College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Film and Video Studies alum’s passion for animation led to two Academy Award nominations

ckearney — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:39:55 +0000

Film and Video Studies alum’s passion for animation led to two Academy Award nominations ckearney Thu, 05/21/2026 - 13:39

91�� alum Brendan Gottlieb, BA Film and Video Studies ’15, has been working at Disney as an animator since 2016. In 2025, he worked on two Academy Award-nominated films: he was an animator on the feature Zootopia 2, nominated for Best Animated Feature, and the animation supervisor for Forevergreen, nominated for Best Animated Short Film.

91�� alum Brendan Gottlieb on the red carpet. Photo provided

His previous work for Disney includes Moana, Wish, Encanto, Raya and the Last Dragon, Frozen 2, Wreck It Ralph 2, and Moana 2.

Gottlieb said that his love of animation started early. When he was in 10th grade, his dad gave him 3D animation software. “My dad had got my brother and I this really basic 3D program, where you could model characters and environments, and then make them move,” he said. “I was really into video games at the time, played for hours, but then that [software] sort of became like a video game. I could create my own worlds and stories, and I really just ran with it.”

He pursued his interest by watching online tutorials and using the software to create short animated films he posted on YouTube. After an animation course in high school, he learned to use the industry standard Autodesk Maya software, and a whole new world opened up for him.

“I could do all these cool and fun things that kind of made the animation look more sophisticated, and it was great. By the end of that year,” he recalled, “I was teaching the teacher, and I was also helping her teach her night class.”

Gottlieb credits his senior project in Film and Video Studies Program at George Mason for preparing him to work in the industry. He was originally planning a live-action short film until a classmate saw his designs and suggested he make an animated film instead. Gottlieb said that working on the project introduced him to animating with timelines, which he had never done before. The film needed to be several minutes long, which was a challenge. “A couple minutes is a lot in animation,” he said. “That's some heavy lifting, especially just for one person.”

Gottlieb asked for special permission from his professor to make his project only one minute long because it was animated. “It wasn't until a few months in the program that I could show an update where characters are acting and performing and moving and then I think people were like, ‘Oh, OK, this is what he's going for.’ But I do remember liking the whole process of putting it all together.”

Film and video studies professor Tommy Britt remembered that animated project and spoke highly of Gottlieb's work ethic during his years at George Mason. “I enjoyed seeing his dedication to an ambitious animated short film that many would say was impossible to achieve with the time and resources he had.”

Gottlieb’s first job after graduation was at a visual effects (VFX) house just outside of San Francisco, where he worked with a computer-generated character in a live action film.

“It was a terrible movie, but the team was fun,” he recalled, “[We were] a bunch of animators fresh out of college; we bonded a lot. Oftentimes what's more important is who you work with, not necessarily what you work on. That job will always have a special place in my heart.”

While working for the VFX house, Gottlieb applied for Disney’s Animation Apprenticeship Program and was accepted. “After three months of training we were put on the first Moana movie, and we animated a lot of the background characters,” he said. “The little coconut demons, the Kakamora, were super fun.”

When Gottlieb served as the animation supervisor for the short film, Forevergreen, he animated a portion of the shots in the film and played a role in giving it the stop-motion style, despite it being a CG-animated project. For Gottlieb and the team working on it, Forevergreen was more than just another film—it was a labor of love.

“We did the project on our own time. Nobody was paid for it,” he said. “People were just extremely generous to be working on it, and it was great to work with the directors on that, and just to see their hard work and commitment and creativity be recognized. It was an honor to be part of the project and to see it get this far.”

The 13-minute film about an orphaned bear cub took more than five years to complete and is still garnering accolades and nominations.

Drawing on his success as a FAVS alum, Brendan offers current students one essential piece of advice for thriving in the industry as an animator: Find your niche. “Figure out what you like,” he said, “what you want to do the most in the animation sphere. Then find a way to learn that skill really, really well.”

Check out a video of Gottlieb taking about animating facial expressions.

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Hylton Performing Arts Center Annual Gala: An Evening Above the Clouds

Tionge Johnson — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:06:48 +0000

Hylton Performing Arts Center Annual Gala: An Evening Above the Clouds Tionge Johnson Thu, 04/30/2026 - 15:06

Daniel Tucciarone, Sheyna Burt, and Thomas Sabal, Hylton Performing Arts Center Gala Honorees. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

On April 25, guests gathered at 91��'s Hylton Performing Arts Center for the 2026 Gala, An Evening Above the Clouds. The night began with a cocktail reception in the event’s themed Cumulus Lounge featuring signature drinks including a “Bourbon Smash” crafted by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits and a “Meyer Lemon Squeeze” mocktail, live piano by George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) alumnus Charlie Murdock, BM Music ’24, and a curated Art Walk of works by veteran artists organized by current School of Art graduate student and U.S. Air Force veteran Steven Luu through Mason Exhibitions.

Guests then moved to Merchant Hall stage for a three-course dinner by Well Dunn Catering, surrounded by elegant floral design and custom centerpieces by artist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and George Mason faculty member Patrick Sargent. The evening’s entertainment included an aerialist performance, a Mason Music Productions string quartet, and a featured performance by current CVPA Dewberry School of Music student Joshua Slutsky.

Aerialist from Candescent performing on Merchant Hall stage. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

This year’s gala celebrated three “high-flying” honorees: Sheyna Burt, Daniel Tucciarone, and Thomas Sabal. Each charmed the audience with charismatic speeches, reflecting a palpable passion for the arts and the vibrant community they have found within the Hylton Center.

Veterans and the Arts Initiative Program Director Niyati Dhokai provided inspiring remarks on the program's impact by sharing two participant testimonials. Regarding the initiative, Dhokai said it “affirms something simple and powerful: that the arts can honor service not only through reflection, but by carrying the integrity of service into the future.”

George Mason President Gregory Washington was then welcomed to the stage by Dean Rick Davis, building upon the idea that the arts are fueled by imagination and innovation.

“By supporting the Hylton Center, you’re doing even more than [supporting the arts]," Washington noted. "You are investing in imagination. You are investing in innovation. You are investing in education.”

In his final gala as executive director, Dean Rick Davis took control as captain for one last flight. He guided guests through the Center’s remarkable achievements, highlighting a 65% growth in participation for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative and the successful landing of the $15 million long-term endowment goal. Before disembarking, he concluded his remarks by clearing the runway for incoming Executive Director Carolyn Hays.

College of Visual and Performing Arts student Joshua Slutsky, bass, accompanied by faculty member Eunae Ko Hann. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

The evening reached its peak during the Raise Your Paddle event, as guests lifted glowing rings in a moving tribute led by Rick Davis—creating a “night sky” that celebrated their generosity. Along with the Wine and Whiskey Pull and a record-setting silent auction, the gala raised more than $40,000 for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative and $165,000 overall.

Afterward, guests exited through a cloud of fog into the transformed Didlake Grand Foyer for the Club on Cloud 9 afterparty. Treats from Spun Cotton Candy Art and Popcorn Monkey, music by DJ Rio of DC Rhythms, and espresso martinis capped the night, with commemorative luggage tags from Chantilly Air marking a smooth, celebratory journey.

The night would not have been possible without the support of many local businesses and supporters. Thank you to our Anniversary Gala Supporters!

Horizon Sponsor–Compton & Duling
Navigator Sponsor–City of Manassas
Liftoff Sponsors–Carolyn Hays and Jeff Burke; Connery Strategies; Didlake; Dominion Energy; 91�� Foundation; Micron Technology; Rick Davis and Julie Thompson; UVA Health; Wall Foundation
Ground Control Sponsors–Dan Tucciarone and Tom Sabal; Sentara Healthcare; Shirley Rice; Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian; Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh
Boarding Sponsor–Chantilly Air
Club on Cloud 9 Sponsor–Appliance Connection
Cumulus Lounge Sponsor–Avports
Inflight Beverage Sponsor–Whitlock Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Raise Your Paddle Sponsor–APP Jet Center
Wine and Whiskey Pull Sponsor–The Meredith House
Silent Auction Sponsor–Todos Neighborhood Market
Honoree Reception Sponsor–Ron Harris

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The Hylton Performing Arts Center Names Carolyn Hays as New Executive Director

Tionge Johnson — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:29:14 +0000

The Hylton Performing Arts Center Names Carolyn Hays as New Executive Director Tionge Johnson Thu, 04/23/2026 - 15:29

91��'s Hylton Performing Arts Center is thrilled to announce Carolyn Hays as its next executive director, effective May 10, 2026. Hays, who has served as the Hylton Center’s director of development since February 2024, steps into the role following a rigorous national search and succeeds the College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis, who has led the organization for nearly 15 years.

Portrait courtesy of Carolyn Hays.

A seasoned nonprofit leader with more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, board development, fundraising, and organizational leadership, Hays brings both deep institutional knowledge and a broad perspective shaped by leadership roles across the arts, higher education, and healthcare philanthropy sectors. Her appointment reflects a strong continuity of mission for the Hylton Center, while embarking on an exciting new chapter for its long-range artistic vision and community impact.

“Carolyn has already distinguished herself as an exceptional leader within the Hylton Center, bringing strategic insight, collaborative energy, and a profound commitment to our mission," said Davis. “Her ability to build meaningful relationships across our staff, board, university, and regional community, paired with her impressive record in fundraising and organizational leadership, makes her uniquely prepared to guide the Hylton Center into its next era of artistic excellence and civic connection.”

The transition also marks a moment to celebrate the extraordinary tenure of Davis, who has served as executive director of the Hylton Center since 2011, while also leading 91��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts as dean since 2015. Under his leadership, the Hylton Center expanded its presenting footprint through signature series and community partnerships, deepened its education programming for learners of all ages, and established the nationally recognized Veterans and the Arts Initiative in 2014 in collaboration with Program Director Niyati Dhokai.

Davis also oversaw the completion of the Education and Rehearsal Wing in 2019, fulfilling the original vision for the campus as a place where great art is created, taught, rehearsed, and shared. During his tenure, and thanks to its continuing partnership with the Hylton Family Foundation, the Hylton Center was able to assist its Arts Partners and Affiliates with rental waivers through the pandemic and its aftermath. A further philanthropic milestone was reached this spring when the Hylton Center completed its long-held goal of raising $15 million in endowment funds to help guarantee future financial stability.

"I have had the honor of working with Rick Davis in his role as executive director for nearly a decade. His dedicated leadership has transformed the nascent idea of a true community and arts partnership into a world-class creative commons. Now, at 16, the Hylton Center has an abundance of new opportunities with the expansion of George Mason, the realization of Innovation Park, and a new executive director who can spend her time focused on bringing the facility and its community to the next level," said Executive Board Chair Joyce Connery.

As director of development, Hays has been a key member of the Hylton Center’s senior leadership team and staff liaison to the Executive Board. Her work has included establishing the framework for a $1 million contributed revenue goal, securing transformational support for accessibility initiatives across Mason Arts, and cultivating significant planned gifts that will benefit the wider arts ecosystem at George Mason.

Connery added, “Since she came on board as development director, Carolyn has challenged us all to dream bigger and open ourselves up to new ways to bring in audiences and partners and keep them enthralled. In her new role, I am confident that she will bring the Hylton Center to the next level and expand our reach."

Hailing proudly from Wyoming, Hays holds degrees from the University of Wyoming and Florida State University and maintains active professional credentials through CFRE International and BoardSource. Prior to joining the Hylton Center, Hays built an accomplished career that includes positions at Washington Performing Arts, Washington National Opera, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and nearly a decade in community hospital philanthropy in both Texas and Northern Virginia. Her experience also includes teaching arts leadership and management at the University of Houston and George Mason. Additionally, she’s the current board member of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and part of the 2026 Leadership Prince William class.

“As an artist and a leader, I am honored to guide the Hylton Center into its next chapter," said Hays. “Our stage is a ‘creative commons’ for Northern Virginia, and I am committed to ensuring it remains a vibrant home where world-class performance, education, and community engagement thrive together.”

Hays’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the Hylton Center continues to expand its role as a cultural hub for Prince William County, Manassas, and the greater Northern Virginia region. As it enters this new chapter, audiences, artists, and community partners can look forward to an exciting season of programming and continued opportunities for engagement.

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George Mason graduate programs rank #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally according to U.S. News

ckearney — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:24:03 +0000

George Mason graduate programs rank #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally according to U.S. News ckearney Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:24

According to the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Program rankings, 91�� placed 20 programs in the national top 50, including seven in the top 10, reflecting broad strength across business, engineering, law, nursing and public health, public policy, education, fine arts, and sciences. Regionally, seven programs ranked in the top three in the Washington, D.C., region, with 13 programs topping at No. 1 in Virginia.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

"George Mason's growth in rankings is a direct reflection of the university’s commitment to student success through high-quality, career-focused graduate education," said Ajay Vinze, interim provost and executive vice president. "George Mason’s programs are competing at the highest levels nationally and leading the way in Virginia. This expansion signals not just the breadth of what we offer, but the strength of what we deliver."

Of the 21 George Mason programs newly represented this year, 15 earned rankings for George Mason for the first time. The remaining six appeared in categories that U.S. News had not been updated in several years, including doctoral programs in science disciplines and the master of fine arts last updated in 2020.

Policy Leads the Region

Public policy specialty areas were among the strongest performers this year, placing all seven of its ranked subject areas in the top 50 nationally and in the top 25 among public universities. Six subject areas ranked No. 1 in Virginia overall, and four ranked No. 1 in the Washington, D.C., region among public universities.

"As we mark the 10th anniversary of the school’s naming, these rankings speak to what the Schar School has become over the past decade: a place of real national consequence in public affairs education," said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government. "From homeland security and nonprofit management to international global policy and public finance, these rankings reflect the breadth of the Schar School’s excellence and the growing national recognition of its strengths.”

That strength comes amid rising national demand for public service professionals, with employment in public administration projected to increase 6% from 2021 to 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The homeland security and emergency management ranking maintained its position at 4th nationally and among public universities, and No. 1 in Virginia. George Mason was the sole Virginia institution included in both the public management and leadership and nonprofit management specialty areas, with each ranking in the top 20 among public universities nationally. Two new areas of strength debuted this year: international global policy and administration, which ranked No. 1 in Virginia and for the Washington, D.C., region, 15th nationally, and 4th among public universities, and the public finance and budgeting program placed 31st nationally, 25th among public universities, and 2nd in Virginia.

Where Business Leaders Begin

Business programs significantly expanded their presence this year, with 12 programs ranked as among the best in their categories. Eleven are newly ranked for George Mason, with seven placing in the top 50 among public universities. Three programs ranked No. 1 in Virginia, including one that also placed as the No. 1 ranked program in the Washington, D.C., region.

The part-time Costello Flex MBA program continued its upward trajectory, rising from 80th to 59th nationally, and to 37th among public universities. The part-time Costello Flex MBA, MS in accounting, MS in management, and graduate marketing certificate programs each ranked 2nd in Virginia. Among newly ranked graduate certificate programs, the information systems management certificate ranked No. 1 in Virginia. International business, which is predominant across Costello graduate programs through the college’s global residency experience, is also ranked No. 1 in Virginia.

"Our continued collaboration with business and industry supports strong career outcomes and contributes to growth in student enrollment," said Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of the Costello College of Business. "The expansion of programs comes at a time when demand is growing for professionals who combine durable business skills—from critical thinking and decision-making—with technical expertise in areas like business analytics and operations."

Computing and Engineering Drive STEM Growth

George Mason is ranked in nine programs across engineering, computer science, and statistics, with seven programs placing in the top 50 among public universities and eight in the top three in Virginia. The university is one of five (or fewer) Virginia universities included in eight programs.

In the engineering schools ranking, George Mason rose to 76th nationally (up from 85th) and 47th among public universities. The systems and industrial engineering program stands out at 35th nationally and 25th among public universities, while statistics debuted in the top 50 nationally (49th) and among public universities (35th). All three programs ranked 3rd in Virginia.

"We build programs that combine strong disciplinary foundations with applied problem solving to prepare students for an evolving workforce," said Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. "Launching Virginia’s first standalone master of science in AI reflects that commitment, while our applied research centers, like the Rapid Prototyping Research Center, drive growing research expenditures that lead to higher overall rankings.”

Nursing and Public Health Rank No. 1 in Virginia

Continuing to set the standard for health education in Virginia, three programs ranked No. 1 in the commonwealth: master’s in nursing, doctor of nursing practice (DNP), and public health.

The master’s in nursing ranks among the top 12% of all universities included, placing 18th nationally and 9th among public universities. The DNP and health care management program both ranked in the top 50 nationally—33rd and 35th respectively—and in the top 20 among public universities at 20th and 19th. Public health ranked 63rd nationally and 39th among public universities.

"These results reflect what makes our college distinctive—expanding access to excellence while maintaining the highest standards of quality," said Melissa Perry, College of Public Health dean. "Students should not have to choose between opportunity and academic rigor. At George Mason, we are committed to preparing a diverse, workforce-ready generation of public health and health care leaders by delivering programs that are accessible, innovative, and deeply connected to the communities we serve."

That mission comes at a time of sustained and growing demand for nursing professionals nationwide. Nurses now represent more than half of the U.S. health workforce, underscoring the importance of George Mason’s programs in preparing graduates to meet critical health care needs."

Law Holds Strong

The Antonin Scalia Law School maintained its strong positioning with the part-time law program rising to 6th nationally, placing it in the top 8% of programs, and 3rd among public universities.

“Employment of our graduates reached 97% in a very competitive market,” said Ken Randall, Allison and Dorothy Rouse dean and 91�� Foundation Professor of Law. “These outcomes bode well for the school’s long-term success.”

Leadership Across Disciplines

U.S. News expanded and refreshed its rankings to include four George Mason science programs and a master of fine arts. These programs, along with education and clinical psychology, rank in the top four in Virginia and the top 10 in the Washington, D.C., region.

George Mason’s math program is 3rd in Virginia, placing 93rd nationally. "As emerging fields like AI, digital twins, and data science accelerate, mathematics remains the foundation that fuels innovation," said Cody W. Edwards, dean of the College of Science. "George Mason’s graduate mathematical sciences program prepares students with the analytical depth, applied expertise, and mentorship needed to solve complex challenges across fields such as health, space, sustainability, and government, while leading in a rapidly evolving workforce."

In education, George Mason remains 4th in Virginia, rising to 84th nationally and 70th among public universities."This recognition underscores the excellence and real-world impact of our graduate programs," said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “We are steadfast in our commitment to developing future-ready educators and leaders who possess the skills, adaptability, and vision needed to succeed in an evolving educational landscape.”

Clinical psychology improved its national standing to 100th nationally, and to 72nd among public universities, while maintaining its position in 4th in Virginia. "This advancement reflects the contributions of our faculty and their impact to student success," said Ann L. Ardis, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Through the Center for Community Mental Health, our PhD students gain hands-on experience delivering evidence-based, culturally responsive care, preparing them to serve veterans, hospitals, and communities most in need."

The master of fine arts program ranked 65th among public universities, and 2nd in Virginia and in the Washington, D.C., region among public universities. "Our MFA is distinguished by the intensely personal journey of discovery that it offers," said Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Our students are working artists who have a vision and a mission, and they come to us to explore how to make it grow.”

To view the full list of all programs included, visit gmu.edu/rankings.

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School of Dance Alumnus Performs with Doug Varone and Dancers

Laura Mertens — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:27:00 +0000

School of Dance Alumnus Performs with Doug Varone and Dancers Laura Mertens Thu, 04/02/2026 - 15:27

When Doug Varone and Dancers takes the stage at the Center for the Arts on April 25, it will mark a full circle moment for company member and 91�� alumnus Dareon Blowe, who graduated with a BFA from the School of Dance in 2023.

Doug Varone and Dancers company members Ryan Yamauchi, Kanon Sugino, Dareon Blowe, and Madison Elliott. Photo by Kevin Colton.

While a student, Blowe had been selected from 70 George Mason dance majors through auditions in October 2022 as one of eight students to perform the work Double Octet with Doug Varone and Dancers as part of the Great Performances at Mason series at the Center for the Arts. After rehearsing extensively to share the stage with company members for the February 2023 show, he also performed the work at the spring Mason Dance Company Gala with fellow students.

“Double Octet came to me at a time when I was needing a change of pace,” Blowe said. “During my senior year, I was craving something liberating, and Doug's work became that outlet because it revealed some of the core principles that I love and care about in dance. I learned a lot about weight, suspension, and the freedom of release. Specifically, how to move quickly with ease and find the pleasure in pedestrian movement. I enjoyed getting to understand Doug’s movement vocabulary both as an artist and an aspiring choreographer.”

Blowe ultimately received the School of Dance’s Excellence in Performance award, and George Mason School of Dance Director Professor Susan Shields said of his adaptability, “From his freshmen year until his senior year, Dareon danced on our stages in works by major international artists, faculty, students, and even created his own works.”

During his time at George Mason, Blowe had the opportunity to participate in 10 residencies with different companies and choreographers.

“Each residency taught me a little bit more about what it takes to be a professional in the sphere of concert dance," he said. "I was able to see many different ways to approach movement, choreography, and rehearsal direction. Being able to choose what worked for me and what didn’t gave me more confidence in my identity as an artist, while also connecting me with my future colleagues and friends.”

Dareon Blowe. Photo by Jim Lafferty

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Blowe is also an alumnus of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, SpringBoard Danse Montreal, MOTUS, and RUBBERBAND, where he worked from 2023 to 2025 under the artistic direction of Victor Quijada. He has performed repertoire by Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Micaela Taylor, Camille A. Brown, Doug Varone, Wayne McGregor, Rafael Bonachela, Rena Butler, and more.

As an educator, he has created and taught at a multitude of programs around the country like BigKids Summer, Boston Arts Academy, Governors School of the Arts, and Colgan High School Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Blowe began rehearsing with Doug Varone and Dancers in December 2025, and then joined the company at their residency in upstate New York. He will perform with the company throughout the rest of this season. The April 25 program at the Center for the Arts includes the premiere of a new work titled No Matter What the End.

Blowe said that one of the things he loves most about the new work is a section scored to "Jigsaw Falling into Place" by Radiohead. “It’s one of those moments where you can’t help but feel an intense dopamine rush. It approaches the end of the work, serving as a final push before a clear shift where the space opens up and we finally get to breathe.”

As Blowe’s career continues to open up and unfurl into new amazing experiences, Shields said, “The School of Dance knew that we sent out a dancer prepared for the professional world, and Dareon continues to make us proud. Welcome home, Dareon!”

Limited tickets are available for the April 25 performance, and continue to check cfa.gmu.edu periodically as additional tickets are returned or released. A pre-performance discussion with Artistic Director Doug Varone, moderated by Shields, will take place one hour before the performance.

The company’s upcoming visit will continue its tradition of engagement with the College of Visual and Performing Arts through learning opportunities for School of Dance students in conjunction with the performance, including four master classes and a Q&A with Varone and company members.

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Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will headline this year’s ARTS by George!

ckearney — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:22:51 +0000

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will headline this year’s ARTS by George! ckearney Mon, 03/16/2026 - 12:22

91��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announces the ARTS by George! benefit event, headlined by acclaimed actor and musician Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. ARTS by George! takes place on Saturday, October 3, on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus.

Jeff Goldblum. Photo by Pari Dukovic

The event raises vital support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, and arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase on the event website.

Goldblum’s storied career spans nearly six decades of award-winning work as a starring actor in film, television, and theater. He recently co-starred as the Wizard of Oz, alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, in the global box office smash Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good. He has also produced film and television projects and is an Academy Award-nominated director for his short feature film, Little Surprises.

Goldblum’s many film credits include The Big Chill, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Fly, Independence Day, Jurassic Park, and Thor: Ragnarok. He has received Emmy nominations for his work on Will & Grace and for the National Geographic/Disney+ series, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, which he also executive produced. Onstage, he has starred in Broadway’s The Pillowman, the Off-Broadway production of Domesticated, as well as the London production of Speed-the-Plow.

Goldblum launched the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra 30 years ago. Since then, he and his band have performed for audiences throughout the United States and around the world. The group has released four albums with Decca Records, featuring guest artists that include Gregory Porter, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Fiona Apple, Freda Payne, Haley Reinhart, Imelda May, and Maiya Sykes. On June 5, 2026, Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are set to release Night Blooms, the companion album to Still Blooming, under Universal’s recently relaunched Fontana label, featuring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Charlie Puth, dodie, Haley Reinhart, Melody Gardot, Scarlett Johansson, and others.

ARTS by George! begins at 5 p.m. in the de Laski Performing Arts Building with CVPA students and faculty collaborating in a series of showcases and exhibits in art, music, dance, theater, film, and more. At 8:30 p.m., Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra headline a performance in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The concert will feature contemporary arrangements of jazz classics and American Songbook standards, brought to life with Goldblum’s signature improvisation and charm.

Mason Arts Board member Annie Bolger serves as event chair. Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner, immersive presentations by CVPA students and faculty, premium orchestra seating for the headlining concert by Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, an onstage toast and dessert reception following the concert including a special appearance by the artist, and free garage parking. Each ARTS by George! ticket includes a charitable donation directly supporting CVPA student scholarships and community arts programs. Since 2006, the event has raised more than $4.6 million for Mason Arts.

Subscribers to the Center for the Arts 2026–27 season can add tickets for the 8:30 p.m. performance to their subscription package beginning on May 28. Individual tickets to the 8:30 p.m. performance go on sale August 4 through the Center for the Arts website.

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CVPA Announces Recipients of the 2026 Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards

Emily Schneider — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:40:21 +0000

CVPA Announces Recipients of the 2026 Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards Emily Schneider Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:40

91��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announces the recipients of the seventh round of its Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards.

Two alumni were chosen based on the artistic excellence, career impact, and feasibility of their proposals and will receive financial, marketing, and production support to have their projects presented by the College at a Mason Arts venue during the 2026–27 season.

“The Young Alumni Commissioning Project is one of my favorite things within the broad spectrum of Mason Arts. Every year we are lucky to be able to support, from among a very competitive group of applicants, some strong and compelling works of art, and this year’s are no exception,” stated College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis. “They both happen to live in the film area this time, a testament to the vitality and accomplishment of that program and its graduates.”

Kenge BaNikongo (BA Theater, BA Film and Video Studies '21) Photo provided.

Kenge BaNikongo

BA Theater, BA Film and Video Studies ’21

Kenge BaNikongo received the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for Wingz. A comedy-drama television series about fairies in the modern world, the script centers on a second-generation fairy grappling with the impacts of her magical abilities on her and her family as they navigate everyday life. The script explores the complexities of family and identity within the immigrant experience through a new lens, while incorporating a lighthearted element of fantasy. A storyteller at heart, BaNikongo wrote and directed three successful short films as a student at George Mason, including Ring Ring, which was nominated for Best Writer and Best Lead Actress at the 2021 Couch Film Festival. The pilot episode script for Wingz was well-received at numerous industry festivals and competitions and will be filmed with the support of this new funding. Beyond her personal projects, she is currently a Production Coordinator for National Geographic, where BaNikongo collaborates on the development and creation of programming for National Geographic and Disney+. Thinking back about her experiences at George Mason and what shaped her the most, BaNikongo remembered working to find and then refine her voice in a scriptwriting class with Professor Heather McDonald. “For the first time, I decided to write a dramedy just for fun. To my surprise, Professor McDonald really enjoyed it, and so did my family. I realized I knew what my ‘voice’ was; but I didn't think people would enjoy it. After being turned into a short film, that dramedy went on to do well in competitions and encouraged me to continue my writing journey! Now writing, acting, and directing are my passions as I continue to pursue projects that are true to my ‘voice’.”

Taj Kokayi (BA Film and Video Studies '22). Photo provided.

Taj Kokayi

BA Film and Video Studies ’22

Taj Kokayi received the Young Alumni Creative Development Award and $2,500 in commissioning support for The Ghost Writer, an Afrofuturistic body-horror short film examining the seductive and corrosive influence of generative AI on the creative process. Kokayi’s success in the Afrofuturism genre is well-documented; his 2020 experimental short, Woken From A Dream, won awards for Best Experimental and Best VFX and was selected for 15 international festivals. His follow-up film, White Mirror won awards including Best of Fest, Audience Award, and Best Short Screenplay. Kokayi is a fierce advocate for community and cooperative work, and founded an independent production company and writers group that gives young creatives an avenue to tell their own stories. Kokayi worked at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah before graduating from George Mason, and followed that role with a stint as an NBC Page working at Focus Features and The Tonight Show. Community was an integral element of Kokayi’s experience of George Mason, “Whether it was in Black Student Alliance (BSA); the Black, African-Heritage, and Caribbean Coalition (BLACC); the Film Advisory Board; or as a Resident Advisor, I always felt like I had a family on campus. I had countless memorable experiences at Mason, and it's why I considered campus a second home. That's why I felt strongly about applying to the YACP program. I know that Mason takes care of their own, whether they're still on campus or not.”

Over the past six years, 20 CVPA alumni have been granted awards anywhere from $2,500–$5,000 to support the creation of a new artistic work for projects in film, dance, visual art, music, and game design. To be considered for this year’s award, applicants must have graduated from CVPA from the class of 2015 and after. Proposals could include original new work in any art form suitable for performance, exhibition, or screening in a Mason Arts venue. The size, length, duration, magnitude, and content are at the artist’s discretion. Potential venues include George Mason’s traditional theater spaces, galleries, and cinemas, but proposals for non-traditional venues, including digital spaces, were also considered.

During the 2024–25 award cycle, Brianna Camp (Art and Visual Technology ’23) received the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill Body. This work will consist of a series of large-scale oil paintings, each accompanied by documentary photographs and poetry and will be exhibited on campus in Fairfax during 2026. Marina Vianello (Dance ’18) received the Young Alumni Creative Development Award and $2,500 in commissioning support for Three Generations of Bach, an intergenerational multimedia dance work. Vianello is working with her mother, Andrea Skowronek, a retired professional dancer, to recreate and blend together inspiration from an original dance work that Skowronek developed early in her career, set to music accompaniment from her own father. A performance of this work will premiere on campus in Fairfax during 2026.

The Young Alumni Commissioning Project is made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of Linda E. Gramlich for the support of young artists, and by donors to George Mason’s previous Giving Day, including Shugoll Research.

About the 2026 Award Recipients

Kenge BaNikongo(she/her) is a writer, producer, actor, and director who has a deep love of storytelling, which drew her to becoming a filmmaker. She gained a degree in Film Directing and Producing from 91�� in 2021, and her films have garnered her several accolades over the years. Through writing and directing comedy-dramas, she has found her voice in storytelling. Her fiction style is influenced by several directors and writers, such as Issa Rae and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. After graduating from George Mason, she has been working for National Geographic/Disney, telling dynamic true stories based on history, culture, science, food, and exploration. Her passion for storytelling expands to all aspects of media as a freelance writer, director, and producer. She also works as an interviewer for Young Entertainment Magazine. During her time at George Mason, she also received her Bachelor’s in Theatre Performance - Acting, and continues to act in short films and do voiceovers. No matter what, she is always creative!

Taj Kokayi (he/him) Taj Kokayi is an award-winning filmmaker and producer. His 2020 Afrofuturistic short film, Woken From A Dream, made the official selection for 15 film festivals across the world, winning five awards, including Best Experimental Film. His follow-up sociopolitical drama, White Mirror, has won awards including Best of Fest, Audience Award, and Best Short Screenplay. During his time at 91��, he was a finalist for the Princess Grace Award for Film, was named George Mason’s Black Artist of the Year (2020) and Social Media Activist of the Year (2021), and in 2022, he received the Spike Lee Directing Award. In 2022, he worked as an Intern and Production Assistant for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, before becoming an NBC Page at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He has worked on the sets of features films, documentaries, music videos, corporate shoots, and alongside Academy Award-nominated directors.

Learn About the Young Alumni Commissioning Project

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Off the Clock: Jeffrey Kenney put himself on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Katarina Benson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:31:43 +0000

Off the Clock: Jeffrey Kenney put himself on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Katarina Benson Wed, 01/28/2026 - 09:31

Jeffrey Kenney is no stranger to showing art in Virginia—he is, after all, an associate curator for Mason Exhibitions at 91��. He regularly helps bring together world-class artists and their work in service of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) through the six galleries that the Mason Exhibitions team oversees across Northern Virginia.

Kenney with his work. Photo provided

This time, however, it’s his work in the public eye. As a recipient of a 2025-26 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fellowship, Kenney’s series of paintings, “Along the Inner Branches,” is on view in the museum’s fine-dining Amuse Restaurant.

“Significant artists over the history of Virginia’s art landscape have won the fellowship,” said Kenney, who joined George Mason in 2013. “It’s an honor to be grouped in that lineage.”

The VMFA Fellows’ works are featured in many different areas around the commonwealth. Some are in different buildings around the museum complex; others are at Richmond International Airport. Kenney’s location in the restaurant means that he has a great position to capture the notice of high-end art lovers and fine diners.

“I've had a couple people send me notes saying that they saw my work while they were down there unexpectedly,” said Kenney. “They were visiting the museum and having lunch and suddenly like, ‘oh! I know him!’”

Kenney is especially excited about this body of work because it’s a departure from his roots. “I'm sort of an artist that's wandered between mediums,” he said. “I studied sculpture in undergrad and have a master's in photography.”

Seven years ago, however, he was feeling lost in his artistic journey and began playing with linocuts and painted patterns.

“My art has always involved a kind of process where half of the work is me trying to develop ways of working. To me that's the fun—the puzzle-solving of it,” he said. “So if you're looking at my work, you'll see there's a lot of repeated fragments.”

Kenney working on one of his pieces. Photo provided

In the 2022-23 academic year, Kenney won a Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Fund grant from CVPA, a $2,500 prize that helped him develop his current body of work. His art combines painting and printmaking through rhythmic layers that blend a variety of graphic elements, which emerge from the study of diverse sources—historical and contemporary—such as early modern printed books, textiles, cartoons, and scientific diagrams.

“All of this work is new to the public,” said Kenney. “So the fellowship was definitely a boost to my confidence.”

The VMFA fellowship program recognizes some of the commonwealth’s most talented up-and-coming artists. Kenney has, in the past, used the fellowship to help him identify artists to use in Mason Exhibitions, including Anikó Sáfrán, Sharon Shapiro, and Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz.

The fellowship comes with an $8,000 prize, some of which Kenney says he will put back into his studio. But most, he says, he will save for his eight-year-old son’s future.

“When you’re an artist, it can take away from other things that you cherish, especially when you have a full-time job. I see this as a way of paying it forward.”

View more of Jeffrey Kenney’s art here.

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Love, Legacy, and the Arts: How Rick Davis and Julie Thompson are shaping the future of Mason Arts

ckearney — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:39:05 +0000

Love, Legacy, and the Arts: How Rick Davis and Julie Thompson are shaping the future of Mason Arts ckearney Thu, 01/15/2026 - 12:39

Dean Rick Davis and Center for the Arts Executive Director Julie Thompson joke that, even among their College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) colleagues, some people don’t realize that they are married. Now the proverbial cat is out of the bag.

College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis and Julie Thompson, executive director, Center for the Arts. Photo by Emily Rusch/CVPA

They’re not only married but were college sweethearts, meeting during their undergraduate days at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. The arts have played a role in their relationship from the start; Davis chuckled when recalling that their courtship even included a pre-requisite stint at The Troupe of American College Players, Thompson’s father’s summer stock theater in Colorado.

That was back in the 1980s, making it clear that long-term commitments are a hallmark of Thompson’s and Davis’s characters. Davis has been at 91�� for 34 years, serving as CVPA dean since 2015 and as executive director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center since August 2011. Thompson became the executive director for the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus in 2007, but has served in other capacities at the university, including as a faculty member in the graduate Arts Management Program, for nearly 30 years.

They have recently ensured that their longstanding legacies will continue to enhance, nurture, and grow the arts at George Mason through a planned gift with multiple designations. The $700,000 estimated gift will support the Give Voice initiative for the renovation of the Center for the Arts; Center for the Arts programming; the Hylton Performing Arts Center Endowment; the William Reeder, Founding Dean Endowment in the Arts; and the establishment of the Rick Davis and Julie Thompson Theater Scholarship Endowment.

The main motivator for the gift is the renovation of the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus, “something that Rick and I are emotionally involved in,” explained Thompson. “It’s been there for us all these years as well as for the college and the university.”

The Give Voice initiative is a $35M fundraising effort to renovate and modernize the Center for the Arts, seeking to improve and enhance the venue’s ability to support the needs of artists, audiences, and CVPA students and faculty. It will include technological and acoustical upgrades, improved accessibility and sightlines, additional aisles on the orchestra and balcony levels, a remodeled lobby, expanded teaching and rehearsal spaces, and more.

Davis invoked former university President George Johnson (1978-1996), who asserted that the arts are the front door to George Mason. “The arts pique the interest of the broader community and give them ways to interact with the university that they otherwise might not have had,” said Davis. The Center for the Arts is the hub of artistic performances, classes, and university events, and Davis observed that it’s “getting creaky” after admitting more than 6.5 million audience members since its doors opened in 1990.

Thompson and Davis agree that Mason Arts—the community of staff, faculty, students, artists, musicians, and performers and the audience they attract—is one of the tangibles that makes George Mason “all together different.”

“The arts here are so dynamic,” said Thompson, “we’re not into a set pattern of things. We’re always looking at how to reinvent, and look at things differently, which is exciting. And I think that’s what’s kept Rick and me here much longer than we’ve probably ever anticipated: the fact that [it is] such a dynamic place.”

Both Davis and Thompson were quick to credit Susan Graziano, senior director of development for CVPA, who helped them realize that they could make even more of an impact through a planned gift than they originally thought.

They encourage members of the George Mason community—whether faculty, staff, alums, parents, or longstanding friends—to consider making a gift to the university. “If you have been paying attention,” Davis said, “you know that Mason does more with less than many other institutions.

“A philanthropic dollar at George Mason has so much more immediate impact than a philanthropic dollar almost anywhere else,” he continued. “You see how much good Mason does for people. You see how you’re changing lives. And we are excited to imagine how our legacy gift will keep that spirit going for a long time to come.”

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Film students spread the mission of a local nonprofit through the power of storytelling

sbrown79 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:57:37 +0000

Film students spread the mission of a local nonprofit through the power of storytelling  sbrown79 Wed, 01/07/2026 - 12:57

91�� film and video studies major Aryaman Kantawala knew that getting real-world experience was an essential part of building his career. But he wasn’t expecting to get as much creative free rein as he did on his most recent project. 

Kantawala is directing a student-produced documentary about  the nonprofit DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports children with cancer, as well as their families. 

The opportunity to direct the documentary came courtesy of Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC), an organization that provides creative students and individuals the opportunity to use storytelling to share the mission and impact of local nonprofits.

Kantawala working on the documentary film. Photo provided.

E2AC is partnering with chapters from Delta Kappa Alpha (DKA), a national cinematic arts society open to all majors, including the George Mason  chapter. 

“We talked to [E2AC], and they gave us some guidelines, but mostly they gave us a lot of freedom,” said Kantawala, who is part of the E2AC Student Fellowship program. 

Kantawala has mapped out the arc of the film, which will be shown at a DC Candlelighters’ fundraising event in March 2026. 

“We’re making a narrative of a family whose child was diagnosed with cancer, and our documentary will center on their lives and how they were impacted by this. Then we'll show how they found this amazing organization,” said Kantawala, a sophomore Honors College student and the networking chair for George Mason’s DKA chapter. 

“We’ll show some of the organization events and then at the end of the documentary, we’ll loop back to the original family to see how the child is doing,” he said. 

Mel Moya-Jaldin is a senior film and video studies major with a concentration in producing and a minor in business who is also working on the film as a producer. She joined George Mason’s DKA chapter in the fall of 2023 and is now the president.  

“I was very excited to hear about a huge national organization like E2AC wanting to work with young filmmakers and actually taking that initiative,” said Moya-Jaldin. 

Mel Moya-Jaldin (front, center) with other Delta Kappa Alpha members. Photo provided.

“From the first meeting, whether it was with the organization’s presidents or volunteers, I felt like I was connecting with a wider community, which is where you’d start for any kind of project, but especially nonfiction, documentary film work.”

Moya-Jaldin says she hopes to learn more about the logistical and business side of filmmaking as well as improve her public speaking skills so she can become more comfortable pitching films, “and also supporting any filmmakers that might be a little bit shy to put themselves out there," she said. 

“I’ve had two opportunities this semester to make videos similar to the one we’re making for DC Candlelighters. Thankfully, I’ve been able to apply the knowledge I’ve obtained from DKA and my courses to the work I’m doing for E2AC,” she said. “I'm learning about what it takes to work with a nonprofit and make content for them in real time, which is really cool.” 

“The DKA environment is really inspiring. Everyone is so knowledgeable and they really uplift the organization. I decided to focus on producing and hopefully eventually enter a leadership position within the organization and am very happy to have made it this far,” said Moya-Jaldin, who is partnered with Kantawala for the E2AC Student Fellowship program. 

The students say working with E2AC is a really good opportunity for young filmmakers who are trying to get their foot in the door while also supporting an important cause. 

“Their goals are definitely something that's aligned with me personally because I really want to find my footing in the filmmaking industry, but also make an impact on my community,” Moya-Jaldin said. 

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