Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
High School Graduation Ceremonies at EagleBank Arena
Heavy traffic is expected on and around George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus for regional high school graduation ceremonies at EagleBank Arena through June 16. EagleBank Arena will host up to three ceremonies each day, so traffic may be entering and exiting campus from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Please allow extra travel time on and around campus. View the full schedule.
George Mason faculty, staff, and students are advised to use the general permit area of the Rappahannock Parking Deck or the Field House parking lots to avoid delays. Shenandoah Parking Deck (levels 4 and 5) will be open for limited overflow student, employee, and event parking on weekdays when graduations occur.
Celebrating George Mason Employees’ Degree and Certificate Milestones
Human Resources celebrates the George Mason faculty and staff who have earned or are nearing completion of degrees and certificates as part of their professional development journey. Join us in celebrating their achievements, as submitted by the following faculty and staff members. View the list.
Test Out PatriotAI
George Mason University’s enterprise AI platform, PatriotAI, represents the first major outcome of the university’s strategic partnership with Microsoft and Cloudforce to start a meaningful and thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into university operations.
Through a suite of six specialized AI tools, called agents, PatriotAI offers secure, university-managed access to large language models that aid academic work, studies and student life. Each agent was co-developed with members of the George Mason community, including the AI Visioning Taskforce, and they represent our first lineup of AI tools designed to enhance learning, instruction, research, and administration across campus. For complete details about this vision, visit ai.gmu.edu.
Training and Professional Development
Mason Career Academy
George Mason University has launched Mason Career Academy, a new online learning resource that is free for current students, faculty, and staff to develop new skills, and is available to displaced workers, including federal workers and contractors in the region, for a small registration fee.
Mason Career Academy offers access to more than 90 online micro-credential courses and industry-recognized certifications in fields such as data analytics, cybersecurity, project management, and information technology support. Read more.
Crucial Conversations Workshop: Mastering Dialogue
Whenever you’re not getting the results you want, it’s likely an important conversation either hasn’t happened or hasn’t been handled well. At the heart of healthy and high-performance organizations are people willing and able to hold Crucial Conversations.
Join Human Resources for a two-day session June 23– 24 from 9 a.m. to noon on the Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, to learn the skills to turn disagreement into dialogue for improved relationships and results. "Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue" is an engaging classroom course rich with group discussion, real-time practice, and group support and coaching. Register. For questions, contact hrlearn@gmu.edu.
Resources for You
One Year Later: Continuing the Momentum from the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey
It’s been one year since the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey, and many units have shared results and created action plans to improve the workplace. If your team hasn’t reviewed its results yet, now is a great time—Human Resources facilitators are available to support the process.
Even without direct report data, teams can still reflect on the Q12 questions. Gallup offers a helpful resource, “Engagement Planning Options for Managers Without Q12® Results,” available through the Gallup platform.
Survey data and planning resources are available on the Faculty and Staff Engagement Survey website (VPN or on-campus network access required). For support or to schedule a session, contact engagehr@gmu.edu.
Employee Resource Group for Hybrid/Remote Employees
Mason Throughout the Nation (MTN) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community for remote and hybrid faculty and staff across George Mason University. Through sharing work-life balance practices, professional development opportunities, and social events, the group aims to ensure that no matter where its members are located, they feel connected and supported at George Mason.
The group hosts monthly Zoom meetings. The next meeting (a guided, virtual walk) is scheduled for Friday, June 13, from noon to 1 p.m. Complete the Mason Throughout the Nation interest form to be added to the Teams channel and email listserv. For questions, contact Stacey Ellis.
Math Enrichment Camps for Grades 6–9
Mason Math Odyssey is a camp for rising 6–9 graders who are curious about math and would like to learn about mathematics concepts typically not taught in K-12 curriculum. Campers will build mathematical maturity while honing problem solving, collaboration, and communication skills. Camps will be hosted from July 7–11 and July 21–25 on the Fairfax Campus. Learn more and register.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
Mason Jazz Camp Faculty Concert
Monday, June 23, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The Mason Jazz Camp faculty will perform a special showcase. Performances include Wade Beach (piano), Shawn Purcell (guitar), Ben Thomas (bass), Kevin McDonald (drums), Juan Megna (drums/percussion), Darden Purcell (voice), John Kocur (saxophone), Xavier Perez (saxophone), Jim Carroll (saxophone), Aaron Eckert (trombone), Graham Breedlove (trumpet), and more. This concert is free and open to the public.
Juan Megna Concert
Tuesday, June 24, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Argentinian drummer and percussionist Juan Megna performs Afro-Brazilian genres, jazz, Argentinian milongas, and chacareras. He had played/recorded with Tedd Baker, Wade Beach, and Shawn Purcell, as well as Brazilian artists Vinicius Dorim, Rubinho Antunes, Bruno Mangueira, and Felipe Silveira. This concert is free and open to the public and offered as part of Mason Jazz Camp.
Altin Sencalar Concert
Wednesday, June 25, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Mason Jazz Camp presents American trombonist, composer, and educator Altin Sencalar. Praised by the International Trombone Associations Journal for his “virtuosity [and] melodic and harmonic mastery,” Sencalar has shared the stage with DeeDee Bridgewater, Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, David Sanborn, The Dizzy All Star Alumni Big Band, Michael Bublé, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, and more. This concert is free and open to the public and offered as part of Mason Jazz Camp.
U.S. Navy Band Commodores
Thursday, June 26, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy's premier jazz ensemble, have been performing the very best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for 50 years. Formed in 1969, this 18-member group continues the jazz big band legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Commodores' mission includes public concerts, national concert tours, ceremonial support in honoring our veterans, jazz education classes and clinics, and protocol performances for military and civilian government officials. This concert is free and open to the public and offered as part of Mason Jazz Camp.
Mason Jazz Camp: Student Showcase Concert
Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Participants of Mason Jazz Camp perform a student showcase to conclude the week-long camp. This concert is free and open to the public.
Paul Anka in Concert
Saturday, June 28, at 7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
Legendary singer and songwriter Paul Anka, who has written for artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, performs his greatest hits, including “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “Diana,” “She’s A Lady,” and “My Way.”
Prince William Little Theatre: Hairspray, The Broadway Musical
July 11–20, multiple performances
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a family-friendly musical piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and loveable teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire—to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star.
Arif Lohar Live
Saturday, July 12, at 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
Join Arif Lohar for a night of Punjabi folk music. The Jugni King will perform live in this unforgettable night.
Onyx Youth Orchestra and Onyx Philharmonic
Wednesday, July 16, at 6 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
The Onyx Project presents The Soul of America: An Orchestral Celebration of Soul and R&B. Onyx Youth Orchestra and Onyx Philharmonic will celebrate soul and R&B classics with guess vocalists and a little help from the audience.