Community Engagement

New art course teaches students how to think differently about design

Shayla Brown — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:49:48 +0000

New art course teaches students how to think differently about design Shayla Brown Wed, 04/02/2025 - 11:49

“Furniture isn’t just a tangible item that’s supposed to mold to your body, but it can also mold to your lifestyle,” said Katherin Salazar, a George Mason �鶹�� senior art and visual technology major.

She is currently taking a new College of Visual and Performing Arts special topics course, AVT 496, which focuses on furniture design and is offered through the university’s School of Art.

AVT 496 students discussing their sculptures. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of �鶹�� Branding.

“The goal is to teach students about the power of furniture and how the built environment is constantly communicating and reorchestrating hierarchical structures,” said Mallory Kimmel, a Washington, D.C.-based interdisciplinary artist who created and teaches the course.

“We’re learning how to cultivate a greater awareness of the intended power dynamics in space, and also to become a curator of reshaping hierarchies in space to be more oriented to social justice ethos,” she said.

Salazar, who has contracts with Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Skate Folk creating competitive atmospheres that serve as a gateway for local skaters, is currently building a quarter pipe ramp for a class project.

AVT 496 student showcases the functionality of a sculpture. Photo provided.

“The techniques we’re learning in this course go hand in hand with building a lot of structures related to skating,” said Salazar, who works as a student monitor in the university’s Sculpture Studio under the supervision of Ben Ashworth, sculpture and foundations supervisor in George Mason’s School of Art.

“Mallory and Ben have taught me the ways of the art world and how it's constantly changing and growing. The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is to take pride in my skills and realizing the worth of them,” she said.

As a part of the course, the students will tour the National Gallery of Art and put what they’ve learned to practice by identifying and recommending ways to create a more welcoming environment for people to experience the art.

The students will also present how their finished sculptures address hostile architecture, which Kimmel defines as the “built environment containing features that aim to reject certain people or behaviors.”

An example of hostile architecture is public benches that have handrails in the center so that it's prohibitive for the houseless population to lay down, explained Kimmel.

AVT 496 student showcases the functionality of a sculpture. Photo provided.

“[This course] has allowed me to expand my thinking beyond just the functions of furniture, but about its design ethics and the body itself,” said Roland Payabyab, a senior art and visual technology major.

For Payabyab’s first project, he focused on posture in honor of his parents.

“I'm noticing as they age, they're developing a lot of back problems, so I'm creating a bench meant to relieve some of that pain by incorporating a function within this piece to move with them as they need, for example, when they’re bending over to put on shoes,” he said.

Payabyab was able to build his project with techniques, such as woodworking and joinery.

AVT 496 students discussing their sculptures. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of �鶹�� Branding.

“Joinery was one of the things I was most excited to learn about, and it just so happened to be the first topic we would cover,” said Payabyab. “Now I know how to combine different materials without nails or screws to build my sculptures, which is great for me because that’s what I’d like to do as a career after I graduate.”

In This Story

Mallory Kimmel

Benjamin Ashworth

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

National Gallery of Art

A collaborative solution to culinary career challenges

Sarah Holland — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:29:31 +0000

A collaborative solution to culinary career challenges Sarah Holland Tue, 03/25/2025 - 10:29

One of the best parts of any town is its local food. But in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, keeping local restaurants alive and thriving requires a new approach.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of �鶹�� Branding

In partnership with the City of Fairfax, Town of Vienna, and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association Foundation (VRLTAF), George Mason is working on a solution: the Culinary Careers Collaborative (CCC) is a workforce development project to get restaurant workers the foundational skills they need to succeed.

Jai Girard, director of education and workforce development for the VRLTAF, explained that the restaurant industry has often struggled with recruitment and retention. “The challenge has intensified in recent years,” she said. Hospitality employees who were laid off during the lockdowns found jobs in other industries. Business travelers, who were a significant market for Northern Virginia restaurants, have not returned to the pre-2020 numbers. And with growing competition from the gig economy, restaurants are struggling to recruit and retain their staff.

As restaurants face growing challenges, the City of Fairfax and Town of Vienna wanted to find a solution.

“This is a challenge that transcends jurisdictional borders,” said Ashley Curtis, marketing and business engagement specialist for the Town of Vienna. "Hungry diners aren’t thinking about where the city starts and the town begins: They’re just enjoying the food. We have a shared goal to support the places our residents and visitors love to eat.”

“We knew we needed partners who could bring expertise in hospitality and restaurant management, so we looked to George Mason and VRLTAF,” said Tara Borwey, assistant director of programs for Fairfax City Economic Development. George Mason has one of the only hospitality degree programs in the area.

“We’re all in such close proximity to one another, and therefore we all have a vested interest in maintaining a strong relationship and improving our shared community,” she said.

Using feedback from restaurant owners around Fairfax City and Town of Vienna, the team developed three tracks: beginning culinary skills, beverage skills, and advanced management. Each track totals 24 credit hours taken over four days. Fairfax City and the Town of Vienna fully funded the programs so they are completely free for participants.

Students practice during the beverage skills track. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of �鶹�� Branding

“Partnerships between universities and local communities are essential for creating meaningful workforce development,” said Min Park, associate professor in the Tourism and �鶹�� Management program in the College of Education and Human Development. “These partnerships ensure that training programs are academically sound and aligned with workforce demands.”

The beginning culinary skills track and beverage skills track are designed to build foundational skills for industry newcomers. Culinary students learn fundamental cooking techniques and knife skills; beverage students learned how to mix cocktails and pair wines; both tracks include instruction in hygiene and sanitation protocols, service management skills, regulation compliance, and operational strategies.

Students learn skills that will put them in a stronger starting position and get the chance to see if this industry is the right fit without risk for either the student or the restaurant losing a job or an employee.

“Retention is just as important as recruitment,” said Girard. “These tracks remove some of that steep learning curve barrier of these entry-level positions that could scare some people away. They can see if the industry is a good fit for them, while gaining skills that will make them more confident in what can be a stressful environment for someone new and untrained.”

George Mason alumna Sophia Tran, BS Tourism and �鶹�� Management ’22, a current graduate student pursuing a master's in management with a certificate in human resources in the Costello College of Business, took the beverage track and earned the ServSafe certificate and the Beverage Arts certificate. The ServSafe certificate, administered by the National Restaurant Administration, demonstrates an individual’s knowledge of food safety protocols and procedures. “I would highly recommend the track. I learned a lot about the wine and cocktail industries,” she said.

Advanced management track participants and instructors. Photo provided.

The third track—advanced management—is the only track specifically for current industry employees, designed to upskill current or potential leaders with instruction on managerial theories and practices. The inaugural module ran in July 2024 with 13 participants, taught through a collaboration between a professor of the Tourism and �鶹�� Management program and leading industry practitioners.

“Many of our restaurants are locally owned small businesses, and they don’t usually have resources like this. It’s a DIY mentality, training people on the job,” said Curtis. “But small business is the heartbeat of our region, so being able to support them makes this really special.”

The locations of the tracks vary based on the needs of the curriculum. Dolce Vita Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar in Fairfax City hosted the beverage class, which concluded its first session in January. The beginning culinary track, which will run its inaugural session in June 2025, will use the College of Public Health Nutrition Kitchen in Peterson Hall.

Said Curtis, “Collaborations like this make this region a great place to work, play, learn, and live.”

To register for upcoming tracks, visit the CCC website.

Explore the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management

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Poetry Alive! expands services to Prince William County

Colleen Rich — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:02:19 +0000

Poetry Alive! expands services to Prince William County Colleen Rich Tue, 03/11/2025 - 14:02

Poetry Alive! is an arts outreach program designed to inspire and empower students at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) through interactive workshops centered on contemporary poetry. Now in its third year, Poetry Alive! has extended its reach to a new site, the Patrick D. Molinari Juvenile Shelter in Prince William County.

Photo by Getty Images

Poetry Alive! sends teaching fellows, recruited from the George Mason �鶹��’s Creative Writing Program, into centers to teach poetry workshops. At the JDC, the teaching fellows work with students in the center’s Beta program—a year-long therapeutic initiative for male residents aged 14-17. The Molinari Shelter in Manassas, Virginia, is a nonsecure facility that acts as an alternative to detention and provides emergency placements for youths aged 11-17.

George Mason alumnus Ronald Pannell, MEd ’02, PhD ’12, supervisor of specialized instruction for Prince William County Schools, heard about the JDC poetry workshops through an article in the Mason Spirit magazine. While a doctoral student at George Mason, Pannell had done research on strategies using written expression to help elementary school students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. He immediately saw the value of implementing a Poetry Alive! program at the Molinari Shelter.

Pannell secured funding through a Virginia Department of Education grant and collaborated with Poetry Daily, which runs Poetry Alive!, to bring the program to Molinari in fall 2024.

Katey Funderburgh. Photo provided

The program at Molinari employs five teaching fellows: four MFA graduate students—Katey Funderburgh, McKinley Johnson, Martheaus Perkins, and Nicholas Ritter—and one undergraduate student, Faith Baylor, who is participating as part of their practicum coursework for a Poetry Daily course.

Funderburgh and Ritter are the lead teaching fellows in charge of expanding the program to the Molinari Shelter. Ritter and Funderburgh both served as Poetry Alive! teaching fellows last spring and are extremely passionate about the program.

“We spend each Poetry Alive! session introducing the students to new poets, discussing what different poems mean and how they’re crafted, and then we watch and listen as the students take these tools into their own hands,” said Funderburgh. “Whenever I am lucky enough to hear a student read their own poetry aloud, I remember that this is why I’m here, this is what poetry is for.”

“�鶹�� sessions are chances for these students to express [themselves] in new and creative ways,” said Ritter, who has been working with the program for three years. “Working with Poetry Alive! has shown me a pathway for poetry to work in the world in ways I hadn’t imagined before. �鶹�� work makes a direct and tangible difference, and I think that carries tremendous value.”

Nicholas Ritter. Photo provided

Pannell said the youth at the shelter really enjoyed the workshops. “It gave them another outlet to express themselves.”

He said that the teachers working at Molinari also benefited from the workshop and that Funderburgh and Ritter has passed on skills to the faculty there, enabling them to support the students as they explored writing and journaling outside of the workshop.

Founded in 1997, Poetry Daily is a nonprofit daily anthology of contemporary poetry that moved to George Mason in 2019 to continue its work connecting 570,000 readers across the world to the finest contemporary poetry. It also serves as a learning lab for George Mason students in teaching the art and practice of poetry publishing and is part of Watershed Lit: Center for Literary Engagement and Publishing Practice.

Poetry Alive! is modeled after the successful pilot initiated in spring 2022 by the inaugural Fairfax Poet Laureate and George Mason alumna Nicole Tong and has continued with the support of funding from ArtsFairfax. The program at the Fairfax County JDC is funded by ArtsFairfax.

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Film and Video students take home Capital Emmy Student Production Awards

Shayla Brown — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:59:06 +0000

Film and Video students take home Capital Emmy Student Production Awards Shayla Brown Tue, 02/11/2025 - 08:59

Students from George Mason �鶹��’s Film and Video Studies Program collaborated in the classroom to create films that earned them their first Capital Emmy Student Production Awards. These awards, sponsored by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, recognize outstanding achievement in video production in the region.

“I knew I loved editing my whole life. When I was a little kid, I thought ‘I'm going to be a famous YouTuber and make videos,’” said senior film major Xavier Jimenez, who received an award in the commercial category for “Media Production Program: Behind the Scenes.”

Xavier Jimenez directing his promotional video. Photo provided.

“It wasn't until my senior year [in high school] that I realized editing kind of falls into film, and I started researching more about videography and cinematography,” said Jimenez, who has a minor in photography.

During his junior year, Jimenez took COMM 358 Multi-Camera Studio Production with Department of Communication instructor David Miller at the Student Video Center.

“That semester was my first time meeting Professor Miller. I showed him some of my previous video work of our basketball and soccer teams, and asked if I could borrow the Sony FX3 camera,” explained Jimenez, who also creates content for George Mason Athletics.

Miller was thoroughly impressed by Jimenez’s videography skills, permitting him to use the new camera on the condition that he create a “behind-the-scenes” promotional video for the course aimed at prospective students. This project, directed, shot, and edited by Jimenez with Miller’s guidance, ultimately earned him his first Emmy Award.

“I always tell my students that the only prerequisites for my course are curiosity and hard work. I noticed that right away in Xavier,” said David Miller, who is the media production coordinator in the Department of Communication. “Honestly, Xavier appears to have an innate talent, and giving him additional challenges and opportunities will only help him reach new heights—he’s just that good.”

The promotional video was finalized in May 2024, and Miller submitted it to be considered for the award.

George Mason alumnus Mauricio Alarcon, BA Film and Video Studies ’24, also received a Capital Emmy Student Production Award in the Fiction-Long Form category for his film “La Vida.”

Mauricio Alarcon (center) directing his film, "La Vida." Photo provided.

He wrote and directed the film under the guidance of his supervisor, Film and Video Studies professor Thomas Britt. Alarcon created the film across three semesters involving two courses: FAVS 498 Development for Senior Project and FAVS 499: Senior Project.

“I wrote about 10 drafts of the script with Professor Britt and I received meaningful feedback every time,” said Alarcon. “It was nice to always have him in my corner supporting and reassuring me that I could do it. He helped me make sure the story could be told in the most impactful way.”

Britt, whose guidance covered everything from the initial script draft to the final sound mix, said he was proud, but not surprised by Alarcon winning an Emmy Student Production Award.

“It was a pleasure to work with Mauricio across three semesters on this project,” said Britt. “His vision for the film was strong from the beginning, so much of what I did was intended to help him bring that to the screen without losing his enthusiasm or purpose for the film.”

Alarcon has many excellent qualities, said Britt, but one that stands out is his follow-through.

“At every stage of the filmmaking process, he showed that he could deliver on that ambition, so he always backed up his goals with results that meant he did not have to compromise,” Britt said.

Alarcon’s film centers on a 17-year-old boy named Jorge who is the son of immigrants and whose aspirations to make his high school soccer team are halted by his father’s sudden absence and having to take care of his younger sister, Alarcon said.

Mauricio Alarcon (center) directing his film, "La Vida." Photo provided.

“I wanted to diversify the Latino American narratives. The Latino population in the DMV is primarily Central American, meaning El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras. I was lucky enough to work with Xavier, who's also El Salvadoran, as assistant camera,” said Alarcon, who minored in global affairs.

Alarcon’s film crew was made up of fellow film majors who he met during his time in the program. He was able to secure his locations through connections in the Arlington community, filming at his elementary school and local apartments buildings, as well as on George Mason’s soccer fields.

“La Vida” was shown at the Mason Film Festival, the Georgia Latino Film Festival, International Kolkata Short Film Festival, and the Chandler International Film Festival.

Alarcon, who hopes to continue telling Latin American narratives, is currently in grad school at Loyola Marymount �鶹�� studying film and television production.

In This Story

Thomas Britt

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College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

Volunteers at Mason Korea share their time and talents in community beautification project

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:11:51 +0000

Volunteers at Mason Korea share their time and talents in community beautification project Lauren Reuscher Thu, 01/09/2025 - 09:11

Mason Korea recently joined forces with General Motors (GM) Korea to revitalize a youth home in Incheon's Bupyeong area through a collaborative beautification project. The activity was organized by Mason Cares, which focuses on community engagement around George Mason �鶹��’s Incheon campus, and Mason Korea’s Office of Development and Strategic Partnership.

Volunteers from Mason Korea painted a mural designed by students and staff. Photo by Mason Korea.

Student, faculty, and staff volunteers, including Mason Korea Campus Dean Joshua Park, worked diligently to bring a mural concept to life. The mural was designed by Mason Korea students and staff, and the volunteer artists received on-site support from the GM Korea team.

Photo by Mason Korea

“I was excited to participate in this project, because I have experience working in mural design from a similar volunteer project at the Smithsonian,” said Victoria Gehring, a sophomore business major.

This marks the second consecutive year of partnership between Mason Korea and GM Korea's mural painting project, underscoring a shared commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.

Photo by Mason Korea

Among the volunteers were four international students and eight participants from the MK Way program, Mason Korea’s conditional admission program offering intensive English instruction for students.

Photo by Mason Korea

Hyewon Lee, a freshman global affairs major, was grateful for the service opportunity. “I try to volunteer often, but it is sometimes difficult to find opportunities,” said Lee. “I was really happy to see this unique painting project organized by our school.”

Photo by Mason Korea

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Graduating Schar student raises the bar with her professional experiences

Shayla Brown — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:59:20 +0000

Graduating Schar student raises the bar with her professional experiences Shayla Brown Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:59

When Daksha Magesh came to George Mason �鶹�� as a freshman in 2021, she already had an impressive resumé.

“My first experience with government came from when I was working on senate campaigns in high school. I knocked on doors, answered phones, worked on advertisements and expenditure tracking. It made me really curious about what it was like to be in government,” said Magesh, a government and international politics major and government analytics minor.

The Honors College student was working for federal prosecutor Manka Dhingra of the 45th District from her hometown of Seattle, Washington. Magesh says that’s where her interest in law comes from.

“I figured that if I’m going to be a lawyer, I might as well know how the government really works, so that's part of the reason why I chose this major for my future,” she said.

Since then, she has also worked for the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign and legal nonprofits, such as the Seattle Clemency Project.

“I was working with people who were sentenced at a young age and have been in jail for a really long time. We were helping them to get clemency and rehabilitation for early releases because they've served 25 plus year sentences,” said Magesh. “They are now 50 to 60 years old and have served their sentences. It’s really time they come out and be productive members of society.”

Magesh has also worked for the South Asian Bar Association, a collective of all the major South Asian lawyers in the country.

“I'm really grateful for all the people that I worked with while I was there. They were all very welcoming and it was the first time that I got to work with people that were of the same identity as me,” said Magesh.

“I love all of these experiences, but walking into a room and having everyone look like me in my field is incredibly rare. It was so cool,” said Magesh.

Magesh also worked with Schar associate professor Jennifer Victor on her Undergraduate Research Assistant Program team doing congressional caucus literature review as research for Victor’s new book.

Magesh worked with Victor again as a teaching assistant for her GOVT 103: Introduction to American Government course. “I taught recitations every Friday and my class was amazing. I tried to make recitations fun with a game or interactive experience, and I got really good feedback at the end of the year. It was a great experience,” said Magesh.

Daksha Magesh. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of �鶹�� Branding.

What’s your best memory at George Mason?

George Mason movie nights are my go-to. My friends and I just get a bunch of snacks, cuddle up on the couch, and watch something fun. I also love Mason Day. My resident advisor and close friend Kennedi took me to my first one. The weather was perfect and I remember thinking ‘oh my God, there’s a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster.’ We had such a great time.

How have you grown at George Mason?

I really came out of my shell. I'm such an introvert and I was so scared because George Mason was very intimidating, and it was hard for me to make friends at first. But I've really impressed myself with the way that I was able to connect to new people. I’m also a Schar School Liaison and secretary of the Honors Recruitment Team, so connecting with people is one of the biggest things that you have to learn and that skill is definitely something I learned from my time at George Mason.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

The biggest thing is time management. Organize your time by keeping a calendar or a planner and writing down your assignments. Also networking and meeting people. Don’t be afraid to go up and introduce yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or cold emailing. I’ve gotten two of my biggest internships through cold emailing. And another, with the [Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia] that I got through networking. Make sure you’re talking to people, whether that's professors or professionals, in your field.

What’s next for you?

I hope to pursue my legal career further. I'll definitely apply to law school in the future and be studying for the LSAT. I want to explore options on the East Coast, as I've really grown to love it. Ideally, I want to be able to work in a firm. It has always been my dream to be a lawyer and I will definitely achieve that.

Start your own academic journey at George Mason

In This Story

Jennifer N. Victor

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Schar School News for December 2024

Schar School Student Spotlight

Mason Community Arts Academy is doing big things

Shayla Brown — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 19:12:28 +0000

Mason Community Arts Academy is doing big things Shayla Brown Tue, 11/26/2024 - 14:12

George Mason �鶹��’s Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA) has been named one of the Best Summer Camps by Northern Virginia Magazine every year since 2021.

This summer, the program broke multiple records including the number of student participants at just under 1,900. The Acting for Young People (AFYP) program also broke its attendance record with 950 students.

MCAA, part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), includes summer camps, programs, and workshops that teach local children aged 4-18 in acting and theater, film and video, music, and visual art.

MCAA Children's Choir session. Photo by Matthew Geske.

“We have really honed in on our recruitment process,” said Regina Schneider, MCAA’s marketing and communications coordinator.

The summer program has also grown in its number of staff members. MCAA employees include industry professionals, George Mason alumni and students of all levels, and summer interns, including high school students.

This summer, 42 out of 90 intern applicants were hired, many of which were local high school students, George Mason undergraduate and graduate students, and as well as graduate students from across the country.

MCAA also acts as a major pathway to George Mason for students who often begin the program in elementary school. Some of them go on to become interns and eventually students in CVPA degree programs, said Mary Lechter, executive director of MCAA and professor in the School of Theater.

One of these students is Kaya Thomas, a freshman theater major with a concentration in musical theater. Thomas joined AFYP when she was in seventh grade and participated in the weekend showcase program.

“AFYP guaranteed that I would have something to do in terms of performing. You still go through the audition process, but you’re guaranteed to get in, which was really helpful for my confidence,” said Thomas.

MCAA faculty, staff, and students on the Roger Wilkins Plaza. Photo by Beth Anne Young.

Thomas now works for MCAA as an assistant choreographer teacher with the same program.

Thomas’ experience with the program was huge factor in her decision to attend to George Mason, she said.

“I'm teaching with the people who taught me when I was in middle school and I am getting to work with these kids that aren't super strong dancers yet and watch them grow too,” she said. “I was already connected with people who I had so much in common with and knew so much about these programs. There were also lots of opportunities for growth.”

Next semester, Thomas will be taking on a new role and teaching students in MCAA after school classes.

“I truly believe that you can't start early enough to create that pipeline for students to connect [to our] programs,” said William Lake Jr., director of concert bands and the Dewberry School of Music, who approached Lechter with the idea of starting a summer band camp at George Mason. It started in 2023 and runs for one week every summer.

Students have the option of staying on campus overnight and experiencing what college life is like.

“They’re staying in the dorms, eating the campus food. They have to get themselves up in the morning and practice college routines, which also reduces barriers, and makes the experience less foreign a few years down the road,” said Lake.

“The camp includes a large ensemble experience and students participate in instrument specific master classes with our school of music faculty, which are often their future teachers,” he said.

Summer 2024 saw the debut of the Children’s Choir Camp, headed by Beth Anne Young, director of Kodály at George Mason, which aims to provide children with a comprehensive music education experience.

After three years of planning, the camp was done in conjunction with Side-by-Side, a new course for adult learners who are currently working in the field of music education, and is integrated with the Kodály Levels program, allowing graduate music education students to gain hands-on teaching experience while being mentored by the highly skilled Kodály faculty.

“My dream was to have a program with current teachers from our and other programs, and even alumni could work with the children enrolled in the Children's Choir Camp,” said Young.

Children participating in the MCAA programs. Photo by Beth Anne Young.

Graduate students with the Kodály option come to campus in July for three summers to complete their Kodály Levels in person. Each level includes study in the areas of pedagogy, musicianship, folk song materials and research, conducting/choral studies, choir and special topics, including a one-week Side-by-Side course, which is offered the week before Levels Courses begin.

Kodály at George Mason is fully endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators. The Kodály program also offers opportunities for international students, with participants attending from countries such as Ireland, China, and South Korea.

“The experience to work with children in real time and apply what they are learning about teaching in a Kodály-Inspired classroom is invaluable,” she said.

In This Story

Mary Lechter

Regina Schneider

Learn more about Camps and Youth Programs at George Mason

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Public history students highlight local Indigenous communities

Shayla Brown — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:19:53 +0000

Public history students highlight local Indigenous communities Shayla Brown Tue, 11/19/2024 - 16:19

George Mason �鶹�� associate professor Gabrielle Tayac’s course, HIST 397 Public History in Action, looks at how indigenous communities interact with our student population through community-based engagement and projects.

“Like anywhere in the Americas, George Mason is indigenous land, but we’re trying to get a sense of the interplay between past and present,” said Tayac, who is a member of the Piscataway Indian Nation. “My goal is to get students ready for museum work, give them accessible history, and guide them to work really deeply with communities.”

Gabrielle Tayac and her students. Photo by James Wells.

Tayac and research partner the Center for Humanities Research (CHR) applied for and received an Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) grant for their project, “IndigenoUs Northern Virginia.”

This project, completed by students in the Spring 2024 course, is in the form of an exhibit titled “Offerings for Tauxenent: Acknowledging Indigenous Place” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, another project partner through George Mason alum James Wells, BA History ’22.

Wells previously took this course with Tayac and reached out to inform her of an open space at Woodlawn, which he offered as a place for current students to look at what the indigenous reality is and what needs to be remembered, explained Tayac.

“Professor Tayac’s class was one of my first real exposures to Indigenous history and cultures. It was really eye-opening,” said Wells, who came to George Mason from Northern Virginia Community College through the ADVANCE Program and was a member of George Mason’s student organization Native American and Indigenous Alliance.

“This exhibit was the most crowded I’ve seen Woodlawn in the two years that I’ve worked here. The work the students did on this project made that possible and opened the door for us to interpret Indigenous histories at our site,” said Wells, a program assistant at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House, one of National Trust for Historic Preservation’s locations.

Meghana Bandaru (left) and Odessa Lamborn with their presentation. Photo by James Wells.

For the project, the students were divided into three teams, focusing on different Indigenous communities: the International Mayan League, Indigenous Andean, and a combination of local tribes including the Doeg, Intertribal urban community, Piscataway, and Rappahannock tribes.

The groups had to collect research, objects, and images to produce interactive art and media that accurately represent their assigned Indigenous communities.

History graduate student Odessa Lamborn worked on this project during their last semester as an undergraduate student at George Mason.

“The mission of the project is about bringing awareness to the Indigenous and First Nations people in the Washington, D.C., area,” said Lamborn. “It was a really phenomenal experience being able to collaborate with Indigenous people in the area and uplift their voices.”

Lamborn is now working alongside Wells as a historical interpreter at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

“This project gave me great insight into the behind the scenes of creating exhibits for the public, and it also influences my current work at Woodlawn with the tours I provide,” said Lamborn. “I make sure to point out where we have a John Smith map, detailing Indigenous culture [from before] colonization.”

Some of the students in Tayac’s course contributed their original art or personal objects to the exhibit as well.

“This whole project was basically what I want to do as my professional career once I graduate,” said senior and history major Sinead Monaghan.

“I’ve gotten to take a lot of classes with Professor Tayac, and I’m so grateful for all her guidance,” said Monaghan. “What we're doing goes beyond the classroom and makes a valuable impact in the world beyond. If it just touches one person or changes the way one person thinks, then it will have done its job.”

The exhibit is being brought to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus in 2025 through Mason Exhibitions and will open on April 15 as “Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place.”

Guests at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House for the exhibit. Photo by Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

Learn more about the Center for Humanities Research

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Gabrielle A. Tayac

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Fall for the Book brings authors to campus this month

Colleen Rich — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:14:55 +0000

Fall for the Book brings authors to campus this month Colleen Rich Thu, 10/10/2024 - 14:14

Fall for the Book, Northern Virginia’s oldest and largest festival of literature and the arts, kicks off its 26th season in the City of Fairfax on Saturday, Oct. 12, and runs through Oct. 18.

Fall for the Book panel in the Fenwick Library Reading Room. Photo provided

Global sensation Bonnie Garmus will discuss her breakout debut Lessons in Chemistry on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in George Mason �鶹��’s Center for the Arts. Closing the festival is Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of bestsellers like Mexican Gothic, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, and her newest title The Seventh Veil of Salome.

Other featured writers include this year’s Beck Environmental Lecture featuring Chelsea Henderson, author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics, and the finalists for the New American Voices Award: Carrie Sun, author of Private Equity, Alex Espinoza, author of Sons of El Rey, and Shahnaz Habib, author of Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 in Old Town Hall, right in the heart of the City of Fairfax’s Fall Festival, there are interactive events for kids on the ground level with Pat Tanumihardja, Debra Shumaker, John Gallagher, and Jamar Nicholas. Upstairs are events perfect for book clubs, including the panel “Murder in the Jazz Age, Twisted Tales, and Devilish Obsessions,” featuring Ananda Lima and George Mason alumna Constance Sayers.

From Oct. 15-18, events will take place on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, at local Fairfax County Public Library branches, at the Sherwood Center in Fairfax.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m., four George Mason alumni will read from their work in the Fenwick Library Reading Room: John Copenhaver, author of Hall of Mirrors; Sean Murphy, author of This Kind of Man; Noley Reid, author of Origami Dogs; and K.E. Semmel, author of The Book of Losman. Copenhaver’s novel investigates the mysterious death of a popular novelist in McCarthy-era Washington, D.C. Murphy’s story collection investigates masculinity in 21st-century America. Reid’s story collection celebrates the connection between humans and their dog companions. Semmel’s novel interrogates how far a lonely man will go to feel complete.

All events are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of sponsors including George Mason, Fairfax County Public Library, the Fairfax Library Foundation, the City of Fairfax, and the National Endowment for the Arts. However, headline and virtual events require free tickets, which you can reserve on Eventbrite.

See the full schedule for Fall for the Book

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Fall for the Book

Community Engagement

Movers and Shakers offers students lessons beyond the classroom

Colleen Rich — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:06:12 +0000

Movers and Shakers offers students lessons beyond the classroom Colleen Rich Tue, 10/08/2024 - 13:06

With the start of the fall semester comes the much-anticipated Movers and Shakers Mixer, the annual networking event connecting George Mason �鶹�� students with influential business, community, and government executives at Mason Square in Arlington.

The Movers and Shakers Mixer connects George Mason students with Arlington community members. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of �鶹�� Branding

Graduate students, like Paul Davis Jr., recognize their educational experience extends beyond the classroom. Davis, the policy director for Fairfax County Board Supervisor Walter Alcorn, is pursuing a master of public administration from the Schar School of Policy and Government.

“When I enrolled in graduate school, I knew I needed to shift my approach to networking from what I did as an undergrad,” he said. “Beyond just making connections, graduate school has shown me the importance of seizing opportunities as they arise. The Schar School has been incredible in providing opportunities, like Movers and Shakers, that’s enriching my education.”

Yanika Khumphaiphuan and Titilayo Owoyemi are pursuing the U.S. Law LLM degree at George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School. The aspiring attorneys were excited to meet new connections.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of �鶹�� Branding

Owoyemi met a financial services professional from Northwestern Mutual who shared industry insights and career advancement advice. “I found it incredibly valuable to hear from professionals outside of the legal field and learn more about effective networking,” Owoyemi said.

In addition to networking with business and community leaders, students tapped into the George Mason ecosystem. Khumphaiphuan connected with students and faculty from other academic programs.

Similarly, Bethsaida Gizaw, a senior undergraduate studying global affairs with a concentration in Global Governance, connected with Scalia Law School students and faculty and professionals in her field. “As a future attorney, forming meaningful relationships and learning about diverse perspectives are important,” said Gizaw, who said she looks forward to other similar events.

Five attendees also won a raffle for one-on-one networking lunches with Arlington leaders.

Susan Cunningham, Arlington County Board member, was among the business, community, and government leaders at the event.

“I enjoyed supporting and connecting with young people,” Cunningham said. “The students are amazing! They’re so ambitious and forward-thinking. It was a great opportunity to celebrate George Mason’s role in the Arlington Community.”

Cunningham advises students to take advantage of their unique position. “Stay curious, ask questions, and enjoy the adventure of learning,” she said.

Fuse at Mason Square, a 345,000-square-foot building designed with collaborative spaces and emerging-tech labs and offices for business, research scholarship, and community engagement, announced its first commercial tech tenant, Cybastion, and will house George Mason students and employees starting in fall 2025.

Learn more about Mason Square

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Fall for the Book brings authors to campus this month

See the full schedule for Fall for the Book

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Movers and Shakers offers students lessons beyond the classroom

Learn more about Mason Square

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