Faculty/Staff Announcements

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Campus Updates

Presentations by Print and Mail Vendor Finalists

Vendors competing to provide George Mason with print fleet, copy center, and mail services will present their proposals in January. The university community is invited to attend virtual presentations by the finalists on the following dates:

Questions? Contact Buz Grover, Auxiliary Services and Operations, at 703-993-5784 or via email.

Register for Homecoming 2025

The Mason Nation is invited to celebrate Homecoming from Jan. 31 to Feb. 8. Show your Brave and Bold school spirit as we invite you to reminisce and share the experiences with your friends and family. View the schedule of events.

West Campus Town Hall: Watch the Recording

In December, George Mason hosted a community conversation regarding the university’s West Campus development. Community members were invited to share their thoughts and ideas regarding concepts for the development, campus and community needs, and opportunities for collaboration. Watch the video recording. Contact Traci Kendall, Community and Local Government Relations, with questions.

George Mason University Alumni Association’s 2025 Celebration of Distinction: Nomination Form

The George Mason University Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Celebration of Distinction awards. Know an outstanding alum, student, or faculty member who should be recognized? Review the criteria and submission instructions. The deadline is Friday, March 7, at 5 p.m.

Support for Duo Mobile Application on iOS 15 Ending

Duo Security, George Mason’s provider for 2FA, has announced it will end support for the Duo Mobile application on iOS 15 effective Monday, Feb. 17. Users with this operating system have been notified about the change. This change means users will not be able to troubleshoot issues or receive maintenance fixes or security updates on devices running iOS 15 and lower; however, users can still authenticate and receive passcodes.

To receive full support, users should upgrade to iOS 16 or later. For assistance, contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or submit a request ticket.

Nominations for the David J. King Award

The David J. King Teaching Award is given annually to a faculty member who has made significant, long-term contributions (over the course of 20 years or more) to the educational excellence of the university. Read more and nominate a colleague by Feb. 12. Contact the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning with questions.

Training and Professional Development

New Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop

The virtual New Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop is happening on Saturday, Jan. 11. Designed to support new adjunct faculty, this workshop offers valuable resources, professional development opportunities, and a welcoming introduction to the George Mason community. Register.

Note: New adjunct faculty hires must be entered into BANNER to obtain their faculty ID and NetID and participate in important Blackboard and Patriot Web training on the day of the workshop. For more information, visit the Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop webpage.

For questions, contact Faculty Affairs and Development at facaffs@gmu.edu. Thank you for your support in helping new adjunct faculty thrive at George Mason!

Calls for Proposals: 4-VA@Mason

George Mason University faculty interested in pursuing a novel research project in conjunction with colleagues at one of nine other 4-VA schools in Virginia are encouraged to respond to the annual 4-VA@Mason Collaborative Research Grants calls for proposals.

These grants of up to $20,000 are designed to facilitate and support alliances which leverage the strengths of each partner university to improve efficiencies in research and higher education, reduce working in silos, and provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students. Visit the website for more information.

Facilitating Inclusive Practices: Become an ASPIRE facilitator

The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion seeks to equip George Mason faculty and staff with the tools and knowledge to lead impactful workshops that foster inclusive workplace environments. Faculty and staff are invited to receive training and become facilitators for the ASPIRE workshops. Through two half-day sessions in March, faculty and staff will gain a strong understanding of the ASPIRE workshop content, key principles of learner-centered approaches, and effective strategies for engaging participants.

New facilitators will receive personalized mentorship throughout their first few sessions, ensuring they feel confident and well-prepared as they take on their facilitation roles. This opportunity provides a platform for professional growth and empowers facilitators to make a lasting impact by advancing inclusive practices within their teams and across the university. Contact Aimee Weinstein with questions.

Resources for You

New Year, New Goals: How Workplace Coaching Can Help You Succeed

The new year is the perfect time to reflect, set goals, and take action toward achieving them. George Mason’s Workplace Coaching Program is here to support you with a self-motivated, future-focused approach to gain clarity, build confidence, and reach your personal and professional potential.

Workplace coaching offers:

Personalized guidance to break through barriers and create meaningful change
Strategies for success in communication, time management, decision-making, and more
Flexible, no-cost sessions designed to meet your unique goals

Kickstart your growth journey. Learn more and sign up to start 2025 with purpose and momentum.

Mini Hackathon: Innovate for Peace with Tech

Faculty and staff, encourage your students to participate in an exciting mini-hackathon hosted by the Young Women’s Peacebuilding Fellowship on June 11 at Mason Square. Participants will listen to fellows pitch bold ideas that merge peacebuilding and technology, vote for the project that inspires them most, and collaborate with like-minded tech enthusiasts to bring the vision to life, guided by a fellow as the program lead.

The winning team will receive courtside tickets to a George Mason basketball game. Those interested should email Megan Jeans by Jan. 31. This event is sponsored by the Carter School Center for Peace Tech.

Annual Leave Rollover Reminder: Jan. 9 Deadline

As we approach the end of the leave year, faculty and staff are reminded that the annual leave carryover limit will be rolled over on Thursday, Jan. 9. Employees with leave balances exceeding the carryover limit must use their excess leave before Jan. 9 to avoid losing it. Coordinate time off with supervisors.

For more information on carryover limits, visit the Annual Leave webpage. Additionally, employees have the option to donate excess leave through the Leave Sharing Program. Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions.

Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason

U.S. Navy Band Commodores
45th International Saxophone Symposium
Saturday, Jan. 11
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The 45th International Saxophone Symposium, hosted by the U.S. Navy Band, features over 150 performances, masterclasses and lectures designed for musicians of all ages. First hosted in 1978, the International Saxophone Symposium features world-renowned saxophonists while highlighting the prominence of the saxophone in both classical and jazz literature. Saturday night's concert presents the U.S. Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble with special guest Will Vinson in an evening of big band and jazz music. This event is open to the public, and no tickets are required.

American Roots Series: Graham Breedlove Group
Saturday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
Called “one of the most exciting trumpet players on the planet” (International Trumpet Guild Journal), Graham Breedlove brings his quintet for an exhilarating program of music. Just in time for Mardi Gras, Breedlove, a native of south Louisiana, is joined by fellow members of the Dewberry School of Music faculty to perform a mix of traditional New Orleans music, modern jazz, and original tunes.

Silkroad Ensemble
Saturday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Returning for a third year as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Grammy Award-winning music collective Silkroad Ensemble presents this world premiere showcase of all-star percussionists and musical storytelling through the exchange of rhythm, pulse, and melody from different musical traditions around the world. Formed by Yo-Yo Ma and now led by Pulitzer Prize winning multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad Ensemble will engage the community and students during its residency through a variety of events, classes, and discussions.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Dances for the Ears
Sunday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Enjoy the rhythmically captivating music of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, and Spanish composers Enrique Granados and Manuel de Falla, in Jeffrey Siegel’s next program of Keyboard Conversations. Siegel is “a pianist with a bravura technique and a big, gorgeous sound…and when the artist himself offers the inside scoop, the musical experience becomes vastly more personal” (Denver Post). The program will conclude with a short Q&A with the audience.

George Mason School of Theater: Mason Cabaret 2025
Jan. 31 to Feb 2, multiple performances – Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Friday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. – SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
In this beloved annual event, stellar student vocalists bring their talents to the stage, celebrating some of the biggest and brightest names in music and theater. In this year’s performance, we will shine the spotlight on the work of legendary Broadway director and producer Hal Prince. A devoted collaborator of Stephen Sondheim’s, the treasure trove of Prince’s work includes Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera, among many more. See the School of Theater’s bright young stars and discover the talented performers who could be Broadway’s next big hitmakers.

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Branford Marsalis
Saturday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis joins the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in this special concert. An exceptionally versatile musician, Marsalis is a band leader, featured classical soloist, and composer. Marsalis has performed with acclaimed orchestras around the world, and his legendary performances with the Grateful Dead and collaborations with Sting have made him a fan favorite in the pop arena. As a composer, Marsalis has scored films including Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and the recent Netflix film Rustin. The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is made up of the D.C.-area’s finest musicians and is led by founder, artistic director, and virtuoso alto saxophonist Jim Carroll. This performance will also feature vocalist Darden Purcell, George Mason’s jazz program director.

Family Series: Mike Super—Magic & Illusion
Sunday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
See America’s Got Talent finalist and “America’s Favorite Mystifier,” Mike Super, live on stage. Mike Super brings his immersive show of mind-blowing illusions to entertain and enthrall the whole family. He rose to fame as the winner of NBC’s hit television series Phenomenon, becoming the only magician in history to win a live magic competition on primetime U.S. network television. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Virginia Opera: A Taste of Opera
Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall
Enjoy a soaring selection of operatic delights performed by talented members of Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Experience big talent in an intimate performance that includes famous arias and duets from the greatest hits of opera, in addition to Broadway showtunes and other diverse and exciting repertory.

Hylton Family Series: Elena Moon Park & Friends
Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
Celebrate folk and children’s music from around the globe with Elena Moon Park & Friends. With an emphasis on east and southeast Asia, plus original songs reimagined to mix musical traditions, languages, styles, and stories, Park celebrates learning about the world through music. Sing and clap along to Taiwanese train songs, Tibetan jump rope rhymes, Cambodian folk songs, sing-alongs in English, and more, performed on string instruments, accordion, and drums. As an Artist-in-Residence, Elena Moon Park will also work with the community through classes and workshops during the week leading up to the performance.