Preston Williams

George Mason’s Class of 2026 is prepared for success

ckearney — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:36:23 +0000

George Mason’s Class of 2026 is prepared for success ckearney Thu, 05/14/2026 - 14:36

91�� honored its graduates at Spring Commencement with a trio of well-received speakers who delivered messages of resilience, preparation, and celebrating differences.

Spring Commencement on Thursday, May 14, in EagleBank Arena. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

The ceremony, livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel Thursday morning from EagleBank Arena, honored more than 12,000 degree and certificate earners, including more than 5,200 from summer and winter 2025, from 105 countries and 49 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations domestic and abroad.

The graduates filed into the arena sporting caps with personalized messages such as “My Future Is Calling,” “Mom’s Favorite,” and “Fueled by Haribo” and remained enthusiastic throughout the feel-good festivities.

The guest speaker, Gen. David W. Allvin, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and a recently retired four-star general, encouraged the graduates—addressing them throughout as “team”—to be curious instead of judgmental, and to pursue service in ways they feel they can make a difference.

Allvin also shared several “almosts” from his life, including early struggles that could have derailed his Air Force career, a fortuitous change in travel plans that saved his life, and an unrealized bid to become an astronaut.

“Your future will be littered with crises averted. Things that almost happened. Things that didn't happen,” Allvin said. “Pick them up, look at them, take the lessons from them, set them aside, and move on. Because the world doesn’t revolve around what almost happens. It revolves around what is happening…Focus on the things that are. Not the things that might have been.”

University Marshal Star Muir leads the platform party to the stage at the 2026 Spring Commencement at EagleBank Arena for the last time. Muir is retiring after 38 years of service and teaching. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

Board of Visitors Rector Michael Meese, himself a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, presented Allvin with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Meese and Allvin were one-time classmates at the National War College and later served concurrently in Afghanistan.

George Mason President Gregory Washington encouraged the graduates to be patient and persistent in a challenging job market and reminded them that The Wall Street Journal ranks George Mason as the top public university in Virginia for value, salary outcomes, and the upward mobility of its graduates.

Washington assured graduates they had acquired the ultimate skill they will need to be successful—“you’ve learned how to learn.” And George Mason graduates have done that by attending a top-tier research university and working with students and faculty from varied backgrounds at the most diverse public university in Virginia.

“Technology will change,” Washington said. "Job titles will change. But the need for adaptable people and resilient people will not. You might feel like you're behind. But I’m here to tell you, not only are you ahead, but you've actually lapped some of your peers.”

As he does at each Commencement ceremony to underscore a few of the many pathways to George Mason, Washington asked three different groups to stand and be recognized—first-generation graduates (which accounted for 26% of the class), students who came to George Mason via community college, and students who are current or former military members, or military dependents. All received warm ovations.

Student speaker Saniya Darediya, a neuroscience major from India, recalled how she arrived in the United States at age 17 and the fear she felt as an outsider in a strange country. She eventually realized that hers was one of many such experiences at George Mason.

“Everyone here carries their own version of difference,” Darediya said. “Some of us traveled across the world to get here. Some of us were the first in our families to attend college. Some of us were still discovering who we wanted to become. Differences were not separating us. They were connecting us.

“The differences that once made many of us wonder whether we belonged…are the very things that make us valuable.”

Washington briefly cited another singular story that drew hearty applause. Irma Garcia, a 72-year-old grandmother of eight, decades ago earned a two-year degree from Northern Virginia Community College before family and work obligations as a single parent took priority over her education. She later enrolled at George Mason through the Senior Citizen Waiver Program and this spring graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public administration.

Meese presented the George Mason Medal, the university’s highest honorary award, to Jay and Carolyn Marsh, a husband and wife who worked in George Mason Athletics administration for a combined 91 years before their retirement in 2021. The Mason Medal was a posthumous honor for Carolyn Marsh, who served as the executive assistant for eight George Mason men’s basketball coaches and as a positive influence on the lives of hundreds of the university’s athletes.

Alumnus Jay Marsh, Business Administration ’73, served in many senior athletic administrative capacities, including in operations, facilities, event management, and fundraising. It was fitting that he received the university’s ultimate recognition in EagleBank Arena, the building that had been a home away from home ever since it opened in 1985.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the 91�� Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to the organization, a network of about 260,000 alumni that can aid the new graduates in their career advancement.

“There is likely an alum in any industry you are joining, and there is likely an alum in any location in which you’re settling,” Hine said. “This is an incredible network that you should leverage.”

Indicative of George Mason serving as a talent pipeline in high-demand fields, 41% of undergraduate degree earners in the Class of 2026 are in STEM and health sciences fields, as are 44% of advanced degree earners.

Along with the graduates, a Commencement fixture also is moving on. Star Muir led Commencement for the last time as Head University Marshal, his role since 2015. Muir is retiring after 38 years of service and teaching in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“He conducted the ceremony with the appropriate level of dignity and respect for this auspicious occasion,” Washington said at the outset of his remarks. “Thank you, Star, for your dedication and devotion to your students and to the university.”

Watch the ceremony recording

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Wrap up for April 30 BOV meeting

Katarina Benson — Mon, 11 May 2026 18:52:50 +0000

Wrap up for April 30 BOV meeting Katarina Benson Mon, 05/11/2026 - 14:52

At its final meeting of the academic year, the 91�� Board of Visitors saluted graduates from the Early Identification Program, received an update on the men’s basketball program from Coach Tony Skinn, and passed a six-year capital plan, among other actions, including approval of a tuition and fees increase for 2026-27.

Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact, reported that 41 proposals (16 large, 25 small) had been submitted for the Grand Challenge Initiative. The initial funding recipients were announced in The George on May 6.

Faculty from all colleges and schools, including Mason Korea, submitted applications. Marshall noted that 38 of the proposals included more than one George Mason college or school and six proposals involved five or more colleges and schools.

“This initiative strengthens George Mason's competitiveness for large interdisciplinary awards,” Marshall said. “It also reshapes how we organize our institutional research. Finally, most importantly, it positions us to lead solutions to some of our most urgent societal needs, living up to our responsibility as a top-tier research university.”

Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, shared successes from his department and brought along a special guest—men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn. Women’s basketball coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis will be a guest at a future Athletic Committee meeting.

Lewis reported significant increases in corporate sponsorships, fundraising (including $2 million on Giving Day, doubling last year’s total), ticket sales, and men’s basketball attendance.

To improve student turnout at athletic events, the university is creating the position of assistant director of student involvement for student fan engagement. According to the job posting, the role “focuses on fostering connections between students, student organizations, and athletic programs to build a vibrant, spirited campus culture.”

“Most schools don't have that,” Lewis said. “But it shows the shared commitment in engaging our students, creating a community for our students, and our investment at the university level to make that happen.”

Under Skinn, the Patriots have posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history and amid a challenging recruiting environment. The team was co-regular season champion of the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2024-25 and has reached the NIT the past two postseasons. George Mason will enter the 2026-27 season seeking its first NCAA men’s basketball berth since 2011.

Skinn said the Basketball and Academic Performance Center for the men’s and women’s teams set to open in 2027 will be “transformational” for the program because it combines the team’s athletic and academic resources. The BAPC is a 27,870 square-foot addition and 14,341 square-foot renovation to the existing Recreation and Athletic Complex and will include a modern academic advising center for all George Mason student-athletes.

“Through men's basketball, I believe a return on investment reaches far beyond the game itself, driving enrollment, strengthening alumni engagement, fueling fundraising, elevating national relevance and deepening George Mason pride,” Skinn told the board. “That is what a successful basketball program can do for this university.”

Trishana E. Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the 91�� Foundation, reported that the university has raised more than $639 million toward its $1 billion Mason Now: Power the Possible goal. That includes $2.95 million raised from Giving Day on April 2, topping the $1.5 million collected last year for Giving Day.

Athletics, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Costello College of Business each had a record number of donors this year.

Bowden said that 237 faculty and staff made donations on Giving Day, and the day included 500 first-time donors.

The board congratulated 19 members of the Early Identification Program (EIP) who are graduating this month. Among them was Monica Amaya, an Honors College student and University Scholar who is earning a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in management information systems.

EIP provides academic preparation, leadership training, and college process guidance for first-generation students starting in the eighth grade. EIP is marking its 40th anniversary this year. More than 200 EIP alumni are currently enrolled at the university.

“When I arrived here at George Mason, I didn't feel like I was starting from scratch,” said Amaya, who is from Manassas Park, Virginia. “It felt like I was continuing a journey. One I had already been prepared for. I felt supported, and most importantly, I felt like I belonged.

“I carry with me everything that EIP and George Mason have given me: Resilience, a drive to learn, and a strong sense of community. My success didn't happen by chance. It started with access, it started with support. It started with EIP.”

Amaya, an EIP peer mentor, has a job lined up at CACI as a software developer.

Leaders from three of the university’s schools and colleges made pitches to the board for new or upgraded facilities.

Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, presented a plan to turn Point of View into a retreat and conflict center that could accommodate overnight visitors. Özerdem envisions a “civilian Camp David.”

Point of View, located in Lorton, Virginia, about 18 miles from the Fairfax Campus, is a retreat and research center guided by Carter School faculty. The facility, on 120 wooded acres on Belmont Bay, provides space and support for groups to resolve conflict, heal, and reconcile, and is also a community event space.

Özerdem said that the most effective conflict resolution programs enable participants to spend extended time together in common living and gathering spaces.

“When people share the dinner table, if they sleep under the same roof, they start to think about peace in a different way,” Özerdem said. “Live, think, negotiate together is what we want to achieve.”

Ozerdem said the university has secured $4 million from the state and needs another $10 million to upgrade the facility. He said a public–private partnership is one option.

Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, made a presentation to the board about CVPA fundraising activities and a proposed $104 million project for a new Center for the Arts. The current center opened in 1990.

“When the arts programs of 1990 are all counted up, we had 250 students and we now have 1,800 students majoring in all of our arts disciplines,” Davis said. "The building that we designed in the 1980s was designed for a whole different universe.”

Davis mentioned other potential projects, including a planning study for a new facility for the film and video studies program and game design program to share. Those programs currently are based in the Art and Design Building. Davis also discussed an “arts district vision” that would include a sculpture garden and campus museum.

Patrick Soleymani, associate dean of the Costello College of Business, presented a plan for a new business school building, an initiative that began in 2018. The proposed $165 million project is part of the university’s six-year capital plan (see below).

Soleymani said that Northern Virginia has more than 130,000 open jobs, including 80% in tech-related field, many of which are affiliated with business school graduates.

“Our reputation has outgrown our infrastructure,” Soleymani said. “A new home for Costello directly enhances student success and strengthens the university's position as being in charge of the economic engine of this community and region.”

The six-year capital plan includes several proposed projects. It establishes the university’s capital requests to be submitted to the commonwealth for consideration. The plan is updated on an annual basis and approved by the Board of Visitors.

Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB): Proposed as 150,000-square-foot building that will modernize and replicate the spaces within David King Hall and Planetary Hall to allow George Mason to repurpose or demolish the two antiquated facilities in accordance with the Master Plan.
Costello College of Business Building: The approximately 150,000-square-foot building is anticipated to collocate the Costello College of Business operations. A new building would allow for technology-rich, experiential business education while significantly improving visibility and competitiveness.
Baseball Stadium: Would address long-standing facility shortcomings and support the student-athlete experience and recruitment. The current facility has metal bleachers and no restrooms, lights, or concessions.
High-Performance Training Center: Envisioned in partnership with a potential private partner to leverage shared investment and expertise.
Field House: The current facility has exceeded its useful life and no longer meets current programmatic or building system standards.

The April 30 meeting documents can be accessed here. A video recording and transcript of the meeting is here.

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George Mason Board of Visitors approves modest tuition and fees increase for 2026-27

ckearney — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:25:29 +0000

George Mason Board of Visitors approves modest tuition and fees increase for 2026-27 ckearney Mon, 05/04/2026 - 12:25

The 91�� Board of Visitors voted Thursday to increase tuition for the 2026-27 academic year, a response to rising utility costs, and the decades-long gap in state funding when compared with the university’s peers.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That works out to 3.5% more for in-state students and 1.0% to 1.4% more for out-of-state students. Law school tuition did not increase.

A financial presentation can be found in the board materials.

Of the six doctoral universities in Virginia, George Mason was the only one to not raise in-state tuition last year. Even with the increase, George Mason remains well below most peers’ current tuition rates. Many of George Mason’s peers are considering or have already voted to increase tuition for 2026-27.

“We do know that an increase presents a challenge for any student, and this is an area the whole leadership team takes seriously,” 91�� President Gregory Washington said. “We remain a great value for people in the commonwealth and in the region.” Washington also noted that George Mason is the only large Opportunity University between Maine and Florida, the designation from Carnegie and ACE that reflects its strong return on investment for its students.

Many universities are facing a series of financial challenges, including a decline in graduate students and international students who cannot secure visas to enter the country. Rising utility and health care costs and a responsibility to finance partially funded state-mandated programs, like compensation increases and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, strains the university’s resources and hinders long-term strategic investments.

For the current academic year, George Mason is more than $7,000 per in-state student below the funding level mean of its five doctoral peer institutions in Virginia when state and tuition funding are combined. That gap equates to $180 million less in financial resources. George Mason’s in-state undergraduate tuition currently is $4,000 below the mean of five doctoral peer institutions.

The BOV also voted to raise student fees by 3.5%—$132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and graduate students and $98 for law students. Mandatory student fees support student engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs that contribute to the university’s welcoming environment.

The university offers many programs that support students who need financial assistance.

George Mason is known for its affordability and efficiency. The university was named by Washington Monthly as “best bang for the buck” in Virginia and by the Wall Street Journal as the No. 1 public university in the state for value and salary outcomes. George Mason also has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia found that 73% of in-state George Mason graduates stay in Virginia—3% higher than public four-year institutions in the state. For out-of-state George Mason students, 29% remain in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.

A recap of the April 30 meeting will be published Thursday, May 7.

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Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates

Katarina Benson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:07:11 +0000

Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates Katarina Benson Mon, 04/06/2026 - 13:07

91��’s Board of Visitors listened to public comments, toured the Fairfax Campus, extended negotiations for 91�� President Gregory Washington’s contract renewal through 2031, and considered a proposal to raise tuition and fees at the March 31 board meeting. The tuition and fees presentation is available in the BOV meeting materials. The video is here.

The proposal to raise tuition and fees about $500 per undergraduate student for the 2026-27 academic year to help offset rising costs and a longstanding funding disparity will be further discussed at the Finance and Land Use Committee meeting April 15 and will be voted on by the full board at their next meeting on April 30.

Enterprise Hall was among the buildings on the board's campus tour. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason is more than $7,000 per in-state student below the funding level mean of its five doctoral peer institutions in Virginia when state and tuition funding are combined. That disparity equates to $180 million in unrealized support.

The funding gap, a marked decline in graduate students because of changes in federal policy, state-mandated programs that require university funding, and rising utility and health care costs, among other factors, necessitate the increase, said Dan Stephens, interim senior vice president and chief financial officer. Stephens and Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life, presented the proposal to the BOV.

The proposed tuition rate increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That amounts to a 3.5% hike for in-state students and a 1.0% to 1.4% increase for out-of-state students. Law school tuition would remain flat.

The tuition increase would support infrastructure investments and compensation to attract and retain employees in Northern Virginia, the region of the state with the highest cost of living.

George Mason, named by Washington Monthly as “best bang for the buck” in Virginia and by the Wall Street Journal as the No. 1 public university in the state for best value and salary outcomes, has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

“According to the Federal Reserve, our nation's current inflation rate is landing between 3% to 4% across the board,” Stephens said, noting that George Mason did not raise in-state tuition last year. “So this means our proposed 3.5% increase aligns with the current inflationary drivers in our economy.”

Under the proposal, student fees would increase by $132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and grad students—bumping the total from $3,924 to $4,056—and $98 for law students.

Mandatory student fees are used for student support and engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs.

The presentation that Stephens and Pascarell gave to the BOV mirrored the one they gave March 24 at a Student Government Tuition Town Hall. The March 31 BOV meeting included a public comment session for anyone who wished to weigh in on the proposed tuition increase in person or in writing.

“When you look at the whole package, Mason is low cost and very high value,” Pascarell said. “The mandatory student fees cover the ecosystem of services outside of the classroom that make the campus function. This is what makes Mason, Mason, for our students.”

Pascarell also shared the ways the university supports students with financial assistance.

BOV members and other university officials received a briefing and tour facilitated by Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Julie Zobel, in which they saw elements of the Fairfax Campus’ older facilities and capital project priorities. Stops included Southside Dining Hall, Planetary Hall, Enterprise Hall, Liberty Square residence hall, the Field House, and Spuhler Field.

The BOV also passed a resolution authorizing Rector Michael J. Meese to negotiate and execute a new contract for President Washington that would extend his employment to June 30, 2031. Per the resolution, Washington’s base salary would be $870,000 with annual consideration for a bonus of $125,000. He also would receive $50,000 annually as a stay bonus to be paid at the end of his term.

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Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree

Katarina Benson — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:36:29 +0000

Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree Katarina Benson Wed, 03/25/2026 - 14:36

Colleges and universities face significant demographic, financial, technological, and political changes that affect enrollment, tuition and financial aid, athletics programs, and career outcomes. The institutions that will succeed in the future are the ones today transforming their operational models and establishing robust alliances across sectors.

That was the prevailing sentiment March 17 when higher education leaders from across the country convened at Fuse at Mason Square for the inaugural P3•EDU MAP Summit. (P3 is short for public–private partnerships, and MAP stands for mergers, affiliations, and partnerships.)

“Depending on how you count them, we have 6,000 institutions of higher education in this country, and not all of them are going to make it out of the next decade,” said U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. “And quite honestly, not all of them need to make it out of the next decade or should. And the ones that do are going to be the ones that adapt in a variety of ways.”

The Colleges and Universities at an Inflection Point panel at the P3•EDU MAP Summit. From left, moderator Ted Eismeier, Senior Vice President, Head of Postsecondary Communications, Whiteboard Advisors; Robert Kelchen, Professor and Department Head, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Brad Wolverton, Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education; Mike Gavin, President and CEO, Alliance for Higher Education; and Sara Custer, Editor-in-Chief, Inside Higher Ed. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine referenced the state’s many successful public–private partnerships, including Fuse at Mason Square itself, noting different kinds of P3s he’s brokered in his many elected offices in Virginia, including urban infrastructure, Metrorail extension, and student housing near college campuses. Higher education needs to "change course and change direction while still meeting the needs of the workforce and families,” he said.

“There's this sort of false narrative about higher ed institutions needing to do everything themselves,” said James Sparkman, the P3•EDU producer whose organization is a catalyst for higher ed alliances. “I think this is unsustainable for a lot of institutions, and it's definitely not the model for the dynamic colleges and universities that I know that thrive on partnerships.”

91�� President Gregory Washington acknowledged the importance of colleges finding “a new set of solutions” by collaborating with industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public K-12 sector.

“If you have these conversations with members of government, and with many of our well-placed corporates, they will tell you there are too many universities,” Washington said. “And that the value proposition is in question. So what that means is that the calvary probably isn't coming. We’re going to have to find ways to survive, which means looking more toward partnerships and frameworks working together. Those institutions that don't do that do so at their own peril. And part of that peril is their own survival.”

Washington mentioned his “co-opetition” model in which institutions find more ways to align resources while continuing to compete against each other. But those alliances can be elusive because colleges and universities and reluctant to relinquish their autonomy.

Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, found in a previous role that it was difficult to convince neighboring colleges to sync academic calendars or library loan agreements, let alone establish the cross-institutional partnerships that higher ed survival increasingly demands.

“Our blessing is that we are not a federal higher education system,” Hass said. “Our curse is that we are individual institutions and organizations with individual histories, individual mascots, individual sports teams…. We have this radical independence, and it is, in many ways, our strength. And it does make the system more complex, more flexible, and more redundant in a way that probably increases the overall resiliency of the system. But that doesn't mean individual institutions have that resiliency.”

“We have been at inflection points before in the history of higher ed,” Inside Higher Ed editor-in-chief Sara Custer said during one of the summit panels. “This one feels completely different. One thing that is a blanket cause of where we are right now is the overcompliance and fear we’re seeing on college campuses from leadership right down to junior staff.”

Kent, who was deputy education secretary in Virginia before joining the U.S. Department of Education, said that more intentional conversations are taking place now between potential partners in and around higher ed and that the role of his department is to facilitate those partnerships through “cutting regulatory burden.”

“We are all about breaking down silos,” Kent said. “We are all about doing things in a different way. We are all about questioning the status quo in this administration. We are breaking a lot of molds in the way that we do things, and we think for the betterment of students and taxpayers, and quite honestly, for the betterment of higher education as a whole.”

“P3s are something that Virginia embraces, and we're very excited about it, being able to put all stakeholders around the table,” Kaine said. “Because without that, it's really hard to do projects. And it's just a tribute to the fact that good things in life now hardly happen by the say-so of a dynamic president or the say-so of a dynamic governor. It takes a lot of people around the table.”

This initiative supports the Advancing 21st-Century Education for All solution of George Mason's Grand Challenge Initiative

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BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase

sholla4 — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:39:14 +0000

BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase sholla4 Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:39

The 91�� Board of Visitors welcomed 12 new members and elected new board leadership at its Feb. 26 meeting in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

The new rector is Michael J. Meese, formerly the vice rector. The new vice rector is Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, one of the dozen new members appointed to the board in January by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Returning visitor Armand Alacbay, JD ‘04, will continue in his role as secretary. The other two members of the board’s executive committee are new board members Anne Altman, BS Marketing ’82, and Paul Misener, JD ’93. Altman served on the BOV from 2006 to 2010.

Four of the board’s six standing committees are chaired by newly appointed board members.

“This reflects their willingness to serve and our commitment to bringing fresh perspectives into leadership,” Meese said. “I am very grateful for the willingness of the new and returning members to step into these roles.”

The new terms for the new executive committee and committee assignments will remain until the annual board of visitors meeting on July 31, 2026, when the board will reorganize based on the eligible board members.

In one early decision, the board voted to raise housing and dining meal plans by 4% to help offset rising costs in the state’s most expensive region and fund a backlog of deferred maintenance projects. The increase will be about $580 per student for the academic year. Rates vary by room style and meal plan. About 6,000 students, or 15% of the university’s enrollment, lives on campus.

Even after that increase, George Mason’s room and board rate for the 2026-27 academic year will be lower than the other five Virginia doctoral universities’ rates are for 2025-26.

“George Mason strives to balance the continued pressures of inflation and the high cost of living with the need to provide affordable food and housing to our students,” said Julie Zobel, senior vice president and chief operating officer in administration and operations. “The proposed housing increase allows us to keep pace with inflation and cover the costs of operating and staffing 40 residence halls in an environment where costs continue to rise.”

Last year the university provided more than $2 million in housing grants for lower-income students, Zobel said. The university also offers a housing and food insecurity fund.

There will be a tuition town hall for students at 4:30 p.m. on March 23 in Merten 1203 on the Fairfax Campus. The BOV will hold a public comment session on tuition on March 31, committee meetings on April 15 and a full board meeting on April 30.

The board approved two items regarding academic programs. Pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, George Mason will expand existing curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development to launch a BS in hospitality, tourism and events management, a change that will “align the degree more closely with industry standards and course demand,” Interim Provost Ajay Vinzé said.

The BA in government and international politics in the Schar School will become a BA in political science, a name change that will be clearer to students and families and align with national norms, Vinzé said.

Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, noted that George Mason research expenditures have grown from $84 million in 2010 to $282 million in 2024 but added that recent federal policy actions have resulted in 53 terminated awards representing about $16 million in lost funding. The Grand Challenge Initiative, which will soon announce grant recipients, has focused the university’s research on areas most likely to attract external funding.

Marshall also highlighted the opportunities that Fuse at Mason Square provides for collaboration across industry, academia and government. “There is a great community that is building there,” he said. “Not just with the faculty and the labs, but the tenants. Not the least of which is also the presence of Mason Enterprise in order to support startups and commercialization of technologies that are coming out of George Mason.”

One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation on Mason LIFE, an inclusive postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, from program director Linn Jorgenson. Mason LIFE is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and there will be more coverage of the milestone in The George in April. Student Nominzul Otgonbayar shared her experiences in the program. In Virginia, there are four universities with Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs. George Mason is the only university in the state to also have a Comprehensive Transition Program designation.

“That can only happen at a place as inclusive as this one,” Washington said. “There is a reason it is happening at Mason and not other places – because everybody can be at home here. That is the kind of institution we have. That is who we are.”

David Burge, vice president for enrollment management, noted that the university enrolls more undergraduate students now – 28,137 – than at any point in its history. That influx has helped offset a drop in international students as a result of changing federal policy. “We are educating more Virginians than we have ever educated as an institution,” Burge said.

One reason for the undergraduate surge is the university’s direct admission partnerships with 40 high schools across eight Northern Virginia school divisions. Students who meet certain academic criteria are informed they have been accepted to George Mason, even if they have not applied to the university.

“We have talented students in Virginia who were self-selecting out of college,” Burge said. “We are doing a better job of getting them in at this point.” A projected 30 percent of the university’s incoming freshmen this fall will be from direct admission.

“I can guarantee you within 10 years, this will be the norm of how institutions admit students,” Washington said. “And by that time – even before that – five years from now, we need to be on to something else.”

Trishana Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the GMU Foundation, said the university has raised $620.3 million toward its $1 billion goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign. She also offered a reminder for Giving Day on April 2.

“This day is about giving to George Mason and to anything that you care about within our university, so it is something that strongly resonates with our community,” Bowden said. “We have seen the number increase every year and so we’re hoping that we will have the support of all our leadership boards and committees and advisory councils.”

Marvin Lewis, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, gave an overview of George Mason student-athletes’ success in the classroom (3.4 overall cumulative GPA) and in competition, new facilities (a planned groundbreaking in late spring for the Basketball & Academic Performance Center) and upcoming Atlantic 10 championships that will take place locally – the outdoor track and field championships at George Mason on May 2-3 and the baseball championship May 20-23 at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Washington gave a shoutout to George Mason student Ilia Malinin, a gold medalist U.S. figure skater in the recently concluded Winter Olympics. Malinin schedules his course work around his skating training and competitions. “He is a contemporary student,” Washington said. “He is working, in terms of his craft and he is doing that while also being a student.

“At George Mason, that’s Tuesday. We have a lot of folks like that and we know how to integrate and work with those young people while they are pursuing their dreams and also their academic pursuits.”

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Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning

ckearney — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:49:46 +0000

Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning ckearney Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:49

91�� honored more than 4,900 graduates at Winter Commencement on Thursday, but before they turned their tassels, President Gregory Washington wanted them to know the caliber of university from which they were earning their degrees.

George Mason is one of only five very large universities in the country that the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education have cited as excelling in opportunity, outcomes and research.

“I want each of you to leave here today knowing that you didn’t just earn your degree from any old place,” Washington said. “You actually earned your degree from a special place.”

More than 4,900 students received their degrees December 18 at George Mason's Winter Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The ceremony at EagleBank Arena, livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel, occurred the same month that the university’s namesake turned 300, another distinction for a graduating class with students from 87 countries and 38 states. In addition to the 4,900 graduates, more than 300 students received certificates. About 27% of the bachelor’s degree recipients identified as first-generation graduates.

Washington in his remarks noted the scrutiny the university has been under in recent months and how he and his leadership team have relied on George Mason’s core values in their management and response to these challenges. He encouraged the graduates to determine their core values to help guide responses to the complex issues they will encounter.

“When facing trials and tribulations of life, lean into who you are—who you really are,” Washington said. “Like the old saying goes, an honest man’s pillow is his peace of mind. If you make choices and decisions rooted in your core values, rooted in who you are, that peace of mind will sustain, inspire, and comfort you and those who you lead.”

Washington and George Mason rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented guest speaker Ali Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ’99, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Manouchehri’s George Mason experience began with a missed application deadline but concluded with him co-founding a business from his room in Dominion Hall at the onset of the dot.com boom.

From left, Rector Charles Stimson, Commencement speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri, and President Washington during the 2025 Winter Commencement at EagleBank Arena. Manouchehri was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

That business, MetroStar, now has more than 500 employees and is a major source of innovation and services in the government and intelligence sectors. Manouchehri, the company’s CEO, credits the power of curiosity as a factor in his success because “it lets you imagine new beginnings when others only see endings” and it “helps you connect where fear divides.” He encouraged the new graduates to see how far their own inquisitiveness can lead them.

With an anecdote that no doubt warmed the hearts of the educators in the audience, Manouchehri recalled an inspiring Fairfax County middle school teacher who stoked his relentless curiosity and ability to dream big.

“He taught me a lesson that feels more important today in a world overwhelming with information, opinions, politics, and technology,” Manouchehri said. “Don’t just consume what you see. Explore it for yourself. Research it. Understand it. Because the truth isn’t always what’s the loudest or the highest likes on social media, it’s about what you take time to discover for yourself.”

Student speaker Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student graduating with a degree in bioengineering, said an introductory course group project that entailed designing a 3D-printed prosthetic hand fueled his interest in the humanitarian impact of that field. One of his two George Mason study-abroad trips was to Ecuador, where a group of student and faculty volunteers assembled 22 prosthetic legs for amputees.

Elayan, who also has interned at a pharmaceutical company, acknowledged bouts of self-doubt during his time in college but encouraged his fellow graduates to always focus on the future. He is the fourth child in his family to attend George Mason.

“Don’t get stuck in chapters that have already closed, because you can’t change what’s been written in ink,” Elayan said. “Because there’s blank page upon blank page ready to share the new untold chapters of the stories of your lives. But the real kicker is that you hold the pen.”

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors accounted for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees at Winter Commencement as well as 37% of students earning advanced degrees.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Sciences ’85, president of the 91�� Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to an alumni network of more than 250,000 worldwide. He encouraged the Winter Class of 2025 to follow him on LinkedIn to further build the alumni network, attend their first homecoming this winter, and to volunteer at George Mason.

“The strength of our university is built on accomplishments and engagement by alumni like you,” Hine said. “Your success strengthens the George Mason degree for all who hold it and for all who will earn it in years ahead.”

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George Mason honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement

ckearney — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:10:19 +0000

George Mason honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement ckearney Mon, 12/15/2025 - 14:10

91�� will honor nearly 5,300 students graduating or earning certificates at Winter Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

The event will be livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel. Doors open an hour before the ceremony.

The winter graduates hail from 87 countries and 38 states, and 27% of bachelor’s degree recipients identify as first-generation graduates.

The guest speaker will be Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a George Mason student. The student speaker is Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student earning a bachelor’s of science in bioengineering.

Degree celebrations for nine George Mason schools and colleges also will take place this week at EagleBank Arena and those too will be livestreamed.

Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement and degree celebration ceremonies.

The top five majors among the 3,107 undergraduates in the winter Class of 2025 are business; computer science; psychology; information technology; and criminology, law and society.

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors account for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees and 37% of students earning advanced degrees, indicative of how George Mason is a top producer of tech talent for Northern Virginia and the state.

For the 1,647 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, special education, computer science, accounting, and business administration.

The top majors for the 190 students earning doctoral degrees are education, computer science, psychology, biosciences, economics, and statistical science.

The winter graduating class also includes three law school graduates.

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Manouchehri is this year’s Winter Commencement speaker

Katarina Benson — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:28:06 +0000

Manouchehri is this year’s Winter Commencement speaker Katarina Benson Fri, 10/17/2025 - 10:28

Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a 91�� student, will be the featured speaker at Winter Commencement on December 18 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

Manouchehri will be the Winter Commencement speaker.

Manouchehri launched MetroStar, a digital transformation company serving government agencies and the private sector, in 1999 from his residence hall room. The company now has a team of more than 500 engineers, designers, and innovators who assist clients in staying abreast of the latest technologies to modernize operations.

The Iranian-born Manouchehri also is co-founder and chairperson, and former CEO, at software company Zoomph. Both MetroStar and Zoomph are based in Reston, Virginia.

In 2023, Manouchehri was named Executive of the Year in the $75 Million-$300 Million category at the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards. In 2022, he received WashingtonExec's 2022 Chief Executive Officer Award in the Private Company, Annual Revenue less than $150M category. In 2024 he was appointed director of MainStreet Bank. 

Named a College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumnus in 2012, Manouchehri has been active in several capacities at George Mason, including as philanthropist, a judge at the Accelerator Investor Conference, and currently as an advisory board member for the Costello College of Business Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Manouchehri spoke at the CHSS degree celebration in 2016.

Winter Commencement details

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Fuse at Mason Square powers research and innovation through collaboration

ckearney — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:16:02 +0000

Fuse at Mason Square powers research and innovation through collaboration ckearney Mon, 09/29/2025 - 16:16

91�� celebrated Fuse at Mason Square with the same collaborative spirit that will fuel decades of innovation at the state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of representatives from industry, academia, government, and the community came together for the grand celebration at Fuse on Thursday, which included Governor Glenn Youngkin speaking at the ribbon cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center.

“Igniting a fuse signifies the moment where possibility transforms into inevitability,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said during the main program celebration that culminated the grand opening event. “It's that razor-thin instant where preparation meets decision and hesitation gives way to action. What we have done today is strike that initial flame. And that initial flame is a declaration that the future will no longer be passive. It will unfold because you dare to set it in motion.”

Fuse, which anchors the Arlington Innovation Corridor that runs from Rosslyn to Ballston, is a “a factory of dreams, factory of ideas,” said Takis Karantonis, chair of the Arlington County Board. Fuse will house research and economic opportunities in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, power/energy, Next G communications, nuclear small reactor control systems, and data center engineering.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Much of that work will support the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative. In addition, Mason Enterprise will support thousands of entrepreneurs in tech and other fields on their path to commercialization and adoption of their ideas and inventions.

Washington singled out several key figures in the completion of the Fuse project, including College of Engineering and Computing dean Ken Ball; Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement; and Mason Innovation Partners, a development consortium led by Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate. The event also included acknowledgment of the key role philanthropy plays at George Mason, giving thanks to Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen, whose names grace Virginia’s first School of Computing.

“We are celebrating more than a building,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of advancement and alumni relations and president of the 91�� Foundation. “We are celebrating a bold vision come to life, a place where ideas, partnerships, opportunities will shape our future. So consider this an open invitation. Partner with us, invest with us. Help us ensure that the energy we celebrate today continues to inspire generations of thinkers, doers, and leaders.”

Ball said that 44 engineering and computing faculty have moved into their offices at Fuse and are setting up their labs, and 120 PhD students are there as well. Hundreds of students are already enrolled in classes at Fuse, where there are labs for robotics and autonomous systems, virtual reality, power engineering, networking, cybersecurity, and other innovative pursuits. With Fuse fully open, every school and college at Mason now has a presence at Mason Square.

From left, Vice President Trishana E. Bowden, Long Nguyen, Kimmy Duong, President Gregory Washington, and Dean Ken Ball at the Grand Celebration for Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“You'll see the best minds in higher education and private industry together tackling some of society's toughest ethical and technical challenges,” George Mason Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson said. “And most importantly, you'll see our students gaining the kinds of hands-on experience that will carry them into the workforce ready to lead.”

Ball was one of multiple speakers to thank the university’s philanthropists, including Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen, who gave a $20 million gift to establish the state’s first School of Computing in their name. Duong and Nguyen also provide scholarships to students at George Mason and other colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C., region through the Kimmy Duong Foundation.

One scholarship recipient is Rakibul Alam, an Honors College student in the Costello College of Business. Alam has served in Student Government and as a student ambassador at the business school, launched a startup called Project Hope to improve the availability of menstrual health products in Bangladesh, and studied abroad in Morocco and India. Alam also is president of Mason Consulting Group and interned with the Department of the Navy and KPMG.

“The generosity of our donors, including the Kimmy Duong Foundation, has not only helped me with the financial challenges of tuition, books, and living expenses, but has also help me accomplish my dream of a global education,” Alam said in thanking Duong and Nguyen, telling them, “You are changing lives and creating a generation of students who will be giving back. You are making this world a better place. And I hope that I can be part of that change and to represent you well.”

The Fuse celebration included the dedication and ribbon cutting of the Energy Exploration (E2) Center, the largest small modular reactor (SMR) control room simulator of its kind in the country, and one of 11 in the world.

E2, in partnership with NuScale Power Corporation, will provide students with opportunities to learn on the latest technology to become leaders and innovators in the sustainable energy workforce, a shared vision among higher education, government and industry.

Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank funded E2 as part of the Virginia Department of Energy’s investments in the state’s nuclear energy workforce development.

“You all are about to engage in a step function change in your ability to understand the power of nuclear power,” Youngkin said, singling out the students and faculty in attendance at the dedication on the seventh floor of Fuse. “Because you're no longer going to be reading about SMRs. You're no longer going to wish that you could work on one. You are going to be able to walk into that room….and do something incredible, which is prepare yourself for an extraordinary career.

“We have a collective moment to celebrate, a collective moment to say this is a step that we will all remember that the workforce of the future in order to drive the power of the future was right here at 91��.”

Glenn Davis, BA Economics ’93, is the state’s energy director. He joined Youngkin, Washington, and NuScale Chief Commercial Officer Clayton Scott at the dedication.

“91�� has been an exceptional partner building curriculum, recruiting talent, and opening this space to educators, local leaders, and the public. It’s the right capacity and capability in the right place at the right time,” Davis said.

At a VIP reception that preceded the E2 event, Washington thanked several groups for their involvement in Fuse, including the President’s Innovation Advisory Council, which includes representatives from industry, community, and government.

Washington specifically cited Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, for the extensive role he has played in championing Fuse and lifting technological innovation in Northern Virginia, including attracting Amazon HQ2 to the region.

“His efforts to drive economic growth, jobs, and investment across Northern Virginia has been recognized and championed all throughout the country,” Washington said. “He has been a huge supporter of us, putting George Mason literally at the center of that development, and has been incredibly helpful in helping to move it forward.

“He has provided leadership and vision in shaping Fuse at Mason Square as a model for collaboration among business, government, and academia.”

George Mason faculty and students presented interactive demonstrations involving drones, robots, and other tools of technological advancement.

“When the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Northern Virginia community, and 91�� work together, there is absolutely no limit to what we can achieve and achieve together,” Washington said.

Learn more about Fuse at Mason Square

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