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Katie Richards, BA ’12, MFA ’21, senior graduate program coordinator in ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’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 ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ'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.  

George Mason professor Cher Weixia Chen leads a Grand Challenge Initiative team building an AI-driven virtual human rights classroom for students and educators worldwide.

This summer, as part of a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation, 10 undergraduates came from around the country to spend the summer immersed in field- and laboratory-based conservation research at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s 3,200-acre campus.

When Hannah Dabney, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies ’23, arrived at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, 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.

George Mason alumna Ashley Fortner, BS Integrative Studies ’17, is the caretaker of the new baby elephant Linh Mai at the National Zoo.

Felicia Baez-Smith, MPH ’19,has built a powerful public health career rooted in community impact, leading initiatives from opioid overdose prevention to pandemic response and mental health advocacy. Recently named to George Mason’s 2025 Forty Under 40 by the Black Alumni Chapter, her journey—from student advocate to statewide public health leader—shows how one person’s dedication can transform systems, uplift communities, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ President Gregory Washington has announced the recipients of the 2025 Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence, honoring 12 George Mason faculty members for their work on behalf of the university, students, and the broader community.

A team of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ students is working to help non-English speaking visitors to Virginia’s busiest courthouse navigate the hallways and courtrooms. See how the Jurisprudence Learning Community is making a difference.

Craig Zaccaro, associate director of IT and application development for CHSS, is the January Employee of the Month.