91����

Monika Blakely has lived all over the world, but her time at 91���� has been particularly special.

Death has been the constant companion in Steven Luu’s life—from war-torn Vietnam to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. But through art, Luu, now an MFA student at 91����’s School of Art, has discovered peace, purpose, and a path to healing.

This Army major wanted to combine his military service with the hard science of biodefense. Read how Major Geoffrey Mattoon found his way to the Schar School’s one-of-a-kind graduate program—in the shadow of the Pentagon.

On April 10, eight final student and alumni teams—two from each track—pitched panels of entrepreneurs at 2025 Patriot Pitch competition, organized by the Costello College of Business.

Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Marina Komarova, MS Business Analytics ‘24, knew she wanted to get a business degree from a respected American university.

A 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the College of Education and Human Development, Horna can be found these days in sunny Cocoa Beach, Florida, teaching surfing lessons. Big Wave Dave, as he is known to patrons and students at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, credits his current occupation to his experience at George Mason.

A'Laura C. Hines, a physical chemistry PhD candidate at 91����, has been awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship. The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program provides full tuition, an annual stipend, and a summer internship at a DoD facility.

The keynote speaker during the Schar School’s 2025 Degree Celebration program on May 14 is City of Fairfax mayor Catherine S. Read. She’s also a school graduate. Read more about Read.

91���� Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis has announced a contract extension for men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, through the 2029-30 season.

91���� alumna Rebecca Wahls’ directorial debut film Him centers on the last five contestants of a reality dating show, who discover that their potential “soulmate” isn’t what he seems to be.