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George Mason's 2024 winter graduation in pictures

Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning

Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning Colleen Rich Thu, 12/19/2024 - 14:03 Body With a final pre-tassel-turning lesson about leadership, kindness, and resilience, more than 5,200 George Mason University students graduated or earned certificates Thursday at Winter Commencement in EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel, the ceremony honored graduates from 89 countries and 45 states. About 1 in 4 was a first-generation graduate.George Mason President Gregory Washington told the graduates that whether they realized it or not, while pursuing a degree, they also were being prepared to serve as leaders. Echoing a New York Times op-ed by Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, Washington urged each graduate to embrace leadership, not escape it to avoid risk or as an act of self-preservation. “Your conscience is your light,” Washington said. “It’s your North Star for leadership. And you will be called to let that light shine and invite others to follow it. Yeah, it’s scary. But in times of crisis, the light of our conscience will be the only light, and the only way out of the darkness. “Generating light brings a certain amount of heat with it,” Washington added. “But bringing light is worth enduring that heat. If we have done our job right here at George Mason University, we have prepared you to bring the light and endure the heat.” Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding The guest speaker, former CGI president and chief executive officer George D. Schindler, was awarded an honorary degree by Board of Visitors member Horace Blackman, BA American Studies and English '93, the university’s former rector and also a CGI executive. Schindler encouraged students to carry out a “life of learning” so they can adapt and thrive in an era of excessively rapid change. “In today’s world, current knowledge is just table stakes,” Schindler said. “While continuous learning is often the differentiator in career and life. It will be important to be agile and adaptable in your ways of thinking and acting.” Schindler also emphasized that, contrary to what many may believe, success and kindness are not mutually exclusive. “You can be kind and still be a strong performer and a strong leader,” Schindler said. “You can be kind and still make difficult decisions. You can be kind and still provide firm feedback and be a firm negotiator. And you can be kind and have a successful career. Our companies need more kindness, our governments need more kindness, and our society could definitely use some more kindness. It starts with each of us.” Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented an honorary degree to Maureen McCarthy Scalia for “her passionate dedication to learning and for her decades of volunteer work in the Washington, D.C., region.” Scalia is the widow of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom George Mason named its law school in 2016, the year the justice died. Stimson is a graduate of what is now the Scalia Law School. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding Provost James Antony, taking part in his first George Mason Commencement since joining the university, introduced the student speaker, psychology major Caroline Little. Little detailed how faculty and staff supported and encouraged her, first as an unsure transfer from community college, then through several relocations and two pregnancies. She and her husband, former George Mason basketball standout Josh Oduro, have a 10-month-old son, and she is eight months pregnant with their second child. “George Mason isn’t just meant for the cookie-cutter student,” Little said. “It’s meant for people like me, for people like you, and people like anybody that has the determination to finish their degree and succeed, no matter what their life looks like outside of the classroom. This university has given me a new sense of strength and self-confidence that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the George Mason University Alumni Association, welcomed the graduates to a network of 240,000 members worldwide and called on them to engage with the association and each other. “Now you have the power and resources of a new family that has walked in your shoes and blazed a path forward,” Hine said. “There is likely an alum in any industry in which you are joining, and likely an alum in any location in which you are settling. This is an incredible network, which you should leverage.” View the 2024 winter graduation in pictures Connect with the Alumni Association Related News George Mason's 2024 winter graduation in pictures December 20, 2024 Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning December 19, 2024 Commencement Speaker George Schindler’s remarks to George Mason’s winter 2024 graduates December 19, 2024 At 15, Yevin Nikhel Goonatilake set to make history as George Mason’s youngest graduate with a 4.0 GPA December 17, 2024 George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates December 16, 2024Topics Topics Campus News Graduation Winter Commencement

Victor and Diane Hoskins make a gift to fuel the future of George Mason students—and Northern Virginia

Victor and Diane Hoskins make a gift to fuel the future of George Mason students—and Northern Virginia Colleen Rich Wed, 12/18/2024 - 10:41 Body “I don't think there's another university in the state of Virginia or in the region that offers opportunity the way that that George Mason does,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. With his deep involvement in the business of Northern Virginia, Hoskins’s impression is informed by experience. As a member of George Mason University’s President’s Innovation Advisory Council (PIAC), he sees the important role that George Mason plays in helping the region grow. Victor and Diane Hoskins. Photo provided Victor and his wife, Diane Hoskins, are actively contributing to George Mason’s work to spur the innovative expansion of opportunity in Northern Virginia. In honor of their generous gift of $50,000, a conference space in the Mason Enterprise Suite will bear their name. "Victor Hoskins has been a champion for the Fuse project and its impact on the region since its inception during the time when he led Arlington Economic Development,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “His early insights were invaluable as we developed the vision for a building that would bring together a diversity of thought and expertise and accelerate innovation through collisions between industry, government, and academia. We are thrilled that Victor and Diane have chosen this additional personal support for the project." Hoskins is positive about the opportunities presented by Fuse, a 345,000+-square-foot building that will serve as a hub for research, learning, and entrepreneurship. “It’s an innovation center,” he said. “It could really capitalize by connecting directly to these companies that want research, that are looking for innovation, that are trying to get out of their own box.” Paula Sorrell, George Mason’s associate vice president of innovation and economic development, enthusiastically agreed. “As an R-1 university with a reputation for creativity and innovation, we take very seriously our partnerships with the business community and with our local private and public organizations. Fuse is a stage set for the interplay of ideas that will advance the success of these partners. Victor is a brilliant guy and a fantastic partner for Mason in economic development, and I’m so excited that it’s his named conference room we will use every day.” Hoskins’s career is an illustration of moving businesses forward. He has held executive leadership ranks in the public and private sectors, working in real estate finance, housing development, economic development, international business investment, strategic planning, and team management. When he was deputy mayor, planning and development, for the District of Columbia—a position he held from 2011-14—his team transformed Washington, D.C., with projects such as CityCenterDC, the Wharf, and Union Market. Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding Serving as the director of economic development for Arlington County, Virginia, from 2015 to 2019, Hoskins led the team that brought the second headquarters of Amazon to the region; a massive economic development deal that will generate $4 billion in investment and create more than 100,000 jobs. In Fairfax County, his leadership has attracted or retained the headquarters of Hilton, Volkswagen of America, StarKist, Amentum, and the Aerospace Corporation, and major operations of Microsoft, AWS, Google, Meta, Blue Origin, and Qualtrics. PIAC is a group of industry, community, and government leaders who offer leadership, vision, and guidance regarding George Mason’s Arlington Innovation Initiative. As a member, Hoskins sees George Mason as integral to helping to connect skilled, educated workers with all of the industries making their homes in Northern Virginia. “The talent supply that George Mason provides for the region is pretty amazing. Something like 70% of the students who finish at George Mason stay in the region, and that means that you’re our university,” he said. “Any investment in George Mason is actually an investment in the state economy and an investment in the private as well as the public sector.” Fuse, Hoskins said, is a way to integrate students and research with industry. “To me, it is the university’s opportunity to bring together the ideas of the private sector with deep research to solve problems,” he said. “Very few companies have R&D programs that are strong enough to do that kind of work individually.” Even beyond Fuse, Hoskins believes in George Mason’s commitment to first-generation students. “Diane and I were in the first generation in our families to attend a university,” he said. “In addition, we were blessed to be able to earn master’s degrees. Without the support of scholarships, research fellowships, and internships, we would not have been able to attend our universities.” Diane Hoskins, the global co-chair of architecture and design firm Gensler, is a registered architect who has been covered by the Washington Post Magazine, Fortune, and other news sources as one of the most influential and powerful women in business. The couple’s parents were catalysts for their educational aspirations, and the Hoskins’ support for educational opportunities is driven by their desire to honor them. “Our parents focused on education as the path to a successful career and the way to achieve the American dream,” Hoskins said. “Unfortunately, they weren’t able to go to college, but it’s something they wanted for all their kids.” Moreover, Hoskins appreciates George Mason’s emphasis on inclusivity. “The diversity of the school is amazing, and that diversity is attractive to me.” At George Mason, he added, “it’s really access to anybody who is interested in education.” The Hoskins’ gift to support George Mason students through their investment in Fuse at Mason Square is certain to make a lasting impact on how George Mason University—and its students—will be able to serve the community into the future.Support the future of George Mason University Related News Victor and Diane Hoskins make a gift to fuel the future of George Mason students—and Northern Virginia December 18, 2024 George Mason’s Fuse at Mason Square opens with its commercial launch December 9, 2024 Stanley and Rosemary Hayes Jones invest $1.4M in George Mason for STEM education and research December 4, 2024 George Mason expands partnership with GDIT to build a skilled and diverse technology workforce October 30, 2024 Jimmy Hazel, steadfast George Mason alum and friend, looks to the future with a foundational gift October 7, 2024Topics Topics Campus News Fuse at Mason Square Mason Now campaign philanthropy Strategic Direction

Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker

Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker Colleen Rich Mon, 12/16/2024 - 08:56 Body George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI, will be the featured speaker at George Mason University’s Winter Commencement on Dec. 19 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. George D. Schindler. Photo provided Can you share one piece of personal or professional advice you received that has influenced your life or career and that you would like to impart to this George Mason Class of 2024? One of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my 40-year career is to be curious and embrace continuous learning. Change is constant, and our ability to adapt and thrive in rapidly evolving environments depends on maintaining a learning mindset. Another piece of advice I’ve carried with me is about how to approach advice itself. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive guidance from incredible mentors and colleagues. But I’ve also learned that advice can be a double-edged sword. It’s crucial to listen intently to advice, but equally important to know when to set it aside. To be authentic both personally and professionally, you need to filter advice through your own values and experiences. Advice can guide you, but blindly following it can lead you away from what makes you uniquely effective. You began your career as a coder and worked your way up to CEO. But there were detours on your path. Is there a lesson in that for graduates as they begin their careers? Absolutely. Career paths are rarely linear, and that’s a reality to embrace, rather than fear. Detours and unexpected turns present opportunities to gain new perspectives, develop resilience, and learn new skills. Looking back, the moments where I adjusted course often ended up being the most formative and rewarding. My advice: Stay open to opportunities and remember that some of the most meaningful growth in your life and in your career can happen in the unplanned moments. How would you say that George Mason’s perspective of “All Together Different” helps prepare students for the workforce? Diversity in all forms is an essential component of thriving institutions and societies, especially in its ability to spur innovation and progress. At CGI, we often saw that bringing together people with unique perspectives and backgrounds led to better solutions and greater outcomes for our company and for our clients. George Mason’s commitment to inclusivity prepares graduates to thrive in an interconnected and dynamic workforce. By cultivating collaboration and respect for different ideas, graduates are well-positioned to navigate and shape the future. As a leading provider of tech talent, how does George Mason drive innovation and economic prosperity in Northern Virginia and throughout the state? George Mason is a vital partner in cultivating talent that drives regional innovation and economic growth. We saw this firsthand when I was CEO at CGI as we relied on the skilled professionals emerging from programs at institutions like George Mason to deliver trusted business solutions for our clients. This partnership between academia and industry not only fuels local economic prosperity but also strengthens the foundation for future growth in technology and innovation. President Washington believes companies and corporations need to offer more internships to better prepare graduates with the skills and experiences employers need. How does CGI succeed in this area, and how can that kind of mentorship be achieved on a large scale in our region? I agree with President Washington. Done right, internships benefit both students and companies alike. Beyond simply gaining experience, mentorship during an internship helps students bridge the gap between theory and practice while learning from the perspectives of those with more experience, and companies gain fresh ideas and perspectives that students bring. To achieve this on a broader scale, collaboration is key. At CGI, we have seen that the greatest success is achieved when universities and companies work together to create programs that allow students and companies to engage with each other over longer periods of time with appropriate commitments on both sides. These programs create the opportunities that are both accessible and most meaningful. Many George Mason graduates define career success not only by financial reward or job satisfaction but by bettering society through their work. What are some ways that students might be able to accomplish this goal? At CGI, our consultants and technical experts are certainly motivated by the opportunity to use their skills to drive positive change for our clients, but also for our clients’ customers. We talk about our role in bettering society as being “two steps away” as it’s our role to partner with our clients to enable this positive change. For example, our direct client might be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but by assisting the EPA, we are also contributing to helping citizens across the country live in a healthier environment. Likewise, when working for a large financial institution on a program to assist the unbanked—those people living in our communities who do not have bank accounts—we indirectly help this underserved population of people gain access to services that will make a difference in their lives and those of their families. We also encourage all of our employees to lend their expertise to charitable organizations or individuals through STEM-focused programs, doing our part to enable a digitally inclusive society for everyone in our communities. I encourage you to challenge yourself and your places of employment to find ways for you to accomplish your goals to better society—our society needs your contributions. Forty years ago, George Mason partnered with area businesses to develop an engineering program geared toward the emerging information technology (IT) field. Given the prominence of IT in our regional economy today, what does this say about the impact of partnerships between George Mason and local industry? It is clear that the partnership George Mason initiated at that time was a visionary one in terms of how collaboration between academia and industry can help shape regional economies. By aligning educational programs with the emerging needs of the IT field, George Mason and its partners certainly contributed to the role of Northern Virginia becoming the hub of technological innovation that it is today. Such partnerships are critical in today’s world, where rapid technological change is accelerating faster than ever before. Preparing students to thrive in this environment requires a continuous dialogue between academia and industry to ensure that curricula and the experiential learning opportunities that companies can provide keep pace with real-world demands. When this collaboration aligns, it can enable future generations to not just respond to change but actively shape the future.Connect with the Alumni Association Related News George Mason's 2024 winter graduation in pictures December 20, 2024 Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning December 19, 2024 Commencement Speaker George Schindler’s remarks to George Mason’s winter 2024 graduates December 19, 2024 At 15, Yevin Nikhel Goonatilake set to make history as George Mason’s youngest graduate with a 4.0 GPA December 17, 2024 George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates December 16, 2024Topics Topics Graduation Winter Commencement Campus News

George Mason BOV approves design for student-athlete center, adopts institutional neutrality principles

George Mason BOV approves design for student-athlete center, adopts institutional neutrality principles Colleen Rich Wed, 12/11/2024 - 16:08 Body The George Mason University Board of Visitors has approved the schematic design for the Basketball and Academic Performance Center, a Fairfax Campus project that will upgrade and expand the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) and modernize facilities to better serve the university’s student-athletes. Plans call for a 30,000-square-foot multi-story addition to the RAC as well as a 14,000-square-foot renovation of the building. The Basketball and Academic Performance Center will occupy the northwest corner of the RAC, which originally was the P.E. Building, built in 1972, and renovated in 2009. The Academic Service suite will provide resources for student-athletes in all of George Mason’s Intercollegiate Athletics programs and replace the academic trailers currently in use on West Campus. The center will better enable George Mason to compete for talent with peer universities that have built new athletics facilities in recent years. The basketball practice facility will have dedicated courts for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball programs as well as team offices, locker rooms, strength and conditioning spaces, and other amenities to serve the university’s student-athletes. "The Basketball and Academic Performance Center will truly stand as the crown jewel of George Mason Athletics," said Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Athletics. "This cutting-edge facility reflects the exceptional achievements of our student-athletes, both in competition and in the classroom. It also showcases the university's dedication to supporting our basketball programs for sustained national success." Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2025, with occupancy planned for winter 2026-27. The BOV approved the project at their Dec. 5 meeting. “It’s a fabulous facility, and we need it desperately,” said BOV member Robert Pence, who chairs the governing body’s Finance and Land Use Committee and is one of the board’s Athletics liaisons. “As time goes by, we’re going to need this and many more additions and improvements to our athletic facilities. I think most of you know that the ground rules for NCAA schools and athletics is shifting seismically,” he added. The addition of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness opportunities have created additional complexity to operating college athletic programs. == Also at the Dec. 5 meeting, the board voted to adopt the Kalven Committee Principles of Institutional Neutrality, a policy that clarifies the scope of what university leaders comment on publicly. To guide its application, the board also adopted existing, informal university guidelines already used when leadership determine what issues merit an official pronouncement from George Mason leadership. The guidelines call for statements to be balanced, and generally to occur when events of the day call for leadership to convey instructions, explanations, consolation, or messages of de-escalation. The framework applies solely to statements coming from the president and the rector. The board reiterated that the Kalven Principles expressly do not apply to students or individual faculty or staff. Many colleges and universities have adopted the Kalven Principles since they were developed in 1967 at the University of Chicago, including some institutions recently. At its September meeting, the BOV directed Provost Jim Antony and the Academic Programs, Diversity and University Community Committee (APDUC), chaired by Visitor Lindsey Burke, to engage university stakeholders, including students, faculty, deans, and administrative leaders, on the possibility of adopting of the Kalven Principles. The stakeholders’ pros for such a policy, as reported out by Antony, included preserving viewpoint diversity, establishing a consistent practice for official response, and supporting academic freedom. The stated cons for adopting the principles included the necessity of George Mason needing such a policy given its existing framework for issuing statements, determining which issues require neutrality, and running the risk of the university community interpreting a lack of university response as indifferent or being a political statement in itself. “I do think that what the provost described is a fair description of all the possible critiques of this type of policy, [and] I agree with all of them,” said Visitor Armand Alacbay, who favored adopting the Kalven Principles. “At the end of the day, this policy is about people generally don't like being spoken for on things they’re passionate about. And when you are in a position of leadership of any institution, restraint is a virtue because the words you speak carry weight, and so there is responsibility to be representative as best as possible of this very diverse and large community.” == In a follow-up from a presentation at the September BOV meeting, Vice President for Enrollment Management David Burge provided information about how standardized test scores and median high school GPAs have increased for George Mason applicants since 2007 when the university stopped requiring SAT scores for undergraduate admission. Burge said about 2,000 colleges and universities are test-optional, or test-blind, which means the institution will not consider a student’s standardized test score in their admittance process, unless the applicant requests that they do. In 2006-07, 96.8% of George Mason applicants submitted SAT scores. At that time, the median SAT score was 1100 and the applicants’ median high school GPA was 3.36. In 2024-25, 18.6% of applicants submitted SAT scores. The median SAT was 1260 and the median high school GPA was 3.75. “During that period, we have seen some growth in some of the metrics that would be emblematic of the quality of our incoming class,” Burge said. “I think it is safe to say that there has certainly not been harm done to that quality as part of this practice and we’ve been able to grow and produce more graduates and find talent in some atypical places.” == Biology professor Aarthi Narayanan and Mary Ellen O’Toole, director of the university’s Forensic Science Program, made presentations during the BOV Research Committee meeting, highlighting the university’s expertise in viral infections and the science of decomposition, respectively. Narayanan, who recently secured a $1.4 million grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to investigate how an infection spreads between organs and how a therapeutic will impact connected organs, discussed the necessity to scale discoveries and technologies. She also outlined the difference between readiness and preparedness. Readiness is about meeting current challenges and threats. Preparedness is about meeting future challenges and threats. “The infectious disease footprint for viral infections is expanding nationally and globally,” Narayanan said. “What we are dealing with as a nation is certain pathogens, which were not endemic to the United States, [are] now running the real risk of becoming endemic to the United States, and that would affect not just human health but also animal health, which automatically almost immediately translates into not just a health burden but also an economic burden at the national level.” O’Toole presented on the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, a Science and Technology Campus facility better known as the body farm. The lab, one of 11 in the country and the only one on the East Coast, recently received its fourth human donor. O’Toole discussed the forensic training and expertise required to help solve homicides and missing persons cases, including locating the victims of natural disasters. “People have to be found,” she said. “Their loved ones don't want closure…They want to be reunited with their loved ones. We want to be able to not only prosecute people that are responsible for homicides, but in doing that, we exonerate the innocent.”Topics Topics Board of Visitors Campus News Mason Athletics Strategic Direction

New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future

New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/10/2024 - 14:04 In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Jesse KirkpatrickRequest Schar School program information Icon Icon Learn more about the Schar School Icon Icon Body Jesse Kirkpatrick: ‘The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.’ Photo provided. While the debates continue over artificial intelligence’s possible impacts on privacy, economics, education, and job displacement, perhaps the largest question regards the ethics of AI. Bias, accountability, transparency, and governance of the powerful technology are aspects that have yet to be fully answered. A new cross-disciplinary course at George Mason University is designed to prepare students to tackle the ethical, societal, and governance challenges presented by AI. The course, AI: Ethics, Policy, and Society, will draw expertise from the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). The master’s degree-level course begins in spring 2025 and will be taught by Jesse Kirkpatrick, a research associate professor in the CEC, the Department of Philosophy, and codirector of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center. The course is important now, said Kirkpatrick, because “artificial intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping societal norms, and challenging long-standing ethical frameworks. This course provides critical insights into the ethical, societal, and policy implications of AI at a time when these technologies are increasingly deployed in areas like healthcare, criminal justice, and national defense.” Debates about bias in AI systems, the governance of autonomous decision-making, and the risks of misinformation “underscore the urgency of equipping students and professionals with the tools to address the opportunities and challenges responsibly,” he added. This course is designed for students and professionals from diverse fields, including policy, computer science, engineering, law, philosophy, and business. “Occupations such as AI developers, policymakers, ethicists, legal advisors, and technology strategists will benefit greatly,” Kirkpatrick said. “The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.” The course is open to George Mason students and is a core component of the university’s new graduate certificate in Responsible AI, making it an essential step for those pursuing advanced study or leadership roles in ethical AI design and governance. In addition to critical readings and written assignments, the course incorporates hands-on components such as workshops, interactive discussions, and practical tools includes algorithmic audits, ethical toolkits, and risk management frameworks. “Students will also engage in scenario-building exercises and present collaborative projects that apply ethical AI principles to real-world challenges,” Kirkpatrick said. “The course also features distinguished guest speakers from academia, industry, and government, providing students with diverse perspectives on AI.” As the codirector of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, Kirkpatrick is engaged in “Responsible AI” initiatives. “I bring a unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience,” he said. “My work spans creating ethical AI frameworks, consulting on AI policy, and teaching at the intersection of ethics, technology, and public policy. “This course reflects my commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and tools to address the profound ethical challenges and opportunities posed by AI technologies in society.”Topics Topics Mason Square AI Artificial Intelligence Schar School of Policy and Government Schar School Featured Stories Schar School News for December 2024 Campus News innovative

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George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates

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