Meet the Mason Nation

Meet the Mason Nation: Chef George Charbel has the recipe for success

lclarkg — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:47:12 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Chef George Charbel has the recipe for success lclarkg Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:47

Since joining Mason Dining, Senior Executive Chef George Charbel has elevated 91��’s campus dining experiences through culinary creativity and an unwavering focus on students.

From large-scale signature events to everyday experiences at campus dining locations, Charbel approaches each opportunity with the same goal: to create culinary moments that strengthen connection and belonging on campus.

Chef George Charbel (right) is the senior executive chef for Mason Dining and the Chartwells Higher Education 2026 Chef of the Year. Photo by Andani Gene Munkaila/Mason Dining

For his outstanding service to the campus community, Chartwells Higher Education has named Charbel the 2026 Chef of the Year. This fall, Charbel will be honored at the Compass Night of Stars in Orlando, Florida. Chartwells Higher Education is part of Compass Group USA and provides dining services across George Mason’s campuses.

Charbel attributes his interest in the culinary arts to his mom. “Her cooking really influenced me,” he said. “I’ve always had a passion for food, entertainment, and hospitality, so the culinary field became a natural path for me.”

Charbel earned his culinary chops in sports, entertainment, and hospitality. He honed his culinary and logistical expertise working at Las Vegas landmark hotels and on the world stage, feeding athletes at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

Charbel shifted to the world of campus dining in 2015 when he sought a change from the whirlwind of hospitality and entertainment. He managed culinary operations for Chartwells at Texas A&M University’s College Station and Galveston campuses, including athletics, the Corps of Cadets program, and the T.S. Kennedy Maritime Academy.

“That experience gave me a strong foundation in managing diverse culinary operations and serving a wide range of students,” said Charbel.

Serving students is his favorite part of working at George Mason, as well.

"Many of our students are away from their parents for the first time, and we get the opportunity to take care of them, create experiences, and continue that sense of hospitality and care,” said Charbel.

Mason Dining staff celebrated Charbel's achievement. Photo by Andani Gene Munkaila/Mason Dining

Charbel listens closely to student feedback and transforms those insights into menus and concepts that reflect the tastes and needs of the George Mason community.

This year, Charbel helped establish Noodle District, a new dining spot that offers customizable ramen and pho, and The Dreamery, a playful dessert destination offering gelato, ice cream, and ice cream sandwiches. Charbel’s work has also supported expanded fueling and recovery options for George Mason student-athletes, building menus informed by sports nutrition.

It is not easy to meet the diverse tastes, dietary needs, and expectations of students at the largest public university in Virginia.

“The biggest challenge is balancing the size of the operation with the needs of our students,” said Charbel. “They come from very different backgrounds and demographics. We have to understand those different needs and make sure everyone feels cared for and welcome. That challenge also pushes us to be creative and continually improve.”

Photo by Andani Gene Munkaila/Mason Dining

It takes a village. As a culinary professional, Charbel is deeply committed to mentoring emerging culinary professionals and creating opportunities for others to grow.

“No chef succeeds alone,” said Charbel. “Behind every great meal, memorable experience, and achievement is a talented team working together with passion, purpose, and pride.”

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Meet the Mason Nation: Rebekah Schmidt

Katarina Benson — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:22:09 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Rebekah Schmidt Katarina Benson Tue, 08/11/2026 - 11:22

Rebekah Schmidt

Job: Head Athletic Trainer, Intercollegiate Athletics

There’s a hush that often falls over a sports crowd when gameplay stops and a lone figure runs out to tend to a fallen player. No matter the injury, 91��’s student-athletes are in good hands with Rebekah Schmidt. She leads a team of 10 athletic trainers for George Mason’s 22 total Intercollegiate Athletics sports teams and is the trainer for the men’s basketball team. The position entails much more than ensuring players can play a good game. “We are their primary contact for all of their health needs while they’re here at George Mason.”

Bad Encounter Gone Good: When most people talk about an experience that influenced their professional path, it’s usually a positive one—but Schmidt’s story is different. After sustaining an injury as a high school soccer player, she went to her school’s athletic trainer for help. “He told me that I was just being a weak girl, that I was fine, and to ‘suck it up.’” Five hip surgeries later, she realized how wrong that trainer was. “I’ve since had many great athletic trainers in my life, but that one really made me want to be a better professional.”

Behind the Scenes: Schmidt works closely with George Mason's strength and conditioning and sports performance staff to develop intensive and customized treatments for each individual men’s basketball player, including adjusting their weights during workouts, prescribing extra stretching, taping joints, and so much more. During practices, Schmidt said, “I’m monitoring, looking at their mechanics—is someone limping when they weren’t yesterday? Is someone holding a knee who wasn’t before?” The work continues with post-treatments after practice and extensive documentation. “We want to make sure that we're showing progression, which is critical in any medical profession.”

Rebekah Schmidt is in her 13th year at 91�� Athletics. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Changing Times: While the game has very much stayed the same, treatment technologies have advanced in ways that allow Schmidt to do even more. She mentions wearable devices that measure “the physical load of a practice, how long they’re running, how much intensity…all of that cumulative stress on the body is the load.” George Mason is also one of the few universities to have Catapult ClearSky, an athlete tracking system that captures multiple data points. Schmidt and the strength and conditioning team then use that information to collaboratively create personalized treatment and workout plans for each player. “Having them overcoming injury and seeing them on the court for the first time…shooting the shot that they weren't able to do a couple months ago—that's just so rewarding because it's seeing all that hard work that we did together come to a great resolution.”

A Different Kind of Club: Collegiate athletics can be a male-dominated career field, but Schmidt saw that George Mason was different. "You don't always see females in leadership roles--but George Mason had that." She cites former Deputy Athletic Director Debi Corbatto, BS Marketing '86, MS Exercise Science, Fitness, and Health Promotion '03, PhD Education '18, a George Mason alumna who served as an athletic trainer during the Patriots’ legendary Final Four run, as a pioneer and mentor, as well as Linda Pullen, George Mason’s director of sports medicine. “The best thing about working here at George Mason is the community, the relationships, being able to see and help develop student-athletes.” Now in her 13th year at George Mason, Schmidt serves as a mentor herself, specifically for students in the College of Education and Human Development’s athletic training master’s program.

Advice for the Rest of Us: Not everyone can play at an elite level, but Schmidt has some universal advice: “Number one thing is making sure that you’re doing some kind of weight training…kind of loading the muscles at some point to make sure you’re preventing injuries.” And for younger athletes, she encourages a bit of diversification. “The best athletes that really develop are ones that do a multitude of sports [and] learn different ways to move their body.”

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George Mason’s Dwayne Hamilton Jr. makes room at the table for students facing basic needs insecurity

lclarkg — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:01:29 +0000

George Mason’s Dwayne Hamilton Jr. makes room at the table for students facing basic needs insecurity lclarkg Wed, 07/08/2026 - 10:01

Students at colleges and universities experience basic needs insecurity at higher rates than the general population, sometimes facing difficult choices between paying for their academic expenses—or paying for their basic needs.

91��’s Student Support and Advocacy Center offers programming and individual consultations to support student well-being across a spectrum of services, including basic needs, as well as sexual and interpersonal violence, financial well-being, substance use, and more.

To serve the increasing number of students experiencing basic needs insecurity, the center hired Dwayne Hamilton Jr. in 2023 as the university’s first assistant director for Basic Needs Services.

Dwayne Hamilton manages programs and resources that help students facing basic needs insecurities, including the Patriot Pantry. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“An institution having full-time staff members dedicated to addressing basic needs insecurity is rare in the current higher education landscape,” said Hamilton. “The creation of this position demonstrates George Mason’s dedication to supporting this population of students.”

The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey, which surveyed students at 91 colleges and universities across 16 states between spring 2023 and summer 2024, found that 59% of students experienced some form of basic needs insecurity, with 41% experiencing food insecurity, 48% experiencing housing insecurity, and 14% experiencing homelessness.

At George Mason, Hamilton manages programs that address these insecurities, including the Patriot Pantry. He serves as a case manager for students experiencing food, housing, and other basic needs insecurities, providing direct support services through one-on-one consultations and resource allocation.

“My role’s dual emphasis on case and project management fosters a continuity of care, minimizing gaps in support as students transition from case management meetings to enrollment in basic needs programs,” said Hamilton.

For example, when a student discloses basic needs insecurity during a meeting, Hamilton can immediately enroll them in eligible programs, creating a seamless, direct connection between services.

“This model not only prioritizes efficient student services but also prevents students from having to disclose their experiences to multiple parties,” said Hamilton.

Students may experience food insecurity when facing challenges like tight budgets, balancing school and work, lack of transportation or access to affordable food within the reach of campus, limited food storage space in dorms, and the requirements to qualify for food assistance.

Students attending an institution of higher education more than half-time are eligible for the Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) only if they meet an exemption and meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements.

Currently, about one in four George Mason students is in the first generation of their family to attend college, and 34% of George Mason students qualify for federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

The need for on-campus basic needs services has increased in recent years. At George Mason, the Patriot Pantry experienced a 16% increase in student usage during the 2025–26 academic year. A survey of Patriot Pantry users during that time revealed that in the past 12 months, 90% of respondents reported worrying that their food would run out before they had money to buy more. Eighty-six percent of respondents indicated they could not always afford to eat balanced meals, and 83% reported eating less than they felt they should due to lack of money for food.

Eight out of 10 of these students said that hunger or lack of food negatively impacted their academic performance, including attendance, focus, and assignment completion.

“Beyond the already high cost of living in Fairfax County, rising food and housing costs further intensify students’ basic needs insecurity, increasing reliance on support services,” said Hamilton.

The university is addressing this growing need by expanding the Patriot Pantry on the Fairfax Campus, which is scheduled to open at a new location in the Johnson Center in fall 2027; adding an additional Patriot Pantry at Mason Square; and using funding sources awarded by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), like the Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program.

Hamilton loves seeing projects evolve from ideas to actions that support students. He is particularly proud of the Digital Purchasing Card program, which provides students with monthly monetary support that can be spent at grocery retailers nationwide. The Food and Housing Insecurity Fund, a donor-generated fund, supports this work. University Life recognized Hamilton with an Outstanding Service Award for his work on this program and broader contributions to the basic needs area.

Before working at George Mason, Hamilton completed his MEd in student affairs administration in higher education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro while serving as a case manager for students experiencing bias/discrimination, financial instability, basic needs insecurity, Title IX incidents, and health concerns. He is now pursuing a PhD in education in George Mason’s College of Education and Human Development.

The work supporting basic needs services can be intense at times, according to Hamilton. Outside work, he stays busy with his church’s educational organizations and music ministry.

“With the heaviness of this role, my church serves as a space to decompress, center my well-being, and reconnect to my calling to continue this work.”

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Mason Now: Power the Possible

Meet the Mason Nation: John Forgy

lclarkg — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:35:49 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: John Forgy lclarkg Tue, 03/24/2026 - 10:35

Name: John Forgy

Job: Environmental Graphic Designer and Sign Program Manager, Campus Planning, Facilities and Campus Operations

Imagine exploring a new location—an unfamiliar city, shopping center, sports stadium, or even a college campus—and not finding any signage to help you get around.

We rely on a countless number of signs each day, whether we are driving, walking through a neighborhood, shopping at the grocery store, or going from building to building on campus. John Forgy, environmental graphic designer and sign program manager at 91��, creates the wayfinding systems that guide students, faculty, staff, and visitors across the university’s campuses and sites.

All roads lead to George Mason: John Forgy's work on university signage helps students, faculty, staff, and visitors find their way around the campuses. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Enter here: After graduating from George Mason, Forgy, BA Studio Art ’89, started working at an environmental graphic design firm in Washington, D.C. He worked on projects in experiential design, which merges graphic, architectural, interior, and landscape design to enhance how people interact with built environments.

Points of interest: “I was fortunate enough to work on a wide variety of projects like higher education, museums, sports facilities, concert halls, hospitals, commercial buildings, and campus wayfinding programs,” Forgy said. He always enjoyed higher education projects, which prepared him to start working at George Mason in 2012.

Brand builder: Forgy’s main responsibility is to integrate the university brand into the built environment. He manages the development, implementation, and maintenance of interior and exterior wayfinding signs, code-required signs, recognition signs, and more. “I also document all of the sign systems in use and plan for the future growth of signage and graphics programs at George Mason,” Forgy said.

John Forgy is responsible for designing campus signage that translates the university's brand into the built environment. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Different directions: Across multiple campuses and sites, there are a lot of signs to design, create, and manage. Signs are fabricated in the university’s sign shop located on the Fairfax Campus or by contractors off-site.

“George Mason is like a small city, which means I get to work on a wide range of projects for a variety of clients,” Forgy said. “Every day is different, and I’m never bored.”

Caution ahead: Because signage is a long-lasting investment for the university, Forgy must balance his focus between present needs and planning for the future. “Much of what I do sets the standard for the future,” he said. “Sometimes that means taking extra time to think way ahead when a project comes to me without a previous precedent.”

Place-making: Some of Forgy’s most memorable projects include a collaboration with the City of Fairfax to apply “We Are Mason” decals on several streets in the city and on the campuses, as well as an exterior wayfinding sign refresh taking shape this year. “Anytime you see your work come to life, it’s exciting,” Forgy said. “Getting positive feedback from the George Mason community, especially from the students, is very satisfying.”

Taking a detour: Outside work, Forgy enjoys history, restoring his ’77 Bronco, and music. He spent more than 23 years working part-time in radio as air talent. Forgy got his start in radio during college at George Mason’s WGMU, where he worked as a DJ and a production director. “I might have switched majors if I wasn't so far along pursuing my art degree,” Forgy said.

The “On Air” sign takes on extra meaning, in this case.

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Meet the Mason Nation: Gregg Black

lclarkg — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:20:27 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Gregg Black lclarkg Tue, 02/10/2026 - 10:20

Gregg Black

Job: Director of Emergency Management and Fire Safety, Risk, Safety, and Resilience

As director of emergency management and fire safety in the Office of Risk, Safety, and Resilience, Gregg Black helps George Mason prepare for the unexpected. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

When an emergency happens, preparation is key. Fire drills, earthquake drills, emergency preparedness training—all these actions help the community prepare to take quick action in a crisis.

For most people, planning for an emergency might only come to mind every now and then. But some 91�� employees spend each day preparing for emergencies and planning how to protect the Mason Nation in a crisis.

As director of emergency management and fire safety in the Office of Risk, Safety, and Resilience, Gregg Black, MPA’13, helps the university plan for the unexpected.

Learning on the Job: Black first arrived at George Mason as a graduate student in 2010. Hoping to find a part-time job on campus, he sent his resume to David Farris, MBA ’07, PhD Education ’16, now the associate vice president of Risk, Safety, and Resilience. Black was hired and eventually got a full-time job in the Fire Safety Office while still working toward his MPA.

Not a Drill: In fire safety, Black managed compliance and ensured that the program was keeping records of inspections and repairing any deficiencies. Black continued his education by pursuing certifications in the fire safety industry.

“I am particularly proud of how far the Fire Safety program has come,” Black said. “When I started, everything was paper-based, and most inspections were completed by contractors.”

Today, the program has a completely digitized records management system, and most inspections are performed in-house.

Making the Save: George Mason’s Fire Safety program is regularly one of the highest-regarded programs in the commonwealth. “This was all done while saving money,” Black said. “University leaders are to credit with the investment and trust in employees to improve programs.”

Best Laid Plans: Black’s role expanded to include both Fire Safety and Emergency Management in 2019. The timing was critical—it happened right before the university needed to respond to the crisis of a generation.

“Just as I was getting both programs to a steady level, COVID happened and dramatically changed everything,” Black said.

For the next couple years, he spent most of his time and effort on the university’s COVID response.

Shifting Gears: “I did a lot of planning and logistical support for bringing students back to campus, then quickly shifted to planning and logistical support for the COVID test sites, and then transitioned to the COVID vaccine operation,” Black said.

Protecting Patriots: George Mason’s response to managing the COVID pandemic gained national recognition. Establishing an in-house surveillance testing program, the university administered more than 270,000 COVID tests to students, faculty, and staff between fall 2020 and spring 2022. This helped the university quickly identify and isolate positive COVID cases, mitigating outbreaks in the campus community.

When the COVID vaccine became available, more than 120,000 vaccinations were administered on campus to students, employees, and community members in partnership with the local health department.

Never a Dull Moment: The university’s response to COVID was an all-hands endeavor. Working with a range of people across campuses is what Black likes best about his job. In a single day, Black can go from discussing and coordinating security for an event, to partnering with Facilities and Campus Operations on strategies to repair fire safety systems, to planning how George Mason would be a part of a statewide sheltering plan, to coordinating the response to the next snowstorm.

“The Mason Nation is filled with talented and passionate people, and exposure to all of them has taught me so many things.”

Tomorrow’s Problem: One of the greatest challenges of his job, according to Black, is the unknown of the future. In addition to natural disasters, global conflicts and unrest can also affect the lives of George Mason students, faculty, and staff, and campus operations. “Despite these unexpected events, we have built a strong foundation of emergency plans and relationships that have allowed us to respond effectively,” Black said.

Safe and Secure: All that preparation grants him a chance to rest easier. Outside work, Black leads his son’s Trail Life troop, volunteers at church, supports his daughter in gymnastics, and enjoys local Virginia wine with his wife. He also tends to their flock of chickens and two golden retrievers.

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Meet the Mason Nation: Amanda Haymond Still

Katarina Benson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:31:35 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Amanda Haymond Still Katarina Benson Mon, 11/10/2025 - 09:31

Amanda Haymond Still

Job: Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internships, College of Science

Amanda Haymond Still, BS Chemistry ’13, PhD Biochemistry ’17. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Amanda Haymond Still, BS Chemistry ’13, PhD Biochemistry ’17, came to 91�� in 2009 as a University Scholar in the Honors College and never left. There are many reasons why she stayed, but she now has a new one: She’s leading the College of Science’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). “As a postdoc and faculty member, I really enjoyed the mentoring process, so when a position opened up to do that full time, I decided to put my name in the hat.”

Founded in 2007, ASSIP provides opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers across many disciplines. In summer 2025, nearly 400 students participated in person and remotely in the eight-week program. They came from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and about 17 states, including California, Texas, New York, and Washington State.

Embracing Online Access: Still said ASSIP’s pivoting to online during the pandemic had a plus side—they realized that, for certain types of research projects, remote works great. Now that people can participate from anywhere, applications have exploded—this year they received more than 3,300—and they have had interns from as far away as Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Mason Korea. “It's administratively challenging but also very exciting.”

Opportunity for Further Expansion: The number of participants each year is driven by researchers’ needs and capacity. When students apply to ASSIP, they read through a list of researchers and projects and rank who they would like to work with. Then those researchers go through the applications and make decisions. “Even with remote participants, there are only so many hours in a day,” she said. “The best way to grow the program is to involve more George Mason faculty.” Currently 23 academic departments at George Mason participate.

All in a Day’s Work: During those eight weeks, Still said she is tied her email, solving problems as they arise. There are also safety trainings and paperwork as many interns are working in labs. As director, Still conducts a weekly seminar for the interns where they learn how to be a scientist. Most of the topics she covers are basic research information like how to write an abstract or prepare a scientific poster, which interns do before the summer is over. Each session ends with a poster presentation where they present their findings. “They get very excited,” Still said. “And it's fun to see how much students can get done in eight weeks.”

Try and Try Again: Still also talks to the aspiring scientists about failure, “which they always love to hear,” she jokes. But the reality is, in research, you never know how things are going to go. She said week 5 is a critical point in the program. That’s when the students realize things aren’t working the way that they thought they would, and their resilience kicks in. “If you're working on something at the cutting edge of science, it might not go well, and that's okay,” Still said. “This is part of learning how real discovery and inquiry works.”

Not a Summer Camp: Still emphasizes that “internship” is an important part of the ASSIP title. “These aren't demonstration projects. This is real independent research,” she said. And hard work does pay off. Many participants have had their names included when the work is published in scientific journals and presented at research conferences. Some have even been named on patents.

Joining the Mason Nation: For the past two years, Still has run a pilot program in which students can get college credit for their ASSIP participation. About 10% participate. “Part of the reason we do this program is we hope that some of the students stay with us and come to Mason,” she said. “They're on campus, they’re getting credit, they are George Mason students for a little while.”

Inquiring Minds: Still’s research career started like many of the students she’s mentoring. There was an option in the chemistry major to do undergraduate research for course credit, which Still wanted to do but didn’t know anyone. So she consulted the department directory. “I was literally cold emailing all of the professors with research groups,” she said. When she got to the C’s, she connected to her mentor and dissertation director Robin Couch of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Aiming for ‘Targets’: Still spent her George Mason career pursuing scientific questions in enzymology. “I was looking at enzymes found in bacteria that are not found in us, with the goal of using those as new antibiotic drug targets,” she said. “The field of antimicrobial drug discovery is really exciting. It's very much like you versus ‘the invaders.’” When Still was defending her dissertation, one of the people in the audience was Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine codirector Lance Liotta. “He offered me a postdoc on the spot.”

An Inventor in Her Own Right: Through her work at George Mason, Still has garnered a few patents over the years. Her most recent application is for DNA protein hybrid molecules that Still built with Rémi Veneziano in the College of Engineering and Computing. “We built these really cool hybrid molecules for cancer drugs.”

Best Part of the Job: Still said one of the things she loves about running ASSIP is getting to see “kids get the bug for scientific research.” She also has never doubted her decision to remain at George Mason. “It doesn't grow old, no matter how many years you're here,” she said. “There's always something new happening.”

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Meet the Mason Nation: Rachel Spence

lclarkg — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:05:20 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Rachel Spence lclarkg Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:05

Rachel Spence

Job: Academic Manager, International Enrollment Partnerships, Global Education Office, and Chair of the Staff Senate

As the academic manager in 91��’s Global Education Office, Rachel Spence helps international students from partner universities worldwide with the transfer of classes, registration, and advising.

In addition to helping students navigate their experiences in the United States and complete their George Mason degrees, Spence is also the chair of the Staff Senate, which represents the interests of all classified and non-student wage employees to the administration and Board of Visitors.

Rachel Spence, Global Education Office, and chair of the Staff Senate. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Learning at home and abroad: A career in education felt inevitable for Spence. “My dad taught elementary special education, and my mom taught freshman composition classes at colleges and universities,” said Spence. “Education is in my blood—but I always knew I didn’t want to teach.”

As an undergrad, Spence studied abroad for a semester in Denmark. “It was my first time leaving the United States and was truly transformative,” said Spence. “Especially for developing my sense of independence and my quest to understand different cultures.”

Passport to possibilities: That experience led her to pursue a master’s degree in international and intercultural communication. After graduating, she landed her dream job as a study-abroad advisor at Old Dominion University. “I loved helping students plan their own international experiences and working with them to make it happen,” said Spence.

Global pathways: Since arriving at George Mason in 2017, she has shifted from helping domestic students plan their time abroad to also helping international students during their time in the United States. She assists students in the China 1+2+1 program, in which undergraduate students earn degrees from both their Chinese and American universities.

“I help students adapt to academic life in the U.S. and build pathways for students from other countries to earn a George Mason degree,” said Spence.

Even though she does not travel as much and she would like, she said her job lets her have an international experience every day.

Serving all staff: In addition to her job in the Global Education Office, Spence serves as the chair of the Staff Senate, representing the interests of staff across the university.

A time of uncertainty inspired Spence to join the senate. Spence is a military spouse—her husband is in the Navy. When he received a new assignment across the country, Spence received approval from the university to work remotely from California.

“However, just six months after we moved 2,600 miles away from campus, there was a state-level change in policy for remote work,” Spence said. “I thought that my approval might be revoked, and I’d be forced to leave my job.”

Navigating changes: When remote and hybrid work policy for state employees changed in 2022, Spence saw the Staff Senate as an important resource for employees navigating the quickly changing requirements.

“I appreciated how the Staff Senate was advocating and positioning itself as the voice of all classified staff on this issue,” said Spence. “I was so thankful for the special sessions they held that spring, I decided to give back and serve as a senator.”

Spence’s remote work agreement was ultimately approved, and she continued working in California for the duration of her husband’s military assignment. She has since returned to the Northern Virginia area and works on the Fairfax Campus.

Leading the way: Spence was nominated and accepted the role of Staff Senate Chair in spring 2025, after the previous chair left their role at George Mason. She agreed to cover the remainder of the term, and this summer, she was elected to serve as chair for another two years.

“I’m thankful to my colleagues on the senate for the vote of confidence and their encouragement to keep leading the group,” said Spence.

A seat at the table: Spence also serves as the Staff Liaison to the university’s Board of Visitors (BOV). The Staff Senate advocated for the addition of a staff representative as a nonvoting member in 2020. At the time, nonvoting faculty and student representatives were already part of the board’s membership. The Board of Visitors unanimously approved the change.

“I don’t take for granted that I am often the only staff voice in the room, or that staff only recently earned that seat at the table,” said Spence. “I hope that I can make sure that staff voices are not only heard but are valued and recognized as important members of the team.”

Connecting the dots: To Spence, one of the biggest challenges at a university as large as George Mason is keeping staff informed of the many changes and updates affecting their work.

“I’m hoping to build a larger network and connect the Staff Senate with other groups on campus,” said Spence. “We already collaborate with Faculty Senate and Student Government, but I’ve also started reaching out to staff councils in the colleges. I think we’ll be even stronger together and can really expand our advocacy and communication efforts.”

Campus outreach: The senate is also bringing its meetings to the regional campuses. The November Staff Senate meeting will take place at the new Life Sciences and Engineering Building at the Science and Technology Campus, and the senate is hoping to host a meeting at Mason Square in spring 2026. “This will give our constituents on those campuses an opportunity to attend in person and connect with the senate on a more personal level,” said Spence.

Statewide explorer: Outside work and her senate activities, Spence enjoys spending time outdoors. “I completed the Virginia State Parks Trail Quest by visiting all the Virginia State Parks,” she said. That is no small quest—40 different parks participate in the program.

No place like home: Spence’s husband is an engineer, and many of their weekends are spent working on house projects. “For the first time ever, we are starting to realize our current house might be ours for more than a couple of years,” said Spence. “We are working on improving it and making it our own.”

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Meet the Mason Nation: TJ Pegg

lclarkg — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:08:43 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: TJ Pegg lclarkg Tue, 07/08/2025 - 11:08

TJ Pegg

Job: Associate Director for Student Success Coaching

TJ Pegg, Student Success Coaching. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Starting college can be an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. Life at a university presents new opportunities, challenges, and ways for students to find personal pathways to success. At 91��, the Student Success Coaching team helps students navigate the transition to college and make the most of their student experience.

TJ Pegg has been part of the Student Success Coaching team for five years. In May 2025, he became the associate director for the unit, working directly with the coaches who serve the general student population. In his prior role at George Mason, Pegg provided oversight for marketing, communications, and staff training for the department.

Coaching the coaches: An interest in supporting the holistic student experience drew Pegg to student success coaching. Pegg leads and supports the group of success coaches who meet directly with students throughout their university experience. His responsibilities draw upon his previous work at other institutions, which focused on housing and residence life, as well as advising student organizations.

“The work of success coaching translated nicely for me,” said Pegg. “We help students create a sense of belonging and to see how various campus resources can support their success in navigating college and life.”

Goal-oriented: All incoming freshmen and transfer students are assigned a success coach, and all students are eligible to make an appointment with a coach at any point in their academic journeys. Students often reach out for coaching appointments if they are struggling with time management or trying to fostering their sense of belonging on campus, according to Pegg.

Some students naturally seek out success coaching, while others are referred to the office by other campus resources. Since fall 2020, Student Success Coaching has hosted more than 20,000 appointments.

“Student Success Coaching is here to help students make the most of their George Mason experience inside and outside of the classroom,” said Pegg. “We actively work with students to understand their own definitions of success, create goals, implement action plans, and connect with university resources to best support them.”

TJ Pegg leads and supports the group of success coaches who meet directly with students throughout their university experience. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Setting personal priorities: Appointments with success coaches can cover a range of discussion topics from academic to personal matters—anything a student brings forward that affects their needs and well-being as a student.

“One student I coached for about a year was highly engaged on campus and worked on campus, but was struggling with time management and their own well-being,” Pegg said. After Pegg helped the student reflect on their goals, the student said that the coaching experience truly helped them navigate campus life.

“This student shared that some of the questions I asked helped them evaluate how to prioritize which things they needed to continue, as well as activities or experiences that they have grown out of and are no longer serving the right purpose,” Pegg said.

Group effort: Students may meet with a Success Coach in addition to the academic advisor in their degree program. Student success depends on an entire network of faculty and staff across the university, and success coaches themselves can gain insights and skills by working with other specialists across campuses.

First impressions: To connect with students and campus partners, Student Success Coaching hosts a “Kickoff to Success Resources Fair” during Welcome2Mason at the start of the fall semester. More than 20 university offices host tables during the event. Students can have an initial conversation with their coaches and speak with representatives from other units on campus. Campus partners can also take the opportunity to collaborate with success coaches on the best ways to support students.

“Students were energized and engaged with campus resources, and our team was activated and connecting with students,” said Pegg. “The event lets students know that they are not alone and have a lot of support behind them.”

Off the bench: Coaching is not just a resource when times are hard—but something Pegg encourages students to access throughout their academic journey.

“One of the biggest challenges is finding the best ways to connect with all students to help them understand the benefits of success coaching,” said Pegg. “We want students and staff to know that we’re here even when things are going well—not just when students need help.”

Can-do spirit: Outside work, Pegg enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and trying iced coffee at new coffee shops. A team player on and off campus, he also plays kickball and dodgeball in recreational sports leagues in Washington, D.C.

“This summer, I am pushing myself outside my comfort zone and playing volleyball,” Pegg said. Great coaches know that trying something new can open up a whole new set of possibilities.

Learn more about Student Success Coaching

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Meet the Mason Nation: CJ Minteer

lclarkg — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:52:27 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: CJ Minteer lclarkg Wed, 03/12/2025 - 14:52

CJ Minteer

Job: Director of Procurement, George Mason Athletics

In a perfect world, student-athletes have everything they need to reach their potential on the court or field, in the pool, or on the mat. 91�� staff like CJ Minteer support their success and training. As the director of procurement for George Mason Athletics, Minteer carefully manages and supports the equipment needs of student-athletes across the university.

CJ Minteer supports George Mason student-athletes by ensuring they are equipped for success. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Making every dollar count: Minteer arrived at George Mason in 2021, taking the role of equipment manager. He has been in his current role, director of procurement, since 2022. Minteer administers the purchase of approximately $1 million of athletic gear each year for student-athletes, coaches, and support staff.

“This includes everything from T-shirts, to hoodies, footwear, accessories, backpacks, and more,” said Minteer, who manages the university’s contract with Adidas. That contract covers most of the uniforms and apparel provided for George Mason’s teams.

Minteer also manages contracts with companies that provide equipment to the teams— baseball bats and helmets, basketballs, golf clubs, and track and field equipment.

Backing the team: Supporting student-athletes and their success makes the job meaningful.

“Helping our student-athletes with any issues they have with the apparel, and making sure that everything is up to snuff on game day, are important parts of the job,” said Minteer. “We want the athletes to look and feel their best.”

Field of dream (jobs): Minteer grew up around college sports, and landing a job in the equipment realm feels like a home run to him. “I've grown up with sports my whole life, “said Minteer. “My dad has been a football coach for over 20 years, and I knew that I ultimately wanted to work in sports.”

Be true to your school: Minteer was introduced to equipment management in college, when he worked as a student employee for James Madison University’s football team. He was eager to get involved any way he could. “I wanted to be on board with anything I could do to help out, even if it was volunteering,” Minteer said.

He studied sport and recreation management at James Madison and continued working as a part-time equipment manager after graduating, until he came to George Mason for a full-time role.

Dressed to impress: When it comes to uniform design, Minteer balances multiple factors and priorities. Design ideas come from the coaches, as well as Minteer. The designs must follow the university’s overall brand and trademark guidelines to create a cohesive look across teams.

The finished products also must hold up to the heavy demands of sports. “These uniforms are very high quality, and they're meant to last a long time,” Minteer said.

Built for the big moments: Minteer enjoys working behind the scenes to create products that the student-athletes will use during their biggest moments. “There's nothing quite like this job,” Minteer said. “It is very behind-the-scenes. You see your work done on game day and at practice. Seeing all the gear and all the uniforms that the athletes wear, it's all done by us.”

Turning on a dime: Minteer says one of the biggest challenges in the equipment realm is athlete turnover. In the NCAA, student-athletes frequently transfer schools, and the trend continues to grow. This can be tricky when jersey and equipment orders are placed far in advance.

“We can do inventory as frequently as possible, but you never know who is going to leave or stay,” said Minteer. In a time crunch, they have workarounds. “We have extra jerseys. We can do tackle twill or screen printing on uniforms, so we have something a little bit quicker than having Adidas customize it,” he said.

Biggest fan: Outside work hours, Minteer follows and supports George Mason teams. “I'll be in the dugout at the baseball and softball games,” Minteer said.

One of his most memorable moments was watching the softball team win the conference championship in 2023 in New York. “I drove five hours to go see them that day,” Minteer said. The championship went to a second game, for 18 total innings. It was a long day, and Minteer drove back home that same night.

He said it was worth it. “It was so uplifting to be there the first time our team won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship for softball,” Minteer said. “That was a moment that I’ll never forget, and feeling like I was a part of it.”

More about George Mason Athletics

Meet the Mason Nation: Traci Kendall

lclarkg — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:30:57 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Traci Kendall lclarkg Wed, 02/26/2025 - 15:30

Traci Kendall

Job: Executive Director of Operations and Community and Local Government Relations, Government and Community Relations

Traci Kendall is the executive director of operations and community and local government relations at 91��. She has been with George Mason since 1996 and is one of the longest-serving members of the Office of Government and Community Relations. Kendall has been instrumental in establishing the university’s town-gown relations with local communities.

Traci Kendall and Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read at a George Mason basketball game, where Read was presented with a personalized basketball on Sue Collins National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Photo provided

Known for her knack for establishing a congenial rapport with others and navigating diplomatic issues with a cool demeanor, Kendall has made strong connections with colleagues throughout the university and in the external community that are key to forming successful partnerships for George Mason.

Being a good neighbor: “I’m inspired by the people I’ve worked with over the years,” Kendall said. “So many people are passionate about their work and eager to be of service or share their expertise with the community.”

Kendall has led the development of several resources to assist external community members, including the Discover George Mason guide, which details services and programs available to the public; the Mason Speakers program, which offers free educational lectures to community and business organizations; and the Good Neighbor Program, which helps educate off-campus students on how to be good neighbors in the communities in which they live.

Follow the signs to campus: Kendall and her team work to win the community’s hearts and minds by developing awareness of George Mason as a trusted resource that can help community members in their everyday lives, through opportunities like small business counseling, health services, summer camps, recreation, entertainment, and more.

“Helping others to discover the university in new ways energizes me,” Kendall said. “When someone says, ‘Oh wow, I never knew that,’ it excites me.”

Serving the community: Kendall organized the first Patriot Packout program in 2007, offering students an easy way to donate extra food, clothing, and household items during move-out. The Community and Local Government Relations team mobilized faculty and staff volunteers and partnered with local businesses to transfer donated items to local nonprofit organizations. The program has continued to grow and is now managed by University Sustainability.

Part of George Mason’s history: Kendall’s favorite George Mason memory involves the men’s basketball team’s 2006 Final Four run.

“I have never experienced a time when the whole university community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community—felt so incredibly connected over a singular experience,” she said. “It was really an amazing time to be at George Mason.”

Journeying afar: Outside work, Kendall enjoys exploring the world beyond the local community. “I live and work in order to travel!” Kendall said. “I love checking out new places, architecture, and natural beauty.”

Her recent travels have included a six-country tour of the Alps with a ride on the Bernina Express, a panoramic train, a two-week tour of Spain, and a trip to Iceland with a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

“Swimming with the dolphins with my then 9-year-old daughter in Cozumel was remarkable,” she recalled. “I remember thinking how truly happy I was in that moment.”

Though her work focuses on the local community, Kendall loves to travel to new destinations—like when she swam with dolphins in Cozumel, Mexico. Photo provided

What’s next on her itinerary? Kendall and her daughter will cruise the fjords of Norway this summer. She also has a trip to Thailand and Cambodia booked for 2026.

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