A legacy of resilience: New scholarship helps students persevere to get their degree Sarah Holland Thu, 11/06/2025 - 15:46 Body “What advice would you give to someone who’s in the process of understanding and knowing their worth?” Amany Bouali asks her mother. “Everyone one of us has a lot to give and a lot to receive. You are so precious, and you are worth this world and more,” Zeineb replies. It’s a bittersweet interlude on Amany Bouali’s album Came from Something: Her mother, Zeineb Mrad Bouali, passed away not long after recording. She was a student in George Mason University’s MA in English program.   Amany (left), Fathi, and Ons hold a photo honoring Zeineb at Ons' graduation from Elon University. Photo provided Inspired by their mother’s determination, Amany and her sister, Ons, and their father, Fathi, created the Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award for students who have had to pause their educational goals and are now hoping to return to complete their degrees. Zeineb called herself an “avid life wanderer,” her daughters said. A mother, a daughter, an educator, a poet, a cake decorator, and a business owner, Zeineb wore many hats throughout her life. But she had one dream waiting to be fulfilled: completing a master’s degree. Before immigrating to the United States, Zeineb was an accomplished English teacher  in her home country of Tunisia. But like many immigrants, her credentials didn’t transfer upon her arrival in the U.S. “Part of my mom’s struggle in this country was all the barriers that are in place for immigrants to start a business, go back to school, resume where they were in their country,” explained Ons. “She had to start her college education from scratch.” Throughout her life she tried returning to school to be reaccredited, periodically taking classes at University of Texas at  San Antonio, George Mason, and Northern Virginia Community College. Life just kept getting in the way of a formal degree program. But Zeineb cared deeply about her daughters’ education. “Her whole life's dream was watching us succeed. When we went on college tours and got acceptances, she was so excited,” said Ons. “She was beside herself with happiness when the acceptance letters came in.” “That was her moment,” agreed Amany. “It meant so much more to her than it could have ever meant to me.” Zeineb in from of the Department of English offices. Photo provided And it was her daughters who encouraged Zeineb to try for her master’s degree one more time. “Our mom put her whole life on hold to make sure we could achieve our dreams,” said Ons. “And once we were older, we told her that it was time for her to go after her dreams.” With support from then-graduate admissions coordinator of the Department of English Holly Mason Badra, Zeineb applied and was accepted into the MA in English program in 2021, where she planned to pursue a concentration in literature. She passed unexpectedly from complications due to a rare autoimmune disease in September 2022. This is the inaugural year for the scholarship honoring her legacy. “I hope my mom’s story inspires the recipients to be resilient and to find a way to achieve their dream no matter the obstacles, even if it doesn't look exactly like they planned,” said Ons. “I want them to think, ‘what would Zeineb do?’” “We want the scholarship to give people from diverse backgrounds who have these additional challenges they’re facing a bit of additional support and kind of ease that burden from them, so they can persevere like our mom did,” said Amany. This year’s inaugural awardees honor Zeineb’s legacy through their determination to achieve their dreams despite major setbacks. Hyerin Cha Major: Global affairs Photo provided When Hyerin Cha was a child, she and her family were displaced from their home in South Korea after a major tragedy. Rebuilding from those early hardships shaped her deep commitment to education and community service. “I’m always trying to learn something” she said. “Because of the lack of resources around me, I had to teach myself.” Driven by curiosity and compassion, Cha grew into an active advocate for equitable education. She has served as a STEM and coding mentor for underprivileged children, an NGO strategy coordinator, and a volunteer leader in community development initiatives both in Korea and abroad. “Giving back through education became my way of honoring the help I once needed,” she said. Knowing early on that she wanted to work in policymaking, Cha chose Mason Korea for its global connections and focus on international governance. Balancing her studies with part-time jobs to fund her education, she continued to excel academically and serve her community. As a Mason Korea student, she was required to complete a year at the Fairfax Campus, but her student visa limited her ability to work. The Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award provided crucial support, allowing her to continue her studies and complete her degree. “This scholarship didn’t just relieve a financial burden, it reaffirmed my belief that perseverance and purpose matter,” she said. “It reminded me that I’m on the right path, and that I can keep going.” Andrea Delgado Portillo  Major: Criminology, law and society Photo provided Andrea Delgado Portillo and her family immigrated to the United States in 2017. Despite being approved for a green card and completing her high school education in Virginia, Delgado Portillo did not qualify for in-state tuition and was ineligible for federal financial aid. After graduating from high school in 2020, she completed three semesters at Northern Virginia Community College, paying out-of-state tuition. Already facing financial strain, she was forced to pause her education when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. “My primary focus shifted to providing for her both financially and emotionally, and after my money ran out, going back to school was out of the question,” she said. But Delgado Portillo, a first-generation high school graduate, had dreams of studying criminology and law and being the first in her family to get a college degree. “My community doesn't have a lot of representation in law enforcement,” she said. “When my mom went through a domestic violence incident, she didn’t have anyone to translate for her. I want to be able to help people like that in my community.” While supporting her mother through treatments, she saved money whenever she could in the hopes of returning to college. After a two-year gap, she applied to George Mason to finish her degree. “[George Mason’s] financial aid office helped me be accepted for in-state tuition and showed me where to apply for scholarships,” she said. The Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award was one of her awarded scholarships. “With the scholarship I was able to pay for books, parking, and part of my tuition,” she said. “I hope one day I can pay their generosity back, maybe through supporting another immigrant student who, like me, had a dream they were struggling to achieve.” Delgado Portillo plans to graduate in Spring 2026. “When I came here [to the United States], I knew nothing, not even how to say, ‘how are you?’” she said. “Now, I’m going to graduate from college. Hopefully, my mom is going to see me walk across the stage.”  Zeineb Mrad Bouali: A remembrance, a celebration, a legacy Related news A legacy of resilience: New scholarship helps students persevere to get their degree November 6, 2025 Exploring fear and fascination with a Popular Horror class October 30, 2025 George Mason’s Debate Team receives generous gift from alumnus Burton C. Gray Jr. October 27, 2025 Center for Community Mental Health partnership provides behavioral health training October 15, 2025 Career Influencers Network guides career-ready students toward success October 9, 2025Topics Topics Campus News Students College of Humanities and Social Sciences English Department graduate students Mason Korea

ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring Katarina Benson Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:52 Body An open house at Fuse at Mason Square offered an exciting glimpse into the future for George Mason University’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy, complete with robotics demonstrations and hands-on technology experiences. Behind the buzz and energy was a deeper message: Through a collaborative partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), ACCESS Academy freshmen will take their first college course this spring, an opportunity rarely available to ninth-grade students.  The inaugural cohort will enroll in an asynchronous Information Technology course through NOVA Online, making them officially dual-enrolled college students while still in their first year of high school. It’s a bold step that underscores the program’s mission to accelerate learning and expand access to higher education.  To prepare students for this milestone, NOVA staff and a dedicated online student success coach will guide them through registration and orientation, helping them understand what it means to take a college-level course in an online, asynchronous format. Students will learn about managing study time, accessing digital course materials, and communicating effectively with college faculty. Webinars and virtual office hours will also provide opportunities to connect with NOVA staff and ask questions as they adjust to this new academic experience.  Through dual enrollment, ACCESS Academy students can meet their Virginia high school graduation requirements while earning college credit in courses taught by NOVA instructors. Over time, students will be able to take dual enrollment classes in English, social studies, math, and science, earning up to 13 college credits before graduation.  “This partnership represents the best of what dual enrollment can offer: early access, equity, and opportunity,” said Kristen Carter, associate director of dual enrollment at Northern Virginia Community College. “By working together, we are opening college doors to students much earlier, providing a strong framework of support, and instilling the confidence to see themselves as future college graduates.”  The benefits of dual enrollment are well documented. Research shows that high school students who earn college credit before graduation are more likely to persist in college, earn higher GPAs, and complete degrees at higher rates. They also report greater confidence and a stronger understanding of what it takes to succeed in college.  “To be eligible to take a college-level Python programming course as ninth graders, students must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. This standard reflects both their readiness and the rigor of this experience,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of George Mason’s College of Education and Human Development. “At the same time, ACCESS Academy is deeply committed to creating the conditions for every student to thrive. Our mission is to open doors to opportunities like this for all learners, preparing them to be future-ready across college, career, and life."More on ACCESS Academy Related News Movers and Shakers Mixer connects George Mason students with industry leaders November 6, 2025 Commonwealth Cyber Initiative helps launch new start-ups November 4, 2025 ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring November 3, 2025 PiVoT Peace Lab transforms conflict into connection October 17, 2025 George Mason pathways program introduces high schoolers to quantum October 3, 2025Topics Topics College of Education and Human Development Lab School K-12 Partnerships Campus News

Mason Korea launches Center for Korean Culture and Society Katarina Benson Mon, 11/03/2025 - 11:03 Body With the global rise of Korean culture—from K-pop and film to food and language—George Mason University’s Mason Korea campus recently launched the Center for Korean Culture and Society (CKCS), its first independently operating research center.  The center will lead interdisciplinary research and education in media content, K-pop, gaming, sports, and tourism. Planned initiatives include hosting international conferences, training cultural industry professionals, fostering industry–academic partnerships, and offering Korean language and culture programs for global learners.  Students groups performed at the ceremony. Photo provided “As a global campus that values both scholarship and practice, Mason Korea seeks to build a platform where K-culture can be shared and co-created with the world,” Joshua Park, campus dean of Mason Korea, said at the center’s opening ceremony at the Incheon Global Campus Small Theater. “Through strong partnerships with students, faculty, businesses, and cultural institutions, Mason Korea will continue to serve as a trusted global education bridge.”  The center launch aligns with Korea’s national strategy to position itself as a global leader in K-content. Leveraging Incheon’s international gateway and collaboration with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ)’s K-Con LAND project, Mason Korea aims to become a key bridge connecting Korea and the world.    Gyu Tag Lee, professor of global affairs and inaugural director of the center, and a leading expert on K-pop and popular music, presented the center’s vision. “We envision this center as more than a space for research,” he said. “It will be a meeting point for people from around the world to create, share, and learn from K-content.”   A panel discussion followed, centered on the book Exploring Hallyu: History and Theory, co-authored by Lee and fellow scholars.  Guy Tag Lee will direct the new center. Photo provided The event brought together representatives from major cultural and educational institutions, including the Seoul Foundation of Culture, Hunminjeongeum Globalization Foundation, Incheon Global Campus Foundation,  American Korean Businessmen Friendship Forum,  Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the World Olympic Taekwondo Federation, Incheon National University, and South Korean educational public radio and television network EBS, with support from Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Citizens’ Life College.  The ceremony also featured a congratulatory video from Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, and remarks from Yun Wonsok, commissioner of IFEZ. Discover Mason Korea Related News A legacy of resilience: New scholarship helps students persevere to get their degree November 6, 2025 Mason Korea launches Center for Korean Culture and Society November 3, 2025 Mason Korea students create camp that brings together students from seven nations October 16, 2025 Mason Korea students take the lead in New York high school exchange program September 17, 2025 Mason Korea kicks off fall 2025 with convocation September 2, 2025Topics Topics Mason Korea Campus News

George Mason University Nutrition and Dietetics graduate program receives full ACEND reaccreditation Taylor Thomas Fri, 10/31/2025 - 11:37 In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA Sapna Batheja, PhD, RDN, LDN Allison McKay Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN Martin Binks PhD, MBABody The College of Public Health at George Mason University is proud to share that the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics has been granted full reaccreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), certifying the program’s status as premier for preparing the future generation for successful careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or nutrition and dietetic technicians.  Registered dietitian students prepare healthy meals for local firefighters. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding. “Continual full ACEND accreditation is a rigorous process that reflects achieving the highest standards in academic quality and professional preparation in nutrition and dietetics education,” said Melissa Perry, inaugural dean of the College of Public Health. "This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, whose joint efforts have strengthened not only the program but also our college’s mission to prepare the next generation of public health and nutrition leaders." Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Associate Professor Sapna Batheja, Assistant Professor Allison Miner, Department Manager Allie McKay, and Professor and Department Chair Martin Binks were instrumental throughout the reaccreditation process.   The decision to grant reaccreditation was based on a comprehensive self-study, site visit, and demonstration of the program’s adherence to standards of excellence in accordance with ACEND criteria. The reaccreditation is a seven-year term, through June 30, 2033.  The Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics prepares students to meet the nutritional needs of communities in a diverse, changing world through evidence-based, collaborative practice, are engaged in the professional community, and are dedicated to lifelong learning. Topics Topics Department of Nutrition and Food Studies dietetics registered dietitian Graduate programs MS Nutrition reaccreditation Campus News

Costello hosts first AI Symposium Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 10/28/2025 - 12:30 Body On October 22, the Costello College of Business at George Mason University welcomed students and members of the local business community to its first-ever Artificial Intelligence Symposium, held on the Fairfax Campus. Sponsored by NABA and Deloitte, the event featured two dynamic panel discussions focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the workforce.  As the lights dimmed, attendees were greeted by an AI-generated voice, setting the tone for the evening: “The future isn’t written by algorithms. It’s co-authored by people bold enough to lead them.”  Following the introduction, Patrick Soleymani, BS Management ‘07, MBA ‘09, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement and emcee for the evening, framed the significance of the event. “Artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging concept—it's a transformative force shaping every industry, discipline, and leadership decision,” he said. “Tonight’s program brings together leading voices from academia and industry to discuss how AI is changing the way we work, learn, and lead.”  “Artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging concept—it's a transformative force shaping every industry, discipline, and leadership decision.” — Patrick Soleymani, BS Management ‘07, MBA ‘09, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement The first panel focused on the technological implications of AI. Moderated by Cheryl Druehl, senior dean for faculty affairs and research, the discussion featured Rajiv Shenoy, partner and associate director at Boston Consulting Group; and James Suh, CTO/CIO of NABA Inc. and CEO & co-founder of Nashville Analytics. Both Shenoy and Suh emphasized the importance of analyzing threats, challenges, and opportunities within the organization that AI would be addressing. “ AI can’t compete with human creativity,” said Shenoy. However, he said, using AI is critical to upskilling, and those unwilling to embrace the technology will eventually be replaced. Suh shared that at NABA they strive to hire hyper curious employees.  From left, Dean Ajay Vinzé, Tasha Austin-Williams, Amarda Shehu, Guylaine Sainte Juste. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business   “Now we turn our focus to the people, policy, and leadership implications of AI adoption,” said Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business, who moderated the second panel that featured Tasha Austin-Williams, principal at Deloitte; Guylaine Sainte Juste, BA International Relations ‘94, president and CEO, NABA Inc.; and Amarda Shehu, George Mason's inaugural vice president and chief AI officer. Acknowledging that one person cannot be an expert at everything, Sainte Juste noted, “This technology will move us from a world of expertise to a world of adaptability.” Shehu shared that George Mason has worked closely with students, faculty, and staff to provide access to AI tools in a secure and user-friendly environment, with a strong emphasis on innovative curriculum development.  The message of the evening was clear: The era of AI is here. Now is the time to embrace this transformative technology and integrate it into skillsets, leadership strategies, and educational frameworks.  “Whether you’re in academia, business, or government, the future of AI requires bold thinking, inclusive design, and ongoing collaboration,” Soleymani said in closing. The Costello College of Business is committed to convening thought leaders and equipping students and faculty with the tools to not only keep pace with AI—but to lead with it. From left, Rajiv Shenoy, Amarda Shehu, Dean Ajay Vinzé, Tasha Austin-Williams, Julia Coulter, Patrick Soleymani, Guylaine Sainte Juste, Cheryl Druehl, James Suh. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business  Learn more about AI at George Mason Related Stories Costello hosts first AI Symposium October 29, 2025 George Mason and King’s College London win Google Award to fight AI-driven romance scams targeting older adults October 26, 2025 $3 million National Institute on Aging grant will provide much-needed support to underserved dementia caregivers October 15, 2025 Resilient robots in rough terrain October 14, 2025 IST professors unveil human-AI collaboration tool to automate cartoon colorization October 10, 2025In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Patrick Soleymani Cheryl Druehl Ajay VinzéTopics Topics Artificial Intelligence Costello College of Business News Campus News workforce Alumni

From the Situation Room to Netflix: Schar School’s Larry Pfeiffer Goes Hollywood Andrew J Schappert Mon, 10/20/2025 - 10:21 Body If the acting and dialogue in the White House Situation Room during the new Netflix movie A House of Dynamite seem authentic, you can thank the Schar School of Policy and Government. Specifically, Larry Pfeiffer, executive director of the Schar School’s Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security at George Mason University. Jason Clarke, left, and Rebecca Ferguson were counseled by Larry Pfeiffer on how the White House Situation Room operates during a crisis. In another life, for two years, Pfeiffer actually was the senior director of President Obama’s “SitRoom.”  Pfeiffer, the former chief of staff of the CIA and who also worked at the NSA, knows how to keep a secret. He told no one at George Mason about his role in director Kathyrn Bigelow’s (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) latest thriller for more than a year until Rebecca Ferguson, the Swedish actor from the Mission: Impossible and Dune franchises, began singing Pfeiffer’s praises in global media. “They hooked me up with Larry Pfeiffer,” she told the Times of London—and Vanity Fair, and IndieWire, and Tudum, the Netflix magazine—as well as in several promotional panel discussions. “He was the man. He’s basically the guy who Jason Clarke plays [in the film]. He’d been that guy, and he was on set every day.” Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from A House of Dynamite: Larry Pfeiffer ‘was the man. … He had been that guy, and he was on set every day.’ Photos courtesy Netflix. Ferguson plays Captain Olivia Walker, Situation Room senior duty officer. Clarke is Admiral Mark Miller, the senior director of the “SitRoom,” reporting to the president, played by Idris Elba. The real-time drama arises when a nuke of “indeterminate origin” makes its way through the skies toward Chicago, giving those in charge of saving the world a mere 19 minutes to respond. After the producers reached out to Pfeiffer on the recommendation of another consultant, “we did a Zoom call during which I asked if they’d ever visited the real Situation Room,” Pfeiffer said. “When they said they hadn’t, I suggested I could ask the then-incumbent senior director if a tour could be arranged. After a couple weeks of deliberation, they invited us in.” This entre into a remarkably secure national security facility heightened the film’s realism when it came time to build the set. “The production crew did an amazing job recreating the Situation Room, but also the hallways leading to it, the Oval Office, the press briefing room—even the Navy Mess where we would line up to get our meals,” Pfeiffer said. In fact, “the ‘SitRoom’ felt so real that one time during production, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket and for a moment I felt pangs of guilt as if I had brought my phone into a secure facility”—a major violation of security protocol. As for Ferguson and the other actors, director Bigelow “gave me wide latitude to help them shape their characters and their actions,” he said. “I also offered suggestions to the script. Her remit to me was to help her make it as real as possible.” Larry Pfeiffer Photo by Office of University Branding Feguson’s main takeaway seems to be a comment she’s repeated several times: Pfeiffer told her, “You never lose your [euphemism for cool] in the Situation Room,” she has said. That led to at least one scene being added when Ferguson, as Walker, feels compelled to do just that—walk out of the scene. Bigelow understood the motivation and did the scene again, this time with a camera following Walker out as she loses her cool and works to regain her composure. “Rebecca Ferguson was a delight to work with,” Pfeiffer said. “She was down to earth and very friendly, eager to learn as quickly as possible what the role of a senior duty officer was, how they would walk and talk, what actions would they be doing at their desk, on their computer, with their phone and headset, how they related to other members of the ‘SitRoom’ team and to the high-level officials she would be dealing with, like the president.” She also probed him on “what would be their motivation, what made them want to do a job like this? During breaks between filming, she didn’t shuttle off to a trailer or dressing room, she wanted to sit over a meal or a snack and pick my brain,” he said. Pfeiffer has seen a rough cut of the film in July and attended a private screening earlier this month—the movie is in theaters now; it premieres on Netflix October 24—and said “it’s very good, the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat—and I had read the script and participated in the filming. “I was especially happy at how Kathryn [Bigelow] captured the dedication, professionalism, and patriotism of the men and women of the Situation Room and the military, even under the worst of circumstances.”  Request Schar School program information Icon Icon Learn more about the Schar School Icon Icon Related News When a Military Innovates, Is It Always an Improvement? Meet the Schar School Professor Asking the Question October 29, 2025 Taiwan Security Monitor: Research Project Turns into a Vital Communication Platform for a Threatened Part of the World October 27, 2025 Balancing Oars and Advocacy: Schar School Senior June Johnson’s Leadership Journey October 23, 2025 Skills Learned in Jurisprudence Learning Community Help Student Land Full-Time Position October 22, 2025 From the Situation Room to Netflix: Schar School’s Larry Pfeiffer Goes Hollywood October 20, 2025Topics Topics Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence Policy and International Security Schar School of Policy and Government Schar School Featured Stories Campus News