George Mason University was recently congratulated by Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine for winning a Governor’s Technology Award. The awards are given annually to Virginia-based companies and institutions for excellence in use of information technology.

Mason received the Innovative Use of Technology in Higher Education Award for implementing the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) .

The VCL is a time-, energy- and cost-saving initiative that enables faculty members and students to access specialized software from any computer with an Internet connection anywhere in the world, at any time. The VCL resolves many challenges associated with physical labs such as limited lab hours, limited space, travel time to campus, as well as the availability of complex tools for distance learners.

“What we’ve done is create a new computing environment,” says Sharon Pitt, executive director of the Division of Instructional Technology at Mason and director of the VCL.

“Anyone can access software such as Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, Mathematica or GIS from their home, residence hall or local coffee shop any time of the day or night. The idea is that it will no longer be necessary to come to campus during lab hours to use these applications.”

The code for the VCL was developed at North Carolina State University and made openly available for other institutions to use.

In addition to being recognized for the improvements it made to the system, Mason was also praised for coordinating and hosting the other Virginia institutions using the VCL, including the College of William & Mary, James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University. As host, Mason provides the system management software and the technical infrastructure for those institutions.

Mason is trying to accommodate the many private and public universities across the state that have expressed interest in accessing the VCL. The system’s popularity is evident on Mason’s campus; the VCL attracted an additional 300 new student users within the past two weeks.

“Clearly the VCL has become an effective and convenient tool that focuses on students and helps faculty enhance the learning environment,” Pitt says.

“We are hopeful our success, coupled with the recognition of this award, will help us build the momentum we need to keep the system growing in size and scope.”

The Governor’s Technology Awards were presented at the 11th annual Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium in Williamsburg, Va. Honorees were determined independently by a judging panel of Virginia government information technology professionals. Judges included representatives of state, local and educational government interests.

The Chinatown Friendship Arch in Washington, D.C.

Professor Yoonmee Chang’s spring 2010 Honors seminar, ENGL 414 American Chinatowns, will offer students an opportunity not only to study ethnography, but also to practice it.

As part of their course work, students will help plan and prepare the 2010 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The 2010 festival, to be held on the National Mall June 24–28 and July 1–5, 2010, will focus on the lives and cultures of Asian Pacific Americans in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

“Students in this class will have the unique opportunity to roll up their sleeves and understand deeply how it is that we engage with ethnic cultures,” says Chang.

“Ethnography is literally the writing of culture, and our partnership with the Folklife Festival, a stunning event that draws visitors from across the nation, promises remarkable opportunities to examine the complex processes, often taken for granted, that we rely on to understand ethnicity.”

The accompanying classroom study will focus on the iconic American place we call “Chinatown.”

In conjunction with their fieldwork, students in this interdisciplinary course will read a wide range of fiction and nonfiction about American Chinatowns, exploring such questions as, What do we know about these places? What do we prefer not to know? How do we understand Chinatowns, ethnic enclaves and Asian American culture more generally?

Texts for the class will include Fae Myenne Ng’s “Bone,” Maxine Hong Kingston’s “The Woman Warrior,” Frank Chin’s “The Chinaman Pacific and Frisco R.R. Co.” and Frances Chung’s “Crazy Melon and Chinese Apple.”

This article originally appeared in a slightly different form in the English Department newsletter Not Just Letters.

Angie Goff. Photo courtesy of Katharine Hauschka

Capital Beltway traffic may be at a near-constant standstill, but Angie Goff, BA Communication ’01, is in motion at all times. Goff, traffic anchor, entertainment correspondent, lifestyle blogger and morning fill-in anchor for WUSA-9, joined the Washington, D.C., CBS affiliate in 2007 after working as a news anchor and reporter in Iowa and South Carolina, respectively.

While not covering the latest fender bender, Goff keeps her engine purring by updating her blog at wusa9.com, Oh My Goff! Her blog readers and viewers (she broadcasts live from it every morning) get insight on everything from local charities and party spots to money savers and stories making big buzz.

So what drives Goff? A lot more than traffic. One of the upbeat anchor’s passions is advocating for various causes. Having grown up in a military family, Goff actively engages in efforts that support U.S. troops. She volunteers for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, often participating in meet and greets at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This summer, Goff helped out in the second annual Yellow Ribbon Fund Army/Navy Golf Classic, which raised more than $125,000 to support injured service members and their families.

Another issue about which Goff cares deeply is mental health. A member of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, she has spent much time researching the topic. Goff, who has experienced mental health matters in her own family, feels strongly about the need for families to talk openly about these issues.

“So much stigma has been attached to mental illness . . . It’s something where we’ve come so far, but we still have so far to go,” she says.

Yet another cause Goff has championed has been the fight against breast cancer, a cause that recently hit close to home. Her fellow sorority sister and Mason graduate, Jennifer Kwiatek, BA Communication ’04, was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly two years ago at age 26. Kwiatek’s diagnosis was sobering for Goff.

“It made the threat of breast cancer real in my life. It made me realize that this can really affect people my age,” says Goff. “The most important thing to know is to get checked—even if you’re a man. . . . Put it on the calendar, write it down, because if you don’t write it down, you’re not going to do it.”

This past spring, Goff joined forces with fellow “newsbabes” to raise money and awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The event brought together 10 newswomen of different stations, ages and backgrounds for one night to make a difference. Thus, the Newsbabes Bash for Breast Cancer was born. The May social raised more than $4,000 at the door.

“I think when you get quality people who really believe in a cause, people are going to sign on,” says Goff. “We had people donating door prizes left and right. We had Komen volunteers who showed up to help out, survivors who showed up randomly and said, ‘What can I do?’ It was amazing to see it in action.”

Somehow even with her packed schedule, Goff finds the time to come to the Fairfax Campus regularly to serve as an alumni advisor to her fellow Alpha Omicron Pi sorority sisters. She also is active in the Asian American community. When asked about the value of volunteering, Goff says if you have the time, do it.

“I encourage people to find something they believe in, whether it’s running a 10K or supporting a cause. The feeling from giving makes you a richer person.”

Follow Goff on Twitter @ohmygoff, or e-mail her at omg@wusa9.com.

This article originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Mason Spirit.

Student Mohamed Hashi, left, and Padmanabhan (Padhu) Seshaiyer, associate professor of mathematical sciences, are partnered in Mason's Dream-Catchers Program. Photo by Nicolas Tan

Originally from Somalia, Mohamed Hashi has witnessed things that would be difficult for many to digest. However, he hasn’t let his past hold him back. A student at Northern Virginia Community College, he holds down a full-time job and dreams of transferring to George Mason University to study math or biology.

Hashi credits Mason’s Dream-Catchers Mentoring Program with helping him get to where he is today.

“If I had not participated in the Dream-Catchers program I would not have thought about attending college,” says Hashi. “Dream-Catchers has encouraged me to believe in myself, and through the program I am making progress toward pursuing higher education.”

Dream-Catchers is a partnership between Mason and the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Alternative Education programs. The program identifies students at Fairfax’s three alternative high schools (Bryant, Mountain View and Pimmit) who, despite challenging personal circumstances, have shown the academic potential to successfully graduate from an undergraduate program.

While the majority of students who participate in Dream-Catchers pursue an education at a four-year university, occasionally they begin at Northern Virginia Community College before transferring to Mason or another university in the state.

Hashi is one of more than 75 FCPS students who have participated in the Dream-Catchers program since it began in 2000. The program is the brainchild of Mason Provost Peter Stearns, and its goal is to provide an opportunity for capable students to overcome the many challenges they face in obtaining an education.

“Most of these students come from families where no one has been to college, and often it isn’t in their sights or dreams to go to college,” says Jane Razeghi, associate professor of education in Mason’s Graduate School of Education and coordinator of the Dream-Catchers program at Mason.

Seshaiyer tries to bring Hashi, who is attending Northern Virginia Community College, to the Fairfax Campus frequently. Photo by Nicolas Tan

“Their teachers, principals and counselors see that they have the academic and often leadership potential to benefit from this program. These students have been able to turn their lives around and need help, direction and encouragement, and that’s what Dream-Catchers provides.”

Selected students are nominated by a Dream-Catchers liaison at the alternative high school and are partnered with a Mason faculty or staff member who volunteers to be a mentor to the student in their junior or senior years of high school through the completion of a university program.

“When I first met Mohamed in spring 2008 he was very shy, but over time our relationship has transformed,” says Padmanabhan (Padhu) Seshaiyer, associate professor of mathematical sciences and Hashi’s mentor.

“Although we spend time together outside the classroom, I try to bring Mohamed to campus as much as possible. I think it helps him stay focused and driven when he sees all the activity on campus. It reminds him what he’s working toward.”

Razeghi notes that the response from faculty and staff to volunteer is often overwhelming. However, it is not always possible to find a student match for each volunteer.

“Because the mentors are often on the Fairfax Campus and the students are off-campus attending the alternative high schools, such factors as time and location in traveling to meet become important issues,” says Razeghi. “We also try to match mentors with students based on academic need or other shared hobbies or interests.”

Hashi and Seshaiyer have formed a stronger bond because Seshaiyer is able to help Hashi understand complex math theories and help with his math homework.

“Mohamed is someone with very high hopes, but he knew attaining a college degree would require a lot of hard work. He just needed the right guidance,” says Seshaiyer.

“He knows his path and exactly what to do, and that is something of which I am definitely proud. The Dream-Catchers program is fantastic with helping students overcome their fears and giving them the chance to realize that their dreams can come true.”

Hashi also has kind words for his mentor.

“I really liked Padhu the first day I met him because it was as if we had known each other for a long time,” says Hashi. “Having a mentor like Padhu is like having a teacher and a big brother in one. Both Padhu and the Dream-Catchers program have helped me believe in myself and my goal of attending George Mason University.”

Along with the support of Mason faculty and staff, Razeghi notes the tireless work of the Dream-Catchers liaisons at the high schools as well as the generous support of Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation in making the program a success. The foundation tries to award each student $1,000-$2,000 in scholarship money to help them get started in their quest for higher education. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded about $6,000 per year for student scholarships.

President Barack Obama visited Mason in August for an event celebrating the passage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which pays college tuition for veterans who served since the attacks. With Obama is Staff Sgt. James Miller, who is attending Mason. Former Sen. John Warner, at right, also spoke. Creative Services photo

When President Barack Obama visited Mason in August, he addressed 350 military veterans and advocates about the introduction of the new GI Bill that will help up to a quarter-million veterans pay for college tuition and related expenses.

With the new GI Bill, Mason’s current population of nearly 1,000 student veterans is expected to rise by as much as 25 percent. The university’s Office of Military Services is assisting this new group of active duty, reserve, National Guard and veteran students in adapting to collegiate life.

“As the student veteran population continues to grow, Mason understands that providing services to veterans is an area that needs additional attention,” says Michael Johnson, director of the Office of Military Services and a 17-year Marine Corps veteran.

“This diverse group of students has specialized needs, and the Office of Military Services strives to connect and support student veterans as they pursue their studies at Mason.”

Mason Recognized for Its Efforts

Since Johnson joined Mason in October 2008, he has made significant progress in creating a one-stop resource center for veterans and their families. Helping to reinforce the importance of Johnson’s efforts and emphasize Mason’s dedication to serving its student veterans, the university has received several awards and recognition.

Mason was recently awarded a Success for Veterans Award grant from the American Council of Education and the Wal-Mart Foundation. This $100,000 grant will help the Office of Military Services evolve into a comprehensive resource and support center to ensure academic, psychological and transition support for veterans.

Mike Johnson. Photo by Catherine Ferraro

For example, with this grant, Johnson was able to hire two new staff members. Jim Miller, transition assistance coordinator and eight-year Marine Corps veteran, will help students navigate college life. Linda McLaine, re-adjustment counselor, has been working with the military for the past 30 years on a variety of social work issues. She will help students deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and emotional distress.

In addition, Mason joined more than 1,100 college and universities across the country in supporting veterans by joining the Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program. The new initiative, which Mason is offering in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is aimed at expanding higher education funding for post-9/11 servicemen and women.

Mason’s Office of Military Services will provide tuition assistance to help up to 25 qualifying veterans who enroll as graduate students. These students will receive a $500 tuition discount from the university that will be matched by $500 from VA.

“We are very pleased to be a part of these initiatives and believe it speaks volumes about Mason’s commitment to our veteran population,” says Johnson. “We hope that ultimately Mason will provide guidance and serve as a resource and model for other institutions.”

Mason was also named by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School for 2010.” According to the magazine, the list honors the top 15 percent of more than 7,000 colleges, universities and trade schools in the nation that are striving to embrace America’s veterans as students.

A Unique Group of Students

Often considered a singular population, student veterans are usually older and more likely to be married than traditional students. As reserve members, it’s not unlikely that they may be called up for deployment in the middle of the semester or return from combat with emotional issues.

Despite these challenges, Mason administrators agree that student veterans are an asset to the Mason community. Their unique experiences, says Johnson, offer alternative perspectives to faculty, staff and other students at the university and provide an opportunity for mutual learning and growth.

Jonathan Zapien, one of Mason’s student veterans instrumental in creating the Student Veterans Association chapter, agrees that having a strong student veteran population is important at any university.

“I’m a government major, and in most of my classes we discuss what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East,” says Zapien. “Having served two tours in Afghanistan, I’m able to offer a first-person perspective about my experiences and what is going on in these countries.”

Student Veterans Need More Than Money

While the new GI Bill will help alleviate financial worries for student veterans going back to school, many students have expressed the need for resource centers that help them become accustomed to the university atmosphere and deal with emotional issues.

In response to these concerns, Johnson and David Alpher, a graduate student and faculty member in Mason’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, set up an informal peer counseling network for military students where they can share their experiences and engage in work-study programs.

Serving in Iraq from 2007 to 2008, Alpher worked with an organization called International Relief and Development on a community stabilization project to rebuild infrastructure and create jobs for people 17 to 25 years of age – often considered the “usual suspects” who join terrorist groups.

When he came to Mason, he understood that while there were many student veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, most students did not need formal counseling. According to Alpher, most student veterans just need help getting back into mainstream society.

With a push from Johnson, Zapien and Joshua Lawton-Belous, another founding member of Mason’s Student Veterans Association chapter, Alpher assembled a list of student veterans who were willing to be “on call” for other student veterans who just needed someone to talk to.

“It is important that the counseling network be very informal so students don’t feel like they are being evaluated by a psychiatrist,” says Alpher. “The counseling network is intended for students to be able to talk to someone to whom they don’t have to explain what they have been through. They need someone who understands everything about their experiences – how it looked, smelled and felt.”

Honoring Veterans Close to Home

President Alan Merten traditionally hosts the annual luncheon to honor Mason's veterans. Creative Services photo

This Veterans Day, Mason President Alan Merten will continue the tradition of honoring all Mason community military veterans. The fifth annual Veterans Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall Lobby on the Fairfax Campus.

Retired Lt. Gen. Claude Kicklighter, director of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program in the School of Law, will give the keynote address. Before joining Mason, Kicklighter served as inspector general of the Department of Defense. In addition, he has served in several senior positions in the Departments of Defense, State and Veterans Affairs.

To RSVP to the event, contact Nathan Whitten at nwhitten@gmu.edu or 703-993-2709.

Kathryn Jacobsen. Creative Services photo

Increasing access to clean drinking water is one of the most important ways to reduce child mortality and to promote population health, but it is not as easy as simply drilling new wells, says Kathryn H. Jacobsen, assistant professor of global and community health.

In a Visions Series lecture on Monday, Nov. 9, Jacobsen, an epidemiologist, will explain why clean water alone does not necessarily improve child health unless it is accompanied by other interventions.

Jacobsen’s talk, “What Happens When Water Is Cleaner? Tracking Transitions in Global Health,” will be presented at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

Over time, clean water opens up a new set of health concerns as immunity to waterborne infections drops and the risk of outbreaks rises. Using waterborne disease as an example, Jacobsen will describe the shifting mix of threats to community health that occur with development and globalization. She will raise important questions about planning now for appropriate responses to anticipated health transitions.

Jacobsen, a professor in the College of Health and Human Services, researches and teaches about infectious disease epidemiology and the ethics of international health research. She is the author of the textbook “Introduction to Global Health,” which gives an overview of major global health concerns ranging from nutrition and infectious disease to reproductive health and occupational injuries.

Jacobsen earned an MPH in international health and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Michigan.

This lecture is free, but tickets are required. See the Center for the Arts web site for more information.

Gunston and his friend "Mason" make learning about environmental awareness and renewable energy fun. Photo by Traci Claar

The discussion of global warming continues to heat up, and many fear the earth’s resources are in serious jeopardy. Some environmentalists say it’s never too late to become more environmentally conscious, but administrators at Mason say it’s never too early.

The university, in partnership with the National Energy Education Development project, created an interactive environmental education program for elementary school children in grades K-3. “Go Green with Gunston” combines education and entertainment into a distinctive curriculum specifically aimed at teaching young kids the benefits of “going green” and focusing on renewable energy sources.

Gunston—formerly known as Mason’s furry green mascot who appeared in the stands and on the sidelines at countless athletic events—was given a makeover and a new job title as the university’s community ambassador.

“We wanted to develop a way to connect with this particular age group to get them excited about science and sustainability, and Gunston was the ideal character for the job,” says Traci Claar, director of community relations.

Kids enjoy interacting with Gunston at the Orange Hunt Elementary School after-school program. Photo by Traci Claar

“Our hope is that teaching these kids fun lessons about the earth and saving energy will spark new interests which may lead [the kids] to pursue an education in science and perhaps even a career in that field.”

Gunston travels with his co-worker and friend, “Mason,” an actor/educator, to visit students who participate in the School Age Child Care (SACC) program in Fairfax County. The two engage the kids in songs, stories and games about going green.

Before Gunston visits each school, the children participate in two pre-visit lessons provided by the university. The first is designed to give students a basic understanding of how energy is used and how it can be saved. The second introduces students to renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

These activities were established to showcase Mason’s commitment to a scientific understanding of energy and the ways in which energy consumption impacts the environment.

“This is a great initiative, and I am looking forward to the wonderful and creative things that our teachers and Gunston will be coming up with,” says Terry Johnson, childcare specialist and regional supervisor for SACC.

Students at Orange Hunt Elementary School made papier-mâché Gunston heads in preparation for the visit. Photo by Traci Claar

“This is a topic that our educators will continue to teach the students long after Gunston leaves the classroom.”

The program is just underway, with one successful visit to Orange Hunt Elementary School already on the books. Gunston and Mason will be out visiting a different SACC Center in Fairfax County every Monday from now until late June. They’ll finish the month of October at Hunt Valley and Oakview SACC Centers. The schedule for November includes Cherry Run, Fairview, Bonnie Brae, Laurel Ridge and Terra Centre SACC Centers.

“This type of community outreach to our neighbors throughout Fairfax County is another example of the benefits to having a world-class university right in their own backyard,” Claar says. “It stems from our continued effort to improve the quality of life for the kids, their families and the surrounding community.”

For more information, visit the Go Green with Gunston web site.

Students at Cultural Fusion Field Day played chess on a giant board. Photo by Nicolas Tan

Tai Chi demonstrations, pickup soccer games and chess played on gigantic boards aren’t part of Mason’s daily schedule of events. But on Oct. 8, these activities and other performances, booths and demonstrations were all on display at the Fairfax Campus.

Organizers junior Mrinalini Ramanan, a biology major, and Naliyah Kaya, a sociology graduate student, estimated that the second annual Cultural Fusion Field Day (CFFD) attracted more than 400 students.

Vendors, student groups and performers set up shop on the Quad outside of Student Union Building I. Students played soccer and chess, dressed in clothing from different cultures and posed for photos at the Global Photo Booth, signed up for prizes and visited information booths.

According to organizers, CFFD aimed “to create a nonthreatening environment for the free exchange of ideas about world sports, dance, politics, food and everything fun to promote a cosmopolitan environment.”  By all accounts, the event met that goal.

“The feedback I received from participants and passersby was that they wanted to have events like CFFD on a more frequent basis, especially the student performances and demonstrations,” Kaya said.

The event attracted Mason student organizations such as Student Government and the Arab Student Association, as well as outsiders such as William O’Brien, who set up an exhibit featuring all things Irish.

“I’m interested in joining an organization, so I visited just about all of the stands there,” said junior Rafiq Baccouche, an information technology major.

CFFD featured a rap performance, two belly dancers and the Tai Chi demonstration as the main attractions. The rapper–V–performed for free, Ramanan said. The belly dancers followed up their performances, which were presented by the Mason Bellydance Club, by teaching their craft to some in the audience. After the Tai Chi demonstration, which was sponsored by the Confucius Institute at Mason, audience members took part in a mini lesson.

“The performances were a really big hit this year and will definitely continue to be a part of CFFD in the future,” Kaya said. “The performance workshops were a way for students, who did not necessarily participate in sports, to take an active and fun learning role in a culture that was new to them.”

Students heard about the event through friends, Facebook and flyers.

Organizer Mrinalini Ramanan, center, and friends Emily Perdue and Rayanne Mroczek had fun trying out cultural clothing. Perdue created the backdrop for the Photo Booth and was a Photo Booth photographer. Photo by Lori A. Wilson

“A couple of friends wanted to go, so I joined them,” said junior Kawthar Yusuf, a neuroscience major. “I was there for about five or 10 minutes, and we got to watch the belly dancers.”

Even some alumni made it out.

“Last year, I helped out a bit with [preparation],” said Michael Gryboski, BA History ’09. “This year, I came out to enjoy myself. I got in a couple of good games of soccer and a couple of games of chess. I am undefeated thus far, which is awesome.”

Many others were involved in the planning and preparation for the event, Ramanan said. Erica Hernandez, an administrative assistant in the Office of Admissions, designed the logo and many of the banners for the event. Erek Perry, director of the University Scholars program, provided guidance throughout the process and Leandra Johnson was the table fair organizer, Ramanan said.  The Office of Diversity Programs and Services, University Life, University Scholars and various student organizations, especially the Hispanic Student Association, were some of the sponsors.

To find out more, visit CFFD on Facebook.

At the Berlin Wall. Photo by Paul Fusco, 1961

Millions of people around the world can remember exactly where they were when the Berlin Wall fell. Most college-age students, however, were too young to remember; many weren’t even born yet.

For this reason, when the German Embassy decided to organize its campaign celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it included outreach efforts to colleges in the United States. Many feel that reaching out to modern-day university students is crucial to preserving the memory and inspiration of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

George Mason University is one of more than 25 universities to receive a grant to participate in the national Freedom Without Walls campaign.  Like other universities participating in the program, Mason will host a range of events, from debates to lectures, art exhibitions (both on campus and at the Goethe Institute), a gala, a unity walk and the building and demolition of a replica of the Berlin Wall.

Marion Deshmukh, who teaches German history and art history, is coordinating the commemorative events at Mason.

“The commemoration at Mason doesn’t involve just the German department,” she says.  “We are enlisting as many different students and student organizations as possible. Students from communications are involved with the debates, students in the School of Art are helping to construct the wall, and students from the performing arts are preparing for the gala. It’s a wonderful community effort.”

The events at Mason span several months and began with a talk by visiting German installation artists Renata Stih and Frieder Schnock in mid-September. In late September, there was an on-campus panel discussion by German journalists, as well as a “Fall for the Book” event featuring presidential historian Robert Dallek and journalist James Mann. Well-known German novelist Peter Schneider will speak to students on Nov. 10.

Beginning Oct. 19, students under the guidance of Walter Kravitz, a professor in the School of Art, will begin constructing a replica of the Berlin Wall. The plywood structure will stand about 8 feet tall and 16 feet wide and will be erected near the North Plaza clock tower on the Fairfax Campus.  Kravitz and students will paint the replica a grayish color and give it some texture to mimic the surface of the original wall, which was concrete. The wall will be attached to a stage on which students will give speeches and hold debates.

Once the wall is up, students may paint graffiti on it, as was done on the western side of the original Berlin wall.

“The idea is not to repeat the social and political statements on the original wall but to make the new graffiti important and poignant within a contemporary context,” says Kravitz.

Beginning Oct. 26, an art exhibition of photographs from the Library of Congress will be featured at the Johnson Center in Room 116. Natasha Müller, a senior majoring in art history and minoring in German, has curated the exhibition of photographs that photographer Paul Fusco took for Look Magazine in the early 1960s.

The photographs, which depict scenes on or near the Berlin wall, were taken from the west side, as Fusco wasn’t permitted on the east side of the wall.

“There is this one of a woman who had just had a baby,” says Müller.  “She’s holding up her baby, trying to show her family on the other side. That one’s pretty intense.”

Müller, who was only four when the Berlin wall fell, has no memory of the event. Nor do most of her college-age contemporaries. This makes the commemoration events all the more imperative.

“These Berlin Wall projects are reminders that the wall existed, but also a celebration that it fell, freeing and reuniting people. These projects will be interactive history lessons and a great way to meet other students who are interested in this topic,” says Müller.

The events for Freedom Without Walls will culminate on Nov. 9. At noon that day, the university will hold a unity walk as part of the commemorative efforts. The walk will finish at the Berlin Wall replica. Then, students will be invited to demolish the wall, as the Germans did that very day 20 years before.

Jacob Kohut, a second-year graduate student working on a master’s in music composition, is organizing the unity walk. Kohut will also play the bassoon for a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at a student gala on Oct. 29. Dancers at the gala will also perform to a piece that Kohut wrote, titled “The Wall.”

Kohut believes that remembering the fall of the wall is critical to moving forward, as nations are interconnected as never before.

“To understand the path before us in a globalized world, we must ponder the mistakes that divided a city,” he says.

To learn more about Freedom Without Walls and the events taking place both on and off campus, visit the Freedom Without Walls web site. Freedom Without Walls can also be found on Facebook.

Victor Lena completed the Career Switchers Program and left his job as an electrical engineer to teach middle school. Photo by Lori A. Wilson

This fall is sure to be full of challenges and surprises for Victor Lena. After 37 years, Lena is trading in a lucrative career as an electrical engineer to fulfill a lifelong dream of teaching. Having thought about teaching at various times during his engineering career, Lena felt it was never quite economically feasible, since he has three children.

“When my middle son entered his fourth year of medical school, I was confident there was indeed a light at the end of the ‘tuition tunnel’,” says Lena. “I began to explore post-engineering alternatives in earnest, and it didn’t take long for the idea of teaching to reassert itself.”

Having completed Mason’s Career Switchers Program in May, Lena now teaches math, algebra and life science to middle school students at the Philip Michael Pennington School in Manassas, Va.

Lena is not alone in his choice to change careers and become a teacher. Since the Career Switcher Program started in 2000, 55 people have completed the program. With close to a 90 percent placement rate, graduates of the program have filled teaching positions in math, science, English and history/social studies in area classrooms.

Career Switchers, which is a state-approved teacher training program, provides an alternative route to attaining a secondary education licensure (grades 6-12). While the program requires applicants to have a minimum of five years of professional experience, most come to the program with 18-20 years of experience in their field.

“The average age of a career switcher is 42 years old,” says Libby Hall, coordinator of the program in Mason’s College of Education and Human Development. “Many of our applicants are attorneys, but we get applicants from all walks of life.”

In fact, this year the Career Switcher Program enrolled a veterinarian and two physicians. Hall explains that students with backgrounds in the sciences and math are extremely important to the program, which was created to fill teacher vacancies in critical shortage areas.

Christine McCommas. Photo courtesy of Christine McCommas

Christine McCommas, who has worked for 34 years as a government contracts attorney for the U.S. Army, enrolled in the Career Switcher Program this fall. Teaching is something she has always wanted to do.

“In college, I majored in English/secondary education and I have a strong interest in the subject matter,” says McCommas. “I chose the Career Switcher Program at Mason because of its strong track record and reputation, and because it affords me the flexibility to continue earning an income while making the transition to teaching.”

The program takes approximately 18 months to complete and requires students to complete six credits each semester.  In addition to completing the required course work, students must spend a minimum of 15 hours on field work for each of the four courses, which means 60 hours total in a local classroom. Upon completing the course work and procuring a full-time teaching job, each student registers for their final internship course.

While Career Switchers has seen a steady increase in enrollment in the program, it’s too soon to say whether it’s because of the economy, Hall says. She notes, however, that there is “definitely a trend in growth and interest.” Thirty-six people have enrolled in the program in 2009.

Hall cautions that while many people are interested in the program, it’s not for everyone. Career Switchers is an accelerated program and requires students to complete the PRAXIS II exam prior to entering the program. Most education students take the Praxis I test for admission to a licensure program and take the Praxis II  exam near the end of their academic program. Adding an interview to the application process has helped ensure that those who enter the program are truly qualified and capable. When the situation does arise that someone might not be a good fit for the accelerated program, Hall suggests that they look into the traditional secondary education licensure program.

Lena explains that his own experience in the program has been one of continuous discovery. Students who are new to the program will find it “to be more difficult than initially expected,” he says.

“Along with our methods courses, much of the course work focuses on educational and adolescent psychology. This was a completely new field of study for me,” says Lena. “In addition, exposure to all the nuances of ‘No Child Left Behind’ with respect to diversity and differentiated instruction proved to be an almost daily eye-opener. The teaching profession is so much more complex and challenging than I ever imagined. “

For more information on the Career Switcher Program, see the web site or call 703-993-3679.

Grad Student Lands Department of Education Position

By Rashad Mulla

Megan Ibbotson. Photo by Nicolas Tan

Aspiring teacher Megan Ibbotson (BA Psychology ’06) wears several hats, and, as the longest-tenured current member of the Patriot Platoon, the Mason men’s basketball fan club, she sometimes wears a green wig.

Working toward a master’s degree in counseling and development, Ibbotson joined the U.S. Department of Education in the summer of 2008 as part of its Student Career Experience Program. (One of the perks of the position, she recently learned, was getting to play basketball with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. She says she used moves she learned from watching Mason basketball.)

Ibbotson currently works in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, a post which allows her to help others, she says. She reviews proposals, notifications and press releases and helps review and distribute grants to universities or institutions. Funds from her office help people with disabilities as well, she points out.

“My supervisor brought me in with the intention of making this a learning experience,” Ibbotson says. “I have never done the same thing twice. I’m always given new tasks and responsibilities, so every day is a new challenge to learn.”

Last year, Ibbotson was responsible for planning an Education Department conference, and she was the department’s sole representative at the National Council of Rehabilitation Educators conference held in San Antonio, Texas. She is currently planning another conference to be held later this month. As her time with the department has increased, so have her responsibilities.

“When this opportunity came along, I ran with it,” Ibbotson says. “Meeting researchers and scholars at conferences and having this broad knowledge will help me in general as a counselor.”

Her plan is to eventually become a teacher, but she says she loves her Education Department job and says it will help her in the long run. When she graduates in December, she becomes eligible for a position with the government.

Ibbotson has complemented her academic career with internships and jobs with several Virginia schools. She worked in Loch Lomond Elementary School and George P. Mullen Elementary School, both in Manassas, Va. She now has an internship at Bull Run Middle School in Gainesville, Va.

Ibbotson is also the president of Chi Sigma Iota, the honor society for counseling students at Mason.

Mason Law Students Visit GTMO as JAG Interns

By Steve Fugelsang and Donna Sneed

Natasha Clay, Juli Porto and Steve Fugelsang in front of the Marine Corps East Gate to Cuba. Photo courtesy of Steve Fugelsang

Three Mason School of Law third-year students traveled to Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in July as guests of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. They were on a four-day trip arranged by the U.S. Department of Defense for about two dozen Army and Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps summer interns.

The primary purpose of the trip was to tour the base facilities and legal operations. These included the Expeditionary Legal Complex, built for the Office of Military Commissions, including the state-of-the-art courtroom and holding cells in which Khalid Sheik Mohammed and other detainees were tried by military commission.

The visit allowed for briefings on the history of military commissions, as well as the background and present status of the military commission process, and included discussions with a prosecutor, a defense counsel and a military commissions judge for a full perspective on the commissions process.

While staying at GTMO, the students—Juli Porto, Natasha Clay and Steve Fugelsang—were billeted in air-conditioned military tents at the base’s Camp Justice.

On a bus tour of Camp Delta, the group visited six of the detainee prison camps, where they viewed the exteriors of the camps and disembarked for a closer view of a portion of the prison area.

The chief of detainee investigations and a representative from the detainee medical corps charged with overseeing the health and well-being of the 230 prisoners on base briefed the interns during their visit.

Another destination was the Marine Corps East Gate to Cuba, the designated Cuban-American border area where U.S. and Cuban officials conduct monthly meetings to discuss issues pertaining to the American presence on the island.

Fugelsang and Clay at Camp Justice, where the students stayed in military tents. Photo courtesy of Steve Fugelsang

“It was an intense and sobering experience,” says Porto, an Army JAG intern at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax, Va.

“I gained a perspective of the legal and practical issues facing the United States regarding how to manage the Guantánamo Bay detainees that I don’t believe can be gleaned from second-hand reports.”

Fugelsang echoed Porto’s sentiments, saying, “After seeing the unrivaled dedication and professionalism of our uniformed men and women at Guantánamo, I’m more committed than ever to serving our country in the Armed Forces.”

An Air Force JAG intern at the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., Fugelsang hopes to join the U.S. Navy JAG Corps after graduation.

Clay, an Air Force JAG intern at the 11th Wing Base Legal Office at Bolling Air Force Base, comments, “I had an incredible experience, and I’m really looking forward to applying to be an Air Force JAG after graduation.”

Emily Adelman. Photo courtesy of Emily Adelman

Emily Adelman has always had two major goals: to help others and excel in the arts. Selected from 678 applicants across the country as one of 30 students to receive a 2009 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship, Adelman is pursuing her interests in adult education and literacy at Mason this fall.

Since it was launched in 2000, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has helped students with financial needs reach their full potential through education.

Adelman chose to attend Mason because it is the only university in the Washington, D.C., area that offers a master’s degree in Spanish with a focus on bilingual and multicultural education.

Originally from Delray Beach, Fla., Adelman was an outstanding student at Cornell University, where she majored in Spanish with a concentration in Latin American studies. During her time at Cornell, she developed an interest in reaching out to others less fortunate than herself.

She was involved with the Community Learning and Service Partnership at Cornell and tutored an adult service worker in GED test preparation. In addition, she volunteered as a conversation partner for English language learners, a translator at the Red Cross and a reading tutor at an after school program.

Never neglecting her interest in the arts, Adelman was a member of Teatrotaller (Spanish for “theatre workshop”) at Cornell and was also chair of the CUTonight Commission, which provided funding for late-night cultural and social events at Cornell. In addition, she received the Dorothy Sugarman Prize for Poetry.

According to Adelman, the most life-changing moments of her undergraduate years occurred off campus. After a semester studying abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain, Adelman conducted independent research in Argentina as a Tanner Dean’s Scholar, studying a grassroots adult literacy project.

This research led to her honors thesis, which analyzed the connections between adult literacy campaigns and popular movements in Latin America. Adelman earned summa cum laude honors for her thesis and was awarded the J.G. White Prize for Excellence in Spanish from the Department of Romance Studies at Cornell.

After receiving the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award for Public Service and graduating from Cornell in 2005, Adelman moved to Maryland and began working in outreach and community organizing at the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), a community-based economic development organization. She also served as a loan officer for LEDC’s microloan program.

In her most recent position, she was a local first program manager, working with alliances of local, independently owned businesses in Silver Spring and Wheaton on two “buy local” outreach campaigns.

“During my time at LEDC, I had the opportunity to experience various facets of our work,” says Adelman. “When one of our clients would do business with another client or teach a friend how to build good credit, we could actually see the impact of community development happening before our eyes.”

After attaining her master’s degree, Adelman hopes to teach Spanish in adult educational settings such as community colleges and will continue to work with the Latino community in the Washington, D.C., area.

In her free time, Adelman is actively involved with the dance ministry at her church in Wheaton. In addition, she enjoys cooking, reading nonfiction, the outdoors, the arts and learning to speak Brazilian Portuguese.

“I feel extremely fortunate to be a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship,” says Adelman.  “The Foundation has not only alleviated the financial burden of graduate school, but also provided a support network of other scholars, staff and people from the academic and professional community.”

Margo Mastropieri. Creative Services photo

Outstanding teacher, scholar and researcher Margo Mastropieri has found that her work with children who have mild disabilities can open the door to general insights on how all people learn.

The University Professor in Mason’s College of Education and Human Development will share those insights at the second lecture in the Vision Series, “How We Learn: Exceptionality and Cognition,” on Monday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.

The free lecture will be held in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

“I will discuss generally my 25 years of research experiences with students with disabilities, and the lessons I’ve learned in working with this interesting, challenging, diverse and rewarding population,” says Mastropieri.

“I will provide examples from my research in verbal learning, literacy acquisition and science learning. I will also discuss how the lessons I have learned have informed my understanding about how all of us learn, and the shared commonalities of all of us who are special in some way.”

Mastropieri is a 2008 Mason Teaching Excellence Award winner who has received national honors for her research and service, including the 2006 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Outstanding Researcher Award and the 2006 Service Award from the Division for Learning Disabilities (CEC).

She has written, co-written or edited more than 180 peer-reviewed journal articles, 48 book chapters and 28 books. She has also given more than 70 presentations at local, state and national professional meetings. Mastropieri has received over $5 million in external funding to support her teaching and discovery activities.

Among her books are “A Practical Guide for Teaching to Science to Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings,” “Teaching Students Ways to Remember: Strategies for Learning Mnemonically” and “The Inclusive Classroom: Strategies for Effective Teaching.”

She received a PhD in special education from Arizona State University and MEd and BA degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Before joining Mason, she worked at Utah State University and Purdue University. Prior to working in higher education, Mastropieri was a high school teacher in Massachusetts, an elementary teacher in Arizona and a diagnostician at the Mt. Holyoke College Learning Disabilities Center.

This lecture is free, but tickets are required. See the Center for the Arts web site for more information.

Student Patricia Muench and her parents had a blast at last year's Family Weekend. Creative Services photo

From noon on Friday, Oct. 16, to late afternoon on Sunday, Oct. 18, Mason families can experience a whirlwind of activities that will give them opportunities to meet and engage with the faculty, administration and other students and their families—and have lots of fun.

For the ninth year, Mason is opening its arms wide to all families in the Mason community during the annual Family Weekend hosted by the Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services (OFPS).

It’s a time for students’ families to come and get acquainted, or re-acquainted, with Mason, and offers something for the littlest family members as well as for Grandma and Grandpa.

“We’re really excited about Family Weekend,” says Mary Ann Grandinetta, associate director of OFPS. “We’re bringing back some popular events from past years, but we’re also trying out some new activities.”

This year for the first time a Sunday golf scramble at nearby Penderbrook Golf Club will be offered. At only $50 per person, it’s a bargain, with all fees, lunch and prizes included—not to mention a great way for families to interact with one another and make new friends. And, in collaboration with Student Activities, Family Weekend is bringing to the Patriot Center comedian Wayne Brady, former improvisational cast member of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and current host of TV’s “Don’t Forget the Lyrics.”

The popular wine tasting event that provides an opportunity to learn about wines will be repeated this year.

Another brand-new option is a choice of several off-campus community service opportunities that are being offered in conjunction with New Century College.

“Our families have really jumped on that, which is great to see,” says Katie Murray, assistant director of OFPS. “In the past we’ve had some service projects on campus, but this is the first time we’ve offered the opportunity to go off campus and work directly with community organizations.”

One of the service project options, helping to set up a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, is already filled to capacity, she notes. Other choices are to help plant trees at Wolf Trap or create a magnolia bog at Royal Lake Park.

Some of the many popular activities returning this year include

• FUNZONE activities for younger family members with carnival games, PlayStation games and storytelling, hosted by members of student organizations;

• wine tasting;

• Mason Family Book Presentation featuring Jason F. Wright, author of “The Wednesday Letters”;

• Family BBQ and ThinkFast! GameShow;

• taste of Fairfax sampling from area restaurants and businesses;

• Provost’s Highlights with Provost Peter Stearns, who will discuss the university’s current academic initiatives and new programs;

• opportunities to attend Mason athletic events such as soccer, tennis, lacrosse and swimming and diving;

• Mason pre-Madness and Madness celebrations. Mason families can be among the first to hear the new Fight Song that will debut during Mason Madness, the annual mega-rally in the Patriot Center that shows off Mason’s basketball teams and coaches and opens the basketball season. The Pre-Madness activities include contests, face painting, giveaways and more.

All events are first come, first served, and reservations close on Oct. 9. Registrations are coming in fast, Murray reports, and some events, such as the Friday night Welcome Dinner and trip to George Mason’s colonial home, Gunston Hall, have already reached capacity.

All events are free for Mason students, but there is a small charge for family members.

The entire schedule of events and registration information are online at the Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services web site.

Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th president of the United States reminds Americans that beliefs about persons of African ancestry, solely based on their appearance, are likely to be incorrect.

Photo by Evan Cantwell

To explore the complex ways in which African identities are constructed, expressed and represented, Mason’s African and African American studies program will host a multidisciplinary conference titled “African Identities in the Age of Obama” Oct. 8-10 at the Fairfax Campus.

During then-President-Elect Obama’s first press conference after winning the election, he referred to himself as a “mutt” during a light-hearted exchange with a reporter about what sort of dog he would get for his daughters after his family moved into the White House. Obama’s father was Kenyan and his mother was a Caucasian born in America.

“In that moment, he put his ethnicity right out there and embraced that he had a complex background,” says Wendi Manuel-Scott, associate professor of history and director of the African and African American studies program. “Having a president with this background causes us to question our thoughts and beliefs about race and identity.”

Numerous incidents, including disruptions during town hall meetings, the controversy regarding the president’s address to school children and Rep. Joe Wilson’s interruption during the president’s joint session to Congress, have led some in the media to wonder if the president’s race is a factor driving these public reactions.

Through its course offerings and events, the African and African American studies program seeks to address these kinds of incidents, not only by discussing current events, but also by looking at them in a critical fashion through the lens of the long view of American history.

Manuel-Scott welcomes the opportunity to discuss these issues at the upcoming conference.

“When we first planned the conference, I don’t think that we could have imagined that we would have these issues so prominently discussed in the news,” she says. “I don’t think the perception of Obama has changed since the election, but it is clear that the rhetoric has become louder and vitriolic.

“President Obama’s rise to power alerts us to the complexity of African identities in the modern era, particularly now that the 21st century is being heralded as the ‘post-race’ era, a term I disagree with.”

In addition to researchers from Mason, scholars from around the world will present at the conference, including professors from Brandeis University, Cornell University, Howard University, Temple University, University of Houston, University of Maryland, University of Texas and University of Virginia.

Highlights of the conference include a keynote address from Colin Palmer, professor of history at Princeton University, and a plenary panel that includes Joseph Leonard, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hazel McFerson, Mason associate professor of public and international affairs, will present “Michelle Obama, Reggie Love and the New Paradigms of African American Female Beauty and Male Attractiveness in the Age of Obama”; and John Paden, Robinson Professor of International Affairs, will serve on the panel titled “Fallacies, Myths and Practices: The Making of Modern African Identities.”

The following Mason faculty members will serve as commentators or moderators for the various sessions: Spencer Crew, Robinson Professor of American, African American and Public History; Rutledge Dennis, professor of sociology and anthropology; Yevette Richards Jordan, associate professor of women and gender studies; Helon Habila Ngalabak, assistant professor of English; and Thomas Stanley, assistant professor of art.

Mason’s award-winning Center for History and New Media will present a lunchtime teacher workshop on “New Media, Race and African Identities in the Classroom” on the final day of the conference.

The conference also features an art exhibit by Mason MFA alumnus Solomon Wondimu titled “Skin: America in Black and White,” a reprise of his work shown at Mason last November.

The conference concludes with a screening of “The Neo-African Americans,” a documentary about how rapid, voluntary immigration from Africa and the Caribbean to the United States is transforming the meaning of what it means to be African American. Discussion of the documentary with the director, Kobina Aidoo, will follow the film.

The African and African American Studies program plans to submit proceedings of the conference for publication in a scholarly journal.

“We in African and African American Studies have a great responsibility to teach students about the construction of race during a time when we have the first black president,” Manuel-Scott says.

“It can be difficult to wrap your head around the complex issues of race and identity–a huge task that our faculty in the program is committed to. I’m quite humbled and proud to be director of this small, yet growing program during this moment in history.”

Registration for the conference is free for Mason faculty, staff and students, however, preregistration is required. Additional information is available at the conference web site.

Seven current and former Mason students are traveling abroad this year to pursue their research interests in a foreign country. Winners of Fulbright and Boren awards for international studies, the students will receive funding to cover the expenses of their overseas experiences.

In all, four students received Fulbright awards, two students received Boren fellowships and one student received a Boren scholarship.

Kimberly Burge. Creative Services photo

Fulbright winner Kimberly Burge, who completed her master’s degree in creative writing (nonfiction) this summer, leaves for South Africa in January, when their school year begins.

Burge’s project, “Finding Their Voices: Exploring the Lives of Gugulethu’s Girls through Literary Nonfiction,” focuses on the lives of the girls in the Gugulethu township near Cape Town, South Africa. Burge hopes to write a book after a year of studying the girls’ lives. She would also like to form a creative writing club among the girls.

“I’m planning on incorporating their writings into my book, so this will be a collaborative effort,” Burge says. “I’ll also be taking a course in oral history methodology at the University of Cape Town.”

Rachael Lyon. Creative Services photo

Rachael Lyon, also a Fulbright winner, will travel to Vienna, Austria, in October to work as an English language assistant at a secondary school. She earned a master’s in English [creative writing, poetry] in May.

She will also work on her project, “The Women of Café Raimund: A Poetry Translation Project.” In her project, she will focus on poetry written since 1945 by female poets who aren’t translated very frequently.

“Their poetry is seen as crucial to contemporary Austrian literature, but unfortunately their poetic influence doesn’t extend very far outside of Austria,” Lyon says. “A big goal of my translation project is to share the work of these poets with a broader American readership.”

Amin Mehr. Creative Services photo

A third Fulbright winner, Amin Mehr, obtained his master’s degree in systems engineering in January.

He will travel to Barcelona, Spain, to research wind and energy technology and how to implement it in the country’s infrastructure. He will also explore Spain’s recent green movement, and how the population of the country is getting educated in environmental matters.

“The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, where I will be studying, has a strong focus on green technology and has world-renowned facilities for wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy,” Mehr says.

Ramon Pebenito. Creative Services photo

The fourth and final Fulbright winner, Ramon Pebenito, earned a master’s degree in political science this summer. He will travel to Lithuania.

His project will investigate mental health policy reform, with a focus on suicide prevention. He will study at the University of Vilnius’ Medical Faculty’s Clinic of Psychiatry. Pebenito will also write and co-write articles for international and local scholar journals. He will also interview representatives from the Youth Aid Psychological Centre, the Lithuanian government and the World Health Organization to explore the possibility of mental health policy reform.

“Lithuania has had among the world’s highest suicide rates since regaining its independence in 1991, and mental health experts in the country are working toward improving the mental health system with more community-based treatment,” Pebenito says.

Robert Donohue. Creative Services photo

Undergraduate Robert Donahue is spending the 2009-10 academic year studying Arabic and Middle East studies at the American University of Kuwait. Donahue, a cultural anthropology major with minors in Islamic Studies and Middle East Studies, won a Boren scholarship for the year.

Donahue will live with a host family in Kuwait and study Arabic, culture, history, politics, religion and government. He will take trips to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

“Studying Arabic in the Middle East for an academic year is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will further both my academic and professional career goals of working for the U.S. government in a national security-related field,” Donahue says. “The knowledge gained from this study abroad program will facilitate an ongoing education throughout my academic and professional career.”

Aminah Teachout. Photo courtesy of Aminah Teachout

Aminah Teachout, one of two Boren fellowship winners at Mason, will travel to Egypt and Israel to work on her research project, “Lessons from Cairo: Policy Implications of Displaced Sudanese in Israel.” She is currently working on a master’s in public administration.

She will spend the fall semester studying at the American University in Cairo, focusing on migration and refugee studies, international law and human rights. In the spring, she will travel to Tel Aviv to intern for an organization that works with African refugees.

“I studied abroad in Cairo as an undergrad and engaged with the Sudanese community significantly during my time there,” Teachout says. “I’m hoping to draw on my past experience with displaced Sudanese in Cairo to highlight the importance of this same issue in Israel.”

Kimairis Toogood-Luehrs. Creative Services photo

The second Boren fellowship winner, Kimairis Toogood-Luehrs, will travel to Tajikistan to study the native language and complete her doctoral research, which explores civil society in the country. Toogood-Luehrs is a PhD student in the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

Her project will focus on how nongovernmental organizations contribute to the country’s bid for sustainable peace.

“As a conflict resolution scholar and practitioner, the findings from this project will not only help U.S. government officials understand a vital country in Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan to the north,” Toogood-Luehrs says. “It will also [help] conflict resolution scholars understand the mechanisms that allow the sustainability of nonviolence.”

According to the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, about 1,500 awards are given each year. Last year, approximately 7,500 applications were received.

Six Mason students were among Americans who won Fulbright student awards last year. No Mason students won Boren fellowships or scholarships in 2008, but four students won in 2007–two undergraduates and two graduates.

For more information on applying for Fulbright scholarships and other postgraduate fellowships, contact Deirdre Moloney, director of the Postgraduate Fellowships and Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program, at 703-993-2917 or dmoloney@gmu.edu. Find out more about the Fulbright award, Boren Scholarships and Boren Fellowships online.

Yuntao Wu joined the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride this year. Photo courtesy of Yuntao Wu

Yuntao Wu, professor of molecular and microbiology in the College of Science, has worked around the clock in his fight against AIDS. Two weeks ago, he went even further, bicycling 330 miles to raise money to fund his research.

For the second consecutive year, Wu was selected as the sole recipient of the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride proceeds. Last year, the riders raised approximately $100,000 for Wu’s lab. This year, the number of riders almost doubled, along with the amount of money raised.

“I try to let them feel that they’re not alone, and we’re not alone. We’re a team working together for a common goal, which is fighting HIV and finding a cure,” says Wu.

In addition to joining the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride participants on the trail, Wu has spent a great deal of time educating the ride’s donors about the work that they’re helping to support.

“Some of the riders have HIV, and we all have lost friends or partners to AIDS, so it was also very cool to have them tell their stories to Dr. Wu and his lab team, who don’t get that contact in their lab,” says Marty Rosen, director of the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride.

“The Mason team left the ride understanding just how much we are counting on their research, and my HIV-positive riders went home with hope.”

In May, Wu hosted ride participants for two half-day tours of his lab. For some of the riders, the visit was their first exposure to real science. This one-on-one time with the donors allowed Wu to explain how their money translates into research. For example, the 2008 NYCDC AIDS Research Ride proceeds supported a postdoctoral position in Wu’s lab that enabled the lab to submit a manuscript to the journal Gene Therapy this year.

“A lot of the riders were very excited when they were here. Some of them had never seen an infected cell. They didn’t understand how the research was conducted. I explained how the research works and how discovery can lead to new treatments,” says Wu.

In early June, some of the Washington, D.C.-based riders invited Wu to speak at a weekly meeting held in their homes.

“They particularly asked me to go there to give them an education. By the end, they just told me that everyone in the room was HIV positive. By talking with them, I feel the urgency for the scientific community to find a cure,” says Wu.

Many people may not realize how expensive AIDS research is. According to Wu, it costs approximately $200,000 to $300,000 per year to staff and run his 10-person lab. In these challenging economic times, he points out that researchers need to get creative in how they finance their research. Private fund-raising events like the NYCDC AIDS Research Ride are more important than ever.

Wu with members of the "Puget Sound raiders" from Seattle during a stop on their trip. Photo courtesy of Yuntao Wu

“My lab is slightly different from most HIV labs because we exclusively study HIV infection of blood T-cells. Acquiring this material is very expensive. It usually costs a few hundred dollars just to get cells from one donor to study, and we study hundreds of donors each year. Right now, funding is still an inhibiting factor,” says Wu.

A major source of support for Wu’s research comes from National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. The application process is writing-intensive, and Wu submits at least three each year. However, he is extremely grateful for every grant that he is awarded, as it brings him closer to his goal of finding a new treatment for HIV.

This year, Wu has been very fortunate: He was recently awarded an NIH grant worth $1.26 million if fully funded over four years.

“Because of the economic downturn, funding is very tough and competitive. You have to be in the top 10 percent, and many good research proposals have no chance to be funded. We are very lucky to get acknowledgement from my colleagues in the HIV research community in the form of grants. The key is to not get discouraged. You have to have persistence. Eventually, your program will be successful,” says Wu.

Wu’s team published eight articles in the past two years, including a groundbreaking article in the prestigious bioscience journal Cell in 2008. Two articles are pending publication. One describes a new way of treating HIV-infected cells using an HIV-based particle that can cause the death of HIV-infected cells. The other describes Wu’s finding that a surface protein of the HIV virus is still capable of sending signals into human T-cells even when the cell is not fully infected. Wu’s team discovered that this signaling process helps the virus to infect T-cells and is proposing that the signaling process may cause blood T-cell dysfunctions seen in HIV patients.

“The virus usually has to insert the genome into the human genome in order to have a life cycle. So even if it has a half life cycle, it can still impact the cell. One of our goals is to inhibit the virus early in the process and see how that inhibits the virus. This finding gives us a new understanding of how the virus initially interacts with cells,” says Wu.

To support the ride, visit www.nycdc.org.

As we grow increasingly dependent on technology to do everyday tasks as well as share critical information, the ability to resist and sustain attacks from malicious computer hackers becomes more important.

Anup Ghosh. Creative Services photo

That was the premise behind a cyber security grand challenge supported by a National Science Foundation grant that recently took place at the USENIX Security Conference in Montreal, Canada. The challenge was organized by Anup Ghosh, research professor and chief scientist in Mason’s Center for Secure Information Systems, and colleagues at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, Calif.

“We designed this challenge to be different from all the others out there,” says Ghosh. “We didn’t ask people to hack into a system, but instead we asked them to be defenders. We wanted them to create an environment where a server could function with integrity and minimum required service levels even when under attack.”

Teams from all over the United States and Canada signed up for the challenge, including three students from Mason. Team An0nym0us members were Rhandi Martin and Zhaohui Wang, who are both pursuing a PhD in Computer Science with specializations in security; and Fox Chambers, who recently completed a master’s degree in information security and assurance.

Participating in the competition was a double challenge for Mason’s team members since they had little advance knowledge of the competition and only one week to prepare. However, they earned third-place honors and brought home a $1,000 cash prize, courtesy of BAE Systems, the challenge’s prize money sponsor.

In the challenge scenario, the teams attempted to secure server systems that are often used to handle sensitive health records. Each team received a virtual server that contained a number of hidden security flaws implanted by the organizers.

Mason's Team An0nym0us was, from left, Rhandi Martin, Fox Chambers and Zhaohui Wang. Martin and Wang are PhD students in computer science; Chambers recently earned a master's in information security and assurance. Photo by Nicolas Tan

“I felt that the situation they gave us to work with was very realistic,” says Wang. “These kinds of vulnerabilities and threats happen on the Internet every day. Because of the realness of the scenarios, if you understand real world threats, then you know where to look for the security weaknesses.”

On day one of the competition, the teams had until noon to work on their servers before turning them over to conference organizers. The servers were returned to the teams several hours later for more work. The teams then had until 9 a.m. on day two to complete work on their servers.

During the competition, an automated scoring system kept track of what services were functional. At the same time, an automatic attack system performed disruptive attacks against the services.

“At times I felt like I was in over my head because my background is in network security, not systems security,” says Martin.  “I never dreamed we would place, but our faculty advisor, Angelos Stavrou, had confidence in us and was there supporting us the whole time. When we were up at 3 a.m., Angelos was right there with us. In the end our hard work paid off.”

Ghosh and his fellow organizers hope to make the grand challenge an annual event at the USENIX Security Conference. Ghosh explains that the goals of the challenge are twofold:  to promote awareness of cyber security, particularly among students; and to show the industry that the concept of an unhackable server is possible.

“We are trying to motivate people to be innovative and develop solutions that others haven’t thought about, particularly in the commercial community where people aren’t sponsored by research,” says Ghosh. “For that reason, being at a research conference where the goal is to design solutions is really the perfect venue for this type of challenge.”

Mason alumni now have two special opportunities to “come home” to their alma mater—during the traditional Homecoming celebrated in February, and now, during Alumni Weekend, set to debut Oct. 2-4.

The fall weekend is not meant to replace or supplant Homecoming, says Chris Clark-Talley, associate vice president for alumni affairs, but to complement it. “After 12 years, Homecoming has come into its own,” she explains. “Now it’s time to introduce a new tradition.”

Nearly two years have gone into planning the three-day event, and it was a university-wide effort, Clark-Talley says. Alumni were surveyed, and a committee with representatives from various departments, schools and colleges, Development, Athletics, University Libraries and Alumni Affairs steered the planning. The Alumni Board of Directors has provided support and leadership—its members, led by President Ted Arnn, will be hosting many of the events.

The result is a selection of activities that should cover every alumnus’ interests.

In fact, according to Carol Swigart, associate director of alumni affairs, registrations so far indicate that the schedule has wide appeal, with graduates from every decade since 1970 signing up. And the number of graduates attending is spread fairly evenly among the schools and colleges.

New Places to See

This year is a particularly good one to have a weekend alumni gathering because of all the changes at the Fairfax Campus, Clark-Talley notes.  “It’s really an excellent time to celebrate the growth of Mason,” she says. “Even alumni who were here just a year ago will find something new.”

One of the biggest additions to campus—literally—is the new Engineering Building, and it will be dedicated on the first day of Alumni Weekend at 3 p.m. Open to all, the event features food and refreshments as well as guided tours of student and faculty exhibits throughout the building.

During the weekend, alumni will have several opportunities to tour the campus and hear about Mason’s $500 million worth of construction projects, not only on the Fairfax Campus, but also at Arlington and Prince William. Options for touring virtually, on a trolley or on foot will be available.

New People to Meet

Although everyone will undoubtedly ooh and aah about the new buildings and facilities, Alumni Weekend is really about making personal connections.

Lots of events are geared toward introducing alumni to current Mason faculty and staff, such as breakfast with President and Mrs. Alan Merten and “A-List Lectures” with Mason notables: Nance Lucas (New Century College), Jim Wolfe (Management), Jim Olds (Krasnow Institute), Susie Crate (Environmental Science and Policy), Peter Stearns (Provost), Gary Dittmer (Alumni Association treasurer), Garett Jones (Economics), Coach Jim Larranaga (Athletics), Tom Calhoun (Facilities Management) and Andrew Flagel (Admissions). Alumni can also meet and tour the observatory with astronomer Harold Geller.

Reconnecting with the Past

Of course you can’t have a reunion without savoring memories of the good ol’ days. So University Libraries Special Collections and Archives has pulled out memorabilia from Mason’s past and will display photographs, yearbooks and other archived items to jog one’s memory. For those who enjoyed “The Rat” during their Mason days, they can visit the new/old pub and enjoy music and refreshments with friends.

Most of the schools and colleges will be hosting affinity receptions or special programs for their alumni as well—offering another opportunity to reconnect with old friends and former professors.

Finally, there will be first-class entertainment each day—the amazing psychic Evasons on Friday night; a Saturday barbeque with The Monster Band, an all-star group that performs high-energy funk and rock from the ‘70s to today; and ‘80s tribute band The Legwarmers on Saturday night. Not to mention film screenings and sporting events to watch: Mason women’s soccer and volleyball, and even club football.

“We think this will be an excellent opportunity for alumni to develop a renewed and stronger connection with their alma mater,” concludes Clark-Talley.

For more details, see the Alumni Weekend web site.

Each year, the enrollment team at the university determines enrollment targets based upon institutional historical data for freshman and transfer students, as well as retention rates for existing students.

This year, the university enrolled about 1,000 more undergraduate students than targeted, and 500 more graduate students.

“George Mason’s higher-than-anticipated enrollment increase is reflective, in many ways, of a growing appreciation of the connection between a quality education and one’s ability to obtain viable employment in today’s economy. This reality is seen in the upswing in students in a number of our academic areas such as teaching, engineering, the health professions and information technology. The enrollment increase in those fields, particularly among in-state students, also reflects the increased recognition of the quality of Mason’s programs in these and other academic areas,” says Mason President Alan Merten.

According to university officials, the increased enrollment is due to a larger freshman class, a greater number of transfer students and higher retention of students, particularly at the sophomore to junior level.

Following are specifics on fall enrollment trends.

• New first-time freshmen: There is a 3 percent increase over target. More than three-quarters (78.1 percent) are in-state students. Fifty-one percent are from the Northern Virginia area, while 26 percent are from other parts of the state. Less than a quarter, (21 percent) are out-of-state students. Additionally, the number for first-time freshmen in the Honors College doubled.

• Transfer students: There is a 14 percent increase over target—about 330 more students than projected. Seventy percent of Mason’s 2,600 transfer students are from two-year institutions and 30 percent are from four-year institutions, including a large number of transfers from other Virginia four-year institutions. Additionally, 91 percent of community college transfers are from Northern Virginia Community College.

• Retention: Rates are up over fall 2008 for almost every level of student.  This increase in retention accounts for about 500 more undergraduate students than projected. The most encouraging trend is the significant increase in the sophomore to junior retention rate at Mason—nearly 17 percent more students than projected elected to continue their education at George Mason University after their sophomore year. In addition, Mason is 3 percent over projection for students seeking master’s degrees and 4.6 percent over the projected number of doctoral students.

Finally, data indicate that Mason has an increased number of students concentrated in degree programs geared toward high-need workforce areas, such as teaching, engineering, information technology and the health professions. Academic units offering high-need degrees are 8 to 10 percent over enrollment targets.