Campus News

Mason Enterprise and Akiak Technology establish strategic partnership to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity

Katarina Benson — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:24:14 +0000

Mason Enterprise and Akiak Technology establish strategic partnership to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity Katarina Benson Thu, 07/23/2026 - 16:24

Mason Enterprise^TM, 91��’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurial development, established a new partnership with Akiak Technology LLC, an Alaskan tribal-owned, mission-driven technology firm dedicated to delivering impactful artificial intelligence (AI) solutions while supporting Indigenous communities. The collaboration is formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and reflects a shared commitment to fostering business innovation, workforce development, and mutually beneficial growth opportunities.

Mason Enterprise and Akiak Technology will collaborate on technology and business development initiatives designed to expand access to entrepreneurial resources, training, and expertise, while creating new pathways to strengthen innovation ecosystems locally and nationally.

From left, Paula Sorrell, Sharon Hamer, and Kevin Hamer. Photo provided

“This partnership with Akiak Technology aligns with Mason Enterprise’s mission to support entrepreneurs and accelerate innovation,” said Paula Sorrell, associate vice president for innovation and economic development at George Mason. “By combining Mason Enterprise’s entrepreneur support programs, tech talent, and convening power with Akiak’s technology expertise and mission-driven approach, we are adding more building blocks in the Northern Virginia innovation corridor.”

Under the MOU, Mason Enterprise will provide Akiak Technology with access to its entrepreneur programs, innovation expertise, counseling and training resources, while facilitating collaboration across the university. Together, the organizations will identify mutually beneficial opportunities and explore pathways to support Akiak Technology’s business growth in alignment with its mission, including its commitment to its tribal community.

This synergy can speed up the translation of research and discoveries into products and services, addressing complex challenges in areas such as quantum computing, AI, health care technology, and energy. Akiak Technology will also offer strategic insight and feedback to Mason Enterprise programs and help identify opportunities for revenue-generating activities that further Mason Enterprise’s mission of supporting entrepreneurs and innovation-driven organizations.

“This partnership with Mason Enterprise represents an important step forward for Akiak Technology,” said Sharon Hamer, cofounder of Akiak Technology and enrolled Akiak tribal member. “Collaborating with a leading research university gives us access to world-class talent and new opportunities to expand our AI-driven innovations, while remaining true to our mission and values.”

Akiak’s CEO Kevin Hamer added, “Mason Enterprise helped us launch our first business years ago. Deepening this relationship allows us to tap into George Mason’s expansive network and innovation programming as we continue to grow as an AI product and solutions innovator.”

The public–private partnership strengthens technology transfer, supports federal research initiatives, enhances education and workforce readiness, and contributes to regional economic growth—particularly as demand for STEM talent continues to rise.

The collaboration underscores Mason Enterprise’s role as a connector between academia, industry, and community, and highlights Akiak Technology’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and mission-driven growth.

Learn about Artificial Intelligence at George Mason

Topics

Artificial Intelligence

91�� announces four senior leadership promotions

ckearney — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:03:58 +0000

91�� announces four senior leadership promotions ckearney Mon, 07/20/2026 - 15:03

91�� President Gregory Washington has announced that four members of his leadership team will step into expanded roles effective July 30.

"These positions will enhance our ability to serve students, advance our strategic vision for institutional and research excellence, and shape George Mason's future as one of the leading public universities in the country," Washington said.

Rose Pascarell. Photo by Office of University Branding

Rose Pascarell, who has served as vice president for University Life since 2012, is promoted to executive vice president and chief of staff. A deeply dedicated leader, Pascarell brings a level-headed perspective and student-first approach that has served the tens of thousands of students, faculty, and staff she has worked with over her 30 years at George Mason. Associate Vice President Pam Patterson and Assistant Vice President Sally Lorentson will share interim vice president duties.

David Burge

David Burge, who has served as vice president for Enrollment Management since 2015, is promoted with an expansion of duties to senior vice president for enrollment and student achievement. Burge will serve as principal advisor for enrollment strategy, market expansion, tuition revenue, and student success. He has been instrumental in the success of George Mason's enrollment growth—at a time when other institutions are experiencing declines—through many accessible pathway programs and an ambitious direct admission effort.

Sharnnia Artis

Sharnnia Artis, who arrived at George Mason in 2021 and most recently has served as vice president for Access, Compliance, and Community, is promoted to senior vice president for organizational excellence and institutional integrity. In this expanded role, Artis will advance organizational excellence by aligning people strategy, leadership development, inclusive excellence, accessibility, civil rights compliance, and institutional integrity to deliver on the university's mission.

Whitney Owen

Whitney Owen, who has served as interim special advisor to the president and chief of staff since April 2025, has been named vice president of strategy and transformation and special advisor to the president, focusing on major transformational initiatives for the university. Whitney is the former executive director of University Business Consulting, an organization she launched when she arrived at the university in 2020. Pam Promisel will continue to serve as interim executive director of University Business Consulting.

"With their leadership, expertise, and commitment, in collaboration with our new Provost Marion Underwood and alongside the continued outstanding work of our faculty and staff, 91�� is well-positioned for continued success at a pivotal time in higher education," Washington said.

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Campus News

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Katarina Benson — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:18:49 +0000

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline Katarina Benson Thu, 07/16/2026 - 20:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at 91�� has unveiled "Immigrants & America 250: Data, Stories, and Policy Across United States History," a first-of-its-kind interactive digital timeline that explores how immigration has shaped the United States from its earliest years to present day.

The new online experience combines historical population data, landmark immigration policies, notable immigrant contributions, and archival cultural collections into a single educational resource designed for educators, researchers, policymakers, students, journalists, and the general public.

"Understanding immigration requires more than statistics or policy debates alone," IIR assistant director Marissa Kiss said. "By bringing together historical data, public policy, and personal stories, this project helps reveal the human experience behind the numbers while providing trusted information that places immigration within the broader story of America.”

The interactive experience includes:

U.S. population data beginning in 1770, with detailed immigration statistics by decade from 1840 through 2024;
Changes in immigrant populations by country and world region of birth
Eighty-three landmark immigration laws and historical events
Profiles of 80 notable immigrants whose contributions have shaped American society across science, business, sports, arts, government, education, and culture
Eleven curated collections from the Library of Congress' American Folklife Center featuring interviews, photographs, songs, music, dance, and oral histories that illustrate the lived experiences of immigrants across generations

By pairing rigorous research with historical storytelling, the timeline offers a multidimensional look at one of the defining forces in American history.

The project, developed in collaboration with the Immigrant Learning Center, the CHSSWeb team, and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, reflects the institute's broader mission to generate and amplify nonpartisan research on immigration through data, arts, and public engagement. As conversations surrounding immigration continue to evolve, the institute hopes resources like the timeline will foster more informed public dialogue by providing accessible, evidence-based information grounded in historical context.

"This timeline demonstrates that immigration is not simply a contemporary issue—it is woven throughout the American story," Kiss said. "Understanding that history helps us better understand who we are as a nation today."

The release comes as communities across the country commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial, providing educators and organizations with a timely resource for exploring the role immigrants have played in shaping the United States over the past two and a half centuries.

View the interactive timeline

More from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Topics

Campus News

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Research

VA250

Institute for Immigration Research (IIR)

New initiative aims to build AI literacy among educators through year-long professional learning community

Martha Bushong — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:55:00 +0000

New initiative aims to build AI literacy among educators through year-long professional learning community Martha Bushong Tue, 07/14/2026 - 13:55

In This Story

Amarda Shehu

91�� has launched the Ambassadors of Teaching in the Age of AI (ATAA) program, a new professional learning initiative designed to help educators develop the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and society.

The program officially debuted June 22–23 at George Mason's SciTech Campus during the Virginia Data Science Teacher Professional Learning Institute, which brought together more than 200 K–12 educators, higher education faculty, industry representatives, and government stakeholders. Approximately 50 participants joined ATAA as founding members of the year-long professional learning community.

Chief AI Officer Amarda Shehu at the Ambassadors of Teaching in the Age of AI kick-off event (Photo provided)

The launch marks another step in George Mason's broader AI literacy efforts, by bringing together expertise from across the university to create accessible, research-based programming. ATAA is designed to complement existing educator preparation efforts while providing a foundational AI literacy framework that can be applied by professionals across disciplines.

Developed over the past year, ATAA was created through a collaboration among Peng Warweg, research program director in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC); Padhu Seshaiyer, professor in the College of Science and director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research and Outreach; Manpriya Dua, research postdoctoral fellow in computer science; and Amarda Shehu, George Mason's chief AI officer and professor of computer science.

The team focused on a growing challenge: how to build AI fluency among practitioners, particularly the K–16 teacher workforce. Warweg, who helped lead the program's design and curriculum development, said ATAA is among the first programs to translate newly released federal guidance into a practical learning experience.

"ATAA is grounded in the U.S. Department of Labor's AI Literacy Framework—a guideline that represents a national consensus on what AI fluency should look like across professions," said Warweg. "ATAA is among the first practitioner programs in the country to translate that guidance into a structured, accessible curriculum."

Peng Warweg (on right), research program director in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) with Padhu Seshaiyer (left), professor in the College of Science and director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research and Outreach and Manpriya Dua (center), research postdoctoral fellow in computer science. Photo provided.

The launch was supported by the Virginia Data Science Teacher Professional Learning Institute, now in its fifth year and co-organized by Seshaiyer. Through longstanding partnerships with the Virginia Department of Education and decades of leadership in STEM education, Seshaiyer helped establish the foundation that enabled the program to launch at scale.

"Virginia has been building toward this," said Seshaiyer. "ATAA is the natural next step to connect research, policy, and practice around the future of learning."

Seshaiyer and Dua also helped shape the curriculum, ensuring participants receive both practical and technically grounded instruction. Dua's expertise in artificial intelligence and computer science research helped make complex concepts accessible to educators from a wide range of backgrounds.

ATAA also builds on George Mason's broader AI strategy under Shehu's leadership. A key component of the curriculum draws from UNIV 182 AI for All: Understanding and Building Artificial Intelligence (Mason Core) a course developed, by Shehu, to help nontechnical learners gain AI literacy. Research conducted by Shehu has demonstrated significant AI literacy gains among students who complete the course.

"Foundational AI literacy cannot belong only to people who already saw themselves as technical," said Shehu. "What we learned from AI for All is that anyone can develop real fluency when the teaching meets them where they are. ATAA takes that same conviction to the practitioners who multiply it: the educators."

Designed using a train-the-trainer model, ATAA aims to extend its impact beyond the initial cohort. Participants will complete a structured year-long learning experience and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). After completing 15 hours of learning, participants will receive a digital badge recognizing their AI literacy achievement, with a full credentialing pathway scheduled to launch in fall 2026.

While educators are the program's first audience, ATAA envisions expanding AI literacy training to professionals across sectors, including healthcare, government, technology, and community organizations. With its strengths in AI research, governance, and education, George Mason hopes to help prepare a broader workforce for an AI-driven future.

Topics

Artificial Intelligence

Campus News

GCI-Education

Science and Technology Campus

Faculty philanthropy fuels quantum innovation with $3 million gift

ckearney — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:50:35 +0000

Faculty philanthropy fuels quantum innovation with $3 million gift ckearney Fri, 07/10/2026 - 14:50

Quantum science is a revolution in the making, and a recent donation by Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Paul So has placed 91�� at the forefront of understanding and harnessing its capabilities.

Paul So. Photo by Hamiltonian Artists

Through a generous $3 million gift from So’s SYYK Foundation, George Mason’s College of Science will be able to advance the education of the next generation of quantum scientists. The gift will establish an endowed professorship within the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The university seeks an esteemed faculty member to fill this role, with a preference for a scientist who has expertise in quantum sciences, “someone with new ideas,” said So, “who will create a vibrant space in the department.”

“It’s important to think about quantum as a revolutionary and game-changing leap ahead in our ability to compute, to sense the world around us, and to communicate with each other,” said Patrick Vora, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and director of George Mason’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center.

The goal of the professorship is to build a community of learning around quantum technology, said Vora. “It will catalyze new collaborations between faculty members, but always, at the end of the day, our biggest impact is going to be in training our students.”

Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of subatomic particles and their properties. Understanding and controlling those properties could drive significant advances in engineering and technology, said Vora, who is leading George Mason’s Quantum Leap, one of seven newly funded catalyst projects in the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative.

“Your phone runs on quantum science, your computer runs on quantum science,” So added. “New materials, new technologies, and new applications will all rely on quantum.” That could include enhanced weather prediction as well as faster drug discovery and development.

So founded SYYK with his brother Peter, a professor of mechanical and biological engineering at MIT, to continue their mother’s philanthropic efforts after her death in 2021. The charitable nonprofit has a broad mission but prioritizes gifts to educational and cultural institutions.

“Even when we were growing up in Hong Kong, my parents supported local schools,” So said. “They appreciated that education was the foundation of a kid’s future, the foundation of society’s future.”

So believes that strengthening the quantum science program at George Mason will attract top students to the university and encourage more cross-pollination between disciplines like math, computer science, and engineering.

“One of the biggest challenges of realizing quantum technology is less about the ‘quantum’ and more the people,” Vora said. “Developing the science into an industry will require a significant expansion of the workforce. The only way that you can do that is by expanding representation in the workforce. And there are few things that George Mason does as well as providing opportunity for people who may not have had it before.”

So is optimistic that the investment in quantum will better position students to take advantage of the unique opportunity George Mason offers. “We’re right here in the National Capital region, near so many tech companies,” he said, “and there’s a lot of support from the government to develop quantum.”

Indeed, the federal government recently announced that it would inject $2 billion into quantum development, funding nine domestic computer companies to build quantum infrastructure. The White House, meanwhile, also issued executive orders to accelerate the migration of federal computing systems to systems that can protect them from quantum cyberattacks. Quantum-related job postings have tripled in the last 15 years with an average salary of $131,000.

The structure of the new professorship is a novel one at George Mason. The professor’s salary will be covered by the College of Science, while proceeds from the endowment will serve as discretionary funding to support graduate students. The donation also includes a percentage of the gift applied as “current use” funds, available now to provide support while the endowment yield grows.

“Paul So’s extraordinary generosity gives George Mason the ability to move with both urgency and ambition in quantum science,” said Cody W. Edwards, dean of the College of Science. “This endowed professorship will help us recruit a field-shaping scholar, support graduate students, and accelerate the collaborations needed to prepare the next generation of quantum scientists and innovators. It is a gift with immediate impact, long-term vision, and profound significance for the College of Science, George Mason, and the commonwealth.”

Given the surge in quantum investment and jobs around the country, So hopes the gift will encourage additional giving to support quantum at George Mason. “Compared to what is needed, this is just the start,” he said.

“We’re talking about a generation-scale technological shift,” said Vora. “Bringing on this new faculty member, around which our current and future faculty members can collaborate and coalesce, will really change what it looks like to be a quantum scientist in the future.”

Learn More

Topics

Mason Now: Power the Possible

91�� authorized to host State Climate Office

ckearney — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:01 +0000

91�� authorized to host State Climate Office ckearney Wed, 07/08/2026 - 15:40

91�� is authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office, thanks to a provision in the new state budget effective July 1, 2026. The office is charged with developing and delivering data, analyses, assessments, and expertise about Virginia’s weather- and climate-related impacts, risks, and risk management options to state and local government agencies, businesses, and communities across the commonwealth. The office will also represent Virginia in national meteorological, climatological, and hydrological associations, strengthening federal partnerships and interstate collaboration on real-time weather and environmental challenges.

James Kinter. Photo provided

George Mason is home to one of the largest communities of faculty in the country who are dedicated to climate research. The new office will be anchored in the university’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC), based in the College of Science and directed by James Kinter, professor of climate dynamics, who also leads the university's Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies.

“Every Virginian deserves access to reliable, localized climate information, whether they’re a farmer on the Eastern Shore, an emergency manager in Southwest Virginia, or a family deciding where to buy a home. The State Climate Office makes that possible,” said Kinter. “George Mason is the ideal home for this work. We’ve spent the past three years building the scientific capacity, the community partnerships, and the trust across the commonwealth that a state climate office needs from day one.”

VCC launched in 2023 with funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a congressionally directed project championed by the late U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. Since then, the center has built exactly the kind of university-based, community-engaged model a state climate office requires with scientists, municipalities, and business leaders working together on practical solutions.

In November 2025, VCC delivered the inaugural Virginia Climate Assessment, the commonwealth's first comprehensive, peer-reviewed evaluation of how changing climate conditions affect Virginia and its people. The assessment, which organized findings across six climate divisions from Tidewater to the Southwestern Mountains, called directly for the creation of a state climate office. Less than a year later, the General Assembly answered.

“Virginia was one of only two states in the nation without an operational state climate office. That gap left localities, farmers, and businesses without a central, no-cost source of climate information that most other states take for granted,” said Delegate David Reid of Loudoun County, who sponsored the budget amendment in the House establishing the State Climate Office at George Mason. “Hosting this office at George Mason puts proven scientists to work for every corner of the commonwealth, and we are committed to collaborating to ensure improved strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and avoided losses.”

Graduate students in CEIE 445/645 Flood Hazard Engineering and Adaptation course develop flood risk maps and conduct analyses to help real clients in local communities improve their flood resilience. Photo provided

The Virginia Climate Assessment identified three hazards of particular concern for the commonwealth this century: extreme heat and rising temperatures, which threaten public health, labor productivity, and agriculture; extreme precipitation and shifting seasons, with wetter falls and springs increasing flood risks while drier summers heighten drought and wildfire danger; and accelerated sea level rise, compounded by land subsidence, which puts Tidewater communities and coastal infrastructure at growing risk.

“The office will ensure that Virginia has a seat at the national table to collaborate with groups like American Association of State Climatologists and play a vital role working with localities to ensure a brighter future for the next generation of families across the commonwealth and the nation,” added Senator Stella Pekarsky, a George Mason alumna who shepherded the budget amendment.

VCC already partners with localities across the commonwealth, and the State Climate Office will extend that reach. Current projects include flood modeling for the City of Fairfax, urban flood resilience work in Arlington County, nature-based flood protection in Belle Haven on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, climate planning in the West Piedmont region, and a Northern Virginia heat data collection campaign launching this summer. George Mason student engineers are also supporting flood hazard mitigation projects, gaining hands-on experience while serving Virginia communities.

“Weather patterns impact key sectors of the Virginia economy,” said Terry Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government. “Consistent, dependable, and localized weather data will give Virginia farmers, businesses, and government entities the ability to better compete and succeed.”

The university’s strength in climate resilience is part of George Mason's Grand Challenge Initiative, which draws on expertise across the university, including the Institute for a Sustainable Earth; the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences; the Center for Climate Change Communication in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and the Schar School's Center for Regional Analysis.

“Building a climate-resilient society is one of six research priorities in George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative, and it’s one where our faculty are collaborating across colleges to deliver solutions communities can actually use,” said Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “The State Climate Office turns that research strength into a public service for all Virginians. This is what a public R1 university is for.”

For more information, visit gmu.edu/grandchallenge or vaclimate.gmu.edu.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

Discover more GCI climate research >>

Learn about other solutions >>

Topics

Campus News

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

GCI-Climate

Virginia Climate Center

College of Science

Mason Korea graduates the Class of Spring 2026

Katarina Benson — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:37:24 +0000

Mason Korea graduates the Class of Spring 2026 Katarina Benson Mon, 07/06/2026 - 16:37

On June 27, Mason Korea held its Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at Incheon Global Campus, honoring 116 bachelor’s and master’s graduates.

The Mason Korea Spring 2026 graduate class. Photo provided

Graduates from several academic programs, including global affairs, business, economics, conflict analysis and resolution, and the master of laws (LLM), received their degrees during the ceremony. This year’s graduating class included 23 LLM graduates, following the program’s first graduating class last year.

The ceremony brought together graduating students, families, faculty, staff, and distinguished guests to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. Guests included David Burge, George Mason’s vice president for enrollment management, and Shaun Sutherell, associate dean for strategic initiatives at the Antonin Scalia Law School.

In his remarks, Mason Korea Dean Joshua Park emphasized the importance of knowledge, judgment, and character in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Eunjae Baek, BA in Global Affairs and undergraduate student speaker. Photo provided

“Knowledge, judgment, and character remain essential values, even in the age of AI,” he said. “I hope our graduates will build on the experiences they gained at 91�� and continue taking on new challenges across the world.”

Representing the graduating class, Youngwook Cho, an LLM graduate, reflected on the courage it takes to move forward in uncertain times.

“Meaningful change always begins with uncertainty,” he said. “I hope we will draw on the experiences and courage we gained here as we take on greater opportunities ahead.”

Discover more about Mason Korea

Topics

Mason Korea

Antonin Scalia Law School

Students

Graduation

Campus News

OLLI Mason welcomes lifelong learners at inaugural Ideas Festival

Susan Martonik — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:25:30 +0000

OLLI Mason welcomes lifelong learners at inaugural Ideas Festival Susan Martonik Thu, 07/02/2026 - 10:25

Learning doesn’t end at graduation—it continues to evolve at every stage of life. That spirit was on full display in early May as nearly 500 participants aged 50 and older gathered for the first-ever Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at 91�� (OLLI Mason) Ideas Festival to explore new interests, exchange ideas, and learn more about the program.

The Ideas Festival was created to introduce more people across the area to the many experiences and benefits OLLI Mason offers. “OLLI Mason is truly a standout resource for older adults, providing enriching educational, social, and cultural experiences in a warm, welcoming environment,” said Steve Rose, president of the OLLI Mason Board of Directors.

Held at George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, the free, open house-style Ideas Festival included educational classes, demonstrations, activities, and a panel discussion. Courses were taught by George Mason faculty, community members, and even OLLI Mason members themselves.

Musical performers at the OLLI Ideas Festival stand alongside Linda A. Monson, director of George Mason's Dewberry School of Music. Photo by OLLI staff.

To kick off the event, Linda A. Monson, director of George Mason’s Dewberry Family School of Music, organized a music performance to highlight the extraordinary talents of the school’s students. The presentation attracted a large audience and drew positive feedback from attendees.

“OLLI is so lucky to be affiliated with a wonderful George Mason music program,” said OLLI Mason member Bob Heyer. “We often listen to a number of very talented local and international students performing their amazing talents in OLLI classes and party events.”

Among the most popular offerings at the Ideas Festival was the class “Yeah, There’s a Pill for That” taught by OLLI member Michele Romano, a retired physician. The interactive session taught attendees how to safely navigate prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and herbals, and how to keep everything organized for themselves and their healthcare providers.

Other well-received classes included “Watercolor is Playful,” in which award-winning local artist Marni Maree led participants as they experimented with various painting techniques, and “Meet the Restauranteur” featuring Dina Daniel, founder and chef at Fava Pot, the first Egyptian restaurant in the DMV. Poet and George Mason alumna Danielle Badra, who was Fairfax County poet laureate from 2022-24, led a "Nature Poetry Writing” class in which attendees ventured outdoors to listen to poetry, write their own, and then read their works aloud.

The OLLI Mason Walk and Talk Club learns about outdoor art installations at George Mason's Fairfax Campus. Photo by Bob Heyer.

In addition to classes, the Ideas Festival also offered attendees the opportunities to learn about the different clubs and special interest groups that are a part of OLLI Mason. Meetings were held by the Investment Forum, a long-running, retiree-focused group; the Walk and Talk Club, which led a tour of the campus’ outdoor art installations; the Board Game Club; and others.

“I came to OLLI to learn about things other than airplanes and engineering that I spent a career in. I have found great classes in history, music, philosophy, religion, science, and most important, many friendships in classes, clubs, and activities,” said Bob Heyer, coordinator of the Walk and Talk Club.

Based on the strong turnout, OLLI Mason plans to hold another Ideas Festival in 2027. “It’s clear from both the number of attendees and the overwhelming positive feedback from the event that older adults want to continue their learning journey,” said Debbie Engleson, OLLI Mason treasurer. “OLLI Mason is the perfect place for them to do just that.”

Through its partnership with OLLI, George Mason welcomes lifelong learners to campus for courses, lectures, and other educational opportunities. The program connects participants with university faculty and programs while creating additional opportunities for engagement between the university and the broader Northern Virginia community.

In This Story

Dr. Linda Apple Monson

Explore OLLI at George Mason

Topics

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Fairfax Campus

Campus News

Community Engagement

America250 programming from Mason Arts this fall

Katarina Benson — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:31:34 +0000

America250 programming from Mason Arts this fall Katarina Benson Wed, 07/01/2026 - 14:31

91�� is excited to showcase programming and events this fall that celebrate America250 and the dedication, service, and artistry of the people of the United States. Beginning with the fall 2026 semester, visual and performing arts events will take place across all three of George Mason’s Northern Virginia campuses.

Two concerts and three exhibitions will take place on George Mason campuses. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Three fine art exhibitions will showcase artwork from veterans, as well as their family members and caregivers. Three different but interrelated exhibitions will be on view from August through early December in Arlington, Fairfax, and Manassas, Virginia.

The U.S. Army Bands will present two concerts at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Both of are free and open to the public.

The U.S. Army Field Band Concert brings a variety of ensembles and musical styles for an expansive and exciting performance on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 3 p.m.
The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will perform A Salute to Veterans concert that combines music and storytelling to honor the veterans who served our nation on Friday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m.

To learn more about these events and other America250 programming from Mason Arts, please join our mailing list.

Topics

Campus News

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Mason Exhibitions

VA250

91�� panel examines the complex legacy of its namesake during America’s 250th Anniversary

ckearney — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:25:36 +0000

91�� panel examines the complex legacy of its namesake during America’s 250th Anniversary ckearney Tue, 06/30/2026 - 16:25

91�� hosted a Virginia 250 panel discussion on its Fairfax Campus examining the legacy of George Mason, the founding father, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and slaveholder whose contradictions mirror the broader American story. The one-hour program, The Complex Legacy of George Mason, will premiere on 91�� YouTube channel and GMU-TV at 10 a.m. ET on July 2, 2026.

The discussion was moderated by Christopher Eck, executive director of Gunston Hall, George Mason's 18th-century estate on the Potomac River. He was joined by Carly Fiorina, national honorary chair of the Virginia 250 Commission and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; George Oberle, historian and director of the Center for Mason Legacies at 91��; and Gregory Washington, president of 91��.

Throughout the conversation, the panelists examined how the same man whose words helped shape the language of universal rights—language echoed by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence and James Madison in the Bill of Rights—also enslaved more than 100 people and never freed them. Rather than avoiding those contradictions, the discussion explored how confronting difficult history is central to the mission of a public university.

Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

"This is what a university is for: to have these hard conversations," said Oberle, who co-founded the research initiative behind the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial, the centerpiece of the redesigned Wilkins Plaza on the Fairfax Campus. "If you're not going to have them here, where are you going to have the hard conversations?"

Washington, who became the university’s eighth president in 2020, described the university’s decision to keep its namesake and use his legacy as a platform for learning, reflection, and dialogue. He also noted that freedom of expression remains a core university value rooted in Mason's own writings.

Fiorina connected the discussion to the broader goals of the nation's semiquincentennial—to educate, engage communities, and inspire civic renewal.

"Nostalgia is not history. Propaganda is not history," she said. "To know our country fully is the only way we can be true citizens and true patriots."

The panel was presented as part of Virginia's 250th anniversary commemoration, marking 250 years of George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the nation’s founding.

Watch The Complex Legacy of George Mason beginning at 10 a.m. ET on July 2 on the George Mason YouTube channel or GMU-TV. Additional airings on GMU-TV will be July 3, 8:30 a.m.; July 4, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and July 5, 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

A full transcript of the panel is available.

Learn more about the Center for Mason Legacies

Topics

Campus News

VA250

Center for Mason Legacies

Office of the President

Campus News

Mason Enterprise and Akiak Technology establish strategic partnership to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity

Related Stories

Topics

91�� announces four senior leadership promotions

Related News

Topics

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Related News

Topics

New initiative aims to build AI literacy among educators through year-long professional learning community

In This Story

Topics

Faculty philanthropy fuels quantum innovation with $3 million gift

Related News

Topics

91�� authorized to host State Climate Office

Related Stories

Topics

Mason Korea graduates the Class of Spring 2026

Related News

Topics

OLLI Mason welcomes lifelong learners at inaugural Ideas Festival

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

America250 programming from Mason Arts this fall

Related Stories

Topics

91�� panel examines the complex legacy of its namesake during America’s 250th Anniversary

Related Stories

Topics

Campus News

Mason Enterprise and Akiak Technology establish strategic partnership to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity

Related Stories

Topics

91���� announces four senior leadership promotions

Related News

Topics

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Related News

Topics

New initiative aims to build AI literacy among educators through year-long professional learning community

In This Story

Topics

Faculty philanthropy fuels quantum innovation with $3 million gift

Related News

Topics

91���� authorized to host State Climate Office

Related Stories

Topics

Mason Korea graduates the Class of Spring 2026

Related News

Topics

OLLI Mason welcomes lifelong learners at inaugural Ideas Festival

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

America250 programming from Mason Arts this fall

Related Stories

Topics

91���� panel examines the complex legacy of its namesake during America’s 250th Anniversary

Related Stories

Topics

91�� announces four senior leadership promotions

91�� authorized to host State Climate Office

91�� panel examines the complex legacy of its namesake during America’s 250th Anniversary