Around Mason: Week of Feb. 15, 2022

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Faculty/Staff Announcements   

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Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.


Campus Updates


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection 

The Mason community is invited to celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection with Mason's Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) and The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee. 

Martin Luther King Evening of Reflection 
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6–8 p.m. 
Fairfax Campus, The Hub Ballroom 
Live streamed on GMUTV 
Register 

This year's theme, “Dangerous Unselfishness,” reflects on Dr. King’s last iconic speech, “Mountaintop.” This year, our hope is to center coalition-building while reflecting on the work that still needs to be done on our campus and in our communities and nation to reach Dr. King’s idea of the “promised land.” 


Candidates for School of Business Dean Position to Hold Public Presentations

The Mason community is invited to attend public presentations by the four current finalist candidates for the position of dean of the School of Business. Those who attend will be asked complete an online survey to provide feedback regarding each candidate.

Each finalist candidate will discuss the following topic: “Trends/challenges in business education today and how these fit into your vision for the School of Business at George Mason University.”

All presentations will be held in-person and also will be available for virtual participation. Sessions will be recorded. 

RSVP to attend in-person or virtually. Presentation schedule:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 15, 9–10:15 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1201)
  • Friday, Feb. 18, 1–2:15 p.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1201)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 22, 10–11:15 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1201)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2:30–3:45 p.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1204)

The CVs of candidates will be distributed 48 hours in advance of the scheduled presentations. For questions, contact gmuprov@gmu.edu.


Task Force on Reimagining Faculty Roles and Rewards to Hold Forum Feb. 18

The Task Force on Reimagining Faculty Roles and Rewards will hold a community forum on Friday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to noon. Members of the Task Force will share an update on their work and solicit feedback from the broader faculty community.

Forum: Task Force on Reimagining Faculty Roles and Rewards
Friday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to noon
Hosted on Zoom
Note: Log in to your Zoom account to be authenticated before joining the meeting.

If you are not able to attend, the community forum will be recorded and a feedback survey distributed at the forum will available online after the event.  


Climate Action Plan Town Hall

Mason's next Climate Action Plan (CAP) Town Hall will be hosted on Friday, Feb. 18. Attendees may suggest ideas, offer feedback, ask questions, and learn more about the CAP process. Learn about the future forecast of Mason's carbon emissions and how the forecast relates to the growth planned in the Master Plan.

Climate Action Plan Town Hall
Friday, Feb. 18, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom
Register


Hours of Operation Webpage 

Mason offices and departments are encouraged to post their hours of operation on the university's Hours of Operation webpage. 

Please check hours.gmu.edu to find out if your office's hours are currently listed. If any changes are needed, or to add your department’s listing, submit the information using the online form. You may list in-person, virtual, and/or phone contact hours.


Mason Shuttle Schedule Changes for Spring Break 

Spring Break will bring some modifications to the Mason Shuttle schedules. Details are available at shuttle.gmu.edu. 


Save the Dates: Celebrate Biking at Mason 

Spring will be here before we know it! Save the date for Bike to Mason Day at your campus:

  • SciTech: Tuesday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Colgan Hall Front Patio 
  • Fairfax: Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Merten Lawn 
  • Arlington: Thursday, April 21, 3–7 p.m., Founders Plaza 

For additional information and to register, visit the website. 


Training and Professional Development


Apply for the Leadership Legacy Program 

The Leadership Legacy Program (LLP) is designed for Mason full-time faculty and staff who are committed to furthering their leadership development. The program curriculum provides opportunities for experienced faculty and staff to advance their conceptual and experiential understanding of leadership in the context of a university setting. 

Selected participants must be willing to attend all nine seminars (October–May), which are typically held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. Sessions will be virtual to support participation from members of all Mason campuses; in-person or hybrid participation may become an option if public health conditions allow. 

Applications for the 2022–23 cohort of the Leadership Legacy Program are due Friday, March 18. Visit the Leadership Legacy website for more information.


4-VA@Mason Call for Proposals 

Calls for proposals are now open for Mason faculty interested in launching pilot research projects in conjunction with colleagues at one or more of the universities within the 4-VA system in Virginia (which includes William & Mary, James Madison, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia). 

The portal to submit proposals is open through March 31, with funding available July 1 through the 2022–23 academic year. Interested faculty may view the application, review associated policies and procedures, and read previous successful proposals on the 4-VA@Mason Collaborative Research Grants page.


George Mason Toastmasters Open House 

George Mason Toastmasters (GMUT) invites the Mason community to a regular meeting or open house. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Toastmasters and to see a meeting in action. Participants will also have a chance to participate in Table Topics and impromptu speaking practice, as well as ask questions about the club. 

GMUT is now hosting hybrid meetings, combining both in-person and online participants. 

George Mason Toastmasters Hybrid Open House 
Wednesday, March 2, at noon 
Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 3001 
Zoom link 

For more information, visit toastmasters.gmu.edu or contact Rupa Mehta at pmehta@gmu.edu.


Resources for You 


Save With Patriot Perks

Are you always looking for new deals? Don't forget that you can save with Patriot Perks! New businesses join every day, with offers available to the entire Mason community.  

Learn more and see what you can save at patriotperks.gmu.edu.


LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Alliance: Queer Parents Social

The LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Alliance is an employee resource group that aims to support the university’s mission by fostering an inclusive and affirming campus climate for all faculty, staff, and students.

The alliance will host a virtual social on Friday, Feb. 25, from noon to 1 p.m. Join for a chance to meet other queer parents and parents-to-be. All faculty, staff, and GTAs/GRAs are welcome. Register today.

Questions? Reach out to the LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Alliance at lgbtfsa@gmu.edu.


Join Mason's Next Rx Racial Healing Circle on Feb. 16   

Be part of a powerful well-being conversation in Mason's next Rx Racial Healing Circle, happening Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. The circle will be hosted online and is open to all Mason students, faculty, and staff. Learn more and register. 


Tell Your Favorite Retailers, "Show Me Mason!" 

Next time you're struggling to find licensed Mason products from your favorite local retailer, ask to speak to an owner or manager and suggest that they provide Mason gear for sale.  

Fill out this form to let Mason’s Trademark Licensing staff know, so they can track requests and follow up! Learn more.


Upcoming Performances at Mason

Mason Jazz Festival
Saturday, Feb. 26 
Fairfax Campus (multiple locations) 
The Mason Jazz Festival is an invitational event open to middle school, high school, collegiate, and community Jazz ensembles. This festival will take place Saturday, Feb. 26, on the Fairfax Campus. Sponsored by Mason Jazz Studies and the Jazz Education Network, participating groups will perform a 20–30 minute set, followed by a clinic by Mason Jazz faculty and special guests. The closing festival performance ensemble will be the United States Army Blues Jazz Ensemble at 7 p.m. in Harris Theatre. All performances are free and open to the public. 

Mark Morris Dance Group
Saturday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 

Featuring the MMDG Music Ensemble, the ever-innovative and compelling Mark Morris Dance Group is on every arts lover’s must-see list. They return to the Center with a medley of lively works with an exuberant evening of dance created by “the most successful and influential choreographer alive” (the New York Times). 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sunday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Sharing a heartfelt message of love, peace, and harmony, Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs an uplifting concert showcasing traditional South African vocal styles. Grammy-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s richly harmonious vocals take inspiration from isicathamiya, a traditional music that developed in the mines of South Africa. This performance is family friendly.    

Matinee Idylls: Lena Seikaly Trio
Tuesday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Called “one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers” and “brightest voices in jazz” (the Washington Post), jazz vocalist and Washington, D.C.-area native Lena Seikaly performs a sumptuous afternoon of jazz standards. Her rich mezzo-soprano voice is not only making waves locally, but Seikaly is also growing a following outside the Beltway.  

Dewberry School of Music: Mason Wind Symphony
Tuesday, March 1, at 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Come watch the Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Band present their winter concert, conducted by Professor Mark Camphouse and doctoral student Samantha Clarke. The George Mason University Wind Symphony, led by composer-conductor Mark Camphouse, is comprised of outstanding wind, brass, and percussion players.  

Studio Series: Eurydice
Mason School of Theater 
March 3–6, multiple performances 
Center for the Arts, Theater Space 
Eurydice reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, not through Orpheus’s infamous pilgrimage to retrieve his bride but through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she begins to discover that the cost of living again can sometimes exceed the cost of staying dead. Full of dark humor, lyrical beauty, and wit, Sarah Ruhl’s play transforms a traditional myth into a visceral, contemporary meditation on love worth grieving for. 

Velocity Irish Dance
Sunday, March 6, at 4 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Get ready for Velocity Irish Dance, a high-octane celebration of the past, the present, and—most especially—the future of Irish dance. In their exhilarating performance, it features dance at lightning-fast speeds and nearly impossible scuffles and shuffles. It’s heart-pounding entertainment, with an extra helping of soul. This performance is family friendly.