Around Mason: Week of March 22, 2022

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Faculty/Staff Announcements  

Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form 

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


Campus Updates


Public Comment Session Scheduled for April 5 During BOV Meeting

On Tuesday, April 5, the Board of Visitors will conduct a meeting with associated public comment session. This meeting will include a presentation by Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Carol Kissal on Mason’s FY 2023 financial plan, including proposals for tuition and mandatory fees. For additional details on the meeting and the public comment process, please visit the Board of Visitors website.


Mason Vision Day Is April 7

Get ready to show your Patriot Pride and support the #1 pep band in the nation!  

Mason Vision Day is an opportunity for the Mason community to come together and support a deserving initiative on campus. This year, on April 7, we are asking you to support the Green Machine. 

For more information, visit masonvisionday.gmu.edu. You can also make your gift early.


April Staff Senate Meeting with President Washington

The April Staff Senate meeting will feature as guest speaker Mason President Gregory Washington.  

Wednesday, April 6 
Guest speaker: 11 a.m. to noon 
General meeting will precede from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
Hosted on Zoom 

The Staff Senate will collect questions for consideration in advance of the session. If you would like to ask your question live during the session, indicate your request on the form and include your name and Mason email address. Otherwise, a senator will ask the question live on your behalf. Submit questions by March 30. 

Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu for more information.


Celebrating Mason at 50

We’ve always been green and gold—and now we’re golden! Throughout 2022, the Mason community will celebrate 50 remarkable years of growth and achievement.

RSVP for upcoming events through the links below:

Dedication of the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial
Monday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Wilkins Plaza

Mason Square Groundbreaking
Wednesday, April 6, at 2 p.m.
Arlington Campus, Mason Square

50th Anniversary Commemorative Celebration and Mason Vision Day
Thursday, April 7, at 11:30 a.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center Atrium

Mason at 50: Special Guest Russ Banham
Thursday, April 7, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center Atrium

SciTech Campus Groundbreaking: Life Sciences Engineering Building and Town Center
Friday, April 22, at 10 a.m.
SciTech Campus, Beacon Hall

Visit 50th.gmu.edu for a complete list of events and activities. It's Mason's time. 


Dean Finalist Candidates for the College of Health and Human Services

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

Each finalist candidate will discuss the following topic: “What are the key challenges facing interdisciplinary colleges of public health over the next decade, and how would you lead the College to meet these challenges?” 

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:

  • March 22, 9–10:15 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1202)
  • March 24, 9–10:15 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1202)
  • March 30, 10:30–11:45 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1201)
  • March 31, 11–12:15 p.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1201)
  • April 1, 10:30–11:45 a.m. (Merten Hall, Room 1202)

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


5th Annual Summit for Programs, Events, or Camps (PEC) Serving Minors

Organizations hosting programs, events, or camps (PEC) serving minors are invited to attend Mason's 5th annual PEC Summit, hosted virtually on Wednesday, April 6, from 10 to 11 a.m. A Q&A session will follow from 11 a.m. to noon.  

Presenters from Operations and Business Services will demonstrate the new PEC registration process. Other PEC policy stakeholders and service providers will be available to answer questions regarding summer programming needs. 

Those who attend the monthly PEC committee meetings will receive a virtual event invitation. Others who are thinking about hosting a program serving minors should contact Buz Grover to receive the PEC Summit event link. 


25th Annual Health &‌ Fitness Expo

Mason's 25th Annual Health & Fitness Expo will feature interactive health education activities, hands-on demonstrations, fitness instruction, and challenges. This event is free, open to the public, and promotes health, wellness, well-being, fitness, and disease prevention while introducing the Mason community to resources that can help them lead healthier lives and empower their well-being. 

25th Annual Health & Fitness Expo
Thursday, March 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall 

Save a life at the Health & Fitness Expo Blood Drive. Register using the information below: 

  • Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 
  • Visit redcrossblood.org and enter “GMUBLOODDRIVE” to schedule your appointment.

Register for the Virginia Environmental Justice Summit

The third annual Virginia Environmental Justice Summit will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. This conference will engage students from throughout the state in multidisciplinary conversations around environmental justice.

Attendees will learn about environmental justice issues currently impacting communities, with a specific focus on resource extraction and environmental policy. Students can build advocacy and activism skills, network with other environmental justice activists, and develop action plans for their communities.

To see the agenda, speakers, and register for free, visit virginiaenvjustice.org. This event is sponsored by Mason's Student Environmental Justice Alliance and the Native American & Indigenous Alliance. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this information with their students.


Media, Arts, Design, and Communication Internship and Career Fair

Mason’s Media, Arts, Design, and Communication Internship and Career Fair is coming up on Tuesday, March 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Center for the Arts lobby. This event is hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Communication, and University Career Services. 

Mason students and alumni can meet with recruiters from more than 30 arts, media, and design employers in the Washington, D.C., region, including PBS, Live Nation, Wolf Trap, and more.  

Registration is required. Faculty and staff should encourage their students to attend. Contact Ryan Braaten with questions.


Register for the Staff Senate Blood Drive

The Staff Senate will host a blood drive on the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot near the Hub. 

Book your appointment in advance. All donors will receive a tie-dye T-shirt, courtesy of Inova Blood Donor Services.  

For more information, visit the Staff Senate website or contact staffsenate@gmu.edu.


Training and Professional Development


Self-Care in the Face of Adversity

In this live Anthem webinar, participants will learn about adversity, trauma symptoms, triggers, and how to care for themselves while dealing with these issues. The session will explore different sources and types of traumas. Participants will learn how to develop tools to set healthy boundaries and maintain optimal self-care. 

Webinar: Self-Care in the Face of Adversity 
Thursday, March 31, at noon 
Register 

Contact hr@gmu.edu for more information.


Webinar: Bicycle Commuting 101

Biking to campus can be fun and great for your well-being. Join Delia Johnson from the College of Visual and Performing Arts (and a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor) for an upcoming training: 

Bicycle Commuting 101 
Wednesday, April 13, at noon 
Hosted on Zoom 
Register 

Delia will share information to help you feel more confident about getting to campus on two wheels. This session is open to faculty, staff, and students.  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the webinar link.


Resources for You


Bright Horizons Resources for Answering Your Young Child’s Questions About War

Calm and simple reassurances can go a long way toward making the world feel safe and manageable. Bright Horizons' early education experts created this resource sheet for any adult supporting young children through times of stress and trauma. 

Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions.


Upcoming Performances at Mason

Dewberry School of Music: Big Band Showdown 
Monday, March 28, at 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director Jim Carroll) for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era! 

Mason School of Theater: Everybody
Multiple performances, March 31 to April 10 
Center for the Arts and Harris Theatre 
This modern riff on the 15th-century morality play Everyman follows Everybody (chosen from among the cast by lottery at each performance) as they journey through life’s greatest mystery—the meaning of living. 

Mason Artist-in-Residence: Camille A. Brown & Dancers 
Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Called “one of the most sought-after choreographers of her generation” (the New York Times), Camille A. Brown is reclaiming the cultural narratives of African American identity through dance. Now, her Bessie Award-winning company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, take the stage at the Center for the Arts for the first time. Her bold work taps into both ancestral stories and contemporary culture, capturing a range of deeply personal experiences. A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain. 

Veterans and the Arts Initiative: Collaborative Quilt Workshop 
Saturday and Sunday, April 2–3, from 1 to 3 p.m. 
Hylton Center 
Registration required 
Join us for this two-part family workshop—no quilting or sewing experience required! Combining easy fiber arts and mixed media techniques, Emily Fasick, art educator at the Hylton Center, teaches how to create your own unique quilt square that will then be assembled alongside others into a community quilt. Over the course of this intensive weekend workshop, participants will explore themes of storytelling and personal narrative using a range of found materials to make quilt squares that will become part of a collaborative art piece to share with the community. All materials are provided. This workshop is free and open to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.  

Hylton Family Series: Paddington Gets in a Jam 
Sunday, April 3, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Now is your chance to see the marmalade-loving bear onstage in his newest escapade. A sweet comedy from the creator of the hit production The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Recommended for ages 3–9. The 4 p.m. performance will be sensory-friendly. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a welcoming and comfortable arts experience for people with autism or other disabilities. Face coverings are required for patrons ages two and up. 

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Evocative Visions
Sunday, April 3, at 7 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Pianist Jeffrey Siegel is popular with classical music lovers and newcomers alike. In his final Keyboard Conversations® concert of the season, he plays the visually inspired masterpieces of Debussy, plus Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Grieg. An interactive question and answer session will conclude this program. This performance is family friendly.

Dewberry School of Music: Mason Broadway Chorale Showcase
Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
The University Chorale presents a series of Broadway classics for their 2022 spring showcase. The Broadway Showcase is a popular feature of the choral program at Mason each spring semester. Students assist with the design, coaching, and creating choreography for the production.