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George Mason’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement

Colleen Rich — Thu, 15 May 2025 19:10:24 +0000

George Mason’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement Colleen Rich Thu, 05/15/2025 - 15:10

George Mason Ģ��AV honored its largest ever graduating class at Spring Commencement, turning the event’s “This Is Your Moment” theme into a tassel-turning time to remember for a record-breaking class of more than 12,000 degree and certificate earners.

The ceremony, livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel Thursday morning from EagleBank Arena, honored graduates from 117 countries and 49 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations.

George Mason Ģ��AV President Gregory Washington told graduates they are stepping into a time of “profound challenge and change” and urged each to determine their core values to help them make decisions, particularly the difficult ones.

“Your core values are your roots,” Washington said. “In ways large and small, they provide a foundation of support that will enable you to tackle challenges with a clear mind, a clear heart, and a clear conscience.

“When you know who you are, when you know what you stand for, you can proceed with purpose and dignity. Your values are your path. And your path will lead you to strategies and solutions.”

The Class of Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

During the ceremony, Washington asked three different groups to stand and be recognized—first-generation graduates (which accounted for 25% of the class), students who came to George Mason via a community college, and students who are current or former military members, or military dependents. Each sizable group received a warm ovation and underscored the individual paths each graduate took to earning their degree.

One of the most noteworthy singular paths that Washington shared was the one taken by Yevin Goonatilake, who in December became the university’s youngest graduate to earn a 4.0 GPA, at 15 years old. This spring, at 16, he became the youngest person in university history to earn a master’s degree (computer science), a feat that elicited astonishment from graduates and attendees alike. His path will continue at George Mason as he pursues his PhD.

The guest speaker, Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, advised the graduates to not think of their career arc as a ladder, because sometimes the wisest decision is to move laterally, not vertically. That has been her experience within S&P. She left the position as president of the market intelligence division to become president of the company’s credit rating agency, exposing her to other aspects of the business and to new colleagues inside and outside the organization.

Double major Duy Ha Vu. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

“Looking back now, I realize leading two divisions instead of one actually better prepared me for becoming CEO,” Cheung said. “So the lesson here is: Don’t collect promotions. Collect experiences. That’s going to make you smarter, better prepared for what comes next, and it’ll give you a more reliable gut sense of what you ought to do when the answer isn’t especially clear.”

Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented Cheung with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Student speaker Duy Ha Vu, a double major in public administration and business who moved to the United States from Vietnam, recalled personal triumphs, such as working at the Schar School of Policy and Government, founding a billiards club, and spending a semester at Mason Korea.

But Vu also recalled times of struggle and loneliness, particularly during the pandemic when he first arrived at George Mason.

“I stand before you not because I am the perfect student,” Vu said. “It’s because I never let those mistakes define me. And today, as I look at all of you in your caps and gowns, I see a room full of people who did that just that [too]. If you have made it this far, you have what it takes to go even further.”

Vu’s supporters included his mother, who had flown in from London to attend the ceremony.

Rector Stimson presents the George Mason Medal to Robert E. Buchanan. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

Spring Commencement also provided an opportunity for the university to honor some of its most enduring champions. Stimson awarded the George Mason Medal, the university’s highest honorary award, to Robert E. Buchanan, a leading real estate developer who has served the university and Washington, D.C., civic causes for decades while also working with other business leaders to shape the region’s economic direction.

Receiving honorary degrees were civic and business leader Albert Dwoskin, another long-time university partner and advocate who has supported George Mason priorities across access, innovation, and inclusive excellence, and Carolyn Peterson, a passionate advocate for education and the arts whose steadfast support for George Mason also spans decades. Peterson accepted her honor at the Board of Visitors meeting earlier this month.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the George Mason Ģ��AV Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to a network of nearly 250,000 alumni and encouraged them to stay connected to the university by attending events, guest-speaking in classes, mentoring students, and supporting George Mason through philanthropy.

“There is likely an alum in any industry you are joining, and there is likely an alum in any location in which you’re settling,” Hine said. “This is an incredible network that you should leverage.”

Some 41% of undergraduate degree earners in the Class of 2025 are in STEM and health sciences fields, as are 48% of advanced degree earners, an indication of the university supplying workplace-ready talent in high-demand fields.

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George Mason honors a record number of graduates at Spring Commencement

Katarina Benson — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:11:46 +0000

George Mason honors a record number of graduates at Spring Commencement Katarina Benson Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:11

George Mason Ģ��AV will celebrate Spring Commencement on Thursday by honoring a record-setting number of students earning degrees, and 12,106 students total will be recognized for earning degrees or certificates.

Class of 2025 graduates represent 117 countries, 49 states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations.

The ceremony is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

Tickets are required for guests to enter the arena. Graduates may access tickets here. For questions email gmuevent@gmu.edu. The event also will be livestreamed.

George Mason, the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, will award 11,415 degrees for graduates who have filed an intent to graduate from Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 as of May 1. The university also will award 531 certificates.

Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, is the featured speaker. Duy Ha Vu, graduating with degrees in public administration and business, is the student speaker.

The Class of 2025 is prepared to fill critical positions in the region and state’s workforce—41% of undergraduates are in STEM fields and the health sciences, as are 48% of those earning graduate degrees.

Commencement also will highlight George Mason’s mission of access and opportunity. About 1 in 4 graduates reports that they will be first-generation degree earners.

George Mason graduates have been successful in landing jobs. According to a Mason Career Plans Survey and supplemental data, 85% of Class of 2024 George Mason graduates had a positive career outcome at or within six months of graduation, with a median salary of $70,000.

The top five majors among the 6,875 undergraduates in the Class of 2025 are business; information technology; computer science; psychology; and criminology, law and society.

For the 3,975 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, computer science, special education, curriculum and instruction, and business administration.

The top majors for the 400 students earning doctoral degrees are education, psychology, computer science, economics, and conflict analysis and resolution. There will be 170 doctoral candidates individually recognized at Commencement. Graduates receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be recognized as a group at their seats.

There are 165 Scalia Law School graduates. The law school will hold degree celebration ceremonies Saturday, May 17, at 1:30 pm at the Concert Hall.

Spring 2025 Commencement Information

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George Mason BOV keeps tuition flat for in-state students, learns about Grand Challenge Initiative, celebrates Jack Wood awardees and EIP graduates

Colleen Rich — Thu, 08 May 2025 21:20:15 +0000

George Mason BOV keeps tuition flat for in-state students, learns about Grand Challenge Initiative, celebrates Jack Wood awardees and EIP graduates Colleen Rich Thu, 05/08/2025 - 17:20

At its May 1 meeting, the George Mason Ģ��AV Board of Visitors (BOV) voted 10-4 to keep in-state tuition flat for the 2025-26 academic year, citing the university’s standing as an affordable option for students and families across the commonwealth, and approved a tuition increase for out-of-state students as well as an increase in mandatory student fees for all students.

EIP graduate Meeha Bhuiyan is graduating this May with a BS in biology. She shared her George Mason experience with the BOV at its May 1 meeting. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

The out-of-state tuition increases are $528 for undergraduates, $720 for graduate students, and $1,022 for law students. The student fee increase will be $96 for all in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students and $72 for law students. Those fees support student infrastructure and services. Tuition and fees for in-state students next year will be $14,316 for undergraduates, $18,060 for graduate students, and $27,834 for law students. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students next year will be $39,313 for undergraduates, $41,124 for graduate students, and $44,970 for law students.

During the May 1 meeting, George Mason officials and BOV members discussed an environment of almost unprecedented financial uncertainty, including research cost recovery limitations, reduced or withdrawn federal appropriations, the drop in federal funding for external partners, declining international enrollment, and other factors.

The state budget includes additional one-time and recurring funding for George Mason, which helps support this year’s 3% salary increase for employees and funding for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program as well as long-term planning and campus investments.

BOV members who voted against raising in-state tuition encouraged the university to identify cost savings in curriculum programs and other student supports, as well as continuing to attract increased philanthropic support. President Gregory Washington noted that five of the university’s six most successful fundraising efforts have occurred in the last five years.

The board also approved a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy for compensating student-athletes. Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, said the policy aligns George Mason with the Commonwealth of Virginia's legal framework, the NCAA's pending legislation, and peer institutions.

“At its core, the policy is designed to provide George Mason with the flexibility to offer enhanced benefits to our student-athletes while positioning the university to proactively navigate the structured settlement provisions” stemming from NCAA litigation, Lewis said.

President Washington and Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, shared details on the launch of the Grand Challenge Initiative, focusing research on six long-term strategies aligned to the university’s strengths.

“It puts us in a really strong strategic, intentional position and engages the entire university and our partners,” Marshall said. “This is something to rally around as a community.”

As of May 1, White House executive orders have led 38 federally funded research projects at George Mason to be formally terminated, totaling more than $50 million. That is about 9% of the university’s nearly $600 million research portfolio. The university has submitted eight appeals on those 38 terminations, which include a combined 25 from the U.S. Department of State, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The other 13 terminated projects are from eight other federal agencies.

Marshall said that the university will host a “Research Resilience Workshop” for faculty, students, administrators and deans to discuss the effects of the executive orders on George Mason’s research enterprise and a vision for the future. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20; RSVP by Thursday, May 15.

Sharnnia Artis, vice president for access, compliance, and community, shared the steps George Mason has taken to comply with federal orders regarding elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion measures.

This calendar year, the university has dissolved or eliminated the following: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the promotion of third-party opportunities that use race-conscious criteria; the institutional partnership with The PhD Project; use of affirmative action plans for women and minorities; use of diversity statements in hiring and promotion; and the director of supplier diversity role. There also has been a series of staff positions reviews and realignments that began prior to the issue of the executive orders.

“We anticipate having to continuously be reviewing programs to ensure that we have an environment that is free from unfair and illegal preferences and is open to all. Our goal is to be in compliance with state and federal laws, executive orders, and mandates and for our students to also have the tools that they need to be successful at George Mason and when they graduate.”

Board members encouraged Artis to enlist a third party to review the university’s changes to ensure compliance with the executive orders and to not risk a loss of federal funding.

Also at the meeting:

Fourteen Early Identification Program (EIP) graduates were recognized. More than 2,300 students have graduated from the program for 8th through 12th graders who would be the first in their families to attend college.
Carolyn Peterson was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in recognition of her support of the arts at George Mason.
Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations recipients were recognized, learn more about them.
With the seating of BOV member Caren Merrick, the board is now back to 16 members.

The recordings of the committee meetings and full board meetings are available here.

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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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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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Updates from George Mason BOV meeting on Feb. 27

Colleen Rich — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:11:09 +0000

Updates from George Mason BOV meeting on Feb. 27 Colleen Rich Wed, 03/05/2025 - 13:11

George Mason Ģ��AV’s Board of Visitors (BOV) on Thursday, Feb. 27, introduced three new board members, discussed the university’s response to the recent executive orders, approved an antisemitism resolution, and provided an update on several key initiatives and future planning efforts.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

The university will lean on its longstanding core values while monitoring and reacting to ongoing executive orders handed down by the White House, George Mason President Gregory Washington said.

The BOV had requested that Washington address the executive orders and the effect they are having, or could have, on the university. So far, university leaders have identified about 25 executive orders that could impact George Mason.

Washington and his leadership team have developed the George Mason Resilience Plan. The plan calls for the university to be prepared for constant change and to reprioritize as necessary, clearly articulate the common good of existing practices and programs, and to form and strengthen partnerships with industry, government and other institutions of higher education.

“First and foremost is to stay true to our core values and our North Star,” Washington said. “There are seven core values that define our institution: Our students come first. Innovation is tradition. We are careful stewards. We thrive together. Diversity is our strength. We honor freedom of thought and expression. And we act with integrity.

“At any time when I am challenged and this institution is challenged as an entity, you refer back to those values so that you can get grounded in terms of how you should respond.”

Washington said that during the past year-and-a-half the university has extensively reviewed its systems, and an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

So far, the executive orders have resulted in 14 research projects out of the university’s 700 active awards being paused or ended.

“We are really trying to position ourselves for the long game,” Washington said. “We are putting in systems, mechanisms, and infrastructure to deal with the next executive order, not the current one that’s in front of us. So putting in place systems like we’ve done with research and a number of other areas does not shield us from the effect of the executive order. But what it does do is that it helps us manage and mitigate it.”

As he does at each BOV meeting, Washington shared the progress on the presidential performance metrics, goals set for him by the board. He said that George Mason is meeting or exceeding 12 of the 14 performance metrics in the six priority areas. As part of that overview, he pointed out that the university has almost reached the halfway point of the billion-dollar goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible comprehensive campaign, ahead of schedule, with a total of $497 million as of Feb. 17, further indication of community interest in fueling the university’s success.

“Mason has raised over $100 million five times in its existence as a university,” Washington said. “Four of them have occurred over the last five years.”

Washington also shared findings from the university-wide Grand Challenges Committee, a group working to pinpoint the research areas in which George Mason has significant expertise and that align with global grand challenges that are likely to attract external research funding in the coming years.

“The kinds of things that will be funded are the problems that are most critical to advancing our society and most critical to our way of life,” Washington said. “We need to have our faculty aligned and positioned toward those grand challenges because that’s where the opportunity space will be.”

The committee identified six focus areas:

Advancing 21st-Century Education for All
Building a Climate-Resilient Society
Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Cyberinfrastructure
Improving Human Health, Well-Being, and Preparedness
Pioneering Space Exploration, Research, and Collaboration for Humanity
Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy

“These are not just challenges that we think will be prominent in the world coming ahead of us,” Washington said. “These are challenges that are in alignment with Mason's strengths and are in alignment with our current aspirations. So these are areas [where] we know we can make an impact.”

Washington noted that the Life Sciences and Engineering Building, which will celebrate its grand opening on the Science and Technology Campus on March 27, and the Fuse building at Mason Square will be two of the university’s anchors for addressing the grand challenges.

“We are making an investment at a time when others will probably be retrenching to reposition our institution to be successful on the back end,” Washington said. “This is not new for us. We made strategic investments during COVID that positioned our institution to be stronger on the back end of COVID than it was going into it.”

Washington also provided a preview of his Mason 2050 plan that will be discussed in greater detail at the next full board meeting on May 1. The plan includes several major construction, expansion, and renovation projects for all three Virginia campuses, including a vision for the development of the western part of the Fairfax Campus, commonly referred to as West Campus. The Mason 2050 plan would utilize and build on the university’s strong partnerships with industry, government, and the philanthropy community.

Last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed three new members to the university’s Board of Visitors, two of whom are George Mason alumni. The new members are:

Charles J. Cooper of Bonita Springs, Florida. He is a founding member and the chairman of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC and served as assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel under President Ronald Reagan.
William D. Hansen, BS Economics ’87, of McLean. He is president and CEO of Building Hope, a nonprofit serving charter schools. He served as deputy secretary of education under President George W. Bush and is vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education.
Maureen Ohlhausen, JD ’91, of Annandale. She is a partner at Wilson Sonsini and served as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner under President Barack Obama and as acting FTC chairman under President Donald Trump. She is a former adjunct professor in the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Cooper and Ohlhausen attended the BOV meeting.

The BOV approved an antisemitism resolution with four key directives for the university. The revised resolution says the university will produce a fact sheet about antisemitism and align its antisemitism stance with other nondiscriminatory language, ensure that antisemitism is part of employee onboarding and annual training, not sponsor or endorse known antisemitic activities, and state that its policy is to prohibit discrimination based on Jewish ancestry or Israeli national origin and that allegations of such discrimination will be acted on within established disciplinary processes.

The vote followed a robust discussion that included input from Faculty Senate President Solon Simmons on behalf of faculty on both sides of the issue as well as questions from trustees and nonvoting student body representatives. The resolution is available in the board book posted at bov.gmu.edu.

Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president for Athletics, presented the new athletics strategic plan to the BOV development committee, including his goal of raising $35 million to elevate the program and modernize facilities to enhance recruiting and help ensure sustained athletics success.

“Sixteen- and 18-year-old kids shop with their eyes,” Lewis said during his presentation. “So if you don't have facilities, support services, the resources to attract 16- to 18-year-old kids, it’s going to be a challenge. We are asking for support so that we can take our program from being good to great.”

The project areas include developing a sports performance ecosystem and a Patriots Pathway Program to prepare student-athletes for successful lives and careers.

This past fall, George Mason athletes collectively achieved a 3.32 GPA, with 78 Provost scholars, a distinction for student-athletes with a 3.75 GPA or higher.

Lewis was joined at the presentation by men’s basketball player Darius Maddox, a senior majoring in integrative studies with a concentration in social justice and human rights. Maddox is the team’s leading scorer.

“I've grown in so many ways as Mason has prepared me for life after college,” Maddox told the board. “This happened through the many experiences I had, professional relationships, mentors and leaders who have all poured into me and my experience.”

George Mason has enjoyed success in several sports since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2013, including the women’s indoor track and field team claiming the A-10 championship March 1. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are each in 2nd place in the A-10. The women’s team begins A-10 championship play at 5 p.m. Friday, March 7. The men’s team beat LaSalle Wednesday at EagleBank Arena, finishing 9-0 in conference play at home, and has clinched its first A-10 Tournament double bye in school history.

George Mason is one of only two A-10 Conference members that has not reached at least one NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 2013.

Other items:

The university has launched AI²Nexus, a new model for advancing responsible artificial intelligence across university operations, learning and research, as previously reported.
The BOV approved a 2.5% increase in room and board for the 2025-26 academic year to help the university meet rising expenses. The increase will cost most students about $350. The 2.5% figure includes a 1.5% increase for housing and a 4% increase for dining meal plans. The 4% increase is slightly below the food Consumer Price Index.
Andre Marshall, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, reported that the university again has achieved the Carnegie Classification of “very high research activity,” commonly referred to as “R1.” Less than 4% of U.S. universities earn that designation. Marshall also noted that research expenditures are up 8.9% from this time last year.
Washington said that George Mason plans to opt in to the House v. NCAA settlement that entails compensating student-athletes. This will result in the NCAA withholding about $400,000 per year from the university in revenue distributions for the next 10 years. Opting in will help the university recruit and retain athletic and coaching talent, be competitive nationally, and provide a compliant manner in which to deliver name, image, and likeness (NIL) benefits to George Mason student-athletes.
The university closed the MS degree program in marketing.

The full BOV meeting recording and transcript is available at bov.gmu.edu/live/.

Find meeting schedules, recordings, and more on the Board of Visitors website

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George Mason achieves “Ģ��AV Producing Institution” status from Fulbright Scholars program

Katarina Benson — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:27:11 +0000

George Mason achieves “Ģ��AV Producing Institution” status from Fulbright Scholars program Katarina Benson Mon, 02/24/2025 - 13:27

The U.S. Department of State has named George Mason Ģ��AV a “Ģ��AV Producing Institution” of Fulbright U.S. Scholars in 2024-25. The university has more Fulbrights this academic year—eight—than in any year in its history.

The Life Sciences and Engineering Building on the Science and Technology Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

The “top-producing” designation reflects George Mason’s “deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Weinhold said in a letter informing the university of the honor.

The Fulbright Program was founded in 1946 to increase understanding between people in the United States and 160 countries through academic and cultural exchange. You can find the complete list of 2024-25 Fulbright “Ģ��AV Producing Institutions” here.

The eight honorees this year come from seven George Mason schools and colleges: Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera (Schar School), Carolyn Drews-Botsch (College of Public Health), Amy Fowler (College of Science), Chawky Frenn (Center of Visual and Performing Arts), David J. Gerleman (College of Humanities and Social Sciences), Jennifer Leeman (CHSS), Linda J. Mann (Carter School) and Risto Marttinen (College of Education and Human Development). Frenn also was honored as a Fulbright in 2017-18.

These faculty members are sharing and growing their expertise in Hungary, Ireland, Finland, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain.

“This recognition is all about the excellence and dedication of George Mason’s faculty,” said Provost James Antony. “Earning a record number of Fulbright awards in a single year speaks to the incredible work our scholars are doing—not just in their research, but in connecting with colleagues around the world, exchanging ideas, and bringing new perspectives back to our students. That’s what makes George Mason special: a faculty committed to making an impact, here at home and across the globe.”

Of George Mason’s 103 Fulbrights, according to the Fulbright Scholar Directory, 27 have come in the past seven years. The previous high for Fulbrights in a year for George Mason was five in 1994-95. George Mason’s first Fulbright was history professor Ernest Cassara in 1975-76, who taught at the Ģ��AV of Munich.

George Mason has hosted 98 Fulbrights, according to the organization’s website, including six this academic year.

In This Story

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera

Carolyn Drews-Botsch, PhD, MPH

Chawky Frenn

David J. Gerleman

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

Colleen Rich — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:03:09 +0000

Winter graduates encouraged to be kind, courageous and never stop learning Colleen Rich Thu, 12/19/2024 - 14:03

With a final pre-tassel-turning lesson about leadership, kindness, and resilience, more than 5,200 George Mason Ģ��AV 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 Ģ��AV, we have prepared you to bring the light and endure the heat.”

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV 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 Ģ��AV 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 Ģ��AV 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.”

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

Colleen Rich — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:41:31 +0000

George Mason prepares to recognize more than 5,200 winter graduates Colleen Rich Mon, 12/16/2024 - 13:41

George Mason Ģ��AV will honor more than 5,200 students graduating or earning certificates at Winter Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

The event will be livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel. Doors open an hour before the ceremony.

The winter graduates hail from 89 countries and 45 states, and 27% of bachelor’s degree recipients identify as first-generation graduates.

The guest speaker will be George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI. The student speaker is Caroline Little, graduating with a bachelor of arts in psychology.

Degree celebrations for nine George Mason schools and colleges also will take place this week at EagleBank Arena and those too will be livestreamed.

Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement and degree celebration ceremonies.

The top five majors among the 2,993 undergraduates in the winter Class of 2024 are business; psychology; computer science; information technology; and criminology, law and society.

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors account for 31% of students earning bachelor’s degrees and 35% of students earning advanced degrees. Both totals increased from last year, affirming George Mason’s standing as a top producer of tech talent for Northern Virginia and the state.

For the 1,696 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, special education, curriculum and instruction, computer science, and business administration.

The top majors for the 200 students earning doctoral degrees are education, biosciences, computer science, psychology, and writing and rhetoric.

The winter graduating class also includes four law school graduates.

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

Colleen Rich — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:56:55 +0000

Q&A with George D. Schindler, 2024 Winter Commencement Speaker Colleen Rich Mon, 12/16/2024 - 08:56

George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI, will be the featured speaker at George Mason Ģ��AV’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.

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

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?

How would you say that George Mason’s perspective of “All Together Different” helps prepare students for the workforce?

As a leading provider of tech talent, how does George Mason drive innovation and economic prosperity in Northern Virginia and throughout the state?

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?

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?

Connect with the Alumni Association

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