Damian Cristodero

Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings

sholla4 — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:41:23 +0000

Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings sholla4 Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:41

Eighteen 91�� programs are ranked the best in Virginia in a new report by EduRank that focuses on performance in research.

Students enjoy the cherry blossoms on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Eduardo de Souza/Office of University Branding.

Topping the list is Mason’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which for the second consecutive year was ranked No. 1 among all public institutions and No. 2 among all institutions nationally.

Best-in-Virginia programs were spread across the university and included those from the Costello College of Business, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Antonin Scalia Law School, the College of Education and Human Development, and the ROTC.

That research is supported by entities such as the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, which has overall responsibility for Mason’s research enterprise and support of entrepreneurship and innovation. And Costello College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship lets students dig into entrepreneurship, from the theoretical to the experimental.

Mason’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is anchored by the university and reaches out into the broader community. Mason Enterprise, a division of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, is a strategic collection of 24 programs that support entrepreneurs and small business owners across Virginia, and conducts more than 1,500 training programs and more than 30,000 hours of one-on-one counseling with entrepreneurs in the community and from universities each year.

It is that environment of research, discovery, and innovation, which is a main contributor to Mason’s R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as one of the nation’s top research universities.

And though the EduRank rankings focus mainly on research performance, they are an indicator of the quality of the programs from which that research is produced.

“Mason is committed to accelerating the translation of research into practice by leveraging university talent, infrastructure, and partnerships to create solutions for societies’ toughest challenges at speed and scale,” said Andre Marshall, Mason’s vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “It is a credit to our faculty and students that Mason is a place where we can put theory into practice.”

Added Paula Sorrell, Mason’s associate vice president of innovation and economic development, “Mason was originally created by the business community to serve its needs, and for 50 years it has been doing just that. In the past four years, we’ve significantly amped up our tech entrepreneurship to support and mirror the rapidly growing tech economy, adding 16 new programs and counting.”

Research is the bedrock of entrepreneurship, Costello College dean Ajay Vinzé said.

The university’s top rankings “are in many ways reflective of our approach to business education and the business of higher education,” he said. “Our approach—built on the foundation of a rich university-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem, powered by a growing body of faculty research across multiple fields of study—is changing the arc of higher education expectation and delivery as we prepare the next generation of leaders.”

Costello College is a contributor to the top entrepreneurship ranking, along with the Schar School and the Mercatus Center, all of which produce volumes of research, articles, and papers for an abundance of publications.

Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell called entrepreneurship research “a very distinguishing feature for a public policy and government school.”

Its research at the Center for Micro-Economic Policy Research (CMEPR), for example, is focused on diversity and disadvantaged groups among entrepreneurs, especially those who are Black, immigrants, and female. It also looks at job creation by minority entrepreneurs in minority and low-income communities.

“The center brings an unusual contribution to research on entrepreneurship by focusing on these issues,” said John Earle, the center’s director and a Distinguished University Professor, who has published more than 60 articles and scholarly papers. “While the typical focus for entrepreneurship studies is for performance, especially for firms receiving venture-capital support, CMEPR research analyzes a much broader range of businesses, and how public policies affect the entry, growth, and survival of those owned by minority entrepreneurs.”

At the College of Engineering and Computing, Dean Ken Ball noted that CEC faculty garnered more than $119 million in research awards in 2023.

Dean Alpaslan Ozerdem's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution class. Photo by: Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

“I’m proud that our research has informed and strengthened our academic programs and led to innovation and economic growth that benefits society,” Ball said. “Mason has consistently been a national leader in cybersecurity, data analytics, software engineering, aviation, and web development. These rankings reflect the impact CEC researchers have in areas of engineering and computing that are relevant to everyone, as well as our leadership position among Virginia’s public universities.”

CHSS dean Ann Ardis said her college’s contributions to research in best-of-Virginia areas such as criminology, broadcasting, law enforcement, journalism, and political economy “are a testament to the scholarly excellence of our faculty. We take immense pride in our researchers’ contributions to Mason’s growing reputation nationally as a comprehensive R1 institution with strengths across a range of research areas.”

For Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School, the ranking in conflict resolution “fuels our dedication to shaping a more peaceful and understanding world.”

Özerdem noted that the school has been at the forefront of teaching, researching, and implementing conflict resolution for four decades.

“So being recognized as the premier institution for conflict resolution in Virginia deepens our pride and reaffirms our vital role within the broader conflict resolution ecosystem of the commonwealth,” he said.

Here are the programs ranked the best in Virginia, with ranking among public institutions and overall national ranking; best in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland (DMV) where noted:

Aviation: 8, 11 (best in the DMV)

Broadcast Journalism: 40, 58

Cinematography: 29, 48 (best in the DMV)

Conflict Resolution: 15, 28

Criminology: 19, 26

Cybersecurity: 21, 33

Data Administration: 19, 29

Entrepreneurship: 1, 2 (best in the DMV)

Human Rights Law: 9, 28 (best in the DMV)

Intellectual Property Law: 6, 18 (best in the DMV)

Law Enforcement: 5, 10 (best in the DMV)

Military Science: 33, 47

Political Economy: 14, 28

Public Policy Administration: 17, 29 (best in the DMV)

Radio & TV Broadcasting: 37, 55

Remote Sensing: 29, 39

Software Engineering: 11, 15

Web Development: 12, 18

See EduRank’s methodology here.

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NSF rankings show Mason ahead of research funding goals

ckearney — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:04:05 +0000

NSF rankings show Mason ahead of research funding goals ckearney Mon, 01/29/2024 - 14:04

Mason in top 25 in social, computer, and information science research funding

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

91��’s $230 million in research funding in fiscal year 2022 was a 7% increase from 2021, putting the university three years ahead of its goal of $225 million by 2025.

“We’re ahead of schedule and that is a testament to faculty, students, and staff researchers and those who support them who continue to drive discoveries with real-world impacts that make a difference in our communities,” said Andre Marshall, Mason’s vice president of research, innovation, and economic development. “The scholarship and community partnerships that thrive in our multidisciplinary and collaborative culture are a testament to the university’s commitment to research of consequence.”

The latest figures released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) show Mason’s research funding in the top 25 nationally in the areas of:

Social sciences: 10th among all universities (best in the Washington, D.C., area) and seventh among public universities.
Computer and informational science: 21st among all universities and 13th among public universities in federally funded research.
Engineering continued its impressive gains by moving up five places to 73rd nationally among all universities (rising 69 places since 2018), and advancing four spots to No. 52 among public institutions.

Overall, Mason’s research and development funding was 75th among public institutions and 60th among public institutions without medical schools.

“These rankings are a testament to the commitment of our remarkable social sciences faculty to lead impactful research that drives action that addresses the interconnected needs and priorities of our regional, national, and global communities,” Ann Ardis, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), said.

Added Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC): “The groundbreaking work in our college demonstrates our continued strength and substantial contribution to Mason’s overall research portfolio. For decades, Mason has proudly and consistently been a national leader in computer science. I’m proud that our research has lasting impacts across society.”

Some of the long-term projects either funded or ongoing in FY 2022 that have positioned Mason as a leader in research of consequence include:

An interdisciplinary team from CEC and the College of Science (COS) studying underwater explosions and their effects on civil engineering infrastructure.
A study on health equity and the impact of Medicaid telehealth policy from the CHSS and the College of Public Health.
Research in machine learning, cloud security, and hardware security led by CEC assistant professor Khaled N. Khasawneh.
Helping military personnel fight hemorrhagic diseases through research led by COS professor Aarthi Narayanan.
Identifying natural mechanisms to boost the immune process through research by COS associate professor Ramin Hakami.
Brain research by the CEC professor Giorgio Ascoli.
The researchers are from Mason’s Center for Ocean Land Atmospheric Studies updating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s drought forecasting system.
Establishing the Virginia Climate Center, an effort is led by faculty from the COS, CEC, and CHSS.
A team from the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy working to enhance research and practice in police encounters of individuals in mental health crisis.

Funding for the Virginia Climate Center was made possible through the efforts of Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11). Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine were the primary sponsors of the project to help police in encounters with individuals in mental health crisis.

In the social sciences, which includes CHSS, the College of Public Health, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and the Donald G. Costello College of Business, initiatives came in several forms.

"The Schar School is a proud contributor to Mason's social science research drawing from a deep pool of esteemed scholars and rising stars engaged in cutting edge interdisciplinary and disciplinary research," said Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell.

Some examples:

Examining the human response to climate change during the last glacial period with CHSS’s Jamie Clark leading an international team.
Translating research into actionable guidelines to help probation officers support their clients to achieve better outcomes, a collaboration between the College of Public Health and the Schar School.
Exploring the intricacies and prevalence of the illicit trafficking of human kidneys. Headed by the Schar School with input from the CEC’s Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department.
Identifying ways to use human-robot teaming to open the field of construction to neurodiverse individuals, specifically those with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Teams are from the Schar School, CEC, and CEHD.
Examining whether school safety and security measures have negative, academic, behavioral, and social effects on low-income students and students of color. The effort is led by CEHD.
A team from the Schar School, led by Louise Shelley and CEC’s Edward Huang, is investigating how to disrupt illicit supply chains and influence policy.
Researchers in the College of Public Health and CEC are developing a machine learning approach to accurately identify the age of bruises.
Creating an interprofessional Learning Laboratory for Community Health that trains students to serve and improve health care for underserved communities. Led by professor of nursing Rebecca Sutter, the effort includes faculty from the College of Public Health and the Costello College of Business.
Developing accessible and culturally appropriate communications of new scientific findings to communities most affected by the opioid crisis. The research is led by Schar’s Faye Taxman and CHSS’s Xiaoquon Zhao.

The NSF collected its data from 900 universities in the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, sponsored by the NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics unit.

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Carter School is No. 1 for conflict analysis and resolution

ckearney — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:43:12 +0000

Carter School is No. 1 for conflict analysis and resolution ckearney Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:43

91��’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is ranked No. 1 nationally among public institutions for its overall performance, and No. 1 among all institutions for its online offerings, according to a new report by Authority.org.

Carter School students in the classroom. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The website’s methodology can be found here.

“This recognition is really important to us,” Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “Having this recognition by a third party and based on the merits, it gives me the confidence that the quality of education we provide our students, in person and online, is significant.”

“And with COVID, we learned to offer the full MS degree program in the online format, sharing the unique program that has developed over 40 years with people near and far,” said Susan Allen, the Carter School’s director of graduate programs.

For Özerdem, the Carter School’s uniqueness begins with its status as a standalone college within Mason. An important distinction, he said, because it showcases the significance the university places on the subject matter.

That subject matter is explored with a dynamic combination of academic pursuits and experiential learning in the form of centers and Peace Labs.

At the centers, students study all aspects of conflict analysis and resolution and put them into practice in the field. The Peace Labs develop and test tools and processes to assist governments, educational institutions, peacebuilding organizations, and communities to assess the root causes of conflict, preventing violence, and creating a more inclusive and just society.

Members of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation at a United States Institute of Peace workshop. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“When it comes to what our professors teach us, it goes beyond right and wrong, or good and bad,” said Simi Kumar, a conflict analysis and resolution major who expects to graduate in 2025. “They take an approach that encompasses other lenses, other perspectives. We’re taught to seek those out and effectively utilize them, which is what I love most about our academic environment.”

Added Özerdem: “We encourage students to be part of these activities and research, so, as part of learning, they have the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges.”

A prime example is the Carter School’s recently announced agreement with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. With a select number of other universities, the Carter School will be a partner in the State Department’s Academic Center of Conflict Anticipation and Prevention.

Developed under the supervision of Özerdem, Allen, and Professor Karina Korostelina, the partnership will allow Carter School students to contribute to international peacebuilding with actionable research.

Point of View in Mason Neck, Virginia, is a space for peacebuilding, practice, teaching, and research. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Carter School helped facilitate the signing of a historic peace accord in the Democratic Republic of Congo, using a community-centered approach the school developed in which local leaders led the negotiations. The school’s peacemaking skills and expertise nurtured the process rather than dominating it, giving the stakeholders a sense of ownership.

The school also is holding events on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including dialogue sessions, roundtable discussions, and workshops.

“With all the conflicts in different parts of the world, we need more and more peacemakers and peacebuilders,” Özerdem said. “We need people who are able to respond to these challenges effectively.”

For Kumar, that means learning “cultivating the ability to engage with and comprehend people at the forefront, which is a foundational pursuit that establishes a great base for collaboration and understanding across diverse fields and situations. That’s just one of the facets that makes the Carter School special.”

Academically, the Carter School is expanding its footprint with minors in the Costello College of Business and the College of Education and Human Development. Another will be in the College of Engineering and Computing in the next academic year.

“The goal,” Özerdem said, “is that no matter what you study here at Mason, you should be able to gain conflict analysis and resolution skills. That way every graduate can say that in addition to their expertise they are also able to do conflict analysis and resolution. That is a huge added value.”

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Mason is No. 1 among public institutions for research performance in entrepreneurship

ckearney — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:48:55 +0000

Mason is No. 1 among public institutions for research performance in entrepreneurship ckearney Wed, 11/01/2023 - 14:48

91�� is No. 1 among public universities for research performance in entrepreneurship, and No. 2 overall nationally, in the latest report from EduRank.

Students at work in the MIX. Photo by Evan
Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The rankings were determined by analyzing 1.8 billion citations received by academic publications and the popularity of recognized alumni, according to EduRank’s website.

“There are so many ways to think about academia as being isolated and away from the real world,” said Stefanie Haeffele, a senior research fellow at Mason’s Mercatus Center. “But all of the departments and different programs at Mason are connected to how we understand people and interact in the world. It’s great to see the recognition and that intention leads to really good things.”

The ranking comes on the heels of a $50 million planned gift to Mason—the largest school naming gift in the history of the Northern Virginia-based university—to name the Donald G. Costello College of Business. The planned gift establishes an endowment that will provide scholarships to undergraduate and graduate business students to help them prepare for successful careers as entrepreneurs.

The ranking also coincides with the establishment of Mason’s new Entrepreneur-in-Residence program that will be housed at Fuse at Mason Square and bolster the startup market and opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and across Virginia.

That rich environment of innovation is a main contributor to the university’s R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as one the top research universities in the nation.

Harsha Rajasimha presented Jeeva Informatics at Mason's venture capital conference, Accelerate 2022, in October. Rajasimha took part in Mason's I-Corps program. Photo by Max Taylor Photography

It also fosters a business and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Mason that is committed to solving the world’s grand challenges by nurturing fearless leaders and thinkers.

Dynamic educational platforms in the School of Business include the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which provides several ways for students to dig into entrepreneurship, from the theoretical to the experimental.

At the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), students, faculty, and staff can use makerspaces, media labs, and incubators. The National Science Foundation I-Corps program works on exploratory business ventures started by faculty, staff, students and recent alumni.

The Office of Research Innovation and Economic Impact has overall responsibility for Mason’s research enterprise and to support entrepreneurship and innovation. And the boots-on-the-ground Mason Enterprise in 2022 provided—mostly free of charge—40,000 hours of one-on-one counseling to 10,000 small businesses.

“A No. 1 ranking in this space is what’s possible when you have a president [Gregory Washington] and a vice president for research [Andre W. Marshall] who understand the importance of playing an economic development role in the region and the state,” said Paula Sorrell, who is associate vice president for innovation and economic development at Mason and oversees Mason Enterprise.

Research is the bedrock on which entrepreneurship is built, said Zoltan Acs, professor emeritus in George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government and a renowned expert in the field.

The research can include the study of the cognitive nature of individual entrepreneurs and their companies, how entrepreneurship impacts employment and productivity, and how it impacts people’s lives.

“And if you really think about what [Mason] did in the classroom and in the laboratory in terms of research,” said Acs, now a research fellow at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, who has written more than 200 articles and 30 books about his inquiries, “we were really an A or A-plus institution.”

Mason research includes reams of papers from faculty published in top journals such as Research Policy, Small Business Economics, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.

“For entrepreneurship, innovation is very important, so we want to improve the area,” said Lei Gao, associate professor of finance in the School of Business, whose Mason research has been published in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Research Policy, and the Journal of Banking and Finance.

“Breakthroughs in technology and innovation are necessary to push a whole company to grow fast,” Gao said. “So what kind of factors lead to more effective innovation?”

Haeffele’s Mercatus research includes how communities respond and recover after disasters, and her paper, “Entrepreneurship During a Pandemic,” was published in the Journal of Law and Economics.

“The role of entrepreneurship in society matters,” said the Mason alumnus, MA Economics ’10, PhD Economics ’16. “To be at a place where we care about putting theory into practice, and being recognized for that, is really great.”

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Mason research shows its strength in NSF report

ckearney — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:29:49 +0000

Mason research shows its strength in NSF report ckearney Thu, 02/02/2023 - 16:29

91��’s $214 million in research funding in fiscal year 2021 represented an increase of more than $100 million over five years, and puts the university on track to meet its goal of $225 million by 2025.

The latest figures released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) show Mason’s research funding in the top 25 nationally in the areas of:

Social sciences: 11th among all universities (best in the DMV) and 8th among public universities.
Computer and information sciences: 19th among all universities and 11th among public universities in federally funded research; and 24th among all universities and 16th among public universities in total research funding.
Engineering: In the top 100 nationally at No. 78 (up from 142 in 2018) and No. 56 among public universities.

Professor Paulo Costa and students at The Radar and Radio Engineering (RARE) Lab, located at College of Engineering and Computing. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Overall, Mason’s research and development funding was 77th among public institutions, and 59th among institutions without medical schools.

“Even with the challenges of the pandemic period, Mason continued to advance in research rankings as measured by expenditures,” said Andre Marshall, Mason’s vice president of research, innovation, and economic development. “Mason faculty, student, and staff researchers are driving discoveries together in STEM and the social sciences through university-based research that results in real-world impact and makes a difference in our communities.”

Added Ken Ball, dean of Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing: “The rise in our NSF research funding rankings both in computer and information sciences and engineering has been phenomenal, solidifying our reputation as a top-tier research institution. Credit goes to our incredible faculty and students, as well as our research centers.”

Some of the long-term projects either funded or ongoing in FY 2021 that have positioned Mason as a leader in research of consequence—while also defining the university’s core beliefs that no problem is unsolvable and that we grow wiser and stronger from examining full truths—include:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) working with a group of Mason scientists to update its drought forecasting system. Researchers leading the effort are from Mason’s Center for Ocean Land Atmosphere Studies in the College of Science.
Researching and building 5G-enabling applications and technologies to create new business, community, and higher education engagements. The program builds on Mason’s work in 5G and the ecosystem of university, industry and government partners collaborating through the Northern Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.
The Computational Hemodynamics Lab, as part of a large study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is studying major risk factors for aneurysms and how to identify high-risk patients who need prompt and aggressive treatments.
A grant from the Jeffress Trust Awards Program in Interdisciplinary Research helped the Department of Global and Community Health in Mason’s College of Public Health explore the link between air pollution sources and vulnerable populations.
A multidisciplinary team from the College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science is being funded by the Food and Drug Administration to improve the manufacturing and understanding of mRNA vaccines, such as those to fight COVID-19.
As part of a project funded by the Department of Energy, Mason is overseeing and operating the East Coast headquarters of the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute, helping protect American manufacturing automation and supply chains from cyber threats.

College of Public Health's Jenna Krall and her team collected data on air pollution in Virginia and how it directly affects people in the surrounding communities. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications

In the social sciences, which includes contributions from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, initiatives came in several forms.

“These rankings reflect the excellence that distinguishes George Mason’s research and sets it apart,” CHSS dean Ann Ardis said. “The expertise of our social sciences faculty enables us to effectively and creatively address the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Said CEHD dean Ingrid Guerra-López: “Solving complex societal problems requires transdisciplinary collaborations, and that is what guides the important work of our remarkable researchers. The impact of their work is being amplified by their ability to work effectively across a variety of disciplines, industries, and stakeholders.”

Assistant professor Sylvia Schreiner received a grant from the National Science Foundation to continue her work in helping to maintain the Yupik language on St. Lawrence Island in Alaska. That research later led to an NSF CAREER grant for the same purpose.
Mason was selected by the Department of Homeland Security to lead its Center of Excellence in Crime Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA). The 10-year, multimillion-dollar grant gave Mason the lead with a consortium of universities and law enforcement agencies to investigate patterns of criminal activity and forensics, and develop strategies to disrupt transnational crime.
The Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, led by University Professor Faye Taxman, received $25 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to advance the use of evidence-based practices and treatments in justice settings for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, spur implementation research on organizational change strategies, develop workforce training tools, and disseminate research findings.
Through a grant from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, CEHD professor Bweikia Steen was part of a research group that studied the barriers and challenges faced by home-based childcare providers in Virginia and developed solutions.
The U.S. Department of State and the NSF funded Carter School research in war-torn Ukraine.

“With rapid socio-economic and political changes, technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, climate change and global health crises, the world faces many challenges,” Carter School dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “Social sciences are centered on all those tectonic movements affecting our societies and our responses to global challenges.”

“The (NSF) rankings are a testimony to the university’s commitment to research of consequence,” Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell said. “The Schar School is very proud to be part of this notable achievement.”

The NSF collected its data from 916 universities in the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, sponsored by the NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics unit.

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More About How Mason Stacks Up in the Rankings

Scalia Law school rises to 13th among U.S. public institutions in Shanghai ranking

ckearney — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:08:56 +0000

Scalia Law school rises to 13th among U.S. public institutions in Shanghai ranking ckearney Mon, 10/03/2022 - 12:08

Photo by Sierra Guard/Creative Services

Law is one of Mason’s five top-100 programs in the worldwide evaluation.

91�� has five programs in the top 100 in the world in the latest Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, with the Antonin Scalia Law School leading the way at 28th worldwide, 17th in the United States, and 13th among U.S. public institutions.

Mason also gained in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Both rankings are compiled by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

The ranking reinforces Scalia Law as a rising star among law schools. Its part-time law program is ranked No. 1 nationally among public institutions and No. 4 overall by U.S. News and World Report. See more Mason rankings.

“We are honored to receive this ranking from ShanghaiRanking,” said Ken Randall, Allison and Dorothy Rouse Dean and 91�� Foundation Professor of Law. “It reflects the excellence of our faculty, students, and alumni, and our continuing tradition of providing a forum for robust debate of today’s most important legal issues.”

Atmospheric sciences came in at No. 45 worldwide while economics, public administration, and education placed in the 76-100 grouping.

Atmospheric science (16th among U.S. public institutions and 24th nationally), public administration (23rd among publics and 31st nationally), and communication (40th among publics and 49th nationally) were judged best in Virginia.

Economics (17th among publics and 38th nationally) tied with the University of Virginia for the top-ranked program in the commonwealth.

In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, Mason placed in the 150-201 group worldwide (up from the 201-300 group last year), along with the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth and the George Washington University.

That position placed those institutions tied for 63rd nationally and tied for 33rd among public universities, which does not include George Washington.

Rankings compiled by ShaghaiRanking Consultancy are based on indicators such as the number of papers authored by an institution in an academic subject; the average impact of those paper as measured by InCites; the number of papers published in top journals and conferences in an academic subject; and the number of staff at an institution wining significant awards in an academic subject.

Other Mason rankings in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

	Among publics	Nationally
Clinical medicine	20	47
Public health	23 (tied with UMD-Balt.)	50 (tied with Georgetown)
Transportation science	29 (tied with UVA, Old Dominion	38
Education	30 (tied with Virginia Commonwealth)	42
Business administration	33	54 (tied with George Washington)
Tourism and hospitality	37	40
Electronic engineering	39 (tied with UVA)	60 (tied with George Washington)
Psychology	43	68
Management	44	66
Political science	44	73
Finance	45	79 (tied with American)
Sociology	48 (tied with UVA, Virginia Tech)	71 (tied with Georgetown)
Ecology	62 (tied with UVA, William & Mary)	78
Computer science	65 (tied with Virginia Commonwealth)	98 (tied with George Washington)
Earth science	67 (tied with UVA, William & Mary)	88

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Mason makes strong showing in latest worldwide rankings

ckearney — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:38:50 +0000

Mason makes strong showing in latest worldwide rankings ckearney Thu, 09/02/2021 - 14:38

Horizon Hall, the newest classroom building on Mason's Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

91�� has five programs in the top 100 in the world in the latest Academic Rankings of World Universities. The university also gained in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In the Academic Rankings of World Universities, Mason’s law program at the Antonin Scalia Law School led the way at No. 35 worldwide. Atmospheric science came in at No. 40, and economics, public administration, and communication placed in the 51-75 grouping.

Atmospheric science (16th among publics and 24th nationally), economics (14th among publics, 31st nationally), public administration (16th among publics and 21st nationally), and communication (25th among publics and 32nd nationally) all were judged best in Virginia.

Mason’s law program is ranked No. 32 in the United States and No. 17 among publics, surpassed only by the University of Virginia among commonwealth’s institutions.

Mason is No. 34 among public universities in the United States (up two spots from last year and tied with Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth), and No. 63 nationally (up three spots and tied with Georgetown, Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth).

Mason is ranked in the 201-300 group worldwide.

The rankings, compiled by the ShanghaiRankings Consultancy, are based on indicators such as the number of papers authored by an institution in an academic subject; the average impact of those papers, as measured by InCites; the number of papers published in top journals and conferences in an academic subject; and the number of staff at an institution winning significant awards in an academic subject.

In the Times Higher Education rankings, Mason placed 33rd among U.S. public universities (up four spots from 2021 and tied with Virginia Tech), and 63rd among all universities nationally (up seven spots and tied with Virginia Tech and Howard University). Mason is in the 251-300 grouping worldwide.

In the Best Value Schools ranking of bachelor’s programs in sustainability, Mason is 10th among public institutions and 14th nationally.

Other Mason rankings in the Academic Rankings of World Universities:

	Among publics	Nationally
Clinical medicine	21	49
Public health	25 (tied with Maryland-Balt., Virginia Tech, VCU	53 (tied with Georgetown, Maryland-Balt., Virginia Tech, VCU)
Business administration	34	56 (tied with George Washington, Georgetown)
Geography	38 (tied with Virginia Tech)	48 (tied with American, George Washington, Virginia Tech)
Tourism and events management	38	44
Electrical engineering	39	59 (tied with George Washington)
Education	41	55 (tied with George Washington)
Political sciences	44	74
Finance	45	79 (tied with American)
Earth science	46 (tied with Old Dominion)	64 (tied with Old Dominion)
Management	46	66
Psychology	59	90 (tied with George Washington, Georgetown)
Ecology	67 (tied with Virginia, VCU)	84 (tied with Virginia, VCU

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Campus News

Rankings

Shanghai Rankings

Times Higher Education

Mason named a ‘military friendly’ institution

ckearney — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 20:13:06 +0000

Mason named a ‘military friendly’ institution ckearney Wed, 06/02/2021 - 16:13

File photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

91�� has been named a military friendly institution by Viqtory, Military Friendly for the 10th year, an important distinction for a university committed to veterans and other nontraditional students.

“It definitely shows our commitment to our veteran population and our community,” said Jennifer Connors, director of Mason’s Office of Military Services. “And it affirms our commitment to this population on a much greater scale.”

Mason has about 4,000 “military-related students,” which Connors said includes anyone with a military affiliation, through dependency, self-service or a spouse.

Veterans can take advantage of a plethora of services having to do with their education, well-being, internships, professional development, and guidance through the military’s benefits program. All the services are available through Mason’s new Military, Veterans and Families Initiative (MVFI).

“Members of the military and their families make untold sacrifices for the sake of the nation and our freedoms,” said Keith Renshaw, MVFI’s founder and a professor of psychology at Mason. “It is our responsibility to give back to these individuals in whatever way we can.”

Launched in November 2020, the program showcases in one place all of Mason’s efforts and services that support the university’s military-related population.

In that way, Renshaw said, “We can better connect the existing programs, spark creation of new programs, and raise the visibility of all that we do for those internal and external to Mason.”

Directed by Renshaw, and with a philanthropic gift from Technatomy, whose managing director, Nadeem Butler, BS Finance and Decision Science ’91, is a veteran and Mason alumnus, MVFI divides its programs into four “pillars”: education, research, direct services and workforce development.

In that sense, it is similar to portals open to all Mason students. Connors said that is the point.

“A veteran is just like any adult learner pursuing an education with the exception that they have an incredible skill set that they have gained from military experience,” she said.

It is that experience that sets them apart, Connors added.

“Veterans have had incredible experiences, worldly experiences, an awareness of global experience on a different scale,” she said. “And they bring it to the classroom. They bring those leadership traits, the ability to work in a group, lead a team, collaborate, compromise, all the things that are strategic to our relationships. It’s a voice of experience that very few Americans have.”

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Military Veterans and Families Initiative (MVFI)

Campus News

Rankings

Office of Military Services

Damian Cristodero

Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings

Here are the programs ranked the best in Virginia, with ranking among public institutions and overall national ranking; best in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland (DMV) where noted:

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Scalia Law school rises to 13th among U.S. public institutions in Shanghai ranking

Other Mason rankings in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

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Mason makes strong showing in latest worldwide rankings

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Mason named a ‘military friendly’ institution

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