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Jason M. Kinser and Gesele Durham have been promoted to new roles at Mason Korea and the Provost’s Office, respectively. 

Kinser, interim associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Science, will join Mason Korea as associate dean for faculty and academic affairs, effective July 25, 2026. 

A George Mason faculty member since 1997, Kinser served as the first full-time chair of Department of Computational and Data Sciences, where he grew the department’s undergraduate enrollment from 25 to more than 400. He helped bring the computational and data sciences degree to Mason Korea, has served on the Mason Korea Executive Committee since 2023, and recently stepped in on-site during a leadership vacancy at Mason Korea. 

“His expertise at the intersection of the life sciences and data sciences positions Mason Korea to deepen research and industry partnerships and expand pathways for our students into Songdo’s laboratories and companies,” said Campus Dean Joshaua Park. 

Kinser has held faculty appointments across four units—bioinformatics, systems biology, physics, and computational and data sciences—and has served on university-wide bodies including the Mason Core Committee (2016 to 2024), which governs general education for every George Mason student; the Provost and Chairs Executive Committee; and Global Affairs. 

Kinser will be the first natural scientist to serve in a senior leadership role at Mason Korea. His appointment aligns closely with the region’s direction: Songdo is one of the world’s leading biotechnology clusters, home to firms such as Samsung Biologics and Celltrion, and Incheon has set a course “from Smart City to AI City,” advancing artificial intelligence, data, and future industries in line with Korea’s national priorities. 

Durham will serve as interim vice provost for faculty affairs and development, beginning June 10, 2026, with a national search for permanent leadership of the office expected to begin later this academic year.  Durham, who currently serves as vice provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (OIEP), joined George Mason in 2019 and has led university-wide efforts related to strategic planning, accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness. She will assume the interim role ahead of Kim Eby’s departure later this summer while continuing to lead OIEP in the Provost’s Office.  

 “Gesele brings colleagues together around the assessment and evaluation of teaching and administrative practices,” said interim provost and vice president Ajay Vinzé. “With more than 30 years of experience in higher education across both faculty and administrative leadership roles, she has a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing faculty today.” 

Over the coming weeks, Eby and Durham will work together to support the transition in leadership of faculty affairs and development. Incoming Provost Marion Underwood, who assumes the role in July, will lead the search for a permanent vice provost.

“Faculty success is foundational to student success, research excellence, and the university’s broader mission,” said Durham. “I look forward to partnering with colleagues across George Mason to support faculty development, recognize achievement, and create the conditions that enable faculty to do their best work.”