Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
University Day Livestreams on Nov. 8–9
Tune in to this week's University Day Service Awards, livestreamed on GMU-TV. The celebrations will recognize colleagues for their years of service and dedication to the Mason community. The ceremony schedule includes:
- Gold Day (celebrating 20–45 years of service): Wednesday, Nov. 8, noon to 1:30 p.m.
- Green Day (celebrating 5–15 years of service): Thursday, Nov. 9, 9:30–11 a.m.
Streaming links, as well as the full ceremony programs, are available on the Human Resources website.
Tuesday Treks: Fairfax Campus Connection
Faculty and staff are invited to embark on a journey of social connection, informal conversation, and enhanced well-being with the Tuesday Treks series! Meet on the Fairfax Campus at the Fenwick Library main entrance on Tuesdays at noon.
This is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, share meaningful conversations, and elevate your work-life balance. All abilities are welcome. The Tuesday Treks series is designed to accommodate everyone, so you can move at your own pace and comfort level. Visit the Human Resources website for more information.
Veterans Day Luncheon
Join the Office of the President, ROTC, and the Office of Military Services to celebrate and honor Veterans Day. Mason's annual Veterans Day Luncheon will take place on Friday, Nov. 10, at 11:45 a.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Center for the Arts lobby.
Mason community members who have proudly served the country are invited and encouraged to attend. Veterans, George Mason University salutes you. Registration is required.
Mason Shuttle Changes for Thanksgiving Break
The Thanksgiving holiday will bring changes to the Mason Shuttle schedules. Details are posted on the Mason Shuttles website.
Fan Survey: You Could Win a $100 Gift Card
The university would love to know more about Mason fans and their shopping habits. Your feedback will help influence the presence of Mason merchandise in the marketplace. Complete the survey.
Survey results will be used for research purposes only. Any answers you provide are completely confidential. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Once you complete the survey, you will automatically be entered to win one of four $100 gift cards to the George Mason University Bookstore. The survey closes Dec. 15.
Contact David Atkins, executive director, brand development and licensing, with questions.
Gunston, 'Friend of the Libraries,' Is Back!
Something green is lurking in the George Mason University Libraries . . .
From 1994 to 2009, the mascot for Mason’s athletic teams was none other than Gunston, a 7-foot-tall, furry green individual in a Mason basketball uniform and a tri-corner hat. He was most often seen at Men’s and Women’s Basketball games. In 2014, Gunston came to live in the University Libraries Special Collections Research Center, where he has lived out a quiet, well-deserved retirement—until now.
Host Your End of Semester or Holiday Party at the Corner Pocket
With the end of the fall semester and the holiday season approaching, it is the perfect time to organize a party for your department or organization. Choose the Corner Pocket Game Room, Corner Pocket Patio, or Side Pocket multipurpose space for your next event!
The Corner Pocket Game Room reservations include unlimited play on all games ranging from billiards, table tennis, arcade games, and more. Add-ons like karaoke or unlimited popcorn are available for your unique event. For more information on how to reserve and for rates, visit cp.gmu.edu. Contact Kelly Meehan with questions.
Handmade Marketplace at The MIX
Stop by The MIX’s Handmade Marketplace in the lower-level atrium of Horizon Hall on the Fairfax Campus on Thursday, Nov. 16, from noon to 5 p.m.
Browse handmade items made by Mason students, faculty, and staff who are makers, designers, and crafters. Items include unique artwork, knitted and textile creations, custom jewelry, and more. Perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list!
Training and Professional Development
Apply for Mason’s Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series
Human Resources (HR) is accepting applications for the 2024–25 cohort of the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series. Apply by Nov. 30. This program is designed to support supervisors as they:
- Develop a leadership mindset
- Create and implement a vision for their own leadership and their team
- Lead a high-performing team
- Learn tools and strategies to grow their self-awareness, relationships, and communication skills, which will support the above three objectives.
Application guidelines and instructions are available on the HR website. Contact Jennifer Beck-Wilson with questions.
November Manager Meetup: Burnout
Engaging in conversations about staff burnout and moving forward with your team is challenging throughout all sectors of the workforce. The impact of burnout can be felt throughout the organization, highlighting the interconnectedness of staff and the need to recognize the importance of individual and organizational health.
Join the University Life Supervision Collective on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 2–3 p.m. for the November Manager Meetup focusing on the Gallup article, "Uncomfortable (but Necessary) Conversations about Burnout," and conversations on how to move forward. Participants will engage in discussion and strategize how to support themselves and others in moving forward to meet the needs of the workplace. Participants are asked to read the brief article in advance. Register to attend.
Fiscal Transformation Bootcamp: From Surviving to Thriving
Do you find Mason’s fiscal policies and procedures complicated? Do you ever feel tangled in the web of workflows and tasks? Then join finance, operations, and administrative community members for the Fall 2023 Transformation Boot Camp: From Surviving to Thriving.
Many processes can be governed by multiple policies, involve various systems, and require coordination across many offices within the university. The Fall Fiscal Transformation Bootcamp will attempt to “pull back to the curtain” on many of these procedures, demystify processes, and provide the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts.
Attendees may participate virtually on Nov. 13–14, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sessions will also be recorded and made available online for later viewing.
This unique professional development opportunity will provide a chance to refresh or update important information, provide a better understanding of processes and procedures, develop and encourage university best practices, and more. The agenda and information on all sessions will be available soon on the Fiscal Services website. Registration is available in MasonLEAPS.
Upcoming Writing Center Workshop
Check out the full list of upcoming Writing Center workshops, open to students, faculty, and staff.
For Prospective Graduate Students: Personal Statements for Graduate School Applications
Thursday, Nov. 9, 4:30–5:45 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom
Register on Mason 360
Are your students (or perhaps you) preparing applications for graduate school? Prospective graduate students should consider this workshop to learn some strategies for researching, planning, organizing, and drafting personal statements.
Resources for You
Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice Program
Consider the Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice program and find joy in commuting to campus on two wheels. Benefits include:
- Four tiers of financial support are tied to the number of rides per quarter. Join the program for as few as five rides per quarter.
- Earn complimentary parking passes.
- Ride more than 10 miles each way to work, and earn a distance bonus.
- Ride at Tier 2 or Tier 3 all year, and receive funds for a complimentary bike check.
- This program can be used in conjunction with Commuter Choice.
Conditions apply—the big one is that the program, unlike Commuter Choice, is taxable per the IRS. But don’t let that stop you; check out the details at bike.gmu.edu.
Cheuse Center Brings Ukrainian Poets to Mason Square
The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center will bring Ukrainian poets Ilya Kaminsky (whose poem “We Lived Happily During the War” went viral after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine), Carolyn Forché, Lyudmyla Khersonska, and Boris Khersonsky to Mason Square on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. The poets will read and discuss their work from the anthology In the Hour of War at this free event, hosted in collaboration with Mason Exhibitions. Read more.
Reminder: Bicycle Commuting 101
Bicycling to campus can be fun and great for your well-being. Join Delia Johnson, a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor, for Bicycle Commuting 101 on Thursday, Nov. 9, at noon via Zoom. During this session, Johnson will share information to help you feel more confident about getting to campus on two wheels. This session is open to faculty, staff, and students. Register, and Zoom meeting details will be sent to you.
Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group
The Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group will hold its fall meetings on Fridays from 1–2:30 p.m. Kritikos engages in discussions about writing about the arts, critical studies, translation, the artist in society, and art as speech. Learn more.
Join them for the topic, “Black Joy: Celebration, Leisure, and Rest” on Friday, Nov. 10, from 1–2:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Virginia Opera: A Taste of Opera
Matinee Idylls
Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Enjoy a soaring selection of operatic delights performed by talented members of Virginia Opera. Experience your favorite local opera celebrities in an intimate performance that includes famous arias and duets from the greatest hits of opera, in addition to Broadway showtunes and other diverse and exciting repertory.
Visiting Filmmakers Series: BAD PRESS with filmmakers Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, Joe Peeler, and film subject Angel Ellis
Film at Mason
Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 4:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, Cinema
Join the Visiting Filmmakers Series for a free screening of the new documentary BAD PRESS, followed by a live Q&A with filmmakers Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler and the film's subject, Angel Ellis. An enthralling tale that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller, BAD PRESS is a timely and unprecedented story about the battle for freedom of the press and against state-censored media.
Mason School of Theater: fallen
Nov. 16–19, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheaterSpace
Based on Euripides' The Trojan Women, fallen is a new play by Theresa Marie Ohanian. This poetic, poignant show is a feminist reimagining of the original Greek text set in a fast-paced, absurdist, post-war setting. The surviving women of Troy are on sale to the highest bidder. As they are forced to perform to raise their worth, the women revolt. Dark and haunting, this twist on the classic is plucked from history and thrown into the survivor stories of today.
R&B Groove Thang featuring The O'Jays and The Whispers
Friday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, EagleBank Arena
The O’Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio. The O’Jays are an R&B institution and continue to perform today, and two of the original members—Eddie Levert and Walter Williams—remain with the group today. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, The Whispers' music takes the form of a boogie, soul and funk style. They have been inducted into the Hall of Fame and were recipients of the Pioneer Award in 2008.
Sonia De Los Santos
Hylton Family Series
Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist Sonia De Los Santos brings her uplifting voice and sound to families of all backgrounds. As she reflects on her own experiences of growing up in Mexico, moving to another country, and developing connections to her heritage, she inspires all of us to find gratitude in one another, curiosity in our world, and light within ourselves. A big-hearted message—fused with Latin American rhythms and North American folk traditions—is sure to make the entire family smile and dance. Recommended for ages 4–10.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with Renée Fleming
Saturday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Renée Fleming, one of the most celebrated singers of our time and a 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, joins the Fairfax Symphony for an exclusive evening featuring the exquisite Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss. This special co-presentation with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra also includes Strauss’s Don Juan, Wagner’s “Prelude and Liebestod” from Tristan and Isolde, and Fleming’s performance of beloved arias and show tunes.
Steep Canyon Rangers
Saturday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Steep Canyon Rangers is a GRAMMY Award-winning, genre-defying sextet that has spent nearly two decades reshaping the sound of Bluegrass, mixing elements of pop, country, and folk rock to create a sound all its own. The band became a household name after touring with banjoist and comedian Steve Martin. Today, the ensemble continues to tour extensively (without Martin), while expanding their style into country, jam, and Americana.
B – The Underwater Bubble Show
Family Series
Sunday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Embark on an underwater adventure and discover a realm inhabited by seahorses, dragonfish, starfish, mermaids, and other whimsical creatures! This lavish production combines acrobatics, dance, music, visual effects, and lots of bubbles to create an aquatic world that must be seen to be believed. The story follows Mr. B, a man who happens upon a magical aquarium that appears inside his briefcase, and finds himself exploring the sea within, where he learns a valuable lesson about the importance of relaxation.
A Chanticleer Christmas
Saturday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Chanticleer, the GRAMMY Award-winning vocal ensemble, is coming to town to spread warmth and light. A Chanticleer Christmas showcases an inspired and far-ranging repertoire full of new a cappella arrangements of well-known tunes—from Renaissance music to Gospel hymns, Christmas carols to songs from the “Great American Songbook.” With 12 expressive voices ranging from soprano to bass, “The singing of Chanticleer is breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, variety of color and swagger of style” (Boston Globe).
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel: Festive French Fare
Sunday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Enjoy a feast of French music in Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel: Festive French Fare, featuring Debussy’s beloved "Clair de Lune," Ravel’s enchanting Sonatine, Saint- Saëns’ devilish Danse macabre, and two tuneful Novelettes by Poulenc. Through these pieces, he delves into the lives of the four composers responsible for crafting the French musical aesthetic of the 20th century. Siegel’s unique concert and commentary format delivers deep insight with wit and humor, and his piano playing is incomparable. An interactive question-and-answer session will conclude this program.
A Canadian Brass Christmas
Sunday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Canadian Brass returns to usher in the holiday season with their winning combination of exuberant sound, good-natured humor, and engaging showmanship. Clad in their iconic white running shoes, the brass quintet performs a repertoire that includes original arrangements and signature takes on classical standards, pop favorites, and traditional holiday music. Since 1970, they have built a legion of fans by bringing their impeccable musicality and irreverent wit to audiences worldwide.