Community Engagement

Building a strong foundation one course at a time

sbrown79 — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:26:49 +0000

Building a strong foundation one course at a time sbrown79 Fri, 05/15/2026 - 13:26

As one of the key focal points of 91��’s Grand Challenge Initiative, building a climate-resilient society requires not just innovation in sustainable infrastructure, but innovation in how the university prepares future leaders in sustainability.

Assistant professor Xijin “Emma” Zhang recently launched CEIE 499/619 Innovations in Civil Engineering Materials, a first-of-its-kind special topics course in George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing that aims to give students—undergraduate and graduate alike from any degree program — a strong foundation in the emerging technologies that are reshaping the future of civil engineering.

Emma Zhang presents to her students. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

The course was developed after Zhang submitted a proposal to the Institute for a Sustainable Earth’s Creating Impactful Research Connections Through Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) program. Following panel review, the proposal was selected for development, an outcome that underscores George Mason’s emphasis on translating research into real-world solutions.

“My hope is that the course helps students understand how climate issues impact material properties and how we can improve material properties [when designing] future infrastructure,” said Zhang.

In the course, students study the fundamental physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of major construction materials, including aggregates, steel, concrete, asphalt, and wood. This course also introduces students to analytical techniques for assessing material performance and explores how advancements in civil engineering materials are influencing modern design, construction, and sustainability practices.

“I noticed that there was an opportunity to further expand students’ exposure to civil engineering materials within the CEIE program, and I really wanted to help students become more familiar with this topic,” Zhang said. “While developing this course, I spoke with government agencies and community partners that specialize in sustainability design in the Northern Virginia area and beyond to better understand the skills and knowledge communities and industries are seeking from future professionals in terms of sustainable infrastructure techniques and materials.”

One of Zhang's students presents his work. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

Those conversations also highlight another defining strength of George Mason: its close connections to government, industry, and regional partners. Zhang engaged with organizations including Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. 

 Discovery interviews with these partners helped shape the course around real-world priorities such as safety, cost efficiency, and sustainability maintenance. In turn, students’ semester projects focus on analyzing the life-cycle of construction materials, encouraging them to think critically about how engineering decisions affect both infrastructure performance and environmental outcomes.

In preparing the course, Zhang also worked with George Mason’s University Sustainability to learn more about sustainable materials and practices already being implemented across campuses.

“I ask students to think about how materials are produced. For example, we need to consider their manufacturing process and the amount of carbon emissions associated with it,” Zhang said. “Also, I encourage students to think about what happens at the end of the materials’ life cycle, how can we recycle or re-utilize it for another project?”

Zhang said she hopes students will carry this mindset into their future careers in the civil engineering industry.

Senior civil engineering major Andres Lozano already sees how the course connects classroom learning to real-world impact Lozano hopes to enter the civil engineering field, specializing in structural and water resources engineering.

“I see this class as an opportunity to learn about innovations in materials and to contribute to the industry with new applications that are not yet widely used in current practice,” Lozano said. “There is still a gap between research and field implementation, but in Professor Zhang’s class, we’re working toward filling that gap by analyzing the performance and sustainability of current material applications and exploring potential improvements for future practice.”

Lozano, a Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s student, also works as a research assistant in George Mason’s Flood Hazards Research Lab revising projects for real-world clients from jurisdictions such as Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Petersburg, the City of Emporia, and the Town of Jarratt in Virginia.

Zhang and her students in the Engineering Building. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

“The bridge infrastructure in Virginia and throughout the country is facing challenges related to aging, durability and rehabilitation,” Lozano said. “I see myself contributing to the development of rehabilitation strategies, that strengthen infrastructure resilience and protect the communities that depend on it. This course’s focus on materials and construction methodologies is such a good fit for me, and I now feel more prepared to take on these challenges in a professional setting.”

Through courses like Innovations in Civil Engineering Materials, George Mason is equipping students with the technical expertise, collaborative mindset, and community-connected experience needed to lead in a rapidly changing world. In doing so, the university continues to advance its mission of producing knowledge that matters—and solutions that strengthen communities locally and globally.

In This Story

Emma (Xijin) Zhang

Explore Sustaintability at George Mason

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When students compete to help local organizations solve problems, everybody wins

sholla4 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:52:08 +0000

When students compete to help local organizations solve problems, everybody wins sholla4 Wed, 04/15/2026 - 11:52

Bright and early on a Saturday in February, every table in Fenwick Library’s Reading Room is packed. Some of 91��’s most driven students are about to begin a rigorous five-hour competition in partnership with local organizations. For them, it’s the perfect way to spend the weekend. And for the Honors College, it’s a chance to show what the honors learning experience is all about: engaging multidisciplinary perspectives, asking questions that matter, and making a difference through civic engagement.

Honors College Challenge Day brings teams of students together to solve strategic challenges for corporate and nonprofit partners. Challenge Day fits into the Honors College’s wider ecosystem of professional development opportunities, as a condensed version of their Honors College Connects and Honors College Consults courses. The quickfire nature of the challenge helps build critical thinking, research, presentation, and teamwork skills, as well as being a great networking opportunity for students.

Photo by Dan Luaces

“We wanted a high impact, low time-commitment experience beyond the curriculum for all George Mason students to gain valuable skills while contributing, connecting, and learning from the community,” said Melanie Fedri, assistant professor and experiential learning coordinator in the Honors College.

For each Challenge Day, the Honors College typically selects one corporate and one nonprofit partner to participate. They work with each organization to create a challenge statement: what their strategic challenge is and what the constraints are. On the day of the challenge, participating students select their track: corporate or nonprofit. They are then grouped into teams to tackle the selected partner’s challenge. Each team has half a day to come up with a solution and present their findings to a panel of George Mason alumni and leaders from the participating organizations. A winning solution is selected from each track.

“I think it’s so enriching to participate in these types of extracurriculars that leverage what you’re learning in class in a way that impacts the community,” said Costello College of Business and Honors College senior Vidhi Pathak. Pathak works for the Honors College as the external partner experience officer. She has been instrumental in shaping the recent iterations of Challenge Day, from developing the corporate track to creating the competitive structure.

“In today’s competitive job market, students want real-world experiences and collaborations with real clients that they can put on their resumes to make them stand out among other applicants,” said Pathak. “And our partners want outside perspectives on their strategic challenges to find novel and innovative solutions. It’s a win-win.”

For nonprofit partners, who may be working under tighter budgeting and staffing constraints than their corporate counterparts, Challenge Day is an opportunity for consulting that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Due to an overwhelming response from nonprofit partners, Honors College Challenge Day for spring 2026 focused on nonprofits. Six organizations were selected and assigned one team each, with all six teams competing against one another for two prizes: the most innovative solution and the most actionable solution.

One of this semester’s winning teams worked with Britepaths, a local organization that provides food, financial assistance and education, and workforce development to Northern Virginia residents in economic crisis. Their challenge was how to further grow and promote their in-house library space for young readers.

“Participating in Honors College Challenge Day gave Britepaths valuable insight from the next generation of changemakers, as students brought fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that we look forward to implementing," said Cora Lundgren, food security and youth programs manager for Britepaths.

From left: Nora Rideg (Honors College student mentor), Zahra Hashemi, Neda Sellidji, and Naomi Fetene. Photo by Dan Luaces

Naomi Fetene, a freshman neuroscience major in the Honors College, and Zahra Hashemi, a freshman biology major in the Honors College, both participated in Challenge Day in fall 2025. They returned in spring as part of the Britepaths team, along with freshman neuroscience major Neda Sellidj.

“I wanted to participate because it felt like we’d be making a real difference for the organization,” said Sellidj.

Using skills learned in their courses like affinity mapping to define the problem and organize their ideas, the group developed high-, medium-, and low-effort solutions for Britepaths within their budgetary constraints: book donation drives, text message campaigns, incentivized summer reading challenges, and community events. Their thorough and creative planning won the prize for “most actionable recommendation.”

“Even more fulfilling than winning was when each sponsor stood up and said their thoughts on our presentation, and they told us that our solution would make an impact and be implemented,” said Hashemi.

“You leave the day having helped a community and refining your skills in communication, team building, and time management,” said Fetene, “and you can make new friends!”

“Events like this bring intellectually curious and passionate students from various backgrounds and majors together to make an impact,” said Pathak. “It’s really empowering.”

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George Mason secures grant to expand high school cybersecurity internships in Northern Virginia

sbrown79 — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:57:14 +0000

George Mason secures grant to expand high school cybersecurity internships in Northern Virginia sbrown79 Thu, 04/09/2026 - 16:57

91��’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Northern Virginia (NoVa) Node recently received a $150,793 grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority for “CCI Scholars—High School Experiential Learning Program FY26,” a seven-week high school summer internship program for rising seniors and recent graduates of Northern Virginia public high schools.

The program provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities for high school students with local STEM and cybersecurity industry partners, addressing workforce gaps in the commonwealth.

“Given the gap between the number of cybersecurity-related job openings and the number of skilled graduates, creating opportunities for younger learners to spark that interest is critical,” said Liza Wilson Durant, director of the CCI Northern Virginia Node and associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at George Mason.

CCI 2025 at CGI Bootcamp. Photo provided.

CCI is partnering with the Children’s Science Center Lab and STEM programs, operated by the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization delivers STEM education at its Fairfax-based museum facility and to schools and community venues across the region and will support program administration for the CCI Scholars program.

“We are proud to collaborate with 91�� in growing the next generation of cybersecurity talent through the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Internship Program,” said Nene Spivy, Chief Executive Officer at the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation. “Together we provide students with practical workplace skills and direct exposure to industry and careers that are critical to our nation’s future.”

“The Children’s Science Center is exemplary and has been running high school internship programs for many years. The center understands the challenges younger learners face and provides support to help overcome obstacles,” Wilson Durant said.

The program also acts as a pathway opportunity for the students who get to meet George Mason faculty and learn about the different community engagement opportunities that the university presents.

Students are selected through a competitive process that includes written responses, recommendation letters, transcripts, and in-person interviews conducted by industry professionals and Children’s Science Center staff. Selected students are matched with host organizations such as CGI Federal, ManTech, Leidos, and Chainbridge Solutions.

CCI 2025 at CGI Bootcamp. Photo provided.

Before starting their internships, students complete a professional skills bootcamp covering workplace etiquette, time management, teamwork, communication, and public speaking.

Once students are placed, they engage in cybersecurity-focused projects, that include addressing emerging cyber threats related to AI agents and digital twins, investigating cybersecurity incidents in the context of satellites, and expanding the technical capabilities of a host company’s product.

“We don't get a lot of hands-on experience in high school cybersecurity classes, so the opportunity of experiencing a professional workplace environment really intrigued me,” said Sridevi Annamalai, a sophomore cybersecurity student.

For her internship, Annamalai was placed with CGI Federal, a global consulting company for technology and business.

“I was assigned to make a presentation on cybersecurity basics for their nonprofit partners as well as conduct tests for different cybersecurity products,” said Annamalai, who is from Prince William County.

“There was a new product on the market, which they were considering, so I was able to help them compare the products and decide which one the company would invest in,” she said.

Annamalai credits her experience with the CCI Program for helping to prepare her for the courses in George Mason’s cybersecurity program.

“I've grown a lot more confident in myself, and my presentation skills have really improved a lot because of this internship,” said Annamalai.

Experiences such Annamalai’s prepare students for future careers both through technical and professional skills-building, as well as exposing them to the breadth of career opportunities they may not have known existed, said Wilson Durant.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has served 175 students. CCI and the Children’s Science Center are now reconnecting with alumni to track career outcomes and gather feedback.

Learn about Cybersecurity at George Mason

In This Story

Liza Wilson Durant

Topics

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)

education-to-employment pathways

Community Engagement

experiential learning

internships

Students

Cybersecurity

Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:21:35 +0000

Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia Katarina Benson Wed, 02/18/2026 - 13:21

From October to mid-February, the Venerable Buddhist monks of the Dhammacetiya Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center of Fort Worth, Texas walked more than 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. Known as the Walk for Peace, their goal was to raise awareness of the global need for peace as well as how we can practice and foster peace in our own lives and neighborhoods.

Carter School students Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Photo provided

On February 8and 9, students and staff from 91��’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution gathered together in the cold and wind to greet and witness the Walk for Peace.

The monks, ranging in age from 29-68, represent monasteries and temples from around the globe. In past years, they have gathered for walks in other locations across the globe, including India, Cambodia, and Thailand. They gather when there is a sense that the world is in crisis, and peace is especially needed.

On Sunday, February 8, Carter School undergraduates Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Carter School doctoral student Heather Rosso was one of the volunteers escorting the monks as they arrived at the temple.

Rosso had been following the Walk for Peace on Facebook when she noticed a call for volunteers at the Virginia locations and volunteered. “We were told to be prepared for anything, including the cold weather, so I bundled up and headed to the temple.”

Rosso’s assignment was to escort the monks through the temple grounds while maintaining crowd control and respect for the monks. In addition to typical crowd control for an event, the monks required special care and attention. “For monastic reasons, we had to be sure nobody touched or approached the monks.”

"It was an amazing experience," said Rosso, who studies U.S. mass violence, extremism, and coercive control. "It was bitter cold and windy, filled with love and peace, long hours on our feet, and over in what seemed like the blink of an eye. I was so honored to have been among those chosen to assist as a volunteer that morning."

The next day, February 9, one of the last days of the walk, George Mason students, members of the Carter School, and Mason Square faculty and staff greeted the monks as they passed by Vernon Smith Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia. They were joined by the Rotarians from District 7620. The Rotary is a Carter School partner organization, as both share a mission of fostering peace locally and globally. Participants laid yellow flower petals along the monks’ path, and greeted them with a banner, flowers, and signs representing the Carter School for peace studies.

The gathering was an incredible experience filled with “fellowship, hope, peacefulness, healing, resilience,” said Shirley Al-Jarani, director of operations for the 91�� Instructional Foundation (GMUIF). Al-Jarani captured the experience well when she recalled, “The hope I felt as a group of virtual strangers [as we] talked in fellowship getting to know each other realizing we may never meet again but we were connected in that moment and stood together in solidarity for peace and hope.”

From left, Mark Flanigan, Paul Snodgrass, Monica Solis, Heather Rosso, Shirley Al-Jarani, Angela Mandizvidza, and Rotary's Mari Clark welcomed the Walk for Peace with a banner as the monks made their way through Arlington. Photo provided

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Mason Nation stands behind Ilia Malinin after Olympic setback

Katarina Benson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:27:41 +0000

Mason Nation stands behind Ilia Malinin after Olympic setback Katarina Benson Mon, 02/16/2026 - 13:27

91��’s Ilia Malinin’s Olympic journey hit an unexpected speed bump on Friday in the men’s individual figure skating final at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. But even as the result stunned fans worldwide, Mason Nation gathered at the Johnson Center with unwavering support for one of its own.

Olympic watch party in the Johnson Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

A two-time reigning world champion and the overwhelming gold medal favorite, Malinin fell twice during his free skate and finished eighth overall, marking his first loss since November 2023, and his first time finishing outside the top three since March 2022. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov claimed gold, with Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Sato Shun earning silver and bronze.

“Honestly, I’m just speechless. So in shock, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Malinin told reporters afterward. “I’ve been training my whole season to get to this point and skate as best as I can, but it didn’t happen. I’m heartbroken.”

The 21-year-old Vienna native and exploratory studies major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had hoped to add an individual medal to the team gold he helped secure for Team USA win earlier in the games.

Like Malinin, the crowd of several hundred enthusiastic students, faculty, and staff at the Johnson Center’s Atrium were stunned, but their pride never wavered.

Kiersten Strassburg, a junior anthropology major from Chesapeake who has followed Malinin’s career for years, remained confident in his future.

“He’s only 21, and he’s still in college,” she said. “He still has his whole career ahead of him. It was disappointing, but I’m not disappointed in him.”

Malinin had entered the free skate with a five-point lead after the short program, poised to potentially become the second consecutive American Olympic champion in men’s figure skating, following Nathan Chen’s victory in Beijing in 2022. His high-risk, high-reward technical arsenal—including the quad axel, which he remains the only skater to have landed successfully in competition—seemed tailored for the Olympic stage.

But Olympic competition can be unforgiving.

“Our hearts hurt for him,” said Cassie Baker, a junior business major at the Costello College of Business.

Graduate student Kat Hines arrived early to secure a prime viewing spot in the atrium. Though the outcome wasn’t what she expected, the moment still mattered.

“It’s pretty amazing that we have an Olympian going here,” said Hines, a Fairfax native and public health major within the College of Public Health. “This gathering shows what kind of community Mason has, and it’s nice to see.”

While the individual medal eluded him, Malinin will return home an Olympic champion through the team event, joining alumni David Verburg, who earned a gold medal as part of Team USA’s 4x400-meter relay squad at the 2016 Rio Summer Games, and Mike Kohn, who earned bronze as a part of USA-2 in the four-men bobsledding at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

But Malinin’s Olympic journey is not over, as he will perform in the popular exhibition gala—the final figure skating event of the games—on Saturday, February 21. He has also committed to defending his world title next month at the 2026 World Championships in Prague.

For Mason Nation, Friday was about more than medals, it was about standing behind a student who has elevated the sport and the university on the world stage. And at just 21, Malinin’s story is far from finished.

George Mason’s Ilia Malinin claims team figure skating gold

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George Mason student Ilia Malinin

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Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways

sholla4 — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:42:18 +0000

Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways sholla4 Mon, 01/26/2026 - 09:42

Cynthia "Cindy" Smith (left) works with one of the seventh grade students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Down at the shores of Burke Lake, seventh-grade students squeal in delight and disgust. They've found a collection of invertebrates under a rock. Their field interpreter—a 91�� student—gathers them around to take a closer look and identify what they see. Nearby, another group of students takes water samples. Another group measures the soil compaction around the mossy roots of a tree.

For some of these Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) students, it’s the first time they’ve been to Burke Lake. Some didn’t know it existed at all, despite being in their proverbial backyards. But through the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) program, FCPS students get the chance to do hands-on learning outdoors.

Developed as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program and Chesapeake Bay Program, MWEEs increase environmental literacy through hands-on experience in indoor and outdoor classrooms. Since 2010, George Mason environmental science and policy professor Cynthia Smith has worked with FCPS and Fairfax County Park Authority to develop and support her students in delivering MWEEs in waterfront park locations around the county. In her role as outreach director for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), Smith integrates PEREC aquatic ecology research into these programs.

The program is an extension of the FCPS seventh-grade life science curriculum, bringing students out of their classroom labs and into the field to gain hands-on experience. With support and guidance from field interpreters, the students move through different stations to learn about the history of development around the lake, test the water chemistry, investigate invertebrate habitats, measure soil erosion and compaction, and examine biodiversity living amongst the trees and leaf litter to gather a holistic look at the health of their local watershed. The data they record during their field excursion is further investigated in the classroom.

George Mason student and field interpreter Deena Chouaf (right) and one of the seventh grade students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We’re looking at the human impact on the land and how it impacts the water,” Smith explained. “But instead of just hearing a lecture on it, the students are immersed in the environment. When you see it, touch it, measure it, and talk about why you’re doing it, then the learning is just so much more impactful, and you become more invested in protecting and preserving it.”

Smith recruits George Mason students to serve as the field interpreters, giving them an opportunity to practice their science communication skills in a real-world setting. “They’re explaining challenging concepts to young learners, encouraging them to engage with the data they’ve collected, helping them learn through inquiry," Smith explained. “I’ve seen so many students evolve into incredible leaders and communicators through their experiences as field interpreters.”

“I had never had a job where I had to speak in front of people, and I really couldn’t do it at all when I started,” said Matt Helfinstein, BS Biology ’12. He worked as a field interpreter throughout his time at George Mason. “But I was able to develop those science communication skills and get much more comfortable with it.”

Now, Helfinstein is camp director of Fish and Explore—a company that offers guided outdoor experiences and summer camps—and continues to work with Smith as the MWEE site manager. Helfinstein met the owner of the company while serving as a field interpreter, which opened the door to his future career.

"We have students go into policy, environmental science, science communication, as well as working for our partners like the Park Authority or Fish and Explore,” said Smith. “Translating science to the public opens up so many opportunities for them that they never thought possible.”

George Mason student and field interpreter Angelina Seehusan. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

It’s an important opportunity for the middle school students as well. “This is the first time some of them have ever met a college student working outdoors in a park setting,” Smith explained. Because of this, she has her field interpreters introduce themselves not just as George Mason students, but with their expected career paths: freshwater ecologist, marine biologist, environmental scientist, etc.

“They hear about all these different career fields and areas of study in science, they get excited. They routinely ask field interpreters what they have to do to pursue that same career,” said Smith.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement put forth a new goal in 2025 of increasing elementary, middle, and high school student participation in MWEEs, working toward 75% of public school students enrolled in a school district with MWEEs by 2040.

In 2016, Smith and her collaborators in FCPS and the Fairfax County Park Authority received a Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations in the category of Partnership Initiative for their work. Ten years ago, they had served over 25,000 seventh graders throughout the county. Now, Smith estimates PEREC outreach programs reach more than 10,000 students a year. And more and more, she’s seeing those students enroll at George Mason and become field interpreters themselves.

“Sometimes just seeing one cool thing is life-changing,” Smith said.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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Walkability initiative is a win-win partnership for Alexandria City residents and George Mason researchers

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:30:46 +0000

Walkability initiative is a win-win partnership for Alexandria City residents and George Mason researchers Taylor Thomas Mon, 01/26/2026 - 09:30

In This Story

Iulia Fratila, PhD

“Imagine living in a place where you can comfortably send your child and their friends on a safe route to your local library on foot or by bike. How about being able to engage in physical activity by simply accessing an expansive network of trails that might connect parks to local suburbs? This is what walkability looks like—and walkability is public health,” said social science researcher Iulia Fratila, an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at 91��.

Fratlia participated as a cohort member of the 2025 Virginia Walkability Action Institute (VWAI) and was awarded $9,000 in funding to enhance a local park in Alexandria, Virginia. In partnership with the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA), Fratila and third-year undergraduate social work student Bryce Neuman devised the plan for the Alexandria City Ben Brenman Park project, which aims to encourage walkability, promote physical activity among community members, and improve access to fitness.

Fratlia emphasizes the role of partnerships in bringing sustainable change to fruition. “A partnership like this is a win for everyone involved," she said. "Academic researchers bring knowledge and expertise on the science that shapes health outcomes and the potential prevention efforts and the governmental agencies can bring resources and design structures that support health-promoting landscapes and decision-making.”

Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health Iulia Fratila (left) and Senior Transportation Planner at Equitable Cities Reba Oduro (right) standing in Ben Brenman Park currently, before enhancement. Photo provided.

The goal of the Ben Brenman Park project is to upgrade a trail segment in the south side of the park that has been underdeveloped and underutilized. The anticipated result is more walking and community engagement, healthier residents in the city of Alexandria and surrounding areas, and addressing health and recreation access gaps.

“We need to make sure we are creating and enhancing built environments and infrastructure that make healthier habits like walking and biking a possibility for all,” said Fratlia.

Neuman joined the Ben Brenman Park project to explore her interest in the built and natural environment as an important factor of public health as well as connections to macro-level social work dimensions. Together, Fratlia and Neuman developed the project’s action plan and strategic goals that guided them through the project proposal and implementation process.

Fratlia attended the farmers' market held at the park to distribute QR codes linking to the survey, and the RPCA emailed the survey to the city residents via their newsletter. These data collection methods garnered more than 400 responses. Based on the survey responses, the community identified priorities, including planting native trees and plants and installing adult fitness equipment in the park. Subsequently, the RPCA Urban Planning team created a plan outlining the proposed layout for exercise equipment and tree plantings.

“I am looking forward to being able to see the final product implemented at the park and see that positive change. I’m particularly excited about the addition of native wildlife around the park, and I hope the people who live near and visit the park also appreciate the changes,” said Neuman.

In addition to the pitch and execution of the Ben Brenman Park project, the VWAI program, in partnership with Equitable Cities LLC, involved attending distance learning modules and in-person workshopsfocused on topics such as Placemaking and Tactical Urbanism, the Economic Impact and Sustainability of Active Transportation Investment, Inclusive Community Engagement, Safe Routes programming, and Complete Streets initiatives. This experience allowed Fratila and Neuman to apply public health principles to a real-world built environment project while engaging directly with community members to address their needs and priorities.

The park enhancement project, which has officially been named a case study by the VWAI, is scheduled to be completed in early 2026 and will be installed by the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. The VWAI is a program of the Virginia Department of Health and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key Takeaways

George Mason College of Public Health researchers are partnering with the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Virginia Walkability Action Institute to study and improve neighborhood walkability at Alexandria City's Ben Brenman Park, ensuring research is grounded in community-identified needs rather than academic theory alone.
The initiative provides hands-on, real-world research experience for College of Public Health students, integrating applied public health training with community-based data collection and analysis to inform local planning decisions.
George Mason’s involvement helps translate walkability research into practical policy insights, supporting Alexandria’s goals around healthier, safer, and more equitable streets while positioning the university as a long-term community partner.

Topics

College of Public Health

GCH Research

CPH research

In the George

George Mason partners with the Fairfax County Health Department to support employees in earning public health certificates and degrees

sbrown79 — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:34:51 +0000

George Mason partners with the Fairfax County Health Department to support employees in earning public health certificates and degrees  sbrown79 Fri, 01/16/2026 - 10:34

In This Story

Marybeth Mitcham, PhD, MPH

Sarah Liu, MPH

91�� has partnered with the Fairfax County Health Department to provide current FCHD employees with the opportunity to complete public health certificates. Some employees are going a step further and earning their master’s degrees in public health fields.

Photo by Getty Images.

“This partnership between George Mason’s College of Public Health and the Fairfax County Health Department reflects a shared commitment to supporting the people who protect and promote our community’s health," said Melissa Perry, dean of the College of Public Health. "By investing in public health professionals with strong local roots and proven training, we are strengthening the workforce that serves Northern Virginia every day and building a healthier future for all who live here.”

This partnership with FCHD is another example of George Mason’s commitment to improving health and well-being, not just for community members, but for the workers who serve the community.

Since the partnership began in 2019, 46 students have enrolled to earn their certificates. Of the cohorts that have completed the certificate, 57% have gone on to earn their MPH from George Mason.

Sarah Liu. Photo provided.

Sarah Liu, BS Community Health ‘17, is the Department of Global and Community Health MPH program coordinator as well as the program coordinator for the FCHD partnership.

Liu describes the partnership as an outgrowth of FCHD’s commitment to the continuing education of its medical professionals. The students’ tuition is covered by the county.

“We help the certificate students register for classes, and they're immersed with other students. A lot of our students are working professionals, so we offer classes that can more easily fit into their schedule,” said Liu.   

It was Gloria Addo-Ayensu, director of health for Fairfax County who reached out to Robert M. Weiler, senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Public Health, about the partnership. Weiler was chair of the Department of Global and Community Health at the time. 

“The certificate requires students to complete 18 core credits or six classes. They’re taking most of the same courses as the students in the classes in the Department of Global and Community Health master’s programs, so they have opportunities to get to know all the students,” Liu said.  

Salisa Sathityudhakarn works for FCHD as a school health aide assigned to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)  and has worked in the healthcare industry for 11 years. 

“I provide basic healthcare for sick and injured students includes emergency care, administering daily medication, or when necessary, giving EpiPen for allergic reactions and albuterol for asthma attacks,” said Sathityudhakarn, who started with the program in fall of 2024. “I also conduct vision and hearing screenings for the students as well as handle the admin responsibilities.” 

Salisa Sathityudhakarn. Photo provided.

Sathityudhakarn, who previously earned degrees in communication and mental health counseling, said her favorite course was GCH 609 Community Assessment and Partnerships with Marybeth Mitcham. “She created a very supportive learning environment. I see her as a role model and her lessons just made me want to learn more,” Sathityudhakarn said.   

“Through this certificate program, I have learned different aspects of public health. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge I have learned to my current role as a school health aide and to better serve FCHD, my school, my students and their families, as well as new endeavors in public health,” said Sathityudhakarn. 

Employees who have worked in the health department for at least one year are eligible to participate in the program. 

Liu and Addo-Ayensu are currently working together to expand the partnership and allow more FCHD workers to take advantage of educational opportunities such as this. 

Topics

College of Public Health

Community Engagement

Certificate Programs

Department of Global and Community Health

Students

partnerships

workforce

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. 

Learn more about the College of Visual and Performing Arts

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Students in Honors College class examine food insecurity on college campuses

sbrown79 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:19:21 +0000

Students in Honors College class examine food insecurity on college campuses  sbrown79 Wed, 11/19/2025 - 13:19

At college campuses across the nation, as many as 30-40% of students grapple with food insecurity, unable to consistently access nutritious and culturally relevant meals due to financial constraints.  

At 91��, students in Tawnya Azar’s Honors College 260 Society and Community Engagement course are focused creating awareness campaigns around hunger and food scarcity. The course aims to empower students through writing and collaborative efforts, fostering a critical examination of the challenges surrounding food access and inspiring tangible solutions. Other community engagement course sections engage students on topics such as civic engagement, philanthropy, and using dialogue for understanding and connection.

Azar partnered with George Mason’s Patriot Pantry and Greenhouse and Gardens Program where students completed 15 hours of volunteer work as part of the class. 

The course explores different models of community engagement including the approach of mutual aid, a community-based system where both parties involved benefit, which Azar says is “arguably the direction the field is heading in. Mutual aid is the more effective model for serving a community's needs.” 

Mehmood Shajih volunteering at George Mason's Honeybee Pollinator Garden on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Shayla Brown.

“George Mason’s students continue to be more and more diverse, coming from different backgrounds, and as the economic pressures that they face increase, food insecurity is also going to increasingly become an issue in this country, especially among college students,” said Azar, term associate professor in the Department of English. 

 “We also have to have challenging conversations about what the limitations to everyone having access to free nutritious meals or to reliable, nutritious meals all the time can look like,” said Azar. 

“Although there can be a lot of negative stigma and stereotypes associated with the issue, many of my students very generously shared experiences they or family members have had with access to reliable, nutritious food sources,” she said. 

Another one of their community partners is Community of Faith Food Pantry in Herndon, which recently received a commendation from the state of Virginia via the state legislature for the work they’ve done to address food insecurity. 

Azar, who previously worked for Community of Faith, said the organization offers fresh produce, meat, eggs, and dairy products and serves about 300 families every week. They rely exclusively on volunteer support and charitable donations, she said.   

The students developed an awareness campaign to inform members of the George Mason community about food insecurity as well as increase awareness and access to existing food resources for food insecure community members. 

Junior Mehmood Shajih called the class “the most important Honors course I’ve taken because it’s talking about an issue that is so prevalent in colleges.  

“It taught me that about 40% of college students face food insecurity throughout their four years, which I was very surprised to learn,” said the psychology major who worked with the Greenhouse and Gardens Program. 

“It also allowed me to explore different ways to help out, but then this class goes a step further because we also approach it through community writing and group campaign tables that we did across the George Mason campus, where we passed on the information we were obtaining in class,” he said. 

The students' interactive games in the format of the Jeopardy! game show. Photo provided.

The student groups were able to get creative in their outreach efforts, making interactive games in the format of the Jeopardy! game show in the Johnson Center, which included questions about food insecurity. 

Through this course, senior biology major Rori Martinez-Breitenstein started volunteering at a Fairfax food bank, Food for Others, completing tasks such as picking up donations from grocery stores and local vendors and packing lunches for K-12 students experiencing food insecurity in Fairfax County. 

“I find working with Food for Others very rewarding, and I've also had the opportunity to make a lot of connections with different people who are also there because they want to support the community,” said Martinez-Breitenstein, who is also volunteering at George Mason’s Potomac Heights Organic Vegetable Garden tending to the vegetables. 

Martinez-Breitenstein is also a residential advisor on the Fairfax Campus and is collaborating with Patriot Pantry on a food and resource drive, collecting non-perishable food items as well as personal hygiene products for students in the residence halls who might not have access to these products otherwise, she said. 

“I'm passionate about public health. My main goal will always be working toward making sure everyone has equitable access to the necessary resources for their highest level of health and quality of life,” said Martinez-Breitenstein, a public health minor.  

Shajih and Martinez-Breitenstein say they plan to continue working with these organizations even after completing the course and hope to get their family and friends involved in community service as well. 

“I’m honored to be involved in something that's bigger than myself,” said Martinez-Breitenstein.  

Topics

Honors College

food insecurity

Greenhouse and Gardens Program

Community Engagement

innovative classes

Students

Community Engagement

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