��ɫ��Ƶ

Katie Richards, BA ’12, MFA ’21, senior graduate program coordinator in ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Higher Education Program, was recently named poet laureate of Prince William County. Richards’s proposal for the role focused on making poetry accessible to community members with disabilities.

Martin (Marty) Abruzzo excels as student services coordinator and academic advisor in ��ɫ��Ƶ's School of Integrative Studies (SIS). A vital part of the school, Abruzzo has helped more than 7,000 students since joining the department in 2018. In addition to advising, Marty teaches several classes including INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies, CHSS 101 CHSS First Year Experience, INTS 395 College to Career, and UNIV 100 Introduction to Mason.  

Shane Hayes, technical specialist in ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Information Technology Services, is known for saving the day. He excels at creating innovative solutions, revolutionizing workspaces, and adapting to any challenge that technology can throw at him. For his hard work and dedication to helping others, he has been awarded October Employee of the Month.

Nelson Granados, general maintenance tech in Facilities and Campus Operations, is a critical part of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus team. His colleagues know him for his outstanding workmanship and his willingness to help. For his capability and his dedication, Granados has been recognized as the September Employee of the Month.

Last year, Fall for the Book’s annual Writers in the School series reached nearly 1,200 K-12 students in the Fairfax County Public Schools with their Writers in the School series. The program, organized by the ��ɫ��Ƶ-based festival, is designed to introduce students to authors and encourage interest in reading and writing.

Elizabeth Foy has been an anchor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at ��ɫ��Ƶ since 2014. As lab manager, she oversees the preparation and distribution of all chemistry materials required at both the Fairfax and Science and Technology campuses. In recognition of her dedication and excellence while managing nearly 100 lab class sections per week, Foy has been named August Employee of the Month.

When Hannah Dabney, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies ’23, arrived at ��ɫ��Ƶ, has just returned from Samoa where she served as a Peace Corps Ridge to Reef Resilience Promoter Volunteer, helping communities balance environmental protection with local development needs. The path between those two points wasn't linear, and Dabney couldn’t be happier about that.

Stephanie Shanahan, a human resources assistant in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at ��ɫ��Ƶ, is known for being able to do it all. In their letters of support, her colleagues emphasized her attention to detail, reliability, and willingness to help. In recognition of her dedication, expertise, and unwavering support of the CEC community, she has been named July Employee of the Month.

This April, 63 ��ɫ��Ƶ students presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond. NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research across disciplines. This year marked George Mason’s highest attendance to date, and many students were able to attend due to support from the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR). 

Caitlin Horan, assistant dean of graduate academic services in ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Costello College of Business, has transformed the graduate services team. Referred to as the “heart” of the Costello graduate team, Horan is known for her innovation, student advocacy, and strong organization skills. For this and more, she is being recognized as the May Employee of the Month.