Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Patriot Packout: April 21 to May 14
Patriot Packout is an opportunity to donate like-new and gently used items at the Fairfax Campus, Science and Technology Campus, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. During residential move-out, Patriot Packout diverts items from the waste stream and makes them available to those who can use them. Learn about accepted donation items, campus drop-off locations, and volunteer opportunities.
Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to donate items. Donations are redistributed to George Mason Patriots, on-campus resources, and local community organizations, preventing useful items from ending up in the trash. Patriot Packout’s donations this spring will support the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Cabinet, First Gen+ Center, The MIX, Parking and Transportation's bike programs, and Food for Others, and more.
Bike to Mason Is Back
Celebrate Earth Month by biking to campus for Bike to Mason Days from April 22–24. Enjoy free food and drinks, get helpful biking tips, and connect with fellow George Mason cyclists. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just getting started, this is your chance to embrace sustainable commuting. RSVP to secure your spot and perks.
Peace Week
In today’s global landscape, persistent conflicts, the escalating impacts of climate change, and the rise of artificial intelligence are significantly posing new dynamics for the stability of our global society. These challenges necessitate a fundamental rethinking of the concept of peace and how it can be achieved and sustained.
Throughout the Carter School’s Spring 2025 Peace Week from April 14–18, participants have the opportunity to engage in a variety of seminars, workshops, and interactive sessions. These activities are designed to present innovative strategies, effective practices, and cutting-edge innovations in the field of conflict resolution. Learn more.
Mason Energy Forum
The Mason Energy Forum will address the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and the data economy, and the changed energy transition environment. It will be a day of panels from leading policy makers, academics, and private-sector players on the energy promises and potential difficulties of AI, as well as local challenges for public resources and engagement.
Mason Energy Forum
Wednesday, April 23, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mason Square, Van Metre Hall, Room 125
RSVP
This year's keynote speaker is David Sandalow, inaugural fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University. Sandalow has served in senior positions at the White House, State Department, and U.S. Department of Energy.
Encourage Students to Participate in the Campus Climate Survey
George Mason faculty and staff should encourage their students to participate in the Campus Climate Survey. Students will have an opportunity to provide feedback and opinions on their experience at George Mason, providing insights for future developments on campus. The survey should take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. All respondents are entered in a giveaway for a chance to win Mason Money, a gift card to the George Mason Bookstore, or a choice of Dell laptop or MacBook.
April Is Earth Month
Join University Sustainability and Facilities and Campus Operations, along with many campus partners, for fun, educational, and engaging activities and events during Earth Month. Learn about Zero Waste Mason, Patriot Packout, the Patriot Green Fund, sustainable agriculture on campus, the Better Bins Preview, enhancements to recycling and composting, and much more. Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved. Visit University Sustainability’s Earth Month page for details.
Mason Empty Bowls
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists in cities around the world to raise money for food-related charities that feed the hungry in their communities. All funds raised through George Mason Empty Bowls will be donated to the Student Food and Housing Insecurity Fund, which serves George Mason students experiencing food insecurity.
Mason Empty Bowls will be hosted on Wednesday, April 30, from 6–9 p.m. at the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus. The event includes dinner, dessert, and sounds of Green and Gold Soul. Guests will choose a handmade bowl to take home as a reminder of the students in our community who struggle with food insecurity. For more information and purchase tickets, visit the website.
Training and Professional Development
Join Mason 101
Are you new to the Mason Nation, or want to enhance your knowledge about the university? Mason 101 is a two-hour information session that covers the history of George Mason University, the university's organizational structure, resources, and looks ahead to the future. The next session is Friday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to noon (in-person, Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 2001).
To register for an upcoming session:
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Go to masonleaps.gmu.edu
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Login with your Mason credentials.
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In the search bar in upper right corner of the page, search for “Mason 101.”
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On the screen that opens, click “Mason 101.”
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Available Mason 101 dates will appear.
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Click on the “Request” button next to your preferred training date.
University Life Student Success Symposium
The University Life Student Success Symposium is a chance to connect with colleagues, learn about innovative practices to support your work, and explore strategies to foster student engagement. The symposium will take place at the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, June 4, with pre-conference sessions on Tuesday, June 3. Get the details and register.
Beyond the Numbers: Reporting through Storytelling
Join the University Life Supervision Collective for the April Manager Meetup: “Beyond the Numbers: Reporting through Storytelling,” on Thursday, April 17, at 2 p.m. This virtual, interactive session will focus on how to leverage storytelling as a reporting tool to better share the success of your team. The conversation will be centered around understanding the components of storytelling, importance of narrative development, and reviewing provided case studies to build understanding. Register. Contact Meeghan Milette with questions.
Resources for You
Travel Well Vaccine Clinic: Vaccines for International Travelers
The Travel Well Vaccine Clinic provides travelers with a convenient opportunity to get up-to-date on routine vaccines and receive any recommended travel-specific immunizations. Whether you are heading abroad for work or leisure, staying protected against preventable diseases is essential.
The clinic will take place on Tuesday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus, Peterson Hall, Population Health Center. Advance registration is required. Sign up today. This clinic is organized by Employee Health and Well-Being.
Stearns Center Podcast and Raffle
Keystone Concepts in Teaching is a higher education podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning at George Mason University, focused on discussing and sharing impactful teaching strategies that support all students and faculty.
For the month of April, a raffle is available for faculty based in the United States and those based in Mason Korea. Visit the website for more details and to enter. Submissions close May 1.
Join the Stearns Center for conversations with experienced educators who discuss actionable, impactful, and evidence-based teaching strategies. Podcast episodes are published every other Thursday on the website, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.
Mason Square Markets
Mason Square Markets have returned for the spring season. Community members will find goodies such as handmade items, sweet treats, art, and more, while enjoying performances from local musicians.
Upcoming dates include Tuesday, April 22, and Tuesday, May 27, from 3–7 p.m. The market is hosted by Mason Square and Mason Dining in collaboration with Arlington Economic Development.
Heal Together
Heal Together is an event that brings together individuals for a day dedicated to healing, self-care, and wellness. Through curated experiences that blend movement, mindfulness, and cultural insights, the event provides an inclusive space where individuals can restore balance and build community.
This event will take place across the Fairfax, Mason Square, and SciTech campuses on Wednesday, April 30. RSVP. Highlights include:
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Guided yoga and meditation
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Creative spaces and sensory-friendly areas with hands-on activities like painting and coloring
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Breakout sessions
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Panel discussion exploring Indigenous and non-western healing traditions
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A full day of free refreshments, including lunch and morning/afternoon snacks
Seed Library at Fenwick
The new Seed Library is located on a cart on the first floor of Fenwick Library on the Fairfax Campus. The library includes books and online resources that can help you learn to garden. Seed libraries have grown in popularity around the country, found in public libraries, community centers, community gardens, makerspaces, and university libraries. A seed library is stocked with seeds, which patrons take, grow, and then, if possible, return seeds to the library. The emphasis, however, is on the taking and growing of seeds, and less on the drying and returning of seeds. Seed libraries promote growing your own food, well-being, community, and learning in a hands-on way.
Take Your Junior Patriot to Work
Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day is Thursday, April 24. Invite the youth in your life to campus to learn what it's like to work at George Mason. Activities are planned at the Mason Square, Fairfax, and Science and Technology campuses. Visit the website for guidance on participation, to complete the consent form, and view a schedule of activities. Register by Tuesday, April 22, to give your junior Patriots a peek into life at George Mason.
Axe-Throwing with Alumni Association
Join the Alumni Association for the next Engage Patriots in Conversation (EPIC) event, and enjoy an afternoon of connecting with others in the George Mason community in a fun, relaxed setting! This family-friendly event is open to alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends.
EPIC Axe-Throwing
Sunday, April 27, 2–5 p.m.
The Farm Brewery at Broad Run (16015 John Marshall Highway, Broad Run, Virginia)
The event will start with networking while enjoying food and beverages. Then, those who sign up for axe-throwing will take some turns in the Big Axe Barn. There's nothing like throwing an axe at a wooden wall to relieve stress at the end of a long week. Purchase tickets.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
Exhibit: ‘Cross-Pollination’
Open through April 25
Fairfax Campus, Fenwick Library, Fenwick Gallery
Held in conjunction with the opening of the Seed Library at Fenwick, Cross-Pollination explores the relationship between the earth’s natural elements and the creative process, featuring works by George Mason faculty. This exhibition draws on both the literal and metaphorical meanings of cross-pollination, emphasizing the continuous exchange between the organic world and artistic creation.
Exhibition: ‘Offerings to the Potomac – Acknowledging Indigenous Place’
Fairfax Campus, Buchanan Hall, Atrium Gallery
Curated by Gabrielle Tayac and Public History in Action students. Co-curated and designed by Mason Exhibitions.
This exhibition grew out of the “IndigenoUs Northern Virginia: Activating Local and Diasporic Native Identities at Mason” project of Alison Landsberg and Gabrielle Tayac. “Indigenous Northern Virginia” began with a Summer Research Institute of students who connected with diverse indigenous communities in Northern Virginia through experiential listening and dialogue. Join a closing reception for this exhibit on Thursday, April 24, from 7–9 p.m. in the Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery.
Mason Opera: ‘27,’ an opera by American composer Ricky Ian Gordon
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
April 25–27, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Featuring Mason’s talented vocal students in collaboration with an instrumental chamber ensemble, these live, in-person performances will showcase great vocal skill and dramatic ability. Follow American writer Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas as they weather two wars in their famed Paris home at 27 Rue de Fleurus. As the paintings sing, meet Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and other great artists and writers who Stein hosted and mentored.
Mason Artist Alley
Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall
Stop by an art convention featuring more than 60 student artists selling self-made creations like stickers, prints, zines, jewelry, and more. Fun art activities and beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork will be available. This family-friendly day of fun is free and open to the public, so come support our student artists.
International Jazz Day
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, April 30, at 8 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Center
Share the vibrance and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty. George Mason University’s Jazz Studies celebrates International Jazz Day with performances by the Mason Jazz Ensemble, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, Braddock Road Brass Band, and Jazz Combo I.
George Mason School of Theater: ‘12 Angry Jurors’
April 30 to May 4, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheaterSpace
Trapped together in a sweltering jury room, the tensions rise along with the heat as 12 ordinary people must decide the guilt or innocence of a young person accused of murder. What begins as a seemingly simple decision becomes more complex as ingrained ideas, systemic racism, and diverging perspectives collide. A thoughtful and poignant look at the consequences of our actions (or lack thereof), this show asks how you determine the truth when faced with a life-or-death decision.
‘Spring: Dance Innovations’
George Mason School of Dance
Friday, May 2, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
The creative School of Dance students present their own choreography. Always relevant and fresh, this evening of adjudicated works will have something for everyone.
Virginia Opera: ‘Loving v. Virginia’
Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony present the the highly anticipated world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. A young couple's interracial marriage in 1958 sparks a case that leads to the Supreme Court and a victory for civil rights in the United States. This operatic retelling is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving.
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Monday, May 5, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join the spring finale concert featuring the Mason Symphony Orchestra, with conductors Soo Han and Michael Stern. The Mason Symphony Orchestra will feature three winners of the 2025 Mason Concerto Competition: Bolun Zhang (piano) will perform the third movement of Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor; Nathan Plapinger (euphonium) will perform the first movement of Cosma's Euphonium Concerto; and Kai Shi (piano) will perform the first movement of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major.
May Studio Series 2025
School of Dance
Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, Dance Performance Studio
Enjoy an evening of student work in one of the School of Dance studios, transformed into an intimate theater.
Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
The Honors Recital is a premier recital opportunity for Dewberry School of Music exceptional student performers in the vocal, instrumental, and piano areas. These outstanding student artists (soloists and chamber musicians) have been selected for this prestigious Honors Recital by audition.
American Festival Pops Orchestra: Armed Forces Day Celebration
Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Center
Commemorate Armed Forces Day with a patriotic musical tribute performed by the American Festival Pops Orchestra in collaboration with George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative. The orchestra will perform a salute to the community’s veterans featuring the music of Barber, Copland, and John Williams, plus other patriotic classics. Special guests Anthony J. Maiello and Darden Purcell join Maestro Wilson and the orchestra.