Mason Arts Amplified Releases New Content, including performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cirque Kalabanté, and more!  Laura Mertens Thu, 01/16/2025 - 10:57 Body Rising star British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason performs Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Center for the Arts on January 28, 2024. New content will launch throughout January 2025 on Mason Arts Amplified, Mason Arts’s digital venue that features live and on-demand performances, lectures, behind-the-scenes talks, and more from George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, the Hylton Performing Arts Center, and College of Visual and Performing Arts. The limited-release recording of the London-based Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), featuring “phenom” (San Francisco Chronicle) British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, will is available to watch through February 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Center for the Arts under the direction of Maestro Vasily Petrenko on January 28, 2024, the program featured Kanneh-Mason’s powerful performance of Prokofiev’s popular Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, “a dazzling kaleidoscope of a piece” (The Times). Repertoire also included Debussy’s Danse (orch. by Ravel) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved Scheherazade, Op. 35, culminating in a standing ovation from the crowd. The concert was described by an attendee as “one of the best concerts we ever experienced at the center.” Another audience member declared, “This performance has to rank among the 25 best I have ever seen.” “Notable for the beauty of the orchestral sound” (The Guardian), the RPO made its triumphant return to the Center for the Arts—having performed there previously in 2022—with rising star Kanneh-Mason, who served as the RPO’s 2022/2023 Artist-in-Residence and has been hailed by BBC Music Magazine as “a pianist who makes lines sing beautifully and virtuosic passages dance, finding intimacy and eloquence at telling moments.” The eldest of a famous family of seven musically gifted siblings who have been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Kanneh-Mason performed with Sir Elton John in Los Angeles in 2013, inspiring the pop icon to pay her tuition at the Royal Academy of Music. She has since performed as guest soloist also with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and Stockholm Philharmonic, among others; and recorded four solo albums for the Decca Classics label. She recently performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert that aired Jauary 7, 2025. Read Isata Kanneh-Mason’s advance Q&A with WETA Classical about the Prokofiev and her performance at the Center for the Arts. The performance, which was sponsored by the Tom and Evelyn Kiley Fund, is available on Mason Arts Amplified for $15. Cirque Kalabanté performs Afrique en Cirque, which was recorded at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in November 2024. Also available on January 16, 2025 at 1 p.m. ET is the limited release performance by Cirque Kalabanté, recorded in front of a live audience on November 16 and 17, 2024 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Merchant Hall in Manassas, Virginia, on George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus. This performance is also available to watch through February 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Cirque Kalabanté’s multisensory extravaganza, Afrique en Cirque, delivers a unique fusion of African arts and European circus traditions. Daring acrobats and dancers perform gravity-defying feats accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of a live Afro jazz ensemble. Inspired by life in his native Guinea, the founder of Cirque Kalabanté Yamoussa Bangoura created Afrique en Cirque to celebrate the vitality, joy, and beauty of African culture. “Explosive drumming and dance routines, the group delivered mind-blowing acrobatic sequences with extraordinary precision” (Vice Magazine). The performance is available for $15. Accessibility as Inclusion participants from left: Moderator Niyati Dhokai, program director for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at George Mason, and panelists Amanda Loerch, captioner with c2 and director of patron services at Sixth & I; Betty Siegel, director of the Office of Accessibility and VSA at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Ermyn King, audio describer, consultant, and arts educator; and Rachael Abbott, actor, theater artist, and advocate. Additional College of Visual and Performing Arts events released in January will include the Accessibility as Inclusion: Panel Conversation, exploring strategies and practices arts spaces can utilize to provide fully accessible arts programming, and how these techniques impact the audience’s sense of inclusion and belonging. Available on January 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET for free, this discussion was recorded live on November 13, 2024, at the Center for the Arts, moderated by Niyati Dhokai, program director for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at George Mason. Panelists included Amanda Loerch, captioner with c2 and director of patron services at Sixth & I; Betty Siegel, director of the Office of Accessibility and VSA at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Ermyn King, audio describer, consultant, and arts educator; and Rachael Abbott, actor, theater artist, and advocate. Then on January 30, 2025 at 1 p.m. ET, the Legends and Legacies event presented by The LIVE Center (The Center for Live Interactive Virtual Education) and George Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. In this first installment of the LIVE Center’s new Legends and Legacies series, which celebrates the leading artists of our time, Tony Award-nominated performers and husband-wife duo Terrence Mann and Charlotte d'Amboise participated in a virtual discussion (streamed in real time from the National Dance Institute in New York and projected onstage at the Harris Theatre on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, moderated live by George Mason's School of Theater Professor Edward Gero. The Mason Arts Amplified platform—formerly known as Mason Arts at Home, launched in April 2020 during the pandemic—gives digital audiences the opportunity to experience the work that takes place across our campuses. Digital programs include pre-performance discussions with world renowned artists like choreographer Mark Morris; the “Silkroad and the American Railroad” course, produced in collaboration with the Silkroad Ensemble and the 92nd Street Y; performances by Mason Jazz, Mason Opera, Mason School of Theater, and much more. Create a free account and explore enriching Mason Arts content from anywhere.View January 2025 releases on Mason Arts Amplified Explore our digital venue Related Stories Mason Arts Amplified Releases New Content, including performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cirque Kalabanté, and more!  January 16, 2025 Metro’s Art in Transit Program showcases George Mason students' work December 4, 2024 Virginia House of Delegates Honors Acting for Young People and Mason Community Arts Academy March 28, 2024 A Contemporary Composer Fuels a New Mason Collaboration March 7, 2023 Topics Topics Mason Arts Mason Arts at Home Center for the Arts Hylton Center College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Campus News

How Visiting International Scholars Contribute to the Academic Community: Meet Maurizio Geri Andrew J Schappert Wed, 01/15/2025 - 13:04 Body Maurizio Geri has wasted no time in exploring opportunities at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. The voluble Italian is a distinctive presence in the classroom, at panel discussions, and at various social events held throughout the semester at the school. Visiting international scholar Maurizio Geri: ‘I had great interactions with interested and passionate students.’ Photos provided. But Geri, it should be noted, is not a student, nor is he a member of the faculty. He is one of about a dozen Schar School visiting international scholars who spend a predetermined amount of time at the university. The scholars, many of them professors elsewhere, come to the Schar School to use George Mason resources in accomplishing their research and contributing to relevant classroom discussions. In Geri’s case, the senior strategic international security analyst is capitalizing on his more than 20 years of experience with nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, and international institutions to develop “a better strategy for NATO and European Union cooperation to combat hybrid warfare from Russia and China,” he said. “The work studies the technology and energy sectors in particular,” he said, with hopes to “improve cooperation in dual-use emerging disruptive technologies.” Geri, an Italian Navy Lieutenant Reservist-POLAD (a political advisor), was awarded the 2023 EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoc Fellowship’s Horizon Europe, a prestigious and competitive flagship program for doctoral and postdoctoral training through a fellowship from Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. The practice of universities hosting visiting international scholars began in ancient Greece, with cross-border scholarly exchanges, notably Plato’s Academy of Athens and the Library of Alexandria, where scholars from different regions shared knowledge. In modern times, the practice was institutionalized in the late 19th century, beginning in Germany and spreading across Europe and into the United States. While the scholars benefit from research resources, the schools—including students and faculty—gain new viewpoints and fresh insights. Maurizio Geri: ‘Maurizio is eager to work with students and colleagues. He is a wonderful addition to the school.’—Professor of Public Policy Desmond Dinan “Visiting international scholars such as Dr. Geri enrich the academic climate of the Schar School,” said Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell. “They bring diverse perspectives on public policy issues and help build research and academic program collaborations for our faculty and students.” Desmond Dinan, the Schar School professor of public policy who supervised Geri’s visit, has seen the effects of a visiting professor first-hand. “International scholars bring different perspectives, experience, and insights to the classroom and, more broadly, to the intellectual life of the school. Maurizio Geri is a great example,” he said, citing Geri’s credentials and activities on campus. “He also happens to be a reservist in the Italian navy, which made his participation in my European Security class in the fall of 2024 even more interesting. On top of all that, Maurizio is eager to work with students and colleagues. He is a wonderful addition to the school.” Among the visiting international scholars at the Schar School is Tetiana Khutor, founder of the Institute of Legislative Ideas, a Ukraine-based think tank that devises legislative strategies and policies to combat corruption, assist asset recovery, and encourage good governance. She also teaches anticorruption policy as a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Khutor came to George Mason as an academic participating in the New School’s New University in Exile Consortium, made up of a global group of colleges dedicated to supporting scholars facing threats at home that force them to leave or prevent them from performing meaningful work. George Mason is one of 12 in the United States participating in the program. Khutor and Geri participated together in a panel discussion on hybrid warfare with Russia’s economic sector hosted by the Schar School Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) and they coauthored an op-ed in the influential political publication, The Hill. In addition to guest lecturing and auditing several classes, Geri published his initial studies on Russian hybrid warfare against Europe’s energy sector and on NATO-EU cooperation in technologies last year in the Journal of Strategic Security and the Security and Defense Journal published by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. At the moment, Geri is continuing his work via the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. He returns to the Schar School in the fall before finishing his fellowship in Venice in 2026. “I had great interactions with interested and passionate students” at the Schar School, Geri said. “The faculty is always kind and very prepared. I look forward to being back in the fall.”In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Mark J. Rozell Desmond DinanRequest Schar School program information Icon Icon Learn more about the Schar School Icon Icon Related News Rwanda Puts Global Commerce and Policy Alumnus Jean-Guy Afrika at Top of Economic Development January 27, 2025 Schar School Biodefense Students Selected for Distinguished Fellowship January 23, 2025 ODKM Graduate Melvin Brown II Appointed Chief Information Officer of Office of Personnel Management January 21, 2025 Using AI to uncover human smuggling networks  January 16, 2025 How Visiting International Scholars Contribute to the Academic Community: Meet Maurizio Geri January 15, 2025Topics Topics Visiting International Scholars Schar School of Policy and Government Schar School Featured Stories Schar School News for January 2025 Campus News Scholar in Exile international scholars

The Carter School named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair Katarina Benson Wed, 01/15/2025 - 12:51 Body The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution was named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair for (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. There are 17 SDGs, including “No Poverty,” “Clean Water and Sanitation,” and “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.” Currently, George Mason is one of only two universities in the United States to chair a Sustainable Development Goal Hub. Out of more than 330 applications, George Mason was selected to chair SDG 16 Hub, a position it will hold for the next three years. In a letter from the United Nations, it says George Mason “was selected based on its pioneering research and programs focused on promoting peace and conflict resolution” as well as the university’s educational policies. As Hub Chair, the Carter School will be responsible for education and training, research, community engagement, developing partnerships, and working with other SDG hubs to strengthen and further the United Nations’ mission of peace and justice. “This prestigious recognition highlights our school’s longstanding commitment and impactful contributions to the field of peace and conflict resolution,” said Carter School dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “As chair for SDG16, we will have the privilege and responsibility of generating, coordinating, and amplifying SDG16-related programs and activities on a global scale. This role represents not only a significant milestone for the Carter School but also an exciting new chapter in our journey toward advancing global peace, justice, and institutional resilience. It positions us to foster meaningful partnerships, drive innovative initiatives, and contribute thought leadership on critical global issues.” Andre Marshall, George Mason’s vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact, highlighted that this new role aligns perfectly with Mason’s global challenges agenda, offering opportunities to amplify the university’s contributions to global peace and justice. “The Carter School’s successful bid to lead the United Nations Academic Impact SDG16 Hub not only elevates George Mason’s profile in the international community for sustainable development, it is also a well-deserved recognition of the Carter School and George Mason’s leadership in and commitment to producing research, scholarship, and impact that moves the needle on the world’s grand challenges,” Marshall said. In the coming months, Özerdem will engage with academic and research units across George Mason to identify collaboration opportunities, ensuring a transformative Mason stamp on all aspects of the SDG16 agenda over the next three years.Learn more about the Carter School In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Andre Marshall, PhD Alpaslan ÖzerdemRelated News Breaking down the composting process January 23, 2025 Mason Korea students conduct environmental research on Incheon stream January 21, 2025 The Carter School named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair January 15, 2025 Susan Allen joined WTOP’s Sarah Jacobs to discuss Jimmy Carter’s achievements, including being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. December 31, 2024 The Anti-Defamation League honors George Mason’s Charles Chavis Jr. for his work in civil rights education November 11, 2024Topics Topics Campus News Sustainability Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution Strategic Direction

Volunteers at Mason Korea share their time and talents in community beautification project Lauren Reuscher Thu, 01/09/2025 - 09:11 Body Mason Korea recently joined forces with General Motors (GM) Korea to revitalize a youth home in Incheon's Bupyeong area through a collaborative beautification project. The activity was organized by Mason Cares, which focuses on community engagement around George Mason University’s Incheon campus, and Mason Korea’s Office of Development and Strategic Partnership. Volunteers from Mason Korea painted a mural designed by students and staff. Photo by Mason Korea. Student, faculty, and staff volunteers, including Mason Korea Campus Dean Joshua Park, worked diligently to bring a mural concept to life. The mural was designed by Mason Korea students and staff, and the volunteer artists received on-site support from the GM Korea team. Photo by Mason Korea“I was excited to participate in this project, because I have experience working in mural design from a similar volunteer project at the Smithsonian,” said Victoria Gehring, a sophomore business major. This marks the second consecutive year of partnership between Mason Korea and GM Korea's mural painting project, underscoring a shared commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. Photo by Mason Korea Among the volunteers were four international students and eight participants from the MK Way program, Mason Korea’s conditional admission program offering intensive English instruction for students. Photo by Mason KoreaHyewon Lee, a freshman global affairs major, was grateful for the service opportunity. “I try to volunteer often, but it is sometimes difficult to find opportunities,” said Lee. “I was really happy to see this unique painting project organized by our school.” Photo by Mason KoreaLearn more about Mason Korea Read More Like This Mason Korea students conduct environmental research on Incheon stream January 21, 2025 Volunteers at Mason Korea share their time and talents in community beautification project January 10, 2025 Mason Korea launches Korea Serious Game Institute December 2, 2024 Dean Park shares his vision for Mason Korea November 4, 2024 Mason Korea student promotes inclusivity through Korean ArtPop Storytelling Workshop October 7, 2024Topics Topics Mason Korea Campus News Faculty and Staff News Community Engagement Volunteerism

2024: A Transformative Year for Schar School’s Public-Private Partnerships Center Kristin Heydt Wed, 01/08/2025 - 14:18 Body The Center for Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership Policy at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government closed out 2024 with groundbreaking achievements that reflect its expanded mission to shape the future of infrastructure through research, education, and collaboration.  The center is led by founding Director Jonathan Gifford, a professor of policy and transportation in the Schar School. Founding Director Jonathan Gifford The center, which supports objective evaluations of public-private partnerships (P3s) for infrastructure development, broadened its scope this year, reaching new heights in addressing challenges across sectors. A New Name, A Broader Horizon This year marked a pivotal shift for the center as it redefined its mission to encompass infrastructure beyond transportation. “With a broader focus, the center now considers critical areas such as higher education, K-12 schools, energy, and communications,” said Gifford. “The change underscores a commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges that are increasingly interwoven into every facet of modern life.” A Forum for the Ages  September saw the 11th annual P3 Forum take place, called Inflection Point: New Capital, New Markets, and New Challenges. The event brought together leading voices from the public and private sectors to explore how P3s are adapting to evolving infrastructure needs. The keynote address, delivered by Beau Memory, North America president for global infrastructure giant Transurban, showcased major projects in Northern Virginia and across the United States. Panels examined new sources of capital, innovative technologies, and the expanding role of P3s in areas such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Leading Research, Building Talent The center’s academic initiatives flourished in 2024. Masters and PhD students produced pioneering research on P3 opportunities and challenges, contributing to a growing body of knowledge. Their work also addressed the urgent need to develop a robust talent pipeline to support the future of infrastructure development in both the public and private sectors. Bridging Communities The center’s faculty and students forged connections with stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and local communities. These partnerships aim to tackle the pressing challenges of creating infrastructure that can adapt to society’s changing demands. As 2024 draws to a close, the center stands at the forefront of shaping the next generation of infrastructure solutions. Its continued growth signals exciting possibilities for 2025 and beyond. AI and Cybersecurity: In 2025, the center will explore how artificial intelligence can both improve infrastructure development and introduce new vulnerabilities, such as cybersecurity risks, requiring careful analysis. Expanding Student Engagement: The research program will continue to support master’s and PhD students, as well as reintroducing undergraduate engagement through the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP). 2025 P3 Forum: The next forum will take place in Van Metre Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Information will be announced soon.  In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Jonathan L. GiffordRequest Schar School program information Learn more about the Schar School Related Stories Rwanda Puts Global Commerce and Policy Alumnus Jean-Guy Afrika at Top of Economic Development January 27, 2025 Schar School Biodefense Students Selected for Distinguished Fellowship January 23, 2025 ODKM Graduate Melvin Brown II Appointed Chief Information Officer of Office of Personnel Management January 21, 2025 Using AI to uncover human smuggling networks  January 16, 2025 How Visiting International Scholars Contribute to the Academic Community: Meet Maurizio Geri January 15, 2025 Topics Topics Schar School of Policy and Government Schar School Featured Stories Schar School News for December 2024 Center for Infrastructure P3 Policy Campus News Strategic Direction

George Mason’s recreation program is helping bring parks to the people Sarah Holland Wed, 01/08/2025 - 13:12 Body One of the special things about Northern Virginia is its blend of thriving city life with vast green spaces. Visitors and residents can enjoy more than 12,000 acres of parks and recreation areas across three counties and three cities thanks to the work of NOVA Parks. This fall, a brand-new park opened in Ashburn, Virginia, with a few familiar faces from George Mason University at its helm.  Photo provided. Reservoir Park is a 600-acre park around Beaverdam Reservoir. Built and operated as a partnership between NOVA Parks and Loudoun Water, the park has conservation and education at the forefront of its design. From plants that filter water runoff into the reservoir, to butterfly roofs that drain water down a singular center path onto rocks to avoid excessive soil erosion, to sustainable build materials, the park preserves the landscape while educating visitors on the lifecycle of a drop of water. Educational installations along the trail also give visitors tactile lessons: a hand pump that demonstrates the amount of force required to bring water from the reservoir to a faucet, for example. “Most parks are built up over time, with facilities developing as community needs change,” said Paul Gilbert, executive director of NOVA Parks and the executive-in-residence of the recreation management program at George Mason. “I've never seen a park like this one, where everything is designed intentionally with a clear purpose and story in mind. It’s both beautiful and thoughtful.” The benefits of parks are immense: increased property values, opportunities for physical activity, and mental health improvements, to name a few. “Numerous studies show that the benefits of exercise in nature far exceed exercise indoors,” Gilbert said. “It enriches lives, and it will continue to enrich lives, not just for this season but for generations to come.” For George Mason students, the benefits of NOVA Parks extend to their education and, for some, even their careers. Paul Gilbert (left) and Bella Trimner. Photo provided.  “There’s a strong connection between NOVA Parks and George Mason,” Gilbert said. “Through NOVA parks, students have access to internships, practicums, and careers. We help make their education not just academic but very actionable. And in return, we get high-quality employees excited to work in the parks they’ve grown up around.” One shining example is Bella Trimner, a winter 2024 graduate with a degree in recreation management. Trimner has a long history with NOVA Parks. She started working at Fountainhead Regional Park as a junior park ranger at 17, quickly rising through the ranks to site supervisor. “I absolutely loved it and realized that this was something I could see myself making a career out of,” she said. Her supervisor at Fountainhead Regional Park David Deem, a current George Mason student, recommended George Mason for her education because of its nationally recognized recreation management program. When Trimner made the decision to get her degree and make a career out of parks management, she told the park operations superintendents that she hoped to become a parks specialist in the future. “My plan was to take that role in five years. Instead, when I had that conversation, they said, ‘Well, we’re actually building a new park that will be similar to Fountainhead. It might be exactly what you’re looking for.’” It was. Within a year, Trimner became the first parks specialist for the new Reservoir Park. Her days are varied—from running chainsaws for trail clearing, to being an ambassador for the park, to planning park programming—but she believes her education has directly impacted how quickly she has acclimated to this new managerial role. “I have used assignments from my classes as starting points for programming plans and shared templates with my staff. When we formalized the 8-mile trail around the reservoir, I directly referenced what I'd learned about trail planning and grading from my classes on land acquisition, resource management, and accessibility. We’re implementing an interpretational signage plan that is directly influenced by the course taught by Dr. Ellen Rodgers. There’s so much from my courses that I’m using every day in every aspect of my job,” she said. Trimner, Gilbert said, is a rock star. “When you step into a manager position at an existing park, you’re improving upon existing procedures, programming, and facilities. But as part of the management team of a brand-new park, Bella is creating all those things. We gave her a blank slate to work with. And she’s done an amazing job.” As a fellow George Mason graduate, Gilbert firmly believes in the great contributions George Mason offers the community. “NOVA Parks relies heavily on the recreation program at George Mason, and it’s great to have such a strong program with great talent right in our backyard,” Gilbert said. Trimner agreed. “Seeing George Mason on a resume is a green flag for us." From left: Recreation management faculty Laurence Chalip, Ellen Rodgers, Brenda Wiggins, Hung-Ling Liu, and Sammie Powers pose with Bella Trimner (far right) and Paul Gilbert (back center). Photo provided. Explore Recreation Management at George Mason Related news Using robotics to introduce AI and machine learning concepts into the elementary classroom January 23, 2025 George Mason’s recreation program is helping bring parks to the people January 8, 2025 Real-time feedback is part of a holistic approach to helping new teachers succeed November 18, 2024 George Mason’s English language teacher development program has worldwide impact November 13, 2024 George Mason University recognized for supporting military families through collaboration November 4, 2024Topics Topics Campus News College of Education and Human Development School of Sport Recreation and Tourism Management Northern Virginia NOVA Parks Alumni

Remembering Former President Jimmy Carter: Statesman, Humanitarian, and Peacemaker Paul Snodgrass Sun, 12/29/2024 - 17:30 Body George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution Remembers Former President Jimmy Carter: Statesman, Humanitarian, and Peacemaker  Former President Jimmy Carter holding the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Photo credit: the Carter Center. The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University remembers James “Jimmy” Earl Carter, Jr. 39th President of the United States, as an agent of peace. We send our deepest condolences to his family.  “President Carter’s unwavering dedication to peace has been, and will continue to be, our beacon and guide. Our school’s name is a tribute to President Carter’s commitment to the worldwide peaceful resolution of conflict, which is imperative in today's world, as we face many entrenched and emerging human security threats,” said Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “We will further his legacy in conflict resolution through our research and practice. His insight, passion, and love for peace will remain our inspiration in educating future peacemakers.” Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, celebrating President Carter's Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in December 2002. Photo credit: The Carter Center. “President Carter showed us that the American presidency can be even more than the pinnacle of political power. It can also be a prelude to far greater humanitarian works,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “Tirelessly, humbly, and often unheralded, he led the eradication of Guinea worm in Africa, assured free and fair elections, and devoted thousands of hours of manual labor to help build homes for those in need. In his life, he saved countless lives, brought dignity to countless more, and spread peace throughout our world.” President, father, husband, author, teacher, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, humanitarian, and peacebuilder, Jimmy Carter led by example.  Prior to his election to the presidency in 1976, he served as both Georgia Governor and Georgia State Senator.  During his term as president, the Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created. Carter expanded the national park system and environmental protection legislation.  He negotiated the Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1978) and signed the SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union (1979).  He was, perhaps, best known for his mediation efforts in realizing the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978.  Titled the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East,” these dialogues paved the way for peace between these countries, even when such an outcome seemed remote. Post-presidency, Jimmy Carter conducted peace negotiations and worked to eradicate disease in developing nations.  He founded the Carter Center in 1982, and through the center, helped mediate conflicts in Ethiopia and Eritrea, North Korea, Liberia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sudan, Venezuela, and many more war-torn countries.  For decades, Jimmy and his wife, Rosalynn, were prominent and active figures in Habitat for Humanity across the globe. In 2002, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”  He is one of only four U.S. Presidents to receive this honor. On October 1st, to celebrate his 100th birthday, George Mason University awarded President Carter an honorary doctor of humane letters to honor his legacy of selfless dedication to peace and a more just and peaceful world. Jimmy Carter’s dedication to peace and justice was an example to peacebuilders and mediators and his efforts inspired the renaming of George Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in his honor in 2020.  He will be remembered by the staff, faculty, and students at the Carter School and the entire peacebuilding community for his tireless and selfless contributions to peace. About the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is a community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners with a fundamental commitment to building peace. Through the development of cutting-edge theory, research, education, and practical work, we seek to identify and address the underlying causes of conflict and provide tools for ethical and just peacebuilding on the local, national, and global stages. About George Mason University George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.Engage with the Legacy of Jimmy Carter Members of the Carter School community are sharing their memories and thoughts honoring Jimmy Carter.View and Share thoughts of President Carter's Legacy Contribute to the Carter School Legacy Fund for the Study and Practice of Peace Processes Our story of becoming the Carter School in 2020 S-CAR to become the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution Becoming the Carter School: Our Community Weighs In Video: What does it mean for our School to become the Carter School? In This Story People Mentioned in This Story Alpaslan Özerdem Gregory WashingtonTopics Topics Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution peacemaking Disease Prevention Elections Negotiation Human Security Humanitarian Assistance Conflict Resolution Democracy Human Rights Campus News

George Mason's 2024 winter graduation in pictures Lauren Reuscher Thu, 12/19/2024 - 14:27 Body Winter Commencement at George Mason University on Dec. 19 at EagleBank Arena celebrated more than 5,200 graduates and certificate recipients. Graduates hailed from 89 countries, 45 states, and 27% of bachelor's degree recipients identified as first-generation graduates.  The graduates celebrated their achievements in the company of proud family and friends. George Mason photographers captured the excitement of Commencement and Degree Celebrations. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding As the graduates entered the arena, the Green Machine filled the air with musical energy. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding Ross Calvin, a student in the School of Music’s vocal performance program, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Ross Calvin, George Mason student, sings the national anthem at Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding George Mason President Gregory Washington welcomed the graduates and their loved ones to the ceremony and congratulated them on their achievements. An honorary degree was presented to Maureen McCarthy Scalia in recognition of her dedication to education and decades of volunteer work in the Washington, D.C., region. Maureen McCarthy Scalia and George Mason President Gregory Washington. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding Commencement speaker George D. Schindler advised the graduates that their ability to continuously learn, adapt, and thrive can determine their success. Schindler also stressed the importance of mentorship and kindness. Commencement Speaker George D. Schindler. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding“Our companies need more kindness, our governments, and our society could use some more kindness,” Schindler said. “It starts with each of us.”   Student Commencement Speaker Caroline Little. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding Student Commencement speaker Caroline Little, graduating with her bachelor’s in psychology, spoke about her experiences as a student parent. She expressed gratitude for the support she felt from her family, as well as from faculty and staff at George Mason, as she juggled the demands of parenthood and her studies. “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 anybody who has the determination to finish their degree and succeed, no matter what their life looks like outside of the classroom.”  Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding As usual, the graduates let their creativity shine by decorating their graduation caps. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding President Gregory Washington, Rector Charles "Cully" Stimson, Student Speaker Caroline Little, and Provost James Antony. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding And then it was time to celebrate! Read more about the ceremony. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University BrandingWatch the winter commencement recording 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, 2024Read more graduation stories Topics Topics Campus News Graduation Commencement Winter Commencement Student news