Graduation

Q&A with Martina Cheung, Spring Commencement 2025 speaker

Katarina Benson — Fri, 02 May 2025 18:45:26 +0000

Q&A with Martina Cheung, Spring Commencement 2025 speaker Katarina Benson Fri, 05/02/2025 - 14:45

Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, will be the featured speaker at George Mason Ģ��AV’s Spring Commencement on May 15 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

Martina Cheung. 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 2025?

My advice is to take a long-term view when thinking about your career and when you’re making big decisions. If you get too caught up in the short term, you could lose sight of the larger and more important long-term opportunities.

Careers last decades. When you come to a crossroads, when you’re thinking about whether to take a job, stop and ask yourself: Where do I want to be in 10 years and what can I do over the next two to three years to help me get there? This will help you decide which way to go.

What is one thing every college student should do to set themselves up for success after graduation?

Network. Get involved, volunteer for projects, and find a mentor or trusted advisor. Mentors can be professors, aunts or uncles, or people in your professional lives. You want to look for people who will give you honest feedback and advice. And then make this relationship mutually beneficial. What I mean is that the relationship should not be one-way learning, from mentor to mentee. Graduates might be surprised that mentors are going to learn from them, too.

George Mason this spring rolled out a new model for universities to advance a responsible approach to harnessing artificial intelligence and driving societal impact. Where do you see AI five years from now?

GenAI is having profound and accelerating effects across all sectors of the economy and in society. We’re using it at S&P Global to be more productive and to create better experiences for our customers.

Companies and consumers are just at the beginning of tapping the potential of this technology. We are building toward a future where AI agents—systems that act autonomously and dynamically, selecting the actions needed to reach their goals—vastly improve consumers’ experiences by handling multistep, complex processes. In the financial services sector, that could mean AI agents will be able to perform quantitative data analysis for investors.

Some people are saying that GenAI is the end of the knowledge economy. I don’t see it that way. Now, more than ever, workers need to be lifelong learners. You want to be intellectually curious. Throughout our lives, we all should strive to acquire new skills and to be critical thinkers.

What was it about George Mason that led to S&P Global Ratings becoming a corporate partner with the university’s Costello College of Business? How can universities and industry, including S&P Global, best work together for the benefit of graduates and employers?

George Mason has a fantastic business school. It’s dynamic and prioritizes innovation and real-world applications. We learned about the school through President Washington, who serves on S&P Global’s Board of Directors.

Our partnership allows us to support scholarship and internship opportunities, as well as other student engagement activities. For example, we hosted students in New York at our global headquarters where they got to meet our analytical and research teams, who exposed students to our work on credit risk and the latest trends in financial markets.

Relationships between the private sector and higher education are essential for connecting students with people and experiences that will support their professional growth and development. Through internships and co-ops, students benefit from hands-on experience, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while gaining valuable skills. And businesses benefit from making connections with talented people who could ultimately become part of their teams.

You grew up in Ireland. What brought you to the United States and how did that experience influence your career path?

I came to the U.S. in 2000 to work on a consulting engagement because I had a skillset that was needed by a particular client. Following two successful client projects, I decided to transfer to the U.S. as I was part of a fast-growing, busy consulting team, doing exciting work for our clients.

My consulting career spanned 35 clients over 12 years across multiple industry segments. My final client was S&P Global. After I made the jump to S&P Global, I was fortunate to work in many positions around the company, which helped me to develop a holistic understanding of our customers and the important work that we do to provide essential intelligence to power their decisions. I led some of our largest and most successful growth projects along the way. Now, I am proud to be the CEO and excited for the next phase of growth and value creation at the company.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I’m excited to visit campus and speak with the Class of 2025. Congratulations, graduates! I’ll see you soon.

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This former rower is racing toward the finish of her accelerated master’s

Sarah Holland — Fri, 02 May 2025 18:40:51 +0000

This former rower is racing toward the finish of her accelerated master’s Sarah Holland Fri, 05/02/2025 - 14:40

Monika Blakely, BS Information Technology ’24, has lived all over the world, but her time at George Mason Ģ��AV has been particularly special. From rowing with the women’s rowing team to working as an influencer with ShopMason, this soon-to-be double George Mason graduate has left her mark on Fairfax Campus.

Photo provided

Blakely plans to graduate in spring 2025 with a master’s in management from Costello College of Business, completed through the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

What inspired you to combine information technology and management?

My long-term goal is to be a project manager, and I think it’s useful to know both the technical side and the management side to understand how to be effective as a project manager. It also gives me the flexibility to do what I want in a different career path, if that ends up being right for me. I had extra spaces in my undergraduate classes, so I added the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program for management.

Tell me about your internships.

Currently I have two internships. The first is with Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED). I started there in fall 2023 as a social media intern. I thought local government was interesting. I’d never been involved in that industry before and wanted to learn more about who’s involved and what they do for the city. I figured I’d try it and see if I liked it, and I did! I became a marketing fellow with FCED in spring 2024, and I am now a part-time programs associate.

My second internship is with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). I’ve been a public relations intern there since summer 2024.

What classes would you say have set you up for success at your internships?

Senior Capstone, for one, because I think that’s been the most similar to real-world problem solving. We worked with different concentrations in the IT department. We had people doing web development, programming, cybersecurity, and so on, seeing how those different skill sets can contribute to that one broad end goal.

GBUS 653 Organizational Behavior has also been helpful, just learning about different learning styles, how your learning style can fit in with others, and so on.

How have your extracurriculars impacted your work in the classroom?

Teamwork and communication are probably the biggest things. In rowing, you have different parts of the boat, different strengths coming together, and you have to work to stay in sync. Sometimes when you work in a team, it’s not always ideal for you. You have to learn how to work with other people, how to adjust your learning style to fit with theirs, and how to make compromises with decisions that won’t be agreed on.

My roles at FCED and GDIT helped me improve my communication skills. Even if you don’t work within your team, you’re working with other sections, and you always have to cross-collaborate. So, with FCED and GDIT, you have people from different backgrounds and different departments, which taught me how to collaborate effectively across teams to deliver a clear, unified message.

ShopMason also helped strengthen my communication skills, because you’re constantly collaborating with students and departments across the university and you have to come together to share a clear and engaging message. That experience has helped me better contribute in classroom discussions, group projects, and presentations.

Blakely, 6th from left, with the staff of FCED. Photo provided.

What are you most proud of from your time at George Mason?

Being involved in different organizations and meeting a bunch of people I probably wouldn’t have connected with otherwise. I’ve been involved in organizations that reflect my culture and my studies, like the Japanese Student Association, the National Society for Black Engineers, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Connecting with students similar to me has made the university experience worth it.

What makes George Mason special?

As the daughter of military service members, I’ve lived on different military bases around the world, and I think what makes George Mason special is that it has a space for everyone. There are cultural organizations, religious groups, interest groups...everyone can find a place to belong here, and that’s not the case everywhere.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

If there’s a skill you want to develop or an interest you have, pursue it in undergrad when you have the time and space to do so. You never know when those skills will be useful, and if you’re passionate about your work, people will notice.

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Graduating community health student has her own floss-ophy

Shayla Brown — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:09:05 +0000

Graduating community health student has her own floss-ophy Shayla Brown Fri, 05/02/2025 - 13:09

Growing up, George Mason Ģ��AV senior Haila Salaheddine was not a big fan of going to the dentist.

“I was initially very fearful of the dentist. When I was living in Lebanon, there wasn’t really preventative care for oral hygiene,” said Salaheddine, a community health major.

After high school, Salaheddine moved to the United States and discovered she had eight cavities.

“I got them filled in quadrants, which was not fun, but I paid close attention to what the dentist was doing; all the material he was picking up. I started asking questions and ended up shadowing the same dentist, and soon fell in love with it,” said Salaheddine.

Salaheddine is graduating this spring with a bachelor of science from George Mason’s College of Public Health and plans to attend dental school at the Ģ��AV of Maryland.

“Now it will be my responsibility to make sure that patients feel comfortable with me, which is something that I'm very excited for. Going to the dentist is a different experience for everybody and I want to help make the process as easy as possible,” said the Honors College student.

Haila Salaheddine. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of Ģ��AV Branding.

During her time on campus, Salaheddine was president of the Volunteers Around the World dental outreach program, vice president of Patriots for Public Health, and a member of the Pre-Dental Society, Chemistry Club, and Alpha Phi sorority.

“Our main goal with Volunteers Around the World is to get enough members to travel overseas for two weeks in the summer and provide dental care for underserved communities in countries like the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, and Peru,” said Salaheddine, who has attended multiple national meetings.

She was also president of a student advisory group that advocated for more global and community health (GCH) courses in Peterson Hall.

“We met with President Gregory Washington on a monthly basis and discussed how having more courses in this building can help GCH students to integrate themselves more in the major and with fellow peers,” she said.

Salaheddine is in her third semester of being a learning advisor for College of Science professor Gwendolyn Fondufe, providing support to students in Fondufe’s classrooms.

One of Salaheddine’s favorite courses was organic chemistry taught by Greg Petruncio.

“Haila has a high capacity for memorization, something that is necessary to perform well in organic chemistry and is evidenced by her stellar performance in the course,” said Petruncio, a postdoctoral fellow in George Mason’s College of Science.

“She would show up to my office hours regularly and would often ask exam-focused questions to target her studying efforts,” he said.

Salaheddine describes the course as the climax of her college experience.

“It taught me a lot about myself, about my time management skills, and it was really impactful in me passing my dental admission exams,” she said.

What’s your best memory at George Mason? 

My freshman year in fall 2021. It was the turnover of the COVID-19 era and we were getting more social interactions, but it was still very quiet on campus. It was a really new and unique experience, and a critical point for me. I often question what it would be like if I was to go back freshman year and have it completely in person, and whether that would've changed my way of thinking or the places where I usually hang our and study now.

How have you grown at George Mason?

My senior year is when I found my love of joining clubs and trying to hold leadership positions because it was something that kept me intertwined with George Mason as a commuter. Something that’s important for me is being able to receive constructive criticism when working with others so being able to socialize and ask this from people was really significant for me, especially as I started applying to dental schools and interviewing for programs. I don't think I would be where I am now as a leader in two different clubs and admitted into dental school otherwise.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

As a learning advisor for BIOL 213 [Cell Structure and Function], a lot of my students are freshmen, and funny enough I oftentimes advise them to socialize and put themselves outside their comfort zone and make friends with people they wouldn't typically interact with. It builds a lot of personality and social awareness.

There are so many different perspectives surrounding us at all times and being able to keep an open mind while interacting with all these different individuals helps you, especially as a person who's still growing. We can't always control the environment we’re in and being able to communicate with others in a meaningful way is crucial.

What’s next for you? 

I'm very excited to finally go to dental school at the Ģ��AV of Maryland. As a dental assistant, you're shadowing professionals and helping on the sidelines. I finally get to say that I am pursuing my future career and providing firsthand care to others. That's something that's very heartwarming and amazing to hear.

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From Vietnam to Virginia: Duy Vu’s Remarkable Journey to the Commencement Stage

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:38:56 +0000

From Vietnam to Virginia: Duy Vu’s Remarkable Journey to the Commencement Stage Andrew J Schappert Mon, 04/28/2025 - 11:38

As the rows of soon-to-be graduates fill EagleBank Arena in a sea of green and gold at the May 15 Commencement ceremony, all eyes will turn to senior Duy Vu, who will take the podium as the student commencement speaker. For Duy, the honor to represent the graduating George Mason Ģ��AV student body is the culmination of a seven-year journey that began half a world away.

Student Commencement speaker Duy Vu: ‘During my studies I learned about looking at things from different perspectives, how to think about decision-making, beliefs, and ideologies.’ Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

His story—and his advice to his graduating classmates—is worth listening to.

Duy came to the United States as a 15-year-old high school student, following his father, a deputy defense attaché for the Vietnamese government, to Washington, D.C. The transition, Duy admitted, wasn’t easy and his command of English was rudimentary.

“My grammar was strong,” Duy said of his language training in Vietnam, “but I could barely communicate when I first got here.”

He resolved to come to George Mason with a new attitude and develop the confidence to make the most of his time as a college student.

“I told myself I would make college a worthwhile experience,” he said. “I’d try everything. I’d step out of my comfort zone.”

The start was slow—Duy and his undergraduate classmates are likely the last cohort to have endured the COVID-19 campus shutdown—and by his junior year, Duy realized time was running short.

“That’s when it hit me: I have two years left. If I don’t do something now, I might not get another chance,” he said.

Duy transformed his campus experience. He dove into extracurricular student life by joining campus organizations, including serving as treasurer of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and vice president of finance for Beta Theta Pi, before starting his own Registered Student Organization (RSO), George Mason’s first-ever Pool Club. Pool, as in billiards.

“I just started enjoying the game,” he said. “There wasn’t a club, so I made one.”

The Pool Club quickly evolved into more than a casual hangout, with the team meeting at the tables at the Hub’s Corner Pocket game room, hosting tournaments, and traveling to other schools for competitions.

Joining organizations, besides being fun, expanded Duy’s world view. As treasurer for ALPFA, he learned the ropes of networking and professionalism. “It helped me understand the etiquette and skills needed in the business world,” he said. “And I got to learn from peers who were already finding success.”

Duy Vu majored in two bachelor of science programs, public administration and finance. Photo by Julia Conway/Schar School of Policy and Government

On top of his nonclassroom activities, Duy is a double major graduating from two bachelor of science degree programs: The Schar School of Policy and Government’s comprehensive public administration program and the Costello College of Business’s robust finance program.

He signed on to public administration thanks to his father’s suggestion.

“I wasn’t sure about it at first,” he said of the public administration major. “But during my studies I learned about looking at things from different perspectives, how to think about the way beliefs and ideologies play into a government’s decision-making.”

The Schar School professors also revealed to him a new-found fascination with “the financial and economic side of things,” he said, which is vital to creating successful public policy. “And that’s when I declared a second major in finance.”

Throughout his time at George Mason, Duy balanced a double-major’s-worth of classes—and all the reading, writing, and exams that go along with two majors—with organizational leadership activities with classmates and a part-time job at the Schar School’s Aquia headquarters on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, where he supported students for nearly four years as an office assistant.

“I’ve worked with Ms. Colette since my sophomore year,” he said of K. Collette Lawson, the longtime Schar School administrative and technical coordinator. “It was my first ‘real’ experience outside of school. It’s going to be hard to leave.”

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Student athlete brings passion for teaching to the mat

Sarah Holland — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:23:10 +0000

Student athlete brings passion for teaching to the mat Sarah Holland Mon, 04/28/2025 - 10:23

Red-shirting—when an athlete is withdrawn from college sporting events for a year to develop their skills and extend their period of eligibility by an additional year—is particularly common for student athletes from the early 2020s. With many of their careers put on pause due to COVID-19, most student athletes have the chance to keep competing while pursuing graduate degrees.

Photo by Rafael Suanes/Athletics

For Tyler Kocak, BA Integrative Studies ’24, that extra year of eligibility gave him the chance to pursue a second degree: an MEd in secondary education.

Kocak, who received the John R. Linn Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Athlete from the College of Education and Human Development, plans to cross the stage at the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

What inspired you to go into teaching?

My brother got me into it initially. He’s a teacher, and he said he liked it, so I thought I might like it, too. I have a passion for changing the future and impacting kids. In secondary education, I can build relationships with the students and support them along their journey to shape their futures. And I chose history and social science as my focus because I’m a big history junkie.

What brought you to George Mason?

I’m from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and I was recruited for wrestling at George Mason. That was a big factor, but I also liked the area a lot, and I liked the academics.

What’s something you learned from wrestling that translated to your teaching?

Working hard is number one. If you don’t work hard, you’re not going to get where you want to be. You have to roll with the punches: If something doesn't go well or doesn’t go your way, you have to keep going forward, keep moving. Wrestling is a lot about mindset and mentality. I’m a pretty optimistic person, so I always try to look on the bright side of things and work toward improving myself, improving my teaching, and improving my wrestling. Improvement is all about consistency, too, so I learned to take those little steps forward each time to get better and reach my goals.

Photo by Rafael Suanes/Athletics

What is your greatest accomplishment from your time at George Mason?

I’ve competed nationally a lot. I placed 6th at the Mid-American Conference (MAC); I won a tournament; I made it to round 12 at Midlands Championship, which is a big tournament; and others. And I was on the MAC Honor Roll and was a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American.

What advice would you give to a first-year student at George Mason?

Never give up. Work hard and manage your time well. Stay ahead of the course, and plan ahead instead of falling behind. If you do fall behind, contact your professors. And if you’re an athlete coming in, try to build a good relationship with your coaches and teammates.

What are your current plans for post-graduation?

I want to teach history and social science somewhere in Fairfax County. Maybe I’ll end up doing special education. And I want to coach high school wrestling.

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Spring 2025 Degree Celebration speakers

Katarina Benson — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:21:03 +0000

Spring 2025 Degree Celebration speakers Katarina Benson Mon, 04/28/2025 - 09:21

In addition to Spring 2025 Commencement on Thursday, May 15, graduates may also choose to attend their college’s degree celebration. Here’s a look at the keynote speakers for each event.

Wednesday, May 14

4:30 p.m. Schar School of Policy and Government

Keynote: Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read. Read was elected as the first woman and the first George Mason graduate to lead the university’s hometown of more than 24,000 residents in 2022.

Thursday, May 15

2 p.m. College of Engineering and Computing, School of Computing

Keynote: Sandra Alba Cauffman. The George Mason alumna currently serves as the deputy director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.

3 p.m. College of Visual and Performing Arts

Keynote: Molly Smith, Artistic Director Emeritus Arena Stage

6:30 p.m. College of Engineering and Computing, Volgenau School of Engineering

Keynote: Sukumar R. Iyer. Iyer is the founder, executive chairman, and CEO of Brillient Corporation.

Friday, May 16

9:30 a.m. College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)

Keynote: The Honorable Joshua C. Fiveson. Fiveson, BS Administration of Justice ’10, and recipient of the 2022 CHSS Distinguished Alumni–Criminology, Law and Society Award, is a U.S. Navy veteran and an academic who previously served as one of the youngest state judges in Texas.

11 a.m. Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Keynote: Carol Daniel Kasbari, senior associate director of the Conflict Resolution Program at The Carter Center. She has more than 20 years of experience designing and leading programs in conflict mitigation, peacebuilding, advocacy, and nonviolent resistance in complex international environments, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.

2 p.m. College of Science

Keynote: Paul Misener. Misener is an engineer, scientist, and attorney, graduating with a JD from George Mason in 2001. A global vice president at Amazon.com for 23 years, Misener is the founder and principal of Misener Innovation LLC, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations innovate, advocate, and communicate.

6:30 p.m. Donald G. Costello College of Business

Keynote: Guylaine Saint Juste, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Accountants Inc. She is the founder and co-chair of the George Mason Women in Business Initiative.

Saturday, May 17

9:30 a.m. College of Education and Human Development

Keynote: Nia Harrington. The George Mason alumna is the chief development officer at Speaking With Impact, where she manages presentation skills, media training, professional development, and women’s leadership initiatives, and specializes in brand communication and sports management.

1:30 p.m. Antonin Scalia Law School

Keynote: The Honorable Wesley Russell, JD ’95. Russell serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. He previously served as a judge in the Virginia Court of Appeals.

2 p.m. College of Public Health

Keynote: Rear Admiral Pamela Miller. Rear Adm. Miller is a highly decorated medical officer of the United States U.S. Navy, Director of Health Services at U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters and Vice Chief, BUMED, Reserve Policy and Integration for the U.S. Department of Navy.

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A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:28:40 +0000

A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/09/2025 - 08:28

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Christine Peretik is no stranger to hard work and unexpected opportunities. A senior at George Mason Ģ��AV in the Schar School of Policy and Government, she is majoring in government and international politics with minors in both history and criminology, law and society.

Christine Peretik: ‘You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.’ Photos provided.

But it was her passion for the past that landed her a fascinating internship at the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center in Fairfax, Virginia, a role she initially applied for on a whim.

“I had applied for it, not expecting much,” Peretik said. “I was very interested in it, but I didn’t know if it was going to turn up. And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.” (Let that be a lesson to all students considering internships. Help is here.)

Peretik’s work at the Historical Records Center placed her directly in the midst of history—literally. Housed in what was once the clerk’s office, the center holds an extensive archive of documents, from land records to court proceedings, and even a Fairfax Court Slavery Index compiled by a former George Mason Ģ��AV student.

“We have obituaries and just about every court proceeding you can think of,” Peretik said. “Even crimes that were committed back in the day, just about everything people went through.”

One of her main tasks was analyzing old court cases, which appealed to her higher ed interests, from government to history to law.

“My manager asked me to identify who was the victim in these cases,” she said, explaining how she often had to interpret the documents handwritten in the 1800s on the fly. “I had to go back over each letter, like, ‘Okay, this is how they write an A. This is how they write a T.’”

Beyond deciphering faded vintage calligraphy and researching legal documents, Peretik also contributed to the center’s public exhibits, which are displayed around the historic courthouse and judicial center. She helped create content for a walking tour that takes visitors through key sites, such as the Legato School, one of Virginia’s early schools, now a museum. Students attended the school between the 1870s and 1930 and is now furnished to mimic the look and feel of an 1870s schoolhouse.

“We also have a little stone slab from the Spanish-American War era,” Peretik said. “People believe it marks a grave, but neighbors say it was actually a cat named Clem.”

Peretik’s enthusiasm for learning and history is palpable.

“I am a huge, huge history nerd, for lack of a better word,” she admits. “I watch documentaries for fun. That’s one of my things.”

Christine Peretik: ‘And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.’

Despite her love of history, Peretik’s academic focus remains on government and law.

“I want to work in the government someday,” she said. “Maybe the Department of Justice, or Homeland Security. I’m keeping my options open.”

Among her outside-the-classroom experiences at George Mason include working as a telecounselor for the Admissions Office. She’s also been an active member for three years of the International Buddy Program, which pairs domestic students with international students “with the whole purpose of forming connections between the two.”

Peretik’s decision to attend George Mason was an intentional one. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her family relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, over a decade ago. She considered other universities but ultimately chose George Mason for its unique balance.

“It’s the hub for government,” she says. “You’re right near D.C., but also far enough away to have a real college experience.”

As she prepares to graduate in May, Peretik reflects on her time at the Schar School and the internship that deepened her appreciation for history.

“It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. “You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.”

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Rear Admiral Pamela Miller, highly decorated U.S. Navy medical officer, announced as College Degree Celebration speaker

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:20:13 +0000

Rear Admiral Pamela Miller, highly decorated U.S. Navy medical officer, announced as College Degree Celebration speaker Taylor Thomas Mon, 04/07/2025 - 10:20

Rear Admiral Pamela Miller

Rear Admiral Pamela Miller will be the keynote speaker at the College of Public Health’s Degree Celebration on May 17 at EagleBank Arena. RADM Miller is a highly decorated medical officer of the United States U.S. Navy, Director of Health Services at U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters and Vice Chief, BUMED, Reserve Policy and Integration for the United States Department of Navy.

Miller’s distinguished career includes a number of leadership positions in the military, both domestically and while deployed. She has served as senior medical officer, staff physician, officer in charge, deputy group surgeon, senior medical executive, force surgeon, reserve component operational medicine specialty leader, deputy chief of staff, reserve fleet surgeon, command surgeon, and medical officer.

Miller has been recognized for her dedication and service throughout her career. She is a Fleet Marine Force Warfare qualified officer and has earned many distinguished awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Miller began her military career in the Navy Nurse Corps following her graduation from the Ģ��AV of Iowa where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing.

She went on to attend medical school at Des Moines Ģ��AV as she served in the medical corps, where she earned both a doctorate in osteopathic medicine and a master’s degree in healthcare administration. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at Naval Medical Center in San Diego and has continued her education through the Naval War College and Joint Forces Staff College.

The College is honored to welcome Rear Admiral Miller to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025.

Learn more about Rear Admiral Pamela Miller, RADM, MC, USN here.

Learn more about the College of Public Health's Degree Celebration here.

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City of Fairfax Mayor, ’83 Alum Catherine S. Read to Deliver Degree Celebration Keynote

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:21:13 +0000

City of Fairfax Mayor, ’83 Alum Catherine S. Read to Deliver Degree Celebration Keynote Andrew J Schappert Thu, 04/03/2025 - 11:21

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In an ironic turn of events, the 2025 Schar School of Policy and Government Degree Celebration keynote speaker did not attend her own graduation from George Mason Ģ��AV.

Mayor Catherine S. Read: ‘The university mailed me my diploma which I didn’t have framed until I was elected mayor. It has a place of prominence in my office at City Hall now.’ Photo by Sarah Heaton (BA Film and Video Studies ’24)

“I finished in December 1983,” said City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine S. Read. “There were no December ceremonies back then. The university mailed me my diploma which I didn’t have framed until I was elected mayor. It has a place of prominence in my office at City Hall now.”

Read, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in government and politics (the degree was conferred with the Class of ’84), will address some 400 graduating Schar School students across all disciplines and degree programs on Wednesday, May 14, at 4:30 p.m. at EagleBank Arena on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus.

Read was elected as the first women and the first George Mason graduate to lead the university’s hometown of more than 24,000 residents in 2022. She won reelection last year.

Originally a theater major, she nurtured and expanded her interest in legislative advocacy work at George Mason, eventually finding leadership roles in nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. She has worked for many years on public policies such as the Breastfeeding Bill (2015), the Virginia Values Act (2020), and the abolition of the death penalty in Virginia (2021). Her advocacy focuses on issues that impact the quality of life in Fairfax City and across the commonwealth.

Last year, Read was elected to serve on the Alumni Chapter Board of George Mason’s Schar School of Public Policy and Government for 2024-26.

She currently serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), and Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Additionally, she serves on the Virginia Poverty Law Center Advisory Board and the Equality Virginia PAC Board.

A city resident since 2000 in the Daniels Run Woods, Providence Square, and Fairchester Woods neighborhoods, Read has most recently worked with local nonprofits on legislative advocacy and messaging and continues to occasionally host shows for Fairfax Public Access.

She is the mother of three adult children and resides with her husband, Tom Greeson, and their dog, Reggie.

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Martina Cheung to speak at George Mason’s Spring Commencement

Katarina Benson — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:09:28 +0000

Martina Cheung to speak at George Mason’s Spring Commencement Katarina Benson Wed, 03/19/2025 - 11:09

Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, will be the featured speaker at George Mason Ģ��AV’s Spring Commencement on May 15 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

Martina Cheung. Photo provided

Since 2010, Cheung, also a member of S&P Global’s board of directors, has held several positions with the New York-based company, including president of S&P Global Ratings, executive lead of S&P Global Sustainable1, and president of S&P Global Market Intelligence. Prior to joining S&P, she worked for Accenture’s Financial Services Strategy group and then as a partner at Mitchell Madison Consulting.

Cheung has been honored by a host of industry publications. In 2024, Pensions & Investments named her on a list of Influential Women in Institutional Investing, and INvolve for the second consecutive year named her to its 100 Empower Executives list.

American Banker last year placed Cheung on its list of the Most Powerful Women in Finance.

In addition, the Women’s Bond Club honored her with the Merit Award in 2022, and that same year she was honored at the Ascend A-List Awards for advancing Pan-Asian professionals. In 2016 she was inducted into the Academy of Women Leaders by the YWCA New York City.

Cheung earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a master’s degree in business studies, both from National Ģ��AV in Ireland, Galway.

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Q&A with Martina Cheung, Spring Commencement 2025 speaker

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 2025?

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George Mason this spring rolled out a new model for universities to advance a responsible approach to harnessing artificial intelligence and driving societal impact. Where do you see AI five years from now?

What was it about George Mason that led to S&P Global Ratings becoming a corporate partner with the university’s Costello College of Business? How can universities and industry, including S&P Global, best work together for the benefit of graduates and employers?

You grew up in Ireland. What brought you to the United States and how did that experience influence your career path?

Is there anything you would like to add?

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Wednesday, May 14

4:30 p.m. Schar School of Policy and Government

Thursday, May 15

2 p.m. College of Engineering and Computing, School of Computing

3 p.m. College of Visual and Performing Arts

6:30 p.m. College of Engineering and Computing, Volgenau School of Engineering

Friday, May 16

9:30 a.m. College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)

11 a.m. Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

2 p.m. College of Science

6:30 p.m. Donald G. Costello College of Business

Saturday, May 17

9:30 a.m. College of Education and Human Development

1:30 p.m. Antonin Scalia Law School

2 p.m. College of Public Health

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Martina Cheung to speak at George Mason’s Spring Commencement

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