Faculty and Staff News

Expect road and parking closures on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the George Mason 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run benefiting the University Life Student Emergency Assistance Fund and fireworks following the men’s soccer game.

The Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research celebrated two major faculty achievements this year as Lizhi Wang was named an IISE Fellow, one of the profession’s highest honors, and Shima Mohebbi received the 2026 IISE Sustainable Development Division Excellence in Teaching Sustainability Award in recognition of her innovative and impactful teaching. 

How do we embrace rapidly evolving technology while continuing to put people first? That question is at the heart of George Mason University’s Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day, a university-wide professional development event on October 21.

Shane Hayes, technical specialist in George Mason University’s Information Technology Services, is known for saving the day. He excels at creating innovative solutions, revolutionizing workspaces, and adapting to any challenge that technology can throw at him. For his hard work and dedication to helping others, he has been awarded October Employee of the Month.

Sarah Holland, communications officer in the Office of University Branding, has been running in 5ks, half marathons, and trail races across the United States for years. They recently finished a 28k at The Rut, a trail running festival in Big Sky, Montana. In this race, Holland ascended and descended a rugged mountain summit more than 11,000 feet above sea level.

Karen T. Lee, associate director of the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research at George Mason University, has received the Council of Undergraduate Research Fellows Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Leadership.

Nearly 100 participants attended a daylong, student-designed workshop addressing how to reduce conflicts with AI in the workplace and enhance human leadership skills.

Since joining Mason Dining, Senior Executive Chef George Charbel has elevated George Mason University’s campus dining experiences through culinary creativity and an unwavering focus on students. Charbel approaches each opportunity with the same goal: to create culinary moments that strengthen connection and belonging on campus.

David Ramadan, BA Government and Politics ’93, MAIT International Transactions ’95, professor of practice in George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and director of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab, has been appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Board of Directors.

George Mason University administered the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey this spring, and survey feedback is already shaping both institution-wide priorities and local conversations within schools, colleges, and units, ensuring employees can see how their input informs decisions at multiple levels of the university. The full survey results will be shared with the university community at a town hall with President Gregory Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 22.