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Graduating students, proud families, faculty, and special guests gathered at the IGC Grand Auditorium on June 21 to celebrate Mason Korea’s Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.
The event honored students across a range of majors—including business, computer game design, computational and data sciences, conflict analysis and resolution, economics, and global affairs—who now join George Mason University’s global alumni community.
Special guests included James Antony, provost and executive vice president, and Janette Muir, associate provost for academic affairs, both of whom traveled from George Mason’s Fairfax Campus for the occasion. Mason Korea leadership were also present to celebrate the graduating class, along with Thanh Kim, acting minister counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and George Mason alum Minsung Yun, BS Computer Science ’03, founder and CEO of Currency United.
In her opening remarks, Shannon Davis, associate dean for faculty and academic affairs at Mason Korea, reflected on the graduates’ growth and the role they will take on as members of the George Mason alumni community.
“You have embraced the model of education where you become a knowledge creator,” Davis said. “As Mason alumni, you will continue to be leaders, advocates, and agents of change—creating a more just and equitable world.”
Speaking to the graduates during his first visit to the Songdo campus, Antony reflected on the unique value of the Mason Korea experience.
“At Mason Korea, you’ve pursued your degrees at the intersection of two cultures—blending the innovative spirit of an American research university with the global vision of Korea," he said. "That global perspective is now a part of who you are, and it will shape every step of your future.”
Campus Dean Joshua Park also addressed the graduates, emphasizing the personal growth they experienced throughout their time at Mason Korea.
“Beyond your academic achievements, you’ve grown into individuals with adaptability, global awareness, and a strong sense of community—qualities essential in today’s rapidly changing world,” he said. “The diversity and connections you’ve built at Mason Korea will continue to empower you on the journey ahead.”
Two faculty members were recognized during the ceremony for university-wide honors. Roland Wilson, professor and faculty advisor for the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason’s campus in South Korea, received the 2025 George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award, presented by the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning for his outstanding commitment to student learning. Deborah Kwak, assistant professor of sociology, was named a recipient of the 2025 Sojourner Truth Faculty Award, recognizing her efforts to engage students in dialogue around race, gender, and social equity—an honor jointly awarded by George Mason’s Women and Gender Studies and African and African American Studies Programs.
Global Affairs graduate Yoonji Seo delivered the graduation student address. Reflecting on her time at Mason Korea, she shared, “Mason Korea gave me more than just an education—it gave me a space to grow, connect, and become the kind of global citizen I dreamed of. The friendships, challenges, and experiences here have shaped who I am today.”