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George Mason alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service

Katarina Benson — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:22:13 +0000

George Mason alumna turns a passion for sustainability into a career of service Katarina Benson Thu, 07/23/2026 - 15:22

When Hannah Dabney, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies ’23, arrived at 91��, she planned a career in business. This summer, she has just returned from Samoa where she served as a Peace Corps Ridge to Reef Resilience Promoter Volunteer, helping communities balance environmental protection with local development needs. The path between those two points wasn't linear, and Dabney couldn’t be happier about that.

Dabney is a big believer in taking risks. "Taking risks and doing what scares you can lead you down amazing paths you may have never considered."

Dabney in Samoa. Photo provided

In Samoa, Dabney worked alongside village leaders to develop projects that improve community well-being while protecting natural resources. Sometimes that meant helping secure funding for community initiatives. Other times, Dabney worked to find nature-based solutions to environmental challenges, such as recommending coastal tree plantings as an alternative to seawalls to reduce erosion.

While the work was meaningful, the challenges of the cultural immersion surprised her. "I spent the two years exploring the United States and thought I had an open mind and knew all there was to know about people and how they operate," she said. "I was so wrong."

Living and working within a Samoan village gave her a perspective few visitors ever experience. Through village meetings, community gatherings, and daily life, she gained a deeper appreciation for the richness of another culture and the value of listening before leading. That openness to new experiences has defined Dabney's journey since her days at George Mason.

When she realized her passions lie in sustainability and conservation, she decided to major in environmental and sustainability studies, an interdisciplinary program in the School of Integrative Studies that combines scientific knowledge with policy and ethics, and she headed off to the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation for a semester in Front Royal, Virginia, working alongside Smithsonian scientists.

Those lessons continue to guide her today. “Nearly every class related to my major has helped to prepare me for what I encountered in the field, office, and lab,” she said. “Policy writing and the practical field skills have been a constant across all of my jobs. Skills I learned in my lab classes have been beneficial for the occasional field lab work I have done.”

She said her overarching takeaway from her education is that research is a tool used to help influence decisions and policy. “Each side can exist without the other, but to be effective, there must be cohesion and collaboration.”

Dabney’s George Mason experience was defined as much by what happened outside the classroom as inside it. She completed three internships that exposed her to vastly different aspects of sustainability work. One involved corporate sustainability planning at a mid-sized multinational company. “The internship had a massive learning curve, but I managed to write more than 15 new sustainability plans based on the United Nations Sustainability Goals, as well as help program a tracking system.”

Another had her climbing a 200-foot atmospheric monitoring tower every Monday. A third took her to New Mexico with a Bureau of Land Management assessment and monitoring crew.

That final internship almost didn't happen. Needing one last internship credit to graduate, Dabney decided that if she had to take on another position, she might as well go somewhere completely new.

The decision proved transformative.

The New Mexico experience led to a position with the U.S. Forest Service in Washington state, which in turn helped prepare her for the Peace Corps. Looking back, Dabney sees a clear pattern: Every major opportunity in her career emerged from a willingness to step into uncertainty.

Even joining George Mason's rowing team as a freshman required a leap of faith. Walking onto a Division I team was intimidating, but it led to lifelong friendships, professional connections, and opportunities she never could have predicted. "Having a little wanderlust and spirit of adventure can lead to incredible opportunities with fantastic people," she said.

As she moves forward in her career, Dabney continues to follow the philosophy that has shaped her from the beginning: Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.

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Serving up success: Camryn Weldon’s internship with Leidos

Katarina Benson — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:55:05 +0000

Serving up success: Camryn Weldon’s internship with Leidos Katarina Benson Wed, 07/15/2026 - 09:55

Like many 91�� students, business major Camryn Weldon is spending her summer doing an internship. Unlike many other students, Weldon is also a Division I athlete and is balancing her work at government contractor Leidos with the demands of collegiate volleyball. The George Mason setter is spending her summer preparing for the upcoming season while gaining valuable experience in business development.

Weldon, junior and business major, is also a setter on the George Mason volleyball team. Photo provided

"I spent last summer here as a business development intern, helping the business secure their current contracts and allowing them to grow and expand into other areas," Weldon said. "I'm back this year supporting federal financials—basically the pursuit of business in federal financial agencies, so like the FTC, the Treasury."

Weldon has found that her coursework directly supports her professional ambitions.

"I'm a business major and my concentration is finance," she said. "[This internship has] been really good exposure, and it's allowed me to understand what it actually looks like. It's easy to get your degree and think that you're going to be interested in something, and then it's a whole another thing to be doing it every day and know what you want in a career."

Her academic background has enhanced her understanding of the technical side of the business. "Last summer I didn't really understand what all of the different aspects of IT services meant," she said. "[But this past year] one of my operations courses talked a lot about IT infrastructure and how all that stuff works, and so that really prepared me to understand the types of services Leidos provides."

Weldon credits her experience as a student-athlete for helping her excel in the professional world. The confidence she's built on the court translates seamlessly into the workplace.

"I think being comfortable speaking to people in positions of power is a really valuable skill. Interns are usually pretty scared to talk to people, but I've had to talk to adults on the phone since I was getting recruited in high school," she said.

"I've gotten great feedback from my manager. He told me that he can tell I'm a natural leader. Being put in positions of leadership because of my past experience as a student-athlete and previous summer internship allowed me to feel comfortable enough to let my leadership skills show."

Her competitive drive also finds a home in business development. "Business development is a competitive environment—which is nothing new to me," Weldon said.

Even while interning, Weldon remains committed to volleyball—though this summer has come with its own set of challenges. "I would say that's the most difficult part of having an internship is figuring out how to do it all," she said. "I'm definitely working to stay in shape, going to physical therapy when I can and staying mobile.”

As she heads into another year balancing athletics and work, Weldon is optimistic about her future in both arenas. "I'm looking to get a job here after graduation," she said. Whether she's leading on the court or in the conference room, Weldon continues to prove that the skills she's developed as a student-athlete are preparing her for whatever comes next.

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Creating joyful new—and therapeutic—connections through dance

Katarina Benson — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:27:30 +0000

Creating joyful new—and therapeutic—connections through dance Katarina Benson Thu, 06/25/2026 - 14:27

“Being in class with our participants reminds me of the pure joy of dance,” said School of Dance senior Emma Simons of her time interning with Dance for PD®.

Dance for PD is a national program providing movement-based classes for people with Parkinson’s disease. Photo provided

Dance for PD is a movement-based class for people with Parkinson’s disease, which offers physical benefits to the participants and helps reduce the social isolation associated with the neurological disease. 91��’s School of Dance has offered the national program, administered by George Mason arts partner Mark Morris Dance Group, in Northern Virginia since 2021.

When Simons and fellow dance major Asiah Moore interned with Dance for PD, each took a different approach to her work, a practice encouraged by George Mason adjunct Elizabeth Spatz, a certified Dance for PD teaching artist.

Moore concentrated on increasing internal awareness of Dance for PD at George Mason, creating strategic social media content and encouraging her peers in the School of Dance to engage more robustly with the program.

She recruited fellow students to attend the classes and perform brief dance selections for class participants. After these showings, participants had the opportunity to ask the students questions about the pieces and their experiences overall.

“I wanted to combine these worlds and give the community a chance to see inside the work we do,” said Moore. “When [the participants] have a chance to see pieces beforehand, they might come to a performance, [then] they come in feeling like they’re already part of this world because they know us.”

Dancers participating in Dance for PD®. Photo provided

In her work, Simons focused on external communications, building on previous interns’ research into local medical practices, retirement communities, and businesses where patients and caregivers might be looking for the resource that Dance for PD provides.

Simons made cold calls and sent out emails, aiming to bring more people to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus. But as she spent more time in class, she noticed that people’s hesitation melted inside the studio, and she decided to pivot in her approach.

“It’s so much joy to be in the room with the participants, and I knew words can’t bring people in as much as the movement itself could,” said Simons.

Simons and Moore joined forces and started reaching out to administrators at various retirement communities to organize in-person trial classes on-site. The class they offered with Westminster at Lake Ridge was very well attended.

“There were staff members who said ‘We’re just here to watch’ at the beginning of the session, but within five minutes, they were dancing and smiling and moving. It has this power for connecting people,” said School of Dance Associate Professor and George Mason alumna Shaun Boyle D’Arcy, MFA Dance '21, who helped bring the program to George Mason.

Simons and Moore graduated from George Mason in May with BFAs in dance and look forward to building on their experiences with Dance for PD. They both plan to perform professionally and are looking for companies that value community engagement and service.

Spatz said these internships can lead to jobs. “One of our former interns was hired by a company that was impressed with her [Dance for PD] experience,” said Spatz. “It’s so valuable for our students to see the different ways dance applies to people’s lives.”

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George Mason PhD student recognized for blockchain privacy research

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:51:19 +0000

George Mason PhD student recognized for blockchain privacy research Nathan Kahl Tue, 06/02/2026 - 06:51

91�� computer science doctoral student Aayush Yadav co-authored a paper that received a Distinguished Paper Award from the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, one of the industry’s premier conferences in the security field. The conference typically accepts around 13 percent of submissions.

Aayush Yadav. Photo provided

The paper addresses a growing challenge in blockchain technology—how to protect sensitive transaction information before it becomes public, focusing on improving privacy protections within blockchain systems while maintaining the transparency and decentralized structure that define the technology.

His research grew out of an internship last summer with Category Labs, a company developing blockchain tools and infrastructure. The work addresses a vulnerability tied to how blockchain transactions are processed before they are officially added to the chain. Traditionally, blockchain transactions are publicly visible before they are finalized. That visibility allows entities responsible for processing transactions to potentially manipulate their order for financial gain.

“These entities can act maliciously in some way,” Yadav said. “Because this information is public, these actors know the direction of the order of the transactions before the rest of the public. And they can take advantage of that.” Consider that if an actor sees that someone is about to make a major purchase or sale, they can quickly place their own trade first, causing the market price to change. The original user then receives a worse price than expected, while the actor profits from the price movement, effectively creating a hidden cost for the user.

The team’s research focuses on encrypting transactions while they are waiting to be processed, helping prevent that kind of exploitation. The goal is to encrypt or hide transactions as they are sent, revealing them later.

The paper introduces new approaches to what researchers call “mempool privacy,” referring to the protection of transaction data before it becomes part of the public blockchain ledger. The work also explores “threshold encryption,” which requires multiple parties to work together to decrypt transaction data, helping eliminate single points of trust or failure.

Yadav, who is completing his PhD in computer science this year, said his interest in theoretical computer science and algorithms started early in his academic career. “I enjoyed the process of solving problems that were algorithmic in nature,” he said. “Thinking about these abstract things, but then also being able to solve them concretely using an algorithm, is very satisfying.”

He chose George Mason in part because of the university’s large computer science faculty and breadth of expertise. After arriving at George Mason in 2021, Yadav took his first cryptography course with Foteini Baldimtsi, an experience that shaped the direction of his research. “It had the right mix of theory and practice. The problems are very theoretical in some sense, and the way you solve them is theoretical, but at the same time they are grounded in real applications.”

“I am very proud of Aayush,” said Baldimtsi. “Throughout his PhD, he has worked on some of the most important challenges in modern cryptography, including signature protocols and privacy-preserving authentication for digital identities, while also focusing on post-quantum security. The award is a well-deserved recognition of his talent, dedication, and impact on the field.”

Later this year he will start a tenured-track faculty position at his alma mater, Rutgers University–Camden.

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An internship helped connect this EIP grad with a career path

Katarina Benson — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:27:04 +0000

An internship helped connect this EIP grad with a career path Katarina Benson Fri, 05/15/2026 - 13:27

Senior information technology major Crystal Forson likes to joke that her parents have been in school with her the whole time—"just without the studying.” Their support, she said, has been constant, from eighth grade when she joined the 91��’s Early Identification Program (EIP), all the way through graduation this May.

Forson and her family first learned about EIP when she was a student at Potomac Middle School in Dumfries, Virginia, and her mother’s excitement about the program was infectious. “What really pushed me to apply was knowing I wanted more for my future and for my family,” said Forson, who is a member of the Honors College. “I knew it was something worth giving my all.”

Forson completed an internship with CACI. Photo provided

EIP—which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2027—supports first‑generation, college‑bound students beginning in middle school. Participants have access to academic enrichment, tutors, and mentors both in their home schools and on the George Mason campuses.

Through EIP’s STEM Fusion courses, Forson took a Python coding class that changed her trajectory. “After that class, I knew I wanted to do something related to Python,” she said. That early spark led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in information technology with a concentration in web application development in George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing.

“Crystal is the kind of student who reminds us exactly why EIP exists,” said Alpachino Hogue, EIP's executive director. “She is bright, disciplined, and deeply committed to making the most of every opportunity. She has embraced EIP as both a community and a pathway to her goals.”

Family support is a cornerstone of EIP, and Forson’s parents—who immigrated from Ghana—fully embraced that role. They attended EIP’s Family Academy, ensured she had transportation to every program, and encouraged her at every step. “They were always willing to listen, always willing to show up,” Forson said. “They are one of my biggest driving forces.”

Hogue added, “Students do not sustain this kind of success without a strong foundation, and Crystal’s journey reflects that. Her family instilled in her the habits and values that matter most: perseverance, accountability, and a belief in oneself and the power of education.”

Forson’s dedication extended beyond EIP. She was selected for the inaugural cohort of CACI Scholars, a scholarship made possible by a 2023 gift from CACI International and awarded to 10 EIP alumni.

“By investing early, we’re not only developing skilled talent but shaping future leaders,” said Jeana Plews, vice president of CACI HR consulting solutions. “The program creates a strong, sustainable talent pipeline of motivated individuals with fresh perspectives and strong technical foundations.”

Forson first met the CACI team by chance while volunteering at a STEM event the company sponsored. “She stood out,” Plews said. “Not just for her initiative, but for the way she engaged with others.”

Forson credits EIP's Python course for helping her decide to pursue STEM. Photo provided

Her CACI summer internship, made possible through the scholarship, placed her on a team working to consolidate information across NASA’s many centers nationwide. The project blended her interest in technology with her passion for working with people. “I was exposed to technical solutions, including AI, while also working with the actual customer,” she said.

“Crystal’s academic background and major prepared her exceptionally well for our highly collaborative environment,” said Steve Brylski, CACI senior systems architect. “Her broad skill set aligned naturally with the way our teams work.”

The internship proved such a strong match that CACI offered Forson a full‑time business analyst position upon graduation. The job dovetails nicely with the master’s degree program she is already pursuing as a part of George Mason’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program. She will earn a degree in management with a certificate in business analytics.

Forson also received the Paul and Gwen Patton Memorial Scholarship Endowment, awarded annually to an EIP alum attending George Mason. The scholarship, housed in University Life, honors Paul Patton’s eight years of service on the University Life Advisory Board and is supported in part by CACI, where he served as a senior vice president for more than two decades.

During her time at George Mason, Forson also served as a resident assistant for two years and was part of George Mason’s chapter of Every Nation Campus, a faith-based international organization. Forson’s Patriot experience, combining her loves of Python and people, her desire for more and better, and fueled by the benefits of EIP and CACI, have already rocketed her to great heights.

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Graduation spotlight series: Doing it all at once

tdonnel — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:55:20 +0000

Graduation spotlight series: Doing it all at once tdonnel Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:55

When Duong Thuy Nguyen first emailed her graduate teaching assistant (GTA) for IT104 Introduction to Computing, she wasn’t sure what to call him—GTA Reddy or Professor Reddy? She was, as she puts it, “that naive.” She had just returned to college after years away, caring for her family, working full time, while carrying the weight of a culture that had pointed her toward a different life entirely. She wasn’t sure she could do any of it.

Duong Thuy Nguyen represents the College of Engineering and Computing as a Peer Mentor during a 91�� Visit Day. Photo provided.

This May, she’s graduating from 91�� with a 4.0 GPA, an Academic Excellence Award from her department, a Capstone team leadership under her belt, and two published feature articles about her work—and in the fall, she’ll be back as a graduate student in George Mason’s accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s program.

Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam in 2015. College, especially after a long pause, wasn’t the expected path for her. But her family pushed her toward it. “You have so much potential… just try,” she recalled being told.

Nguyen came to George Mason as a contemporary student. An immigrant adult learner who also works, she navigates the tension between family responsibilities and schoolwork in every classroom, every late night studying after work, and she often wondered whether someone like her belonged in a place like this. “I can feel both the excitement of going back to college and the worry of what if I couldn’t do this,” she said.

The people who showed up

From left, Alayna M. Brooker, Duong Thuy Nguyen, and Mansi Puthenveettil serve as Peer Mentor panelists during a College of Engineering and Computing Spotlight Day event at Dewberry Hall. Photo provided.

She took an academic leave in the spring of 2023 after family duties became too overwhelming. When she returned, she felt the distance from her peers acutely—older, quieter, uncertain of her place. What pulled her forward was a support system at George Mason that refused to let her disappear.

Professor Irina Hashmi gave her credit for quiz answers lost to a frozen screen, taking her word for it when she didn’t have to. Professor Scott Lewis listened to her story in his office hours when exhaustion broke through, and gave her career advice instead of sending her away. Professor Gene Shuman stayed after every class to work through concepts she was still wrestling with. Professor Massimiliano Albanese chose her for a cybersecurity internship that eventually opened the door to her current position at the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

“The whole Mason Nation, like every single one that I work with or study with…they are so supportive,” said Nguyen.

Nguyen and Associate Dean Jill Nelson of the College of Engineering and Computing. Nguyen calls Nelson “the most supportive and amazing supervisor.” Photo provided.

That support gave her enough ground to start taking risks. As a Peer Mentor for the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the College of Engineering and Computing, she showed up to her first event expecting to greet prospective students at a table. Instead, she found herself on stage as a panelist, fielding interview questions alongside an associate dean, sweating through her nerves in front of a room full of people. She made it through. After that, she became one of the program’s recurring panelists—the woman who’d been too shy to speak up in class, now telling prospective students to join organizations early and reach out before they think they need to.

From the audience to the stage

The biggest test came in her capstone project, a two-semester sequence she entered convinced she wasn’t cut out to lead. Her accent, she assumed, meant people wouldn’t listen. It was easier, she had always believed, to do everything herself than to ask for help and risk depending on someone.

Capstone—and Professor Gail Therrien, who designed the program—changed that by making her team lead. She learned to divide responsibilities, to speak up, to give her teammates room to show their own strengths. When her team’s work began to accumulate across two semesters, she arrived at something she hadn’t expected: that she is, indeed, “good enough.”

Nguyen and her Capstone teammates following their presentation. Photo provided.

Beyond the classroom, she built a life on campus — joining Contemporary Student Services, Women in Cybersecurity, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in tech.

“I realized that the first person who needs to believe in me is me,” she said. “If I don’t trust myself, I can’t earn the trust of others, and I certainly can’t lead a team to success.”

Today, she works full-time and cares for her family. She still sleeps two or three hours during the hard weeks. Somewhere in between, she is running on coffee and the same determination that got her here in the first place. She is still, in many ways, doing everything at once.

“I never in a million years thought that I could get this far,” she said.

Note: This story was written by Tiffany Boggs, Student Media, and edited by Chelsea Xu, UL Marketing and Communications. It was originally published on 91��'s University Life website.

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From Cambodia to Carter School: Avery Butler builds a future in peacebuilding at George Mason

sbrown79 — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:56:30 +0000

From Cambodia to Carter School: Avery Butler builds a future in peacebuilding at George Mason sbrown79 Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:56

When 91�� senior Avery Butler was 16 years old, his family traveled to Cambodia to visit the Killing Fields, the massacre sites associated with the country’s brutal Khmer Rouge era. The experience would change Butler’s perspective on life and inspire him to pursue a professional career in peacebuilding.

“I walked in and came face-to-face with a giant wall of human skulls,” said Butler, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution in May. “It was such a jarring moment, and I asked myself how human beings could do this to one another and how we could prevent something like this from happening again.”

At George Mason, Butler found a place where he could turn those questions into action and has taken advantage of experiential learning opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. 

Butler’s work at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution highlights George Mason’s emphasis on career-connected learning and real-world impact. Through hands-on learning, global experiences, and leadership opportunities, he has built an academic and professional path centered on dialogue, empathy, and impact. 

As part of the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program, Butler plans to continue his education at George Mason this fall.

Avery Butler. Photo provided.

During his time at George Mason, Butler had an internship with the university’s Dialogue Across Differences initiative where he coordinated multiple workshops, including an all-women’s discussion and a session with international students. 

“It was a fantastic experience because by the time it was done, I really felt like I understood what it takes to be a facilitator for discussions on important life topics,” said Butler.

“I was able to strengthen the skills that are central to my work: listening across differences and creating space for multiple perspectives.”

Through a Peacebuilding Fellowship, Butler also works for the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR), a nonprofit associated with the Carter School. After previously serving as a research and administrative officer, he now works as the center’s communications manager.

“The center does such amazing work supporting both peacebuilding and mental health,” said Butler. “We’re working with psychosocial support practitioners from all around the world and our main focus is East Africa right now.”

In that role, Butler has planned multiple events for Carter School’s Political Leadership Academy, including the inaugural Global Insider Reconciliation Summit held last year at George Mason’s Point of View Retreat Center in Lorton, Virginia.

Butler said working with Carter School PhD student and MHCR insider reconciler research lead Nick Sherwood was instrumental in helping him understand the role of insider reconciler. “I’ve learned from my time working with him  that an insider reconciler is someone who is connected to one or more stakeholders or groups of stakeholders in a conflict and is actively attempting to facilitate reconciliation processes within those communities.”

He described the concept this way: If a fight breaks out between two teams at a football game, a team captain who steps in to calm tensions and encourage resolution is doing more than stopping the conflict in the moment—they’re helping preserve relationships and rebuild trust.

“So long as you have a personal stake in one or more of the communities and understand them at an identity level, anyone can be an insider reconciler, from village elders to civil servants,” Butler said.

Butler’s commitment to cross-cultural understanding also led him abroad. Through the Global Education Office’s Global Gateway program, Butler studied in Madrid, Spain, for a semester.

He later served as a peer advisor for the program working with professor Leslie Durham, undergraduate academic advisor and program coordinator in the Carter School, to help other students navigate the experience.

“I have witnessed Avery jump in, lend a hand, and be a servant leader, not only as a peer advisor, but as a Carter School Ambassador,” said Durham, who had Butler as a teaching assistant in the Global Gateway Spain course. “Avery is empathetic, with a deep sense of cultural humility, and he has a great way of allowing people with varying perspectives have a voice.”

She added, “Avery is the kind of person who isn't afraid to reflect and do the hard work for personal and professional growth. His good nature and positive stance on life have and will serve him well.”

Butler said he enjoys reflecting on his time in the program so far and looks forward to finding out what more it has to offer.

“I have a lot of love for the Carter program,” Butler said. “It's rare to find such a program in any university where it's built upon values of mutual understanding and compassion, and I’m so proud of the important work that we will continue to do.”

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The power of showing up: How this Honors College student built a career by seizing every opportunity

Katarina Benson — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:30:08 +0000

The power of showing up: How this Honors College student built a career by seizing every opportunity Katarina Benson Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:30

For Honors College student and University Scholar Monica Amaya, the journey to a degree isn’t just about the final walk across the stage—it’s about a promise she made to her family and herself years ago.

Monica Amaya is an Honors College student and a University Scholar.

Amaya first got involved with George Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP) as an eighth-grader. When she graduated from Manassas Park High School in 2022, she knew she had the skills to succeed in college, and she credits EIP with giving her the support and the road map to get there.

"The program pushed me and motivated me so I could set an example for my younger siblings," she said in 2022. "We can do anything if we work hard."

When she arrived at George Mason, Amaya dove into the innovation and technology of the Northern Virginia and D.C. area. Immersed in an environment that aligned with her passion for data and national security, she pursued a BS in business with a concentration in management information systems.

She also took advantage of a wide range of other opportunities at George Mason. After attending an Honors College roundtable in 2024, she networked with leaders in her industry. That event was part of the Honors College Professional Development Fellows program, a series of workshops that help students in the program craft their resumes, build their LinkedIn profiles, practice interviewing, and otherwise prepare for internship and career opportunities.

“Showing up is only the first step,” Amaya said. “The most impactful step is really what you make out of the opportunity, who you get to meet, and making those connections.” 

As a recipient of scholarships from the Costello College of Business, she was able to meet and network with industry leaders at donor appreciation events. A data analytics internship at CACI International through the CACI Scholars Program in summer 2024 paved the way for the full-time role as a software developer she will begin after graduation in May.

In a full-circle moment, Amaya served as a peer mentor with EIP during her time at George Mason, becoming a guide for freshmen and sophomores, helping them navigate the same academic hurdles she had once faced.

Amaya speaking at the Board of Visitors meeting. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

"Truly, what I’m most proud of is what I’ve made out of my experiences," Amaya said.

Her leadership also led her to the podium as a student speaker for the EIP at the recent Board of Visitors meeting, where she shared her story of resilience with the next generation of dreamers.

“For me, EIP was not just a program, it was a foundation that made my journey to and through George Mason possible,” she said. “EIP is not just about access—it helps students build confidence and the mindset to succeed, not only in college but beyond.”

For Amaya, graduation isn't the end—it’s the ultimate proof that with the right support and a relentless work ethic, any dream is within reach.

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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.

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George Mason secures grant to expand high school cybersecurity internships in Northern Virginia

sbrown79 — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:57:14 +0000

George Mason secures grant to expand high school cybersecurity internships in Northern Virginia sbrown79 Thu, 04/09/2026 - 16:57

91��’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Northern Virginia (NoVa) Node recently received a $150,793 grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority for “CCI Scholars—High School Experiential Learning Program FY26,” a seven-week high school summer internship program for rising seniors and recent graduates of Northern Virginia public high schools.

The program provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities for high school students with local STEM and cybersecurity industry partners, addressing workforce gaps in the commonwealth.

“Given the gap between the number of cybersecurity-related job openings and the number of skilled graduates, creating opportunities for younger learners to spark that interest is critical,” said Liza Wilson Durant, director of the CCI Northern Virginia Node and associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at George Mason.

CCI 2025 at CGI Bootcamp. Photo provided.

CCI is partnering with the Children’s Science Center Lab and STEM programs, operated by the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization delivers STEM education at its Fairfax-based museum facility and to schools and community venues across the region and will support program administration for the CCI Scholars program.

“We are proud to collaborate with 91�� in growing the next generation of cybersecurity talent through the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Internship Program,” said Nene Spivy, Chief Executive Officer at the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation. “Together we provide students with practical workplace skills and direct exposure to industry and careers that are critical to our nation’s future.”

“The Children’s Science Center is exemplary and has been running high school internship programs for many years. The center understands the challenges younger learners face and provides support to help overcome obstacles,” Wilson Durant said.

The program also acts as a pathway opportunity for the students who get to meet George Mason faculty and learn about the different community engagement opportunities that the university presents.

Students are selected through a competitive process that includes written responses, recommendation letters, transcripts, and in-person interviews conducted by industry professionals and Children’s Science Center staff. Selected students are matched with host organizations such as CGI Federal, ManTech, Leidos, and Chainbridge Solutions.

CCI 2025 at CGI Bootcamp. Photo provided.

Before starting their internships, students complete a professional skills bootcamp covering workplace etiquette, time management, teamwork, communication, and public speaking.

Once students are placed, they engage in cybersecurity-focused projects, that include addressing emerging cyber threats related to AI agents and digital twins, investigating cybersecurity incidents in the context of satellites, and expanding the technical capabilities of a host company’s product.

“We don't get a lot of hands-on experience in high school cybersecurity classes, so the opportunity of experiencing a professional workplace environment really intrigued me,” said Sridevi Annamalai, a sophomore cybersecurity student.

For her internship, Annamalai was placed with CGI Federal, a global consulting company for technology and business.

“I was assigned to make a presentation on cybersecurity basics for their nonprofit partners as well as conduct tests for different cybersecurity products,” said Annamalai, who is from Prince William County.

“There was a new product on the market, which they were considering, so I was able to help them compare the products and decide which one the company would invest in,” she said.

Annamalai credits her experience with the CCI Program for helping to prepare her for the courses in George Mason’s cybersecurity program.

“I've grown a lot more confident in myself, and my presentation skills have really improved a lot because of this internship,” said Annamalai.

Experiences such Annamalai’s prepare students for future careers both through technical and professional skills-building, as well as exposing them to the breadth of career opportunities they may not have known existed, said Wilson Durant.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has served 175 students. CCI and the Children’s Science Center are now reconnecting with alumni to track career outcomes and gather feedback.

Learn about Cybersecurity at George Mason