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Mason LIFE marks 20 years of enduring impact in special education

Katarina Benson — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:40:49 +0000

Mason LIFE marks 20 years of enduring impact in special education Katarina Benson Fri, 05/01/2026 - 15:40

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at 91�� marked the 20th anniversary of the Mason LIFE Program on April 10. To celebrate, a luncheon was held at the Center for the Arts that brought together alumni, families, faculty, and community partners in a powerful show of community and commitment.

The program, Celebrating Mason LIFE’s 20th Anniversary and the Enduring Impact of Special Education: A Legacy of Learning and Community, raised more than $50,000 in support of Mason LIFE and special education scholarships. These funds will directly support students and strengthen programs that continue to expand access, opportunity, and innovation in inclusive education.

Guests included current and former Mason LIFE families, faculty members, alumni, and dedicated supporters who have helped shape the program over the past two decades. The gathering was both a celebration of progress and a shared commitment to the future. Personal stories shared by students and families underscored the program’s lasting impact on students’ academic and career outcomes as well as on their confidence, independence, and sense of community.

Mason LIFE student Amar Malik (right) and his father, George Mason Board of Trustees Member Boz Malik. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

For 20 years, Mason LIFE has served as a nationally recognized model for inclusive higher education, providing students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience university life, build independence, and prepare for meaningful careers. The anniversary celebration also honored the broader impact of George Mason’s Special Education Programs and the Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities, both of which have played a vital role in advancing research, practice, and advocacy in the field.

Stephanie Smith Lee, a former Mason LIFE parent and a nationally recognized leader in disability policy and advocacy, gave the keynote. With more than three decades of experience in advocacy, she spoke to the progress made in expanding access to education and employment for individuals with disabilities, while also challenging attendees to continue pushing for greater inclusion and opportunity.

From left, Stephanie Smith Lee, Michael M. Behrmann, and Dean Ingrid Guerra-López. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

Together with Professor Emeritus Michael M. Behrmann, former Special Education Division Director, Lee was integral to the creation of the Mason LIFE pilot program. That pilot with two Mason PhD candidates and three students has now grown to 60 students and includes on-campus housing options and formal workforce development training.

The event was made possible through the generosity of donors and sponsors whose support continues to sustain and grow the program. Together, these supporters are helping ensure that the next generation of Mason LIFE students and special education scholars have access to the resources, experiences, and opportunities that define the program.

As CEHD looks ahead, the 20th anniversary serves not only as a moment of reflection but as a call to continue building on this legacy and the university’s commitment to accessibility and creating pathways for many.

Power the Possible

Learn about Mason LIFE

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Hylton Performing Arts Center Annual Gala: An Evening Above the Clouds

Tionge Johnson — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:06:48 +0000

Hylton Performing Arts Center Annual Gala: An Evening Above the Clouds Tionge Johnson Thu, 04/30/2026 - 15:06

Daniel Tucciarone, Sheyna Burt, and Thomas Sabal, Hylton Performing Arts Center Gala Honorees. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

On April 25, guests gathered at 91��'s Hylton Performing Arts Center for the 2026 Gala, An Evening Above the Clouds. The night began with a cocktail reception in the event’s themed Cumulus Lounge featuring signature drinks including a “Bourbon Smash” crafted by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits and a “Meyer Lemon Squeeze” mocktail, live piano by George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) alumnus Charlie Murdock, BM Music ’24, and a curated Art Walk of works by veteran artists organized by current School of Art graduate student and U.S. Air Force veteran Steven Luu through Mason Exhibitions.

Guests then moved to Merchant Hall stage for a three-course dinner by Well Dunn Catering, surrounded by elegant floral design and custom centerpieces by artist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and George Mason faculty member Patrick Sargent. The evening’s entertainment included an aerialist performance, a Mason Music Productions string quartet, and a featured performance by current CVPA Dewberry School of Music student Joshua Slutsky.

Aerialist from Candescent performing on Merchant Hall stage. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

This year’s gala celebrated three “high-flying” honorees: Sheyna Burt, Daniel Tucciarone, and Thomas Sabal. Each charmed the audience with charismatic speeches, reflecting a palpable passion for the arts and the vibrant community they have found within the Hylton Center.

Veterans and the Arts Initiative Program Director Niyati Dhokai provided inspiring remarks on the program's impact by sharing two participant testimonials. Regarding the initiative, Dhokai said it “affirms something simple and powerful: that the arts can honor service not only through reflection, but by carrying the integrity of service into the future.”

George Mason President Gregory Washington was then welcomed to the stage by Dean Rick Davis, building upon the idea that the arts are fueled by imagination and innovation.

“By supporting the Hylton Center, you’re doing even more than [supporting the arts]," Washington noted. "You are investing in imagination. You are investing in innovation. You are investing in education.”

In his final gala as executive director, Dean Rick Davis took control as captain for one last flight. He guided guests through the Center’s remarkable achievements, highlighting a 65% growth in participation for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative and the successful landing of the $15 million long-term endowment goal. Before disembarking, he concluded his remarks by clearing the runway for incoming Executive Director Carolyn Hays.

College of Visual and Performing Arts student Joshua Slutsky, bass, accompanied by faculty member Eunae Ko Hann. Photo by A.E.Landes Photography

The evening reached its peak during the Raise Your Paddle event, as guests lifted glowing rings in a moving tribute led by Rick Davis—creating a “night sky” that celebrated their generosity. Along with the Wine and Whiskey Pull and a record-setting silent auction, the gala raised more than $40,000 for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative and $165,000 overall.

Afterward, guests exited through a cloud of fog into the transformed Didlake Grand Foyer for the Club on Cloud 9 afterparty. Treats from Spun Cotton Candy Art and Popcorn Monkey, music by DJ Rio of DC Rhythms, and espresso martinis capped the night, with commemorative luggage tags from Chantilly Air marking a smooth, celebratory journey.

The night would not have been possible without the support of many local businesses and supporters. Thank you to our Anniversary Gala Supporters!

Horizon Sponsor–Compton & Duling
Navigator Sponsor–City of Manassas
Liftoff Sponsors–Carolyn Hays and Jeff Burke; Connery Strategies; Didlake; Dominion Energy; 91�� Foundation; Micron Technology; Rick Davis and Julie Thompson; UVA Health; Wall Foundation
Ground Control Sponsors–Dan Tucciarone and Tom Sabal; Sentara Healthcare; Shirley Rice; Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian; Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh
Boarding Sponsor–Chantilly Air
Club on Cloud 9 Sponsor–Appliance Connection
Cumulus Lounge Sponsor–Avports
Inflight Beverage Sponsor–Whitlock Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Raise Your Paddle Sponsor–APP Jet Center
Wine and Whiskey Pull Sponsor–The Meredith House
Silent Auction Sponsor–Todos Neighborhood Market
Honoree Reception Sponsor–Ron Harris

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

The Hylton Performing Arts Center Names Carolyn Hays as New Executive Director

Tionge Johnson — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:29:14 +0000

The Hylton Performing Arts Center Names Carolyn Hays as New Executive Director Tionge Johnson Thu, 04/23/2026 - 15:29

91��'s Hylton Performing Arts Center is thrilled to announce Carolyn Hays as its next executive director, effective May 10, 2026. Hays, who has served as the Hylton Center’s director of development since February 2024, steps into the role following a rigorous national search and succeeds the College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis, who has led the organization for nearly 15 years.

Portrait courtesy of Carolyn Hays.

A seasoned nonprofit leader with more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, board development, fundraising, and organizational leadership, Hays brings both deep institutional knowledge and a broad perspective shaped by leadership roles across the arts, higher education, and healthcare philanthropy sectors. Her appointment reflects a strong continuity of mission for the Hylton Center, while embarking on an exciting new chapter for its long-range artistic vision and community impact.

“Carolyn has already distinguished herself as an exceptional leader within the Hylton Center, bringing strategic insight, collaborative energy, and a profound commitment to our mission," said Davis. “Her ability to build meaningful relationships across our staff, board, university, and regional community, paired with her impressive record in fundraising and organizational leadership, makes her uniquely prepared to guide the Hylton Center into its next era of artistic excellence and civic connection.”

The transition also marks a moment to celebrate the extraordinary tenure of Davis, who has served as executive director of the Hylton Center since 2011, while also leading 91��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts as dean since 2015. Under his leadership, the Hylton Center expanded its presenting footprint through signature series and community partnerships, deepened its education programming for learners of all ages, and established the nationally recognized Veterans and the Arts Initiative in 2014 in collaboration with Program Director Niyati Dhokai.

Davis also oversaw the completion of the Education and Rehearsal Wing in 2019, fulfilling the original vision for the campus as a place where great art is created, taught, rehearsed, and shared. During his tenure, and thanks to its continuing partnership with the Hylton Family Foundation, the Hylton Center was able to assist its Arts Partners and Affiliates with rental waivers through the pandemic and its aftermath. A further philanthropic milestone was reached this spring when the Hylton Center completed its long-held goal of raising $15 million in endowment funds to help guarantee future financial stability.

"I have had the honor of working with Rick Davis in his role as executive director for nearly a decade. His dedicated leadership has transformed the nascent idea of a true community and arts partnership into a world-class creative commons. Now, at 16, the Hylton Center has an abundance of new opportunities with the expansion of George Mason, the realization of Innovation Park, and a new executive director who can spend her time focused on bringing the facility and its community to the next level," said Executive Board Chair Joyce Connery.

As director of development, Hays has been a key member of the Hylton Center’s senior leadership team and staff liaison to the Executive Board. Her work has included establishing the framework for a $1 million contributed revenue goal, securing transformational support for accessibility initiatives across Mason Arts, and cultivating significant planned gifts that will benefit the wider arts ecosystem at George Mason.

Connery added, “Since she came on board as development director, Carolyn has challenged us all to dream bigger and open ourselves up to new ways to bring in audiences and partners and keep them enthralled. In her new role, I am confident that she will bring the Hylton Center to the next level and expand our reach."

Hailing proudly from Wyoming, Hays holds degrees from the University of Wyoming and Florida State University and maintains active professional credentials through CFRE International and BoardSource. Prior to joining the Hylton Center, Hays built an accomplished career that includes positions at Washington Performing Arts, Washington National Opera, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and nearly a decade in community hospital philanthropy in both Texas and Northern Virginia. Her experience also includes teaching arts leadership and management at the University of Houston and George Mason. Additionally, she’s the current board member of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and part of the 2026 Leadership Prince William class.

“As an artist and a leader, I am honored to guide the Hylton Center into its next chapter," said Hays. “Our stage is a ‘creative commons’ for Northern Virginia, and I am committed to ensuring it remains a vibrant home where world-class performance, education, and community engagement thrive together.”

Hays’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the Hylton Center continues to expand its role as a cultural hub for Prince William County, Manassas, and the greater Northern Virginia region. As it enters this new chapter, audiences, artists, and community partners can look forward to an exciting season of programming and continued opportunities for engagement.

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Faculty and Staff News

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School of Nursing offers its first full scholarship thanks to generous donor support

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:21 +0000

School of Nursing offers its first full scholarship thanks to generous donor support Taylor Thomas Mon, 04/20/2026 - 11:54

The support of donors has life-changing impacts for 91�� students. An incredible show of generosity by an anonymous donor will provide full scholarship support for an undergraduate student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the College of Public Health’s School of Nursing. The Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey Endowed Scholarship will cover tuition for an entire academic year. This is the first full scholarship at the College of Public Health.

“We are profoundly grateful for the generosity of our donors, whose support has transformative effects on the lives of our students. This extraordinary gift will enable deserving Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to pursue their education without the burden of tuition,” said Dean Melissa Perry. “Such acts of kindness and commitment to education not only honor the legacy of Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey but also inspire our students to strive for excellence and make a meaningful impact in the field of public health and beyond. To our donors, thank you for believing in the power of education and for investing in the future leaders of health care.”

The scholarship was established to honor the late Barry Berkey and his wife, Velma Berkey. Berkey was a well-known psychiatrist, author, and the first clinical director of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute before he began his long-standing private practice. The first scholarship will be awarded in the fall 2026 semester to a full-time, in-state student who demonstrates high academic performance (minimum 3.5 GPA) and financial need.

The college extends thanks to all our generous donors.

Learn more about how you can give to the College of Public Health at 91��.

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

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Planned gift opens doors for many George Mason students

Katarina Benson — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:56:04 +0000

Planned gift opens doors for many George Mason students Katarina Benson Fri, 04/10/2026 - 16:56

91�� alumnus Robert “Ken” Hedrick Jr., BA History ’71, said his philanthropy is rooted in the examples set by both sets of his grandparents, who were neighbors in a farming community in West Virginia. His paternal grandparents fed anyone who walked by the farm, and his maternal grandparents regularly took in foster children. Both families were always first to share what they had.

Photo provided

These quiet acts of service formed the foundation of Hedrick’s values.

“I was impressed by my grandparents,” he recalls. “They didn’t have any money and yet they always helped others. That has stuck with me to this day.”

Other grounding lessons came from his time as a student at George Mason in the early 1970s.

“My history professor, Dr. Josephine Pacheco, pointed out that the ability to change your mind as you learn is probably the most important thing you’ll gain from your college education,” said Hedrick. “I experienced this firsthand while I was writing and learning about Abe Lincoln during her class. This sense of openness, being open to changing my mind stayed with me.”

Hedrick’s background as a history student was critical to shaping his thinking and his career. His work in public finance with cities, counties, and government agencies was strengthened by his ability to offer a deep understanding of people and their backgrounds. This skill to connect with individuals from all walks of life, which he credits to his George Mason education, proved invaluable to opening opportunities he never expected.

Hedrick’s early career took him to Capitol Hill during the Watergate era, where he worked on President Nixon’s impeachment and met the future Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also worked with Senator John Glenn, an experience that would later open a door to attending graduate school and securing a job in the financial industry—defining moments that proved life-changing.

Hedrick is now focused on helping future generations of George Mason students gain access to their own life-changing moments. Through his planned gift, Hedrick has created four endowed scholarships in tribute to those who shaped his life: his late husband, Walter Huxley; his late parents, Robert Hedrick and Lorraine Kisner Hedrick; and his late partner, Hans-Gerd Mehrtens.

Robert Hedrick Jr. and Walter Huxley. Photo provided

The Robert K. Hedrick Jr./Walter F. Huxley Scholarship Fund benefits history students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Originally established in Hedrick’s name alone, he added his late husband’s name, Walter Huxley, after his passing. For Hedrick, the naming of this scholarship serves as a testament of their life together, honoring their marriage and their shared belief in the power of philanthropy.

The Lorraine Kisner Hedrick Scholarship Fund benefits students in the School of Nursing and is named in memory of Hedrick’s mother, whom he describes as a gifted, determined woman, and who became a registered nurse during a time when opportunities for women to pursue advanced degrees in medicine were limited. She graduated from nursing school at the top of her class and had a long career in emergency care and community health.

After raising her children, Kisner Hedrick enrolled in George Mason’s Bachelor of Individualized Study Program and graduated in 1985. She later pursued a PhD in psychology at the University of Richmond but passed away before completing the degree. Her dedication to education and service stands as a powerful example of lifelong learning and resilience.

The Robert K. Hedrick Sr. Scholarship Fund supports students in the College of Engineering and Computing and is named in memory of Hedrick’s father. Hedrick Sr. was an engineer and innovator and shared the family’s commitment to education and helping others. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from George Washington University using his VA benefits, then went on to complete a master’s in civil engineering from Catholic University and pursue a PhD at George Washington University while employed by the U.S. Army. In that role, he pioneered military technologies later used throughout Europe and Greenland.

Hans-Gerd Mehrtens and Robert Hedrick Jr. Photo provided

The Hans-Gerd Mehrtens Scholarship Fund supports students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and is named for Hedrick’s late partner. Mehrtens grew up near Bremen, Germany, and attended Universität der Künste for his bachelor of fine arts and Freie Universität Berlin for his PhD in philosophy. He was part of the vibrant art scenes in Berlin and the East Village, New York City, and his work has been shown in New York, Canada, and Germany. Mehrtens had a passion for living life to the fullest, and his art carries an intensity that reflects his rage against the HIV epidemic and his own HIV diagnosis.

These scholarships demonstrate Hedrick’s commitment to helping the next generation and his gratitude for the opportunities that shaped his life and career.

“When we each reflect on our lives, we’ll likely realize there have been many people who have given us a helping hand up,” says Hedrick. “I've had a lot of people help me, for which I'm eternally grateful. This is one way I can give back, help someone, help the next generation.”

He hopes the students who receive these scholarships use the opportunity to advance themselves and are inspired to help others in the future. For Hedrick, directing his support to George Mason students was intentional, as our university represents the heart of educational access and has a high percentage of first-generation students.

“George Mason is a place where education truly transforms families—where support makes an immediate and lasting difference,” he said.

Hedrick’s planned gift contributes to Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign and underscores how our community of alumni, friends, faculty, and staff are committed to meeting the challenge of transforming the future.

Mason Alumni

Power the Possible

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Celebrating Our Champions: An evening honoring faculty and staff donors

Katarina Benson — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:33:46 +0000

Celebrating Our Champions: An evening honoring faculty and staff donors Katarina Benson Mon, 03/30/2026 - 15:33

91��’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations recognized the contributions of its champions—George Mason’s faculty and staff donors—with an evening of thanks. The March 18 Celebrating Our Champions event focused on the generosity and support that faculty and staff offer the university while serving George Mason students. “I know that you care about students, but you all have taken it a step further,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “You have decided to give back to the very institution that you serve every day. That is profound.”

Nena Rogers (left) received the 2026 Spirit of Giving Award. Photo by Sean Kelley

The annual event reflects the importance of faculty and staff engagement with the university. “Your participation strengthens a legacy of generosity that connects our past, our present, and our future,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the 91�� Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “Tonight is about a tradition where we recognize a staff and a faculty member for their philanthropy in the many years they give to our institution.”

The Luminary Award honors faculty donors whose philanthropy, advocacy, and commitment serve as an example for the community. This year, it was awarded to Keith D. Renshaw, a professor of psychology and senior associate provost for undergraduate education. Described as a respected colleague, Renshaw was recognized as a collaborator, a mentor, and a friend.

“I truly believe it is hard to find a more compelling place than 91��,” said Renshaw. “I take very seriously the responsibility that comes with this award. I will continue to support all that I can and to inspire others to support as much as they can, because it is hard to find another place that is more deserving of that support than George Mason.”

Keith Renshaw (center) received the Luminary Award. Photo by Sean Kelley

Nena Rogers, BS ’89, MA ’19, deputy athletics director for student services and performance, received the 2026 Spirit of Giving Award, which recognizes a staff member who embodies the university’s philanthropic spirit. A former student-athlete herself, Rogers was noted for having the ability to see the possibilities and strengths hidden within her students, for the benefit of not only the athletic programs at George Mason but the athletes themselves.

“To me, the spirit of giving is simple. It’s believing in someone’s future. It’s extending a hand toward opportunity,” said Rogers. “Together, we know that the investments we make today will shape the leaders of tomorrow.”

Because of faculty and staff members like Renshaw and Rogers, students at George Mason not only thrive for a semester, but for years to come. “My experience here has been invaluable,” said Madison Preis, a criminology major who received support from the Stay Mason Fund and spoke at the event. “There’s truly nothing like it. I want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you because you’re enabling our futures and supporting our dreams.”

This new annual tradition, launched last year, aims to convey George Mason’s gratitude to its faculty and staff, both on campus and through philanthropic support for its students and programs. Their advocacy and commitment champion the university’s mission now and into the future.

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George Mason Giving Day 2026: Asking Mason Nation to lace up for community impact

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:50:05 +0000

George Mason Giving Day 2026: Asking Mason Nation to lace up for community impact Katarina Benson Mon, 03/02/2026 - 09:50

April 2 heralds the return of George Mason Giving Day. This annual celebration of community and generosity is a 24-hour sprint where 91�� alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students, and families of George Mason come together in a network of support, where every gift makes a difference.

The yearly event has been known as Mason Vision Day in recent years; George Mason’s Office of Annual Giving has returned to the Giving Day title to emphasize the real impact of each gift. They hope this year’s Race Day theme will energize and inspire the university’s donor community to lace up and give.

“Giving Day is an event we look forward to with the same energy and anticipation that defines a race day,” said Elijah Rosenthal, director of annual giving. “Just as every runner plays a role in a race, every donor helps drive our shared progress toward a meaningful finish.”

The Office of Annual Giving has a goal in mind: “We want to surpass last year’s participation, hoping to welcome more than 2,000 donors this year,” said Rosenthal. The day will feature matching and challenge gifts, social media campaigns, and campus-wide involvement, including on-campus recognition for faculty and staff, and an evening alumni/community celebration.

Supporters can “warm up” before the event by pledging their pace at givingday.gmu.edu, where they can even make a gift before April 2, fueling the causes that are most important to them. “There are so many impactful initiatives at George Mason, and Giving Day is about the power of each donor to support the causes that they are passionate about, from academics to athletics, performing arts to research,” said Rosenthal.

Most of all, he added, it’s about racing toward George Mason’s future and crossing the finish line together.

Pledge Your Pace for Giving Day

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Love, Legacy, and the Arts: How Rick Davis and Julie Thompson are shaping the future of Mason Arts

ckearney — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:39:05 +0000

Love, Legacy, and the Arts: How Rick Davis and Julie Thompson are shaping the future of Mason Arts ckearney Thu, 01/15/2026 - 12:39

Dean Rick Davis and Center for the Arts Executive Director Julie Thompson joke that, even among their College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) colleagues, some people don’t realize that they are married. Now the proverbial cat is out of the bag.

College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis and Julie Thompson, executive director, Center for the Arts. Photo by Emily Rusch/CVPA

They’re not only married but were college sweethearts, meeting during their undergraduate days at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. The arts have played a role in their relationship from the start; Davis chuckled when recalling that their courtship even included a pre-requisite stint at The Troupe of American College Players, Thompson’s father’s summer stock theater in Colorado.

That was back in the 1980s, making it clear that long-term commitments are a hallmark of Thompson’s and Davis’s characters. Davis has been at 91�� for 34 years, serving as CVPA dean since 2015 and as executive director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center since August 2011. Thompson became the executive director for the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus in 2007, but has served in other capacities at the university, including as a faculty member in the graduate Arts Management Program, for nearly 30 years.

They have recently ensured that their longstanding legacies will continue to enhance, nurture, and grow the arts at George Mason through a planned gift with multiple designations. The $700,000 estimated gift will support the Give Voice initiative for the renovation of the Center for the Arts; Center for the Arts programming; the Hylton Performing Arts Center Endowment; the William Reeder, Founding Dean Endowment in the Arts; and the establishment of the Rick Davis and Julie Thompson Theater Scholarship Endowment.

The main motivator for the gift is the renovation of the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus, “something that Rick and I are emotionally involved in,” explained Thompson. “It’s been there for us all these years as well as for the college and the university.”

The Give Voice initiative is a $35M fundraising effort to renovate and modernize the Center for the Arts, seeking to improve and enhance the venue’s ability to support the needs of artists, audiences, and CVPA students and faculty. It will include technological and acoustical upgrades, improved accessibility and sightlines, additional aisles on the orchestra and balcony levels, a remodeled lobby, expanded teaching and rehearsal spaces, and more.

Davis invoked former university President George Johnson (1978-1996), who asserted that the arts are the front door to George Mason. “The arts pique the interest of the broader community and give them ways to interact with the university that they otherwise might not have had,” said Davis. The Center for the Arts is the hub of artistic performances, classes, and university events, and Davis observed that it’s “getting creaky” after admitting more than 6.5 million audience members since its doors opened in 1990.

Thompson and Davis agree that Mason Arts—the community of staff, faculty, students, artists, musicians, and performers and the audience they attract—is one of the tangibles that makes George Mason “all together different.”

“The arts here are so dynamic,” said Thompson, “we’re not into a set pattern of things. We’re always looking at how to reinvent, and look at things differently, which is exciting. And I think that’s what’s kept Rick and me here much longer than we’ve probably ever anticipated: the fact that [it is] such a dynamic place.”

Both Davis and Thompson were quick to credit Susan Graziano, senior director of development for CVPA, who helped them realize that they could make even more of an impact through a planned gift than they originally thought.

They encourage members of the George Mason community—whether faculty, staff, alums, parents, or longstanding friends—to consider making a gift to the university. “If you have been paying attention,” Davis said, “you know that Mason does more with less than many other institutions.

“A philanthropic dollar at George Mason has so much more immediate impact than a philanthropic dollar almost anywhere else,” he continued. “You see how much good Mason does for people. You see how you’re changing lives. And we are excited to imagine how our legacy gift will keep that spirit going for a long time to come.”

In This Story

Rick Davis

Julie Thompson

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)