Alumni

Take your Patriot Pride on the road with a George Mason license plate

lclarkg — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:04:11 +0000

Take your Patriot Pride on the road with a George Mason license plate lclarkg Tue, 08/25/2026 - 10:04

Show your Patriot pride every mile of the journey: New 91�� license plates are now available through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and every license plate purchase helps support student scholarships.

Two George Mason license plate designs are available at select Northern Virginia DMV locations and online. As part of a revenue-sharing program, $15 of every $25 license plate fee goes straight to George Mason student scholarships. Plates can be personalized for an additional $10 annually.

Anyone registering a vehicle in Virginia can purchase a George Mason license plate. Alumni, faculty, staff, current students, community members—all are welcome to make their vehicles stand out as All Together Different.

The first George Mason license plate was released in 1996, and by 2025, the program had raised more than $346,000 for George Mason student scholarships. Under a new agreement with DMV, license plate proceeds will be directed to the 91�� Foundation, enabling matching funds to be applied that can amplify the impact of the scholarship donations. Scholarships will be awarded by the 91�� Alumni Association.

“These license plates are a wonderful way for our alumni and friends to share what George Mason University means to them,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of university advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason University Foundation. “Even better, the license plate campaign provides critical dollars for the scholarships that make a George Mason education accessible for even more students.”

Redesigned by graphic designers in the Office of University Branding, the license plate promotion includes support of partners across George Mason, including alumni, Intercollegiate Athletics, Advancement, Parking Services, University Life, and Integrated Enrollment Management.

“Over the past five years, public support for 91�� has soared to record levels. That community pride can now be expressed in a way that directly helps students,” said Paul Allvin, vice president and chief brand officer. “These new plates showcase our new brand expression, which has proven very popular to wear and display since its debut two years ago.”

George Mason has grown from a small regional college in the 1970s into Virginia’s largest public research university. George Mason was named to the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education (ACE) highest tier of Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings, in recognition of the university’s commitment to accessibility, return on investment, and upward mobility—one of only 21 schools in the country to receive this designation.

George Mason license plate purchases showcase the Mason Nation’s Patriot Pride and help the next generation of students achieve their dreams. For more ways to support the university, visit Mason Now.

Power the Possible

Topics

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Campus News

Office of University Branding

Alumni

Scholarships

Visitor Shawn Chambliss Purvis honors family legacy with investment in future engineers

Katarina Benson — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:47:36 +0000

Visitor Shawn Chambliss Purvis honors family legacy with investment in future engineers Katarina Benson Mon, 08/24/2026 - 12:47

Where can a degree from 91�� take you? For students in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), Board of Visitors member Shawn Chambliss Purvis, MS Information Systems ’99, offers a powerful example.

Purvis is president and CEO of Sabel Systems, a leading provider of digital engineering, acquisition, manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics solutions. Her career spans 30 years of leadership and corporate governance at organizations including QinetiQ US, Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Lockheed Martin.

Purvis and her father. Photo provided

Now, Purvis has made a gift to George Mason that honors one of the exemplars in her life: her father. Established through her generous $50,000 gift, the Spencer Chambliss Sr. Scholarship Endowment will support students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with preference given to student leaders in CEC-affiliated student organizations.

Like Purvis, Spencer Chambliss Sr. was an engineer. A graduate of Norfolk State University in the 1960s, he moved his young family from their hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, to the Northern Virginia region for a position at IBM Federal Systems in the company’s Manassas facility. He worked at IBM for more than 20 years as a chief engineer before retiring.

Purvis recalled her father’s trademark curiosity—and his remarkable ability to repair anything electronic in their family home. “He had a spirit of being able to look at something to understand its interconnections and then be able to go and build it, with this mindset that he could solve anything,” she said. “It’s just bringing the right solutions and the right kind of combinations together to get to the answer you’re trying to reach, whatever it is you’re trying to fix.”

Spencer Chambliss Sr. was an engineer at IBM. Photo provided

Chambliss’s tenacity served him both as a pioneer at IBM, where he designed microchips on a production line, and more broadly. “Both my parents were among the first Black people to integrate IBM,” said Purvis. “It was rare to have a person of color in a technical field, in particular, and to be an engineer in that environment, to show up with professionalism and to be able to handle all that was presented to him. He was a quiet soul; he was patient. He built camaraderie, and he tried to make those who were around him better. It’s something that I will always admire.”

By endowing a scholarship in her father’s name, Purvis hopes to create opportunities for aspiring engineers who share the courage and curiosity that he embodied. The scholarship will help attract and support talented students in electrical and computer engineering while advancing the commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program, which aims to expand the number of graduates in computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Purvis’s endowment also supports Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university’s $1 billion comprehensive campaign to expand student opportunity, strengthen academic and research programs, and address complex challenges facing communities in Virginia and beyond.

“The College of Engineering and Computing is deeply grateful to Visitor Shawn Chambliss Purvis for this visionary endowment supporting electrical and computer engineering students,” said Dean Kenneth Ball. “This scholarship, which honors her father’s life and work, will open doors to opportunity, easing financial burdens and empowering students to pursue research, internships, innovation, and leadership experiences. Visitor Purvis’s generosity will help talented students thrive, graduate with confidence, and shape the future of engineering and technology.”

A member of the university’s Board of Visitors since January 2026—and previously from 2015 to 2019—Purvis has long supported George Mason students and programs. She is a member of the CEC Advisory Council and has served as a speaker at the college’s degree celebration ceremony. In 2022, she was named CEC Distinguished Alumna, and in 2025, she was inducted into the CEC Academy of Engineering and Computing Excellence as part of its charter class.

Purvis earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Hampton University and a master’s degree in information systems from George Mason. Her time at George Mason coincided with former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder’s and then-president George Johnson’s efforts to strengthen technological innovation at the university. “I really liked the idea that Mason was emerging into this next phase: implementing a strategy to produce top technologists in the field of engineering,” she said.

Purvis also valued her campus experience. “It feels like home,” she said of her alma mater. “And when I worked with President [Ángel] Cabrera and now with President [Gregory] Washington, I appreciate the George Mason vision to serve all that desire to further their education. The inclusiveness of George Mason is unprecedented in the state of Virginia.”

Through the Spencer Chambliss Sr. Scholarship Endowment, Purvis is creating a lasting tribute to her father while investing in the next generation of George Mason engineers. Her gift will help students pursue their ambitions, develop as leaders, and carry forward the qualities that defined Chambliss’s life and career. As Purvis said of those who follow, “I hope that they will embody my father’s love for engineering, his passion for helping others and his tenacity to improve the world, one innovation at a time."

Power the Possible

Topics

Campus News

College of Engineering and Computing

philanthropy

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Board of Visitors

Alumni

From Schar School Biodefense Doctoral Student to Global Health Security Leader: How Saskia Popescu is Shaping the Future of Biosecurity

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:33:15 +0000

From Schar School Biodefense Doctoral Student to Global Health Security Leader: How Saskia Popescu is Shaping the Future of Biosecurity Andrew J Schappert Mon, 08/24/2026 - 12:33

Learn more about the Schar School

Request Schar School program information

Standing before more nearly 1,300 delegates from 88 countries at the opening of the 4th Global Health Security Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saskia Popescu welcomed a global community tasked with discussing some of the most pressing challenges facing global health security today. Since earning her PhD in Biodefense from 91��'s Schar School of Policy and Government in 2019, her career has spanned infection control, outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, biosecurity policy, and now global health leadership.

Saskia Popescu, who received her PhD in Biodefense from the Schar School in 2019, leads the Global Health Security Network while continuing to teach and conduct research in biosecurity. Photo provided

Today, she serves as CEO of the Global Health Security Network (GHSN), an Australian-based multidisciplinary NGO dedicated to facilitating evidence-informed policy for the detection, prevention, and control of infectious disease threats, regardless of origin.

Through her leadership at the GHSN, Popescu has helped create a platform for experts across disciplines and around the world to address the evolving challenges facing global health security, most recently by leading the planning and execution of thefourth Global Health Security conference, one of the only global health security-focused conferences.

Reflecting on the conference, Popescu highlighted the need to build a global architecture, emphasizing the importance of moving forward by addressing existing gaps, rather than focusing on what’s been lost. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of maintaining partnerships and investing in preparedness and response efforts outside of disease outbreaks or public health emergencies.

“How do we ensure that response and preparedness mechanisms are sustainable and agile in the event of shifts in policy or funding, without negatively impacting existing efforts and foreign relationships? I really want to focus on how we can be more collaborative, not just in emergent times,” she said.

When asked what conversations or themes from the conference she believes had and will continue to have the greatest impact in the months following the conference, Popescu highlighted the large number of cross-disciplinary conversations, the exposure to a wide variety of topics and expertise, and networking that often do not occur within traditional professional silos. For example, professionals working in biosecurity policy had the opportunity to learn more about the technical aspect of biosurveillance or professionals in the public health sector gained a greater understanding of military-civilian partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

“You have high-level delegates [minsters of health, government officials] and then your boots-on-the ground subject-matter experts such as epidemiologists working in outbreak response and laboratory biosafety professionals getting to interact with each other and have those frank conversations of how policy decisions affect the people doing the work,” Popescu said.

The conference also underscored the dedication and commitment of the more than 1,200 attendees who, despite ongoing public health emergencies including the Hantavirus outbreak and the third-largest Ebola outbreak to date, along with competing funding and operational priorities, took the time to have difficult but important conversations while sharing their research and contributions in the field of global health security.

Beyond her leadership at the GHSN, Popescu continues to shape the field through research and education. Currently, she maintains an appointment as policy researcher at RAND, where her work focuses on enhancing biosecurity and resilience by aiming to identify and address key vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and private industry. Most recently, she contributed to “Mapping the Informal Bioeconomy,” a project that assesses the informal bioeconomy, focusing on the biosecurity implications, practices, governance, and oversight of community-based biotechnology laboratories. The project was featured as one of the poster presentations at this year’s global health security conference.

In addition, Popescu serves as an adjunct professor at the Schar School in the Biodefense Program. The program prides itself on equipping its students with the skills and education to bridge the gap between science and policy by providing the knowledge and analytic skills necessary to assess the risks posed by natural and man-made biological threat and develop strategies for reducing risk to national and international security.

Popescu noted that one of the program’s greatest strengths is not only the connections fostered by the school and its leadership, but also the program’s ability to provide students with a diverse toolkit. Rather than being limited to one facet of biodefense or biosecurity, students are exposed to the many disciplines that make up the field and are encouraged to think across science, policy, and public health.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out the community with the program,” she said. “I always felt supported by faculty and my peers, both in my studies but also navigating the journey that is dissertation writing and career development. The biodefense program is really the first place I felt pushed to lean into being multidisciplinary rather than pressured into a specific field or role. It was very much a divergence from trying to fit into a preconceived biodefense box and more about ‘Let’s break the box and build something that serves the complex spaces we actually exist in.’”

If you’re hoping to take a class with Popescu, you might want to get in line. Both of her classes this fall, Biodefense Strategy and Biosurveillance, are one of the few classes that currently have a waitlist!

Topics

Biodefense

Schar School Student Spotlight

Schar School Featured Stories

Schar School of Policy and Government

Alumni

From military medicine to health policy: A distinguished alum reflects on his PhD experience

Heather Carroll — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:24:04 +0000

From military medicine to health policy: A distinguished alum reflects on his PhD experience Heather Carroll Mon, 08/10/2026 - 10:24

Key Takeaways

Christian Betancourt, PhD Health Services Research ’22, will receive the George Mason College of Public Health’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for his leadership in military, federal, and academic health care.
Betancourt credits George Mason’s mentorship and hands-on research with helping him translate complex data into evidence-based health policy.
Now an assistant professor at Uniformed Services University and deputy chief within the Defense Health Agency’s Health Informatics Division, Betancourt mentors future military health care leaders.

Christian Betancourt, PhD Health Services Research '22, and the College of Public Health's 2026 Distinguished Alumni, discusses how the mentorship and hands-on research at George Mason continue to influence his work at Uniformed Services University and the Defense Health Agency.

Christian Betancourt
photo provided

Four years after earning his PhD in Health Services Research, Christian Betancourt will return to George Mason this fall to receive the College of Public Health's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Today, Betancourt serves as an assistant professor at Uniformed Services University and deputy chief within the Defense Health Agency's Health Informatics Division. Over his nearly three-decade career spanning military, federal, and academic health care, he has led veterans' mental health programs, directed a nationally ranked graduate program, and advanced health informatics and policy across the military health system.

Bentacourt recently reflected on how his George Mason experience continues to influence his career and daily decisions.

Why did you choose the George Mason College of Public Health?

After more than 20 years as a financial and administrative officer in federal health care, including time with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Veterans Affairs, I had a deep operational understanding of the system's challenges. I chose George Mason because I wanted to move from managing these challenges to fundamentally understanding and solving them. The PhD in Health Services Research has a strong reputation for rigorous, policy-focused research. Its location near the nation's capital and direct connections to major health systems like the Defense Health Agency was the perfect match to bridge my experience with the academic expertise needed to drive meaningful, evidence-based change in federal health care.

What experiences at George Mason had the greatest impact?

The mentorship I received was the cornerstone of my experience. My dissertation committee, especially my chair, Panagiota Kitsantas, treated me as a future colleague, pushing me to think critically about policy, access, and outcomes. My dissertation on substance-use disorders and mental health among U.S. veterans allowed me to apply both quantitative and qualitative research methods to a topic I’m passionate about. My coursework also provided the methodological toolkit I now use at the Defense Health Agency to analyze data and inform policy decisions.

The hands-on research opportunities were equally transformative. As the sole recipient of the Navy's DUINS (Duty Under Instruction) Scholarship to attend George Mason, I was able to fully immerse myself in my research.

How did the PhD in Health Services Research program help prepare you for the work you're doing today?

George Mason equipped me with the skills to translate complex data into actionable policy insights. The program taught me how to systematically investigate complex health care challenges using rigorous research methodologies. Today, I rely on quantitative data analysis, program evaluation, and qualitative research to understand both the "what" and the "why" behind health trends and develop data-driven solutions.

Just as importantly, my time at George Mason profoundly shaped my identity as an educator and mentor. Experiencing the faculty's dedicated mentorship inspired me to pay that forward in my own teaching. The rigorous academic standards and collaborative environment continue to inform how I develop curricula and mentor the next generation of military health care leaders and public health professionals.

What would you say to someone considering a degree in public health or health services research?

If you are driven to not just work in the health care system but to make the system itself work better, this is the field for you. My career began on the front lines of military medicine, and I saw the challenges firsthand. A degree in Health Services Research gives you the tools to address those challenges on a systemic level. Your work can improve care for thousands or even millions of people by shaping policy, optimizing resources, and ensuring that decisions are based on evidence, not just tradition. It's uniquely challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Learn more about the 2026 George Mason Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Learn more about the PhD in Health Services Research.

Considering a PhD in Health Services Research?

Alum Christian Betancourt says the combination of policy-focused research, faculty mentorship, and connections to major federal health organizations gave him a foundation he continues to use in his career.
The program equipped provides with the skills to translate complex data into actionable policy insights and how to systematically investigate complex health care challenges using rigorous research methodologies.
Betancourt's advice: If you want to improve health care on a large scale by shaping policy and making evidence-based decisions, George Mason’s health services research programs teaches you the tools to do that.

Topics

Alumni

CPH alum

PhD in Health Services Research

College of Public Health

Military

doctoral students

Costello MBA alum leads the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting into the future

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:39:08 +0000

Costello MBA alum leads the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting into the future Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 08/07/2026 - 11:39

At the beginning of 2026, Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, returned home to the Costello College of Business at 91�� as the executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting Executive Director. Photo provided by Mike Derrios.

Bringing 30 years of experience across military, federal government, and private-sector organizations, he saw it as an ideal opportunity to strengthen the workforce, enhance the relationship between government and industry, and expand outreach. As Derrios explains, “We have the opportunity to inform and influence value-added offerings that can help the community reach better outcomes.”

Paramount to Derrios’s decision to take the job was the remarkable experience he had in the Costello MBA program and how it empowered him to take the next steps in his career. “The caliber of the professors and the curriculum set me up for success and gave me the tools that I needed to step into senior executive roles on the government side,” he says.

After separating from the United States Air Force, where he got his start in procurement, Derrios had hit a wall. In need of developing a business background, he turned to Costello, where he immediately felt that the faculty members understood the notion of service and his purpose for pursuing an MBA. “This university smiles on veterans and gives them the opportunity to advance,” he says.

“We have the opportunity to inform and influence value-added offerings that can help the community reach better outcomes.”

— Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting Executive Director

Now, with attrition on both the government and industry sides of the acquisition workforce, Derrios is seizing the opportunity for the Baroni Center to help fill the gap. “We’ve added about 1,200 new people to our contact list, and that’s just from a couple of webinars that we’ve done so far,” he says. “And we’ve published several research papers so far this year that are laser-focused on highly relevant topics.” The center is continuing to expand education and training opportunities for professionals to upskill and advance their careers.

Since graduating, Derrios has witnessed the incredible growth of both the university and the business college, extending their impact and elevating their reputations across the country and around the world. With that growth, he sees increasing opportunities to broaden the Baroni Center’s reach and deepen its influence. Valued by policymakers across the political spectrum for its objective and nonpartisan viewpoints, the center is being consulted by senior government officials on new policy.

Along with reaching out from campus, the Baroni Center is also looking inward. “We brought people in for a storytelling event,” says Derrios. “And we’re going to actually bring those storytellers back to talk to students in the fall. We’ve got 40,000 brilliant minds on our campuses, and we want to connect some of them with people in government and industry to explore viable career paths. George Mason really has the potential to create a strong candidate pool for the future workforce.”

While the center will continue to devote significant attention to the defense market, Derrios plans to expand its focus on the civilian sector, launching new flagship events designed to convene leaders around research, innovation, and thought leadership.

After the Costello MBA helped transform his career, Derrios is eager to give back to his alma mater, continuing to elevate and expand the influence and impact of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting and connecting policy with practice.

Topics

Costello MBA program

Costello Flex MBA program

Costello Online MBA program

Costello College of Business News

Costello College of Business Alumni

Center for Government Contracting News

The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting

Costello College of Business

Alumni

Military

Learn more about Mason Alumni

Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program bridges experience and aspiration

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:13:50 +0000

Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program bridges experience and aspiration Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 08/07/2026 - 11:13

When Q Miceli saw that the Costello College of Business at 91�� was offering the Executive Mentoring Program as part of the Costello MBA, she was all in. “I had just hit a point in my career where I started supervising more people and really wanted to get some perspective,” she says.

Q Miceli, Costello MBA Student. Photo provided by Q Miceli.

Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner, MBA ’99, had recently left full-time employment to start a small business consulting firm for part-time work. “My experience at George Mason, getting my MBA, was really valuable and very positive,” says Stuebner.

Miceli and Stuebner were matched through the MBA Executive Mentoring Program, which connects high-achieving Costello MBA students with accomplished C-suite executives who are Costello and George Mason alumni.

The program was developed and is run as a partnership between the Costello MBA and the Costello Alumni Chapter based on a mentoring program that Brad Stein, MBA ’94, had implemented at his company several years ago. The MBA program matches the mentors and mentees according to the professional needs, interests, and aspirations of the student.

“Cindi’s range of experience and the senior roles that she’s held—she’s been able to share with me all kinds of really valuable stories, anecdotes, and insights into how to be successful as a female executive, particularly when you are the only woman in the room or the highest-ranking woman in the room, and how to show up with a professional presence at meetings.”

— Q Miceli, Costello MBA Student

Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner, MBA ’99. Photo provided by Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner.

“Our Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter comprises alums with vast experience across a wide range of industries and a steadfast commitment to supporting our Costello students,” says Stein. “It has been a pleasure working with the MBA program leadership to put this MBA Executive Mentoring Program together and to see the impact our alums have on the professional lives of our MBA students."

Stein says the program has evolved and expanded significantly since the fall 2025 pilot. "We expect continued growth as we demonstrate increasing value to our MBA candidates," says Stein. "Our alumni are prepared to support and sustain this momentum.”

Rob Shaffer, who was completing a mix of online and in-person classes, really wanted to make sure he was taking advantage of everything that the MBA program had to offer. “I joined the MBA program to improve my soft skills and my ability to deal with people, and I really felt the mentoring program would be a great way to get some of the extracurricular benefits of the MBA program,” he says.

Shaffer was paired with Peter Conlon, Executive MBA ’96, who credits the Costello College of Business with changing the trajectory of his career. “I owe a great debt to the place, so I wanted to give back,” says Conlon.

At least once a month, the 10 mentor–mentee pairs met to share experiences, ask questions, and work through challenges together. To ensure productive conversations, students determined the discussion topics in advance, allowing their mentors to come prepared for each meeting.

Rob Shaffer, Costello MBA Student. Photo provided by Rob Shaffer.

Despite the differences in their ages and experience levels, Stuebner and Miceli found that they approached their work in remarkably similar ways.

“Cindi’s range of experience and the senior roles that she’s held—she’s been able to share with me all kinds of really valuable stories, anecdotes, and insights into how to be successful as a female executive, particularly when you are the only woman in the room or the highest-ranking woman in the room, and how to show up with a professional presence at meetings,” says Miceli.

One situation in particular was causing Miceli considerable concern. She began to question whether a direct report she had hired was the right fit and was unsure how to address it. Turning to Stuebner, she received practical, actionable advice that helped her navigate and ultimately resolve the issue.

After recently transitioning to a larger, international company, an environment quite different from what he was accustomed to, Shaffer benefited from Conlon’s big-picture perspective as he worked through unfamiliar challenges at work.

“I have a folder full of notes from some of Peter’s wisdom because I want to remember and be able to go back and look through the different insights he shared,” he says. “It is very nice to have somebody to talk to, to let you know you’re not crazy sometimes.”

Peter Conlon, EMBA ’96. Photo provided by Peter Conlon.

Conlon was cognizant of what his role as a mentor meant; he was there to help Shaffer become more comfortable in his role. “A mentor—you gotta listen,” he says. “That’s probably the number one skill.” Besides giving back and helping others, many mentors find that the program has helped their own careers and lives as they reflect on their own experiences and gain new perspectives. “It’s just been extremely rewarding and has given me more optimism about what I can still contribute,” says Stuebner.

Complementing a rigorous curriculum led by inspiring and knowledgeable faculty, the range of resources offered by the Costello MBA is designed to cultivate well-rounded leaders. Students benefit from mentors who bring deep professional expertise and a shared foundation as alumni, providing the support, clarity, and confidence needed to navigate their leadership paths successfully.

"At the Costello MBA, we continually strive to innovate across the full student experience by emphasizing learning that happens inside the classroom through market-responsive courses and stackable credentials, outside the classroom through experiential and hands-on learning, and beyond coursework through structured opportunities that support personal and professional growth,” says Ioannis Bellos, director of the Costello MBA program. “By building on the ecosystem of a large public university and George Mason’s extensive alumni footprint in the region, these initiatives create a distinctive advantage for our students."

In This Story

Ioannis Bellos

Topics

Costello MBA program

Costello Flex MBA

Costello Online MBA program

Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program

Costello College of Business Alumni

Costello College of Business Students

Costello College of Business News

Alumni

Costello College of Business

Students

Carter School alumna finds harmony between music and mediation

Katarina Benson — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:08:06 +0000

Carter School alumna finds harmony between music and mediation Katarina Benson Tue, 08/04/2026 - 15:08

When Avery Cotham, MS Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’26, enrolled at 91��’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, she was ready for a new challenge. For 15 years, Cotham worked as a vocalist and choral director in Colorado before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to rethink her career and search for a new way to serve her community.

Cotham at the Department of the Interior.
Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“I did some soul-searching and decided I wanted to make a career change,” Cotham said. “I wanted to do something of service to the community.”

That search led her to conflict resolution — and ultimately to Washington, D.C., where she and her husband relocated so she could fully immerse herself in the George Mason experience. “I didn’t want to study online,” she said. “I wanted to dive into the community and make connections here.”

At George Mason, Cotham quickly discovered that the skills she developed as a musician translated naturally into mediation and coaching. Active listening, collaboration, and understanding group dynamics became valuable tools in her new field.

She also took full advantage of internship and professional development opportunities available through the Carter School. After hearing a guest speaker from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service discuss mediation and coaching, Cotham pursued specialized training that would shape her career path.

In 2024, she completed a semester-long internship with the Northern Virginia Mediation Services Conflict Resolution Center, where she earned her mediation certification. The following year, she completed coaching certification coursework through Georgetown School of Continuing Studies.

Those experiences helped prepare her for a yearlong experience, what she calls a “unicorn of an internship,” with the Department of the Interior’s Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR).

Because of her certifications, Cotham was able to contribute immediately during the yearlong internship. She worked alongside experienced mediators supporting employees across agencies including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Over time, she advanced from co-mediating cases with mentors to independently facilitating workplace mediations, conflict coaching sessions, trainings, and group discussions.

One of the highlights of the experience came when she was selected to travel and co-facilitate a bureau meeting focused on change management and values alignment — a rare opportunity for an intern.

“The internship was focused on mentorship and hands-on experience,” Cotham said. “Working with different mediators, I was exposed to several different styles and received a lot of valuable feedback. It was a highly enriching experience.”

Now, just months after graduating, Cotham has built a multifaceted career as a mediation contractor, private coach, and community mediator. She also volunteers with the Sustained Dialogue Institute and continues to blend her musical background with her coaching work.

“As a choir director, one of my strengths was seeing potential in people and knowing when to push and challenge them, and when to back off,” she said. “Those skills are so applicable in coaching.”

Cotham’s journey reflects the kind of hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities that help George Mason students turn classroom experiences into meaningful professional impact — a hallmark of the university’s All Together Different approach to education and community engagement.

Explore internships at George Mason

Topics

Students

Alumni

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

internships

Carter School News

Mediation

Tony Skinn earns contract extension through 2031-32 season

ckearney — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:06:20 +0000

Tony Skinn earns contract extension through 2031-32 season ckearney Thu, 06/11/2026 - 13:06

91�� Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis has announced a two-year contract extension for men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn, BA Communication ’06, through the 2031-32 season.

Skinn is the first coach in school history to lead his teams to three-straight 20-win seasons. Photo by George Mason Athletics

The 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and architect of George Mason's first A-10 championship team, Skinn has put together the best start to a coaching career in school history and cemented himself as one of the top young coaches in the nation.

He's set new program bests for overall wins (70), league wins (35), overall winning percentage (.693) and league winning percentage (.648) for a Patriot coach over his first three campaigns. What's more, Skinn's 69.3 overall winning percentage ranks 17th nationally among current Division I head coaches with at least 3 seasons at the helm.

"Tony represents everything we value in George Mason men's basketball and in our broader athletics program," said Lewis. "In just three seasons, he has elevated our competitive standard, delivered sustained success on the court, and built a culture rooted in accountability, player development, and integrity. This extension reflects our confidence in Tony's vision, his leadership, and his commitment to continuing to position George Mason as a nationally respected program. We're excited about what lies ahead for Patriot basketball under his direction."

Skinn is the first coach in school history to lead his teams to three-straight 20-win seasons. The fastest bench boss to 50 wins in program annals, Skinn has guided the Patriots to two consecutive NIT appearances, marking the first time since 2007-09 the program has reached back-to-back postseasons (NCAA or NIT). George Mason is one of just three A-10 programs during Skinn's tenure to finish in the NET top-100 all three seasons.

"This extension is a testament to what our staff and players have built together while bringing the vision of Patriot Pressure to life," Skinn said. "We've set a strong foundation over these past three years and will continue to elevate our collective standard. I'm grateful to our fans and administration who have invested in this program and understand what it takes to compete at the national level. The best is yet to come."

Tony Skinn has been instrumental in the development of dynamic players who have brought his Patriot Pressure vision to life. Photo by George Mason Athletics

As head coach, Skinn has mentored five All-A-10 selections, four NABC All-District picks and the 2025 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Skinn is a two-time finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, given annually to the nation's top minority head coach.

In 2025-26, he guided the Patriots to the program's best-ever overall (18-1) and A-10 (6-0) starts. Team 60 became the fastest in school history to reach 20 victories (22), shattering the previous mark of 25. Despite returning just 3% of the previous season's scoring output and losing Preseason All-A-10 First Team selection Brayden O'Connor to a season-ending injury in the first game of the campaign, the men’s team reached 23 overall victories and received a berth in the NIT. George Mason earned home wins over three NCAA Tournament Teams (#25/24 Saint Louis, VCU, Penn) and the Patriots were the only school in the A-10 to defeat the top-3 programs in the league standings. The 29-point win over the Billikens marked the 14th-largest margin of victory by an unranked team over a ranked program since the AP poll began in 1949.

After the 2024-25 season, Skinn was named a national finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, which recognizes the Division I head coach who wins with integrity both on and off the court. He also garnered VaSID Virginia Coach of the Year accolades at the conclusion of the Patriots' historic season.

George Mason's elite Patriot Pressure defense ranked in the top-25 nationally in 2024-25 and the Patriots ranked third in the country in field goal defense. The team's cumulative field goal defense marked a George Mason school record while its 3-point defense was second best all time.

Skinn has been instrumental in the development of dynamic players who have brought his Patriot Pressure vision to life. Senior Jared Billups became George Mason's first conference Defensive Player of the Year since 2001 and was a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award in 2025, given to the nation's top defensive player. Jalen Haynes earned NABC All-District First Team honors in 2024-25 and was just the second All-A-10 First Team pick in school history. Both Kory Mincy and Riley Allenspach garnered All-A-10 Second Team honors in 2025-26. With Haynes and Darius Maddox also being named All-A-10 in 2024-25, it marked the first time since 2008-09 the Patriots had multiple non-conference selections in back-to-back seasons.

George Mason Athletics

Secure Your Seats for 2026-27

CVPA Announces Recipients of the 2026 Young Alumni Commissioning Project Awards

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kenge BaNikongo

BA Theater, BA Film and Video Studies ’21

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

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

Taj Kokayi

BA Film and Video Studies ’22

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

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

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

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

About the 2026 Award Recipients

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

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

Learn About the Young Alumni Commissioning Project

Power the Possible

Stories you may like

Take your Patriot Pride on the road with a George Mason license plate
August 25, 2026
Visitor Shawn Chambliss Purvis honors family legacy with investment in future engineers
August 24, 2026
From Schar School Biodefense Doctoral Student to Global Health Security Leader: How Saskia Popescu is Shaping the Future of Biosecurity
August 24, 2026
Costello MBA alum leads the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting into the future
August 12, 2026
Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program bridges experience and aspiration
August 11, 2026

In This Story

Rick Davis

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

Alumni

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

Young Alumni Commissioning Project. alumni support

Campus News

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:51:48 +0000

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:51

Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25, exemplifies exceptional balance—driving innovative strategies at Navy Federal while representing the Philippines internationally in the hammer throw.

Action shot from 2025 Philippine Athletic Championships. Photo by Philippines Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

As a student-athlete at 91��, he competed in track and field for nearly five years, spanning four Costello College of Business academic programs. In addition to the hammer throw, he also competed in discus and the weight throw, an indoor equivalent to hammer. Not long after he began competing at the university, he began his career as an intern at Navy Federal. Over time, he advanced in athletics, academics, and his career—building a foundation that continues to shape his success today.

Sidney Yap. Photo provided

Now preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December, Yap is focused on timing his peak performance for competition. Recently promoted to enterprise data analytics consultant at Navy Federal, he starts his day early so that he can focus on his training in the evenings. As busy as he is, he prefers it that way, driven by his passion for athletics, education, and professional growth.

Balancing athletics with his career is nothing new for Yap. While at George Mason, he worked closely with professors, coaches, and managers to coordinate schedules and manage workloads. Starting his career at Navy Federal as an intern during his sophomore year, he recognizes strong parallels between athletics and his business career—both requiring discipline, strategy, and data-driven decisions.

As much as his athletics skills and habits help him in his career, his job at Navy Federal in turn opened the door to this remarkable opportunity to compete in Thailand. At a company luncheon, a manager approached him after learning about his track and field background.

“He hit me with the question—What’s next?” Yap recalls.

Sharing Filipino heritage, the manager offered to help him represent the Philippines. That conversation led to connecting with the national team coach, securing dual citizenship, and obtaining a passport. Since then, he has competed in the Philippine Nationals in 2024 and 2025. Representing his family’s heritage on an international stage adds deeper meaning to his athletic pursuits.

Sidney Yap at his MBA graduation in Spring 2025. Photo provided

Yap is appreciative of the business foundations and location of his alma mater, reflected in his decision to remain at Costello for his undergraduate and graduate programs. Originally from the area, it wasn’t until he started researching colleges to apply to in high school that he learned it was a top-notch school full of opportunity.

At Costello, he experienced being taught by high-level faculty who prepared him to succeed in his current role. One of his first courses was on organizational behavior taught by Victoria Grady, associate professor of management and director of the MS in management program.

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

— Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25

Yap’s story reflects the unique synergy between academic excellence and athletic discipline forged at George Mason. His years as a student-athlete prepared him to navigate the demands of rigorous coursework, competitive sports, and a growing professional career—all at once. The foundation he built through Costello’s programs continues to guide him as he balances his role at Navy Federal with training for the Southeast Asian Games. As Yap sets his sights on gold in Thailand, he carries the same mindset into his professional journey—proving that excellence isn’t confined to the field but is a pursuit that spans every arena of life.