Disability Services

George Mason career fair helps create accessible pathways to employment

ckearney — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:04:30 +0000

George Mason career fair helps create accessible pathways to employment ckearney Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:04

Many of 91��’s career fairs are large multi-day events, hosting hundreds of employers and capping the number of students in attendance each day. On a Friday in April, there was a smaller version of a career fair, hosted in the Johnson Center Bistro, for participants in the Mason Autism Support Initiative (MASI) and the Executive Functioning Program (EFP). Both fee-based programs are offered through Disability Services for degree-seeking students.

Fairfax County Government was among the employers meeting with students at the MASI/EFP Career Fair. Photo by Colleen Kearney Rich/Office of University Branding

The MASI/EFP Career Fair is intentionally small—no more than 15 employers, said EFP’s Assistant Director Sharon Toda, who started the event. It is designed to create a more accessible, lower-pressure environment for neurodivergent students who may encounter barriers (e.g., social interaction, new environments) when accessing traditional career fairs.

Prior to the event, students participated in a career readiness workshop conducted in partnership with University Career Services. The workshop helped students build confidence, prepare questions, and develop strategies for navigating and communicating with employers during the fair.

What started as a small project collaborating with local employers who had neurodiversity programs has evolved into a larger event. The MASI/EFP Career Fair now brings various partner organizations to campus, enhancing student engagement and networking opportunities. Prominent organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, United States Geological Survey (USGS), and Fairfax County government are among the participants.

At the spring 2026 career fair, for the first time, participating students were provided with the opportunity to have headshots taken for professional purposes. Additionally, Fairfax County’s Community Services Board and Supported Employment program, which assists county residents with disabilities, participated by offering information and resources on health and wellness. They also provided support in accessing resources to navigate employment opportunities and job coaching support.

USGS geologist Mercer Parker talks with a student. Photo by Colleen Kearney Rich/Office of University Branding

This year 10 employers participated either in-person or virtually. One employer that has been involved from the beginning is Melwood. Elizabeth A. Foster, Melwood’s director of career exploration and development, said this event is a perfect fit for the organization. “My big thing is to try to get people who are neurodivergent, jobs or training or whatever supports they need to be successful,” said Foster. “I love that I have seen amazing growth [at George Mason]. I just saw a fantastic resume. It's the kind of resume that I would expect from somebody who's been out in the field for years.”

The USGS had a table to promote its work transition program, Secondary Transition to Employment Program (STEP-UP). “What we do is we find their skill sets and their passions, and we figure out how they fit into the USGS,” said geologist Mercer Parker. “I tell students: Whether you are a creative designer, an economist, or a musician, there's a place for you in the federal government.”

Christann Chanell, a visitor experience coordinator at the National Postal Museum who is neurodivergent herself, said participating in the career fair is a way for her to give back to this community. “It's a way to let people know that companies and organizations are aware and will support their journey and their career. For me, that’s the main inspiration.”

Her colleague MaryBeth Wagner, adult programs manager for the National Postal Museum, concurs. “The Smithsonian Institution is very passionate about accessibility,” said Wagner. “We have staff members who need a little bit more support in their roles and letting more students know that these opportunities are available is very rewarding.”

The Johnson Center Bistro was the setting for the MASI/EFP Career Fair. Photo by Colleen Kearney Rich/Office of University Branding

This was the second MASI/EFP career fair that computer game design major Danish Parvez has attended. Parvez has been involved in MASI since his sophomore year. He came with a list of questions he planned to ask the employers, such as, “What makes someone a good candidate for a job with their company?” He also said he practiced how to present himself and his experience—these skills have already served him well when looking for a summer job.

“MASI’s really helped me navigate [the university environment],” Parvez said. “It's given me more skills to adapt. I feel like I was a bit lost my first year. I've come a long way since then.”

According to Toda, the career fair is one of the initiatives that MASI/EFP aims to support and prepare students for post-graduation and their transitions into the workforce. The goal in creating a smaller scaled career fair is to provide students in the programs with a platform to build confidence and practice in networking and expand their understanding of various career opportunities.

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George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree

Katarina Benson — Thu, 22 May 2025 14:25:23 +0000

George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree Katarina Benson Thu, 05/22/2025 - 10:25

Sporting green and gold Air Jordan sneakers, 91�� student Samantha Lewis rose from her wheelchair and put one foot in front of the other. 

Less than four months after complications from medical treatments left her without feeling in her legs, Lewis walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the 2025 College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Degree Celebration on May 16. 

“It is a surreal moment,” said Lewis, who is from Ashburn, Virginia. “The ability to be able to walk across the stage when in January I was lying in a hospital bed with no feeling in my legs and I had no idea if I’d ever be able to walk again.” 

Heavy on Lewis’ mind at that moment was her late father, Matthew, who 36 years and three days prior also graduated inside EagleBank Arena with a bachelor’s degree in decision science from George Mason in 1989. 

“He was my best friend,” said Lewis, who was 16 when her father died of skin cancer. “I know my dad is watching over me, and I know he is very proud of me. I wanted to go to Mason because that’s where he went.” 

Psychology grad Samantha Lewis with the cap she created for graduation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Last fall, Lewis was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which occurs due to the compression of blood vessels or nerves, causing shoulder and neck pain.

Following treatment in late January, she suddenly lost feeling in her legs. Lewis had suffered functional neurological disorder, a condition that can cause paralysis and kept her in the hospital for more than 10 days. 

After several falls at home, she was admitted to the hospital again for five days followed by two weeks of acute rehabilitation. Lewis finished up an 18-credit hour courseload to stay on track to graduate in three years while receiving physical therapy twice a week along with visiting a neuropsychologist and therapist several times a month. 

“What I learned in my major, particularly in cognitive psychology, helped me navigate those changes,” she said. “Understanding things like resilience, coping mechanisms, cognitive distortions, and the power of mindset gave me practical tools to work through some of my darkest moments.” 

Lewis’ fascination with human behavior drew her to psychology as she desired to learn more about “how and why we, think, feel, and act the way we do.” Instructor Sam Neff, who taught PSYC 317 Cognitive Psychology, recalls Lewis always sitting in the front row and their conversations before class as he set up his presentations. 

“She is intelligent, inquisitive, and was always looking to apply the concepts we talked about to her personal life,” Neff said. “On numerous occasions she had mentioned that the course was giving her information that was causing her to have ‘light-bulb’ moments about herself and the way that her cognitive processes worked.” 

Lewis made the CHSS Dean’s List her last four semesters despite a heavy courseload, which included 26 credit hours over 10 weeks in summer of 2024 while she was also working at George Mason Recreation as a fitness program assistant.  

Samantha Lewis with her family. Photo provided

Prior to the 2024-25 school year, she shifted all her courses online. She credits George Mason’s Disability Services for helping and communicating with professors when she needed more time to complete coursework. 

“That kind of advocacy was really important,” she said.  

When her name was called, Lewis—with mother Kristine, stepmother Megan, and three grandparents in the audience—proudly walked across the platform, receiving a huge embrace from CHSS Dean Ann Ardis and a thunderous standing ovation from the thousands inside EagleBank Arena. 

“I heard the cheering, but I obviously was focused on making sure I didn’t fall,” Lewis said with a laugh. “I’m just overwhelmed by the support and response.” 

“It is giving me chills even now,” Kristine Lewis said. “To watch her actually walk across the stage and then see the reaction from her professors and her dean, who just embraced her with such a strong hug... and then to see the student body do it, there are no words. That was such a moment of support for her and us. I was not expecting that.” 

Lewis says she plans to take a break before considering her next steps. Her focus remains on making a full recovery as she has already gained sensation in most of her right leg.  

“It kind of scares me what I am going to do when I’m healthy,” she said. “You really can do anything when you set your mind to it. You just have to believe in yourself.”

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Adults with Cognitive Disabilities More than Twice as Likely to Use E-Cigarettes

dhawkin — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 13:46:51 +0000

Adults with Cognitive Disabilities More than Twice as Likely to Use E-Cigarettes dhawkin Wed, 01/27/2021 - 08:46

In This Story

Gilbert Gimm, PhD, FGSA

91�� study is the first to assess the use of e-cigarettes among working-age adults by type of disability.

The rapid growth of e-cigarette use is a major public health problem in the United States – with significant attention on use among adolescents and young adults. Although manufacturers of e-cigarettes tout their products as safer alternatives to cigarette smoking, research has shown that e-cigarettes can be as hazardous as traditional tobacco products but appeal to those who were never cigarette smokers.

In the first study to assess national use of e-cigarettes among adults with disabilities, 91��’s College of Health and Human Services researchers found that adults with disabilities were twice as likely to use e-cigarettes (8.4%) than adults without disabilities (4.8%), but the prevalence of e-cigarette use varied by type of disability.

Dr. Gilbert Gimm led the study published in Disability and Health Journal.

“Previous studies have found that e-cigarette use is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and adverse health outcomes. Also, smokers with disabilities are less likely to receive advice from their physicians to stop smoking,” explains Gimm. “Our study shows that adults with disabilities are a high-risk group for e-cigarette use and therefore at greater risk for adverse health outcomes.”

Gimm and colleagues assessed e-cigarette use among 560,858 working age adults (18-64 years) with and without disabilities by using data from the 2017-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. With a nationally representative sample, they estimated the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adults by type of disability.

They found that e-cigarette use was more than twice as likely among adults with a cognitive disability (12.0%), an independent living disability (11.0%), or two or more disabilities (9.2%), compared to adults without disabilities (4.8%). Adults with disabilities who were previously smokers were more likely to use e-cigarettes than adults with disabilities who never smoked.

“We know from prior studies that adults with cognitive disabilities have higher rates of mental health conditions such as severe depression and anxiety, and we think this might be a reason for greater e-cigarette use among this population,” adds Gimm. “Detailed information on mental health conditions wasn’t available in our sample, so we hope future research can shed light on this potential contributor to e-cigarette use in these groups.”

Regardless of reported disability status, men were more likely to use e-cigarettes than women, and young adults (18-24 years) were six times as likely use e-cigarettes than middle-aged adults (45-54 years). Adults with COPD or depression were also more likely to use e-cigarettes.

This study highlights the need for more targeted smoking cessation treatments for adults with cognitive disabilities and other high-risk groups. In the future, Gimm and colleagues plan to conduct future research on the use of e-cigarettes among adults with disabilities.

About 91��

91�� is Virginia's largest and most diverse public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. For more information, visit https://www2.gmu.edu/.

About the College of Health and Human Services

91��'s College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. George Mason is the fastest-growing Research I institution in the country. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,370 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including: 5 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 7 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

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Marcel Assink is January Employee of the Month

Damian Cristodero — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Marcel Assink is January Employee of the Month Damian Cristodero Wed, 01/15/2020 - 05:30

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George Mason career fair helps create accessible pathways to employment

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George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree

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Adults with Cognitive Disabilities More than Twice as Likely to Use E-Cigarettes

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91�� study is the first to assess the use of e-cigarettes among working-age adults by type of disability.

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Marcel Assink is January Employee of the Month

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Disability Services

George Mason career fair helps create accessible pathways to employment

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George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree

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Adults with Cognitive Disabilities More than Twice as Likely to Use E-Cigarettes

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91���� study is the first to assess the use of e-cigarettes among working-age adults by type of disability.

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Marcel Assink is January Employee of the Month

Topics

91�� study is the first to assess the use of e-cigarettes among working-age adults by type of disability.