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91���� President Gregory Washington has announced the recipients of the 2026 , honoring George Mason faculty members for their work on behalf of the university, students, and the broader community.

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The awards honor faculty with up to six years of service, six to 12 years of service, and more than 12 years of service.

This is the 10th year for the Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence. Recipients are selected by a review committee that includes prior award recipients and senior leaders from relevant areas. They will be honored at a reception on May 12, along with the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award recipients for 2026, Xuesu Xiao and Michael Bloom.

“The depth and breadth of our faculty members’ work is truly astounding,” President Gregory Washington said. “It is my privilege to call them colleagues. And it is my honor each year to recognize their achievements.”

The Beck Family Presidential Medal for Excellence in Research recognizes extraordinary contributions by members of the George Mason faculty to consequential research of high impact. The award is presented annually to a faculty member whose research represents groundbreaking advances in their field.

The John Toups Presidential Medal for Excellence in Teaching is presented to a faculty member whose teaching inspires and stimulates students in the finest tradition of higher education.

The Earle C. Williams Presidential Medal for Excellence in Social Impact is presented to a faculty member in any discipline whose commitment to community service and impact inspires students, improves the quality of life in our region, and serves as a model to the entire Mason Nation. 

The United Bank Presidential Medal for Access, Inclusion, and Community recognizes extraordinary contributions in research, scholarship, creative works, teaching, and/or service that directly advance the goals of access, inclusion, and community within and outside of the George Mason community.    

The complete list of 2026 honorees is below. See  for 2017 to 2025.

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Faculty Excellence in Research Award Recipient

Bo Han, associate professor of computer science, Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing, College of Engineering and Computing

Bo Han joined the faculty at 91���� in 2020, after several years in a research position with AT&T Labs. His research is in the field of mobile immersive computing, which aims to integrate digital information with the physical world. Han has led several large research projects funded by the National Science Foundation, addressing foundational challenges to the use of immersive computing at scale, with applications to areas such as education, health care, remote collaboration, and workforce development. Han has received highly competitive research awards from AT&T, Google, Meta, and Cisco, and has amassed a portfolio of more than 60 patented innovations. Han is active as a mentor to both graduate and undergraduate students. 

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Faculty Excellence in Research Award Recipient

Parag Chitnis, professor of bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing

After several years in a nonprofit research position, Chitnis began his tenure-track appointment at George Mason in 2014 in the . His research focuses on two complementary fields. The first is biomedical ultrasonics, and Chitnis’s research in this area has resulted in the development of wearable ultrasound sensors, lightweight patches that allow the continuous monitoring of muscle kinematics in real-world scenarios. His second research field is photoacoustics, in which he is developing new methods for imaging neuro-electrical activity deep within tissue, which was previously impossible using optical methods. These innovations improve prosthetic control for amputees and enable earlier detection and better monitoring for neurological disorders. Chitnis has also been a strong mentor at George Mason, exemplifying the ideal of the scholar-innovator. 

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The Beck Family Presidential Medal for Faculty Excellence in Research Recipient

Karina Korostelina, professor of conflict analysis and resolution, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Karina Korostelina joined George Mason in 2004 and now serves as director of the and the at the . She is a social psychologist who has published pathbreaking scholarship on the dynamics of identity-based conflict, the role of history in conflict, and the process of peacebuilding in post-conflict societies. A prolific scholar, Korostelina has written or edited 18 books and more than 100 articles or book chapters. She has also won 54 grants to support her scholarship. Korostelina’s scholarship has influenced practitioners on the ground who are working to resolve ethnic, religious, and political conflicts, and in many cases, she has partnered with these people and organizations to help them deal with the challenges they face. Korostelina has been an institution-builder at George Mason and an exemplary mentor to graduate students.

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Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Amy Preston Page, assistant professor of social work, College of Public Health

Amy Preston Page received her PhD in clinical social work in 2018 and came to George Mason as a faculty member in 2023. She has taught a broad range of courses in the , including foundational, research courses, and clinical practice courses. She has developed and taught specialized courses addressing behavioral health interventions and the needs of military- and veteran-connected individuals and families. Her offerings have become essential to the functioning of the program. Page is now serving as chair of the Curriculum Committee, which provides curriculum review and continuous improvement across the college. Page extends the reach of her impact through her scholarship on trauma-informed and anti-oppressive teaching, educator wellness, and inclusive learning environments. Page has made important contributions to student learning, curriculum quality, faculty collaboration, and the broader social work education community. 

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Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Justin Ramsdell, professor of psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences 

Justin Ramsdell joined the faculty at George Mason in 2015. Ramsdell receives consistently excellent evaluations of his teaching from students and peers. He is innovative in his pedagogy, employing interview-based case studies and a practitioner lens that help make complex material accessible. He is  primarily responsible for the development and growth of the . He is also responsible for student advising, alumni relations, and career counseling, helping students line up internships and career placements. He serves as associate chair for undergraduate studies in the . Ramsdell has received numerous recognitions for his teaching, including the university’s Teaching Excellence Award (2019) and the international Anthology Catalyst Award for Student Success (2024). A student-centered teacher and mentor, Ramsdell’s work advances the university’s teaching mission. 

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John Toups Presidential Medal for Excellence in Teaching Recipient

Peggy Brouse, professor of cyber security engineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing

After a career in industry, Peggy Brouse joined the Systems Engineering Department at George Mason in 1993. She now holds a joint appointment in the and the . Brouse is widely recognized as an exceptional classroom teacher with a commitment to instructional excellence. Her students praise her for her clarity, fairness, and her genuine interest in their success. Brouse has previously received the university’s David J. King Teaching Award (2023), the Academic Excellence Award (2024), and the Virginia Cybersecurity Educator Award (2024). She has a long record of curriculum development, starting with her role as the original architect of the BS in cyber security engineering. Brouse also designs and executes high-impact extracurricular and off-campus learning experiences for her students, such as cybersecurity competitions, senior design projects, and industry-sponsored initiatives. These efforts, along with her committed mentoring and advising, have resulted in strong employment outcomes for her students. 

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Faculty Excellence in Social Impact Award Recipient

Melissa Villodas, assistant professor of social work, College of Public Health

Melissa Villodas received her PhD in 2022 and joined the George Mason faculty in the in the same year. Her research focuses on community-based youth mental health, particularly on how to address entrenched mental health disparities among youth and young adults impacted by poverty, racialized systems, disability, and community violence. Villodas has already built an impressive record of publishing her research in this field. She has been successful at obtaining grants to extend the impact of her research into the community, leading the Virginia Department of Social Services Child Welfare Stipend Program at George Mason, which strengthens the pipeline for social workers trained to address child and youth mental health disparities statewide. She has also led funded projects addressing youth suicidality in Northern Virginia and contributed to innovative housing initiatives for individuals with serious mental illness. To carry out these projects, she has built strong connections to local organizations that deal with youth mental health, child welfare, and disability. Rather than short-term interventions, her work produces lasting benefits for underserved communities. 

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Faculty Excellence in Social Impact Award Recipient

Kerri LaCharite, associate professor of nutrition, College of Public Health

Kerri LaCharite joined the faculty at George Mason in 2016 in the . Her research focuses on urban agriculture, food policy, and sustainable food systems, and she has built a reputation in these fields through her scholarly activity. But what distinguishes her career has been her efforts to draw from her scholarly expertise to help her community. She has advocated changing zoning ordinances so that local farmers could sell a wider range of goods at farmer’s markets, expanding the supply of locally sourced food in the area. Similarly, she has worked with local government to ensure that community gardens could exist legally and sustainably on land owned by churches or schools. To shape county food policy, LaCharite served as chair of the Fairfax Food Policy Task Force and worked closely with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. LaCharite has done the hard work of getting involved at the local level and developing relationships, using her expertise to enhance community advocacy and progress in her field. 

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Earle C. Williams Presidential Medal for Faculty Excellence in Social Impact Recipient

Alex Tabarrok, professor of economics, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Bartley J. Madden Chair in Economics, Mercatus Center

Alex Tabarrok joined the faculty in the at George Mason in 2002. His research deals with economics and political economy, and he has published important work on the effect of policy on crime, economic regulations, patent law, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tabarrok has a long record of bringing his scholarship to broad audiences and helping to shape public policy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he briefed staff at the White House, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the FDA on strategies to accelerate vaccine development and production. At the White House’s request, he and Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer authored a report and founded the Accelerating Health Technologies team, which recommended a novel policy approach: subsidizing “at-risk” vaccine manufacturing capacity prior to regulatory approval and guaranteeing advance purchase of successful vaccines through advance market commitments. The team developed a method for maximizing the probability of at least one successful vaccine. These ideas were adopted by Operation Warp Speed, dramatically accelerating vaccine development and deployment. 

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Faculty Excellence in Access, Inclusion, and Community Award Recipient

Rodman Turpin, associate professor of global and community health, College of Public Health

Rodman Turpin joined the at George Mason in 2022. Turpin has integrated the goals of access and inclusion into his professional life. In his teaching, he has designed classes that engage students in the challenge of providing medical care in a context shaped by structural inequities. Among his courses is a doctoral-level course titled “Social Epidemiology,” which is designed to help students understand health equity as both a scholarly lens and a professional responsibility. In his research, he focuses on structural barriers, stigma, and inequities affecting racial/ethnic and sexual minority communities. His research program is focused on HIV and STI-related social determinants of health, with particular emphasis on prevention and care among Black sexual minority men. With more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, he has built an impressive scholarly record on these topics. Turpin has a long record of engagement with community-based organizations, and he advises student organizations that promote the health and well-being of Black LGBTQ+ communities. Turpin’s work reflects his commitment to improving outcomes for historically marginalized communities.

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United Bank Presidential Medal for Faculty Excellence in Access, Inclusion, and Community Recipient

LaNitra Berger, associate professor of history and art history, and director of African and African American Studies Program, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

LaNitra Berger joined the faculty at George Mason’s in 2010 and has held a full-time appointment in the since 2022. In the realms of access and inclusion, Berger has guided hundreds of George Mason Honors College students through the process of applying for the most prestigious fellowships and awards. During her time at the Honors College, the percentage of students from first-generation, low income, or other underrepresented backgrounds who won competitive fellowships increased sharply to nearly 60 percent—far higher than at other universities. Berger has also produced two publications for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, providing guidance to other universities seeking to broaden access to scholarship programs and international education. More recently, Berger started working with the Institute for International Education and the U.S. State Department to develop initiatives that support diversity and inclusion in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Berger’s scholarship addresses themes of access and inclusion, with a particular focus on the intersections of art and social activism in the Black and Jewish diasporas. Berger has been a champion for inclusion and opportunity at George Mason and beyond.