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Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline

Katarina Benson — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:18:49 +0000

Institute for Immigration Research launches interactive immigration timeline Katarina Benson Thu, 07/16/2026 - 20:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at 91�� has unveiled "Immigrants & America 250: Data, Stories, and Policy Across United States History," a first-of-its-kind interactive digital timeline that explores how immigration has shaped the United States from its earliest years to present day.

The new online experience combines historical population data, landmark immigration policies, notable immigrant contributions, and archival cultural collections into a single educational resource designed for educators, researchers, policymakers, students, journalists, and the general public.

"Understanding immigration requires more than statistics or policy debates alone," IIR assistant director Marissa Kiss said. "By bringing together historical data, public policy, and personal stories, this project helps reveal the human experience behind the numbers while providing trusted information that places immigration within the broader story of America.”

The interactive experience includes:

U.S. population data beginning in 1770, with detailed immigration statistics by decade from 1840 through 2024;
Changes in immigrant populations by country and world region of birth
Eighty-three landmark immigration laws and historical events
Profiles of 80 notable immigrants whose contributions have shaped American society across science, business, sports, arts, government, education, and culture
Eleven curated collections from the Library of Congress' American Folklife Center featuring interviews, photographs, songs, music, dance, and oral histories that illustrate the lived experiences of immigrants across generations

By pairing rigorous research with historical storytelling, the timeline offers a multidimensional look at one of the defining forces in American history.

The project, developed in collaboration with the Immigrant Learning Center, the CHSSWeb team, and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, reflects the institute's broader mission to generate and amplify nonpartisan research on immigration through data, arts, and public engagement. As conversations surrounding immigration continue to evolve, the institute hopes resources like the timeline will foster more informed public dialogue by providing accessible, evidence-based information grounded in historical context.

"This timeline demonstrates that immigration is not simply a contemporary issue—it is woven throughout the American story," Kiss said. "Understanding that history helps us better understand who we are as a nation today."

The release comes as communities across the country commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial, providing educators and organizations with a timely resource for exploring the role immigrants have played in shaping the United States over the past two and a half centuries.

View the interactive timeline

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Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event

ckearney — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:28:09 +0000

Center for Mason Legacies scholars discuss ‘Revolutionary Ideas’ at Fairfax event ckearney Wed, 07/01/2026 - 10:28

91�� faculty members and graduate students from the Department of History and Art History and the Center for Mason Legacies (CML) shared their expertise as speakers at the Fairfax 250 history day, a county event held as part of the statewide commemoration of the nation's semiquincentennial.

Distinguished University Professor Rosemarie Zagarri talked about politics in Revolutionary era Fairfax County. Photo by April Greer/Historical Society of Fairfax County

Sponsored by the Fairfax History Commission with help from the Historical Society of Fairfax County, the daylong “Revolutionary Ideas—Fairfax County’s American Revolution” conference was co-chaired by CML director and history professor George Oberle and community historian Sue Kovach Shuman and presented at the Fairfax County Government Center in April with programming for all ages.

In a day full of guest lectures, hands-on activities, and research workshops, George Mason history professors Rosemarie Zagarri, Cynthia Kierner, and Oberle presented on “The Big Picture,” addressing the American Revolution's effects on political expectations and shaping the right to vote. Zagarri talked about “Politics in Revolutionary Fairfax,” Kierner discussed “Living the Revolution,” and Oberle presented on “Slavery in Fairfax County in the Revolutionary Era.”

Watch their presentations.

George Mason doctoral history students David G. Armstrong, Anne Champlin, and Allessandra DelDonna gave presentations in a session titled “Impacts of the Revolution.”

Armstrong, whose dissertation explores how generations of George Mason’s family kept a grasp on political power as the United States expanded, spoke about a Mason family daughter-in-law’s assertion of her property rights.
Champlin, who studies colonial Caribbean, Danish, and American ties, presented insights on “revolutionary” tenant-landlord relations that can be traced between the lines of the Mason Family.
DelDonna, a material culture specialist who entered the doctoral program straight from undergraduate studies, presented on what Mason household objects at Gunston Hall can tell us about the constructed role of the iconic “planter’s wife.”

Watch their presentations.

In the event's demonstration and tabling area, George Mason graduate student Andrew Snowman introduced participants to the Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center, where through CML, he has interned and conducted extensive research. Snowman, whose focus area is history of racial policing, works closely with archivist and George Mason alumna Georgia Brown, a longtime CML collaborator and current PhD student.

Hands-on exhibits were designed to engage all ages throughout the day. Photo by April Greer/Historical Society of Fairfax County

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George Mason sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program

sbrown79 — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:45:39 +0000

George Mason sociologists advance families’ economic mobility through Fairfax County pilot program sbrown79 Mon, 06/29/2026 - 10:45

An innovative partnership between 91��, Fairfax County, and the United Way is shedding light on how guaranteed income can support working families facing economic hardship. 

Throughout the county’s 18-month Economic Mobility Pilot Program, George Mason researchers Amy Best and Eliz Storelli investigated how unrestricted cash payments, when combined with organizational resources from local and state government and community nonprofits, affect the financial mobility of the county’s asset-limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) population, which represent a third of Fairfax County residents, according to the United Way.

ALICE are essential workers—teachers, medical assistants, postal office staff, Lyft, Uber, and bus drivers—that drive the local economy but have wages that are too low to make ends meet living in the county. For the Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot, 180 households were randomly selected from a pool of 2,400 eligible applicants from across 10 zip codes in the county with greater economic vulnerability. This guaranteed income pilot is among more than 150 municipal unrestricted cash pilots across the United States since 2020.

Eliz Storelli (left) presenting the results of the pilot program. Photo provided.

“The county hopes to use the pilot intervention as an opportunity to engage in systems-level change, improve service delivery, support programming, and policy design to better promote economic mobility and prosperity among Fairfax residents," said Best, professor of sociology and director for George Mason’s Center for Social Science Research. 

After 20 months of data collection and analysis, the research team submitted four major reports to Fairfax County. They have presented research findings to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Human Services Council, as well as at the 2026 Eastern Sociological Society conference. 

The results were clear: Unrestricted cash payments had a profound stabilizing effect, and in some cases boosted financial mobility for participating ALICE families.

Nearly 42% of participants reported they improved their credit scores, and many used the funds to pay down debts, earn credentials, and move closer to degree completion and better job prospects. The pilot provided participants with the “gift of time” enabling pilot participants to strengthen connections with family and community.

Best and Storelli served as co-principal investigators on the pilot program, which reflects the Center for Social Science Research's strong commitment to community-partnered scholarship.

Funding was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a legislative proposal introduced by the Biden-Harris administration in 2021, and the Human Services Innovation Fund. Each household received a guaranteed monthly income of $750 for the duration of the pilot, in addition to their regular earned income.

“This program differs from other kinds of policy interventions because the unrestricted cash was distributed with a trust and invest philosophy, which is a policy philosophy that assumes that people are the experts in their own lives,” Best said. These families know what they need, so we don’t have restrictions on how the money is spent.” 

The research team also worked closely with a community advisory board to ensure fidelity to the community and benefit from community expertise in research design, collection, and analysis.

That trust proved meaningful. Through three waves of surveys, three rounds of interviews, and 10 focus groups, the team documented both immediate economic relief, and broader changes in well-being and opportunity among the participants.

Emma Vetter Taylor. Photo provided.

For lead graduate researcher, Emma Vetter Taylor, PhD Sociology ’26, the human impact became clear after speaking with participants.

“During the interviews, parents told me about how they bought things like bunk beds and Christmas trees for the first time. It was really meaningful for them and their kids. As a sociologist, seeing their stress levels decrease from the first to the second interview and hearing about the positive impacts it had on their lives was really inspiring,” Taylor said.

“Being part of the mobility project was truly the highlight of my experience at George Mason,” she added. “It was invaluable learning from two really impressive researchers like Amy and Eliz, but then also having the opportunity to be able to conduct research myself.”

Fairfax County’s government works closely with community partners. Storelli, affiliate faculty at the center, Department of Sociology and Anthropology associate professor and undergraduate director, emphasized that these partnerships were essential because economic hardship does not exist in isolation, but is shaped by systems, structures, and long-standing inequalities.

“We have to look at what holds these financial problems in place,” Storelli said. “The government has made investments in people in the past and they can do it again in a way that is more inclusive so that everybody can take advantage of these community resources.”

For Best, Storelli, and their student team, the pilot shows that when local government and its community partners invest in people, the results can extend far beyond finances, building greater community trust, connection, and belonging. They can improve stability, reduce stress, strengthen well-being, and help families prepare for a healthier, more secure future.

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George Mason research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas

sbrown79 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:06:03 +0000

George Mason research initiative examines subversive campaigns and prepares students for communication careers in new areas sbrown79 Tue, 06/23/2026 - 10:06

As debates over digital propaganda, misinformation, and media manipulation intensify, audiences are increasingly unsure what’s fact and what’s fiction across news outlets and social media feeds. At 91��, Sergei Samoilenko, associate professor in the Department of Communication,is working to better understand how digital disruption and manipulation practices shape public perception.

In 2016, Samoilenko, MA Communication '06, PhD Communication ’20, co-founded the Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Protection (CARP), where he studies reputational attacks on individuals and organizations, and strategies to counter them. Samoilenko works alongside CARP co-founder Eric Shiraev, an adjunct faculty member at the Schar School of Policy and Government.

Samoilenko (bottom center) with his team, including CARP co-founder Eric Shiraev (right). Photo provided.

Through CARP, Samoilenko recently launched the Subversive Strategic Communication Research Initiative, examining how new era subversive campaigns disrupt conversations, hijack brands, and damage reputations through malicious actors ranging from trolls to angry activist groups that use boycotts, cancellation campaigns, and deepfakes to target brands and corporate executives.

The team is currently focusing on corporate subversive practices. The takeover of corporate identities is often intertwined with the hot-button issues present in public discourse that can be amplified by various agents of chaos and turned into social conflict situations. 

“We call them subversive because they aim to disrupt communication between brands and their stakeholders while subverting the original meaning, ideas, or identity of organizations,” Samoilenko said. “With new technologies emerging every day, artificial intelligence-generated deceptions and deepfakes are being created and spread at an alarming rate.”

By calling public attention to emerging malicious practices, the researchers hope this initiative will expose and combat these tactics—work that aligns with George Mason’s broader commitment to strengthening peace, trust, and engagement in democracy, one of the six solutions in the university's Grand Challenge Initiative. 

The center’s research is a collaborative effort, but when it comes to understanding how online culture evolves, Samoilenko said students often have an advantage. “Students are leading the discussions because they’re digital natives. When it comes to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, they’re more knowledgeable about subversive humor—memes, trends, scandals, and general news—and they see a lot of things that faculty don’t,” he said. “My job is to teach them how to synthesize that information and explain it from a theoretical standpoint.”

Valentina Fala. Photo provided.

One of CARP’s defining strengths is the student-centered approach. This model helped shape the careers of students and recent graduates. 

Alumna Valentina Fala, BA Communication ’25, transferred to George Mason from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) through the ADVANCE Program. Initially a CARP videography intern, Fala became a full-time media manager and intern supervisor. She credits that experience and Samoilenko’s mentorship with helping her secure her current role as communications coordinator at Spirit of America. 

“There's so much disinformation, and it’s important to be able to distinguish false narratives from the truth,” Fala said. “It’s one of the biggest challenges to democracy right now, and it’s essential to counter that with the truth.”

Fala helped organize CARP’s fifth international conference at Mason Square, featuring Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for former first lady Jill Biden.

“It was really impactful hearing his perspective and experiences on what he had to go through and manage with the media, and how women often face more character assassination attempts against their image,” Fala said.

Deirdre Prigge. Photo provided.

Deirdre Prigge, BA Communication ’23, MA ’24, also transferred from NOVA through ADVANCE and said she’s fascinated by the darker side of communication. 

“Deception is not just immoral communication, but it’s often used to achieve a certain goal,” Prigge said. “To understand how we're being persuaded, we must understand the ideological conflicts that our society is currently experiencing and how that gray area of communication works.”

Prigge, host of the CARP Radio podcast, credits George Mason’s Summer Podcast and Radio Camp with Rodger Smith for preparing her for this role. 

“That's where I learned to edit audio in Audacity. Without Dr. Smith’s guidance, I wouldn’t have been nearly as knowledgeable when it comes to executing this podcast to spread the center’s work,” Prigge said.

After earning two degrees through George Mason’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program, Prigge became an adjunct faculty member and CARP research affiliate. “I think a lot of people would like a very simple and easy flowchart of how they should respond in a moment of crisis,” she said. “Unfortunately, there is almost never one clear answer, but I believe that above all, authenticity is one of the most important values in communication.”

The center’s work continues to gain an international audience. CARP’s sixth conference, “Character Assassination in the Era of Permanent Crisis,” is scheduled for May 2027 at University of Piraeus in Greece.

This initiative supports strengthening peace, trust, and engagement in democracy solution of George Mason's Grand Challenge Initiative

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George Mason anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing

Katarina Benson — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:31:49 +0000

George Mason anthropology students test ancient tools — and earn points for spear throwing Katarina Benson Thu, 06/11/2026 - 18:31

To Kimberly Foecke, studying the past doesn’t need to be a passive experience.

The 91�� assistant professor of anthropology believes in the importance of hands-on learning so much that she created the ANTH 399 Experimental Archaeology course on experimental archaeology to help bridge theory and practice.

This past spring, undergraduate and graduate students got their hands dirty with a variety of experiments in the field that tested theory discussed in the classroom.

Students created new versions of old tech in their archaeology labs. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

Foecke’s course pushes critical thinking and experimental design while focusing on the themes of innovation of technology, exploiting and processing food resources, and cultural and social transmission of knowledge--all subjects she says are applicable and transferrable to other areas of study.

“I think active learning is so important,” Foecke said. “All of these experiments we do have information we can then project back into the archaeological record. This is interspersed with lecture where we talk about how to design experiments for different types of material that we find in the record. This helps students to understand how to test the capabilities of ancient technology and other archaeological items we find and create testable predictions for the artifacts.”

Labs included flint knapping, the art of creating tools out of stone. Students struck obsidian sent from one of Foecke’s peers in Kenya into a sharp flake and used their new tool to cut chicken feet. They also created scale buildings to test the load-bearing capacity of different roof types through experimental architecture, and they cooked ancient recipes for adhesives to test strength, longevity, and flexibility to use for hunting tools.

“I’ve done things in this class I’ve never done before,” anthropology junior Sophia Taylor said. “I got to process oats with a big slab of slate and a grinding stone. I never thought my wrists would be sore from something like that, but I’m finding out new knowledge every day.”

The class culminated with experimental spear throwing on the lawn next to the Mason Pond parking garage at the end of April. Wielding replicated ancient spears that Foecke constructed at her father’s woodshop in Maryland, her students conducted accuracy and penetration tests.

Foecke created a hands-on spear workshop for students. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

“It is a nice break, a nice change having the hands-on,” anthropology graduate student Chuck Tjersland said. “It’s different and really does play a role. You read enough about experimental archaeology filling in some of the gaps.”

Added Tjersland’s class partner, anthropology undergraduate student David Rubalacaba: “How often do you throw spears for a grade?”

Foecke set up targets—featuring a drawing of a wooly mammoth—and hoops for students to throw wooden spears through. Each student attempted five throws, recording points for each target struck.

Foecke said the experiment displays what ancient civilizations encountered when having to use sticks that aren’t the most aerodynamic and while facing tough weather conditions. “They’re learning how difficult it is to throw a non-ideal spear and hit a target first time, every time,” Foecke said. “It is almost impossible, even for professional javelin throwers.”

Another station featured stabbing blocks made from insulated foam. Students tested the differences in cut size using two types of spears: one just whittled on one end and the other with an arrowhead stone attached to the end. The experiment showed that the spear with the arrowhead always made a wider and more jagged cut.

Both the spear throwing and spear stabbing experiments tried to answer the “why.” Why spend all this time throwing a spear with a high miss rate? Why take so much time flint knapping or carving stones to attach to sticks when whittling would only take five minutes?

“That animal bleeds out more quickly and therefore you eat dinner sooner,” Foecke said. “It is these kinds of questions around something weird in the record that we have to explain. We have to explain why and what the process is that causes us to see that pattern in the archaeological record. Experimental archaeology is all about creating predictions and hypotheses for why we see the patterns that we do and the processes that we do.

“This is the favorite part of my job. I love to teach, and I love to create cool experiences in the classroom.”

Students throwing spears. Photo by Haagen D. Klaus.

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Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup

ckearney — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:38:06 +0000

Soccer alumna plays a role in FIFA World Cup ckearney Wed, 06/10/2026 - 11:38

Hollis Kosco, BA Speech Communication '94, has built a career that spans continents and stadiums, but her journey began on the soccer fields at 91��. A former member of George Mason's 1993 NCAA national runner-up women's soccer team, Kosco has turned her athletic experience into a global profession in sports management and operations.

Hollis Kosco (center) with the Alumna of the Year Award. Photo by Risdon Photography

Kosco is part of the team supporting FIFA World Cup 2026, adding another remarkable chapter to a journey that includes roles with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, seven Olympic Games, two Asian Games, and the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.

Kosco serves as a senior transportation manager for FIFA World Cup 2026, which is based in the Miami area. Her work requires complex operational planning across three countries, 16 stadiums, and 48 participating national teams.

Her journey began when she arrived at George Mason as a student-athlete. After watching the Patriots win the 1985 NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship, a landmark achievement that helped put the university on the national map, Kosco's interest in George Mason grew. She ultimately chose George Mason not only for its growing soccer program, but also for the opportunity to live on campus, compete at the Division I level, and be part of a diverse university community.

"Mason felt like home," Kosco said. "The soccer program, the people, and the opportunities all stood out to me."

A 2024 Alumna of the Year award-winner, Kosco has watched the university’s rapid evolution. When she enrolled, the university was a smaller regional institution, a world of difference compared to the George Mason of today—a leading public university and the largest public research university in Virginia.

"I've loved watching Mason grow," Kosco said. "The university has become nationally respected while still maintaining the sense of community that made it special."

Kosco credits her time at Mason with shaping both her professional career and her personal outlook. As a communication major, she developed skills that continue to guide her today as she works on the international stage with FIFA.

"Mason taught me how to communicate, connect with others, and understand different perspectives," Kosco said. "Those experiences prepared me for opportunities I never imagined."

Now preparing for a summer surrounded by the world's top soccer nations, Kosco still carries lessons learned as a Patriot. She points to the culture of hard work and perseverance instilled during her time at Mason as a driving force behind her success.

"You don't strive to be the smartest or the best," Kosco said. "You just keep working hard and don't give up."

Fun Fact: During Kosco’s time with the Patriots, she was a teammate of Kelley (Harlow) Pulisic, a standout defender in George Mason’s women's soccer program and the mother of current USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Christian's father, Mark, played forward at George Mason from 1986 to 1989 and is in the university’s Men's Soccer Hall of Fame.

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From George Mason to Capitol Hill: How environmental policy training shaped one graduate’s path

sbrown79 — Fri, 29 May 2026 17:49:45 +0000

From George Mason to Capitol Hill: How environmental policy training shaped one graduate’s path sbrown79 Fri, 05/29/2026 - 13:49

During her final semester at 91��, Sophia Colby put her environmental policy training into action.

Colby traveled to Capitol Hill as part of the Rachel Carson Council's National Environmental Advocacy Day, where she met with federal lawmakers to discuss climate legislation and community resilience. For Colby, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies '26, the experience was a direct extension of the analytical and communication skills she developed at George Mason.

"When I first came to George Mason, I was interested in studying law, but I decided to concentrate specifically on environmental law and policy," Colby said. "My coursework helped me understand how policy decisions affect both ecosystems and communities, and that gave me the confidence to speak about real legislation with lawmakers."

Sophia Colby on Capitol Hill. Photo provided.

From case studies to Congress

Colby credits courses such as EVPP 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy, EVPP 362 Intermediate Environmental Policy, and EVPP 432 Energy Policy with preparing her to evaluate and discuss complex legislation. Through case-study assignments and applied policy analysis, she examined existing laws, identified gaps, and proposed solutions to environmental challenges.

"My professors showed us how to examine real legislation and policy initiatives related to climate change and other environmental topics," Colby said. "The case study format made me much more comfortable articulating what policy changes are needed and explaining both the human and environmental stakes involved."

On Capitol Hill, she discussed the Opportunities in Organic Act, the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, and concerns about the wood pellet industry with Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).

"It was a great [opportunity] to discuss how issues like pesticides, wood pelletization, and deforestation impact human health as well as the environment," Colby said.

Building experience beyond the classroom

Colby's preparation also included hands-on research. During an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey, she analyzed species range shifts, conducted literature reviews, and navigated scientific databases to support climate research.

"At USGS, I learned how to conduct scientific research that can be used to inform the policy decisions that shape our responses to environmental change," she said.

The interdisciplinary structure of George Mason's Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, jointly offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science, emphasizes cross-sector collaboration—an approach Colby said mirrors the real-world complexity of environmental work.

Colby also presented her research at the 2026 Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, held in Chicago in April.

Sophia Colby with her mentor Younsung Kim. Photo provided.

Her faculty research mentor Younsung Kim, professor of environmental science and policy, talked about the skills Colby acquired during her time at George Mason. "[These skills] will help her become an environmental advocate who does not create conflicts, but instead brings peaceful and constructive resolutions to them," she said. "I believe she will be a strong force for environmental policy and sustainability, as well as a future leader in the field."

Colby, who was in the Honors College, said she found community during her time at George Mason through Alpha Kappa Chi, a fraternity focused on professional development and environmental stewardship, where she connected with peers committed to sustainability and advocacy.

Preparing for what's next

The Rachel Carson Council's Advocacy Day included policy briefings, advocacy workshops, and direct engagement with members of Congress. For Colby, the experience reinforced that the tools she developed at George Mason translate directly into public impact.

"Communication is a big part of advocacy and climate resilience," she said.

Colby hopes to pursue a career focused on how environmental policies disproportionately affect marginalized communities. "Getting involved in this kind of work is powerful and eye-opening," she said. "Knowing how environmental policy impacts communities really motivates people."

For Colby, meeting with lawmakers was more than a culminating moment of her senior year—it was a preview of how her George Mason education has prepared her to contribute to building a future in which communities are better prepared to face environmental change.

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This Honors College student-athlete excels on and off the field

Katarina Benson — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:00:34 +0000

This Honors College student-athlete excels on and off the field Katarina Benson Fri, 05/29/2026 - 11:00

As a freshman, 91�� Honors College student Marley Oare chose the Global Affairs Program because she pictured herself working for the CIA or the United Nations.

That quickly changed when she took a natural science course in her first semester.

She recalls wondering how she could incorporate her new interest in the environment into her major. Fortunately, global affairs is an interdisciplinary major offering several concentrations. Oare chose to add the environment concentration to her degree program, which allows global affairs majors to take 12 credits in environmental science and/or policy classes or take a semester at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC).

Oare recently achieved her personal best of 12 feet 6 inches. Photo by George Mason Athletics

“The biggest thing I learned from that class was how interdisciplinary environmental science is,” she said. “Learning how I can contribute to conservation was cool to me because we do need more than just scientists. That’s what I have really loved about the Global Affairs Program—it provided me so much flexibility that I was able to focus on what I enjoy while still working toward my degree.”

That flexibility also helped Oare as a student-athlete. During the past four years, Oare was a pole vaulter for George Mason’s indoor and outdoor women’s track and field teams. This past winter, she landed on the podium at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Conference Championships, finishing third in the pole vault. It was the culmination of hard work for Oare, who didn’t begin pole vaulting until high school and walked on to the George Mason team.

Her freshman year in 2023, she cleared the bar at 10 feet, 6 inches. This past January, she set a personal best with a jump of 12 feet, 6 inches—a two-foot improvement over three years.

“Those kinds of margins are pretty remarkable,” George Mason track and field head coach Andrew Gerard said. “We knew that, if Oare performed at her capabilities, she'd be a very strong contender for a podium finish and that came to fruition.”

An Honors College student, Oare has balanced the heavy workload of classes, internships, and jobs, with practices, track meets, and the travel that comes with it. The hard work has come with recognition. This past spring, she was named a Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athlete for the third time. The Provost Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes student athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher with at least 38 credit hours.

“She’s always been good at planning her classes and her work ahead of time and charting out a plan to take high-level courses,” said Oare’s advisor Matthew West, an associate professor in the Global Affairs Program. “Her success in the classroom has made the work she’s done juggling her training and competitions as a student-athlete all the more impressive.”

Marley Oare. Photo by George Mason Athletics

Looking forward, Oare wants to work for an environmental nonprofit after graduate school. Her preferred field is marine biology, but she is also interested in wildlife conservation, grasslands, and forestry.

Her passion for nonprofits has been spurred by past internship experiences in both high school and college. She worked with the PATH Foundation, which provides grants and programs for organizations in Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties.

Through the PATH Foundation, she was placed in an internship with Just Neighbors, a nonprofit that supports low-income immigrants in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties with free or reduced legal services. Oare said those relationships, along with learning in the Global Affairs Program about the importance of indigenous communities to environmental sustainability, have showed her how local progress can influence global issues.

She’s working her way toward that goal. After completing her bachelor’s degree in global affairs with a minor in Spanish in May, Oare is headed to the University of Rhode Island to work on a master of environmental science and management with a specialization in conservation biology. She will use her fifth year of NCAA eligibility to compete on the women’s track and field team at Rhode Island.

“I think community-driven solutions are the best way to solve community problems,” she said. “That’s why I really want to get into environmental nonprofit work. I think the smaller organizations, because they understand so well what the community needs, are the best way to solve those problems. Local representation is so important.”

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Global affairs student finishes second in Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics essay contest

Katarina Benson — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:31:10 +0000

Global affairs student finishes second in Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics essay contest Katarina Benson Wed, 05/20/2026 - 09:31

91�� global affairs major Noella Mongony has received second prize in the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics essay contest, the Elie Wiesel Foundation has announced.

Mongony was recognized for her essay, “Stones That Remember.” The foundation invites students to write essays that engage deeply with complex moral questions, often drawing from personal experience to illuminate broader societal and ethical issues.

Mongony's essay centered on language and colonialization. Photo provided

After visiting the Zanzibar Slave Museum in Africa and reflecting on her identity as an immigrant, Mongony chose to write about “when silence protects dignity and when it betrays it.” She focuses on language, assimilation, colonialism, and how silence can be wielded to conform but also can serve as a valuable tool to “preserve memory, reverence, and survival.”

“Winning this award means a great deal to me as an immigrant because Elie Wiesel’s story of resilience and speaking out against injustice deeply resonates with my own journey of finding my voice in unfamiliar spaces,” Mongony said. “Being recognized through an award connected to his legacy reminds me that my experiences and perspective can contribute meaningfully to conversations about ethics, justice, and humanity. Ultimately, the essay argues that dignity comes from having the freedom to choose when to speak and when to remain silent, rather than having silence imposed upon you.”

Mongony heard about the contest after taking English 202 Texts and Contexts with George Mason instructor Leeya Mehta, the director of the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center. The class was connected to the Cheuse Center's yearlong Baldwin100 project, which celebrated author James Baldwin’s 100 birthday. The essay comes from an assignment to write about “something personal,” drawing inspiration from Baldwin’s book with Richard Avedon, Nothing Personal.

"Noella's prize-winning essay is a meditation on silence and questioning, as she grapples with her own place in contemporary America and the world after witnessing the Zanzibar Slave Museum," Mehta said. "Noella has added a dimension and clarity all her own in owning her story and examining the complex ethics of silence."

In addition to receiving scholarships, Mongony and the other winners will participate in curated professional development training, including expert writing and speaking seminars, learning modules, and networking opportunities. The winners will be celebrated on October 6, at the annual Elie Wiesel Ethics Prize Dinner in New York City.

Founded by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, the late author, journalist, and activist, and his wife Marion, the Elie Wiesel Foundation advocates for global human rights, ethical reflection and cross-cultural understanding through programs that engage students, artists, educators, and communities in meaningful dialogue and action.

“This year’s essays were outstanding and presented the jury with an exciting opportunity to engage with a range of ethical issues and deepen their own thinking,” said Elisha Wiesel, son of Elie Wiesel and chairman of the Elie Wiesel Foundation.

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