dates will appear
- Click on the “Request” button next to your preferred training date
Contact Philip Stamper, Office of University Branding, at 703-993-5308 with questions.
Dreams Come True with You
Mason faculty and staff are invited to participate as mentors in the 23rd year of the Mason Dream Catchers, a university-wide partnership with the Fairfax County and Prince William County public school systems. Volunteer mentors in the Mason community attend monthly events held on campus to support capable alternative high school students in achieving their dreams to attend college.
More information about Dream Catchers, events, and a mentor application can be found at dreamcatchers.gmu.edu. If you are interested in participating in this program or would like additional information, contact Julie Rouge.
University Life to Host Workshop on Jewish Identity and Antisemitism on Campus
University Life will host a professional development workshop for faculty and staff regarding Jewish Identity and Antisemitism on Campus on Friday. Oct. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall.
The workshop will address the intersection between racism and antisemitism; understanding the relationship between anti-Zionism and antisemitism; and how antisemitism plays out on college and university campuses today. Space is limited so RSVP today. Email questions to Alissa Karton.
The AI Salon Series 2023 Coming to Fenwick Library
Join University Libraries this semester for the AI Salon Series, including sessions on:
- AI in Business and Government: Sept. 21
- AI, Ethics, and Academic Integrity: Oct. 9
- AI in the Arts and Humanities: Nov. 15
- AI in the Social Sciences and STEM: Dec. 6
Sessions will be hosted from 4–5 p.m. in the Fenwick Library Reading Room. For more information, contact Heidi Blackburn.
UndocuAlly Training
The Mason community is invited to participate in UndocuAlly Training, which teaches the history of undocumented communities and helps participants understand past and present legislation, as well as the realities and barriers they face. Register at attend training on Friday, Sept. 29, Friday, Oct. 27, or Friday, Dec. 1.
Resources for You
Advertise on the Braddock Road Marquee
Post your upcoming public event on the electronic Braddock Road Marquee. For more information, including guidelines and using our template on PowerPoint, visit the website. Contact marquee@gmu.edu with questions.
Learn to Ride a Bike
Want to experience the joys of biking, but haven’t gotten around to learning? The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB), the City of Fairfax, and Mason Parking and Transportation will host an adult Learn to Ride biking class on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants must be 18 or older and from Mason, the City of Fairfax, or Fairfax County. Bikes and helmets provided. Register today.
Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason
The Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason is one way faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps motivate changes on campus.
If you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, please join us. Visit the website for meeting dates and more information.
Veterans and the Arts Initiative: Upcoming Workshops
The Veterans and the Arts Initiative at the Hylton Performing Arts Center serves as an arts and community hub for military-connected people. The program offers free, hands-on workshops, art exhibitions featuring veterans’ artwork, and concerts for local veterans, servicemembers, and military family members.
The program is offering two upcoming Ukulele Workshops: Hum and Strum for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. Register
Offsite: Central Library in Manassas, Virginia - Saturday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. Register
Offsite: Potomac Library in Woodbridge, Virginia
The workshops are open and free to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.
Change Your Commute: Vanpool
Looking for a new way to get to work? Consider vanpooling. Travel with the same group of Mason colleagues. Reduce the time you spend driving. Plus, for full-time faculty/staff, the cost of your commute can be subsidized by Mason up to $300/month. Seats are currently available from the Fredericksburg area (work hours 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Or start your own with four coworkers. Get the details. Contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Visual Voices with Giovanni Aloi
School of Art
Thursday, Sept. 7, at 4:45 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
Giovanni Aloi is an author, educator, and curator specializing in the representation of nature and the environment in art. Aloi is the editor in chief of Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture and co-editor of the Art after Nature book series published by University of Minnesota Press. He is the author and editor of many books on art and nature. Aloi lectures on modern and contemporary art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York.
Arts Alive! at the Hylton Center
Sunday, Sept. 10, noon to 5 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center
Arts Alive! at the Hylton Performing Arts Center is an annual, family-friendly arts festival featuring Prince William County Arts Council members and other community performers and fine artists. Enjoy activities for all ages, multiple stages of performances (indoors and out), and more. Arts Alive! includes:
- Live performances and exhibits by local artists and art organizations
- Visual art on display and for purchase
- Local authors reading and selling their work
- Hands-on activities and live demonstrations for all ages
- Food and beverages available for purchase
Come celebrate your local arts community. This event is free; no tickets required.
Grand Piano Celebration
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Sunday, Sept. 10, at 3 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The Grand Piano Celebration opens the fall 2023 performance season and honors Mason's All-Steinway School. This concert of student and faculty artists will be led by Linda Apple Monson, International Steinway Artist and director of the Dewberry School of Music. Exciting and dramatic solo piano, duo-piano, and collaborative piano works will be performed. Mason's faculty piano ensemble (eight hands) will also be showcased.
The Mason Players: The Originals!
Sept. 15–16, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheatreSpace
Join an evening of original new works featuring Mason School of Theater’s talented student playwrights and students. The Originals! offers Mason’s creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a musical or the traditional 10-minute play structure, explore the brilliant imaginations of our students as they present this year’s originals.
Visual Voices with Jen White-Johnson
School of Art
Thursday, Sept. 21, at 4:45 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
Jen White-Johnson is an art activist, designer, and educator whose visual work explores the intersection of content and caregiving with an emphasis on redesigning ableist visual culture. As an artist-educator with Graves disease and ADHD, her heart-centered and electric approach to disability advocacy bolsters these movements with invaluable currencies: powerful, dynamic art and media that all at once educates, bridges divergent worlds, and builds a future that mirrors her autistic son’s experience.
Voctave
Saturday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center
Experience the delightful harmonizing of musical arrangements from some of your favorite hit Broadway musicals, Disney films, and jazz standards. Since forming in 2015, this a capella ensemble has rocketed to international fame through its live performances and popular recordings. Voctave’s 11 members possess a wealth of diverse musical experiences from musical theater, contemporary Christian music, and barbershop to pop and choral music.
Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band: FUSION
Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The Mason Wind Symphony opens the 2023–24 performance season with its first concert titled FUSION, celebrating the unique ways artists draw inspiration from different sources to create a masterpiece that goes beyond its parts. The Mason Wind Symphony is excited to welcome the Fairfax Wind Symphony, a community band directed by Stan Schoonover, to share the Center for the Arts stage for this season opener.
ARTS by George!
Saturday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
This annual benefit event supports student scholarships at Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million since it began in 2006. The evening begins by showcasing the remarkable talents of Mason students alongside a delicious buffet dinner and drinks and culminates with a performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry in the Center for the Arts. The Presenting Sponsor for ARTS by George! is Sandy Spring Bank.
Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert
Saturday, Sept. 30, at 8:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Tony, GRAMMY, and Emmy Award-winning star of stage and screen Renée Elise Goldsberry takes centerstage as the 2023 ARTS by George! headliner in a dazzling concert featuring Broadway hits and American songbook classics. Goldsberry is best known for her Tony Award-winning portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. As a member of the original cast, she also received a GRAMMY Award when the original cast album won Best Musical Theater Album in 2016, featuring her show-stopping rendition of “Satisfied.” In addition to her Broadway appearances in The Color Purple, Lion King, and Rent, audiences will also recognize Goldsberry for her many television roles on shows including ABC’s One Life to Live, CBS’s The Good Wife, Peacock’s Girls5eva, and Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.