Letter from the President

Dear Alumni:

I look forward to serving as your Alumni Association president for the next two years as we begin another exciting year at Mason. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Fairfax Campus, the 25th annual International Week, and the launch of the new university logo. We also enter the final year of The Campaign for George Mason University. The campaign's success has already opened doors to new ideas and opportunities across the university.

One of the strategic goals of the Alumni Association board is to increase awareness of the association. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through advocacy. Mason continues to grow with an estimated enrollment of more than 28,700 students this fall, the largest student head count of four-year institutions in Virginia. Such growth brings more fiscal challenges. Therefore, the Alumni Association board has formed a Legislative Advocacy Committee to help support the university in communicating these fiscal challenges to the General Assembly in an effort to garner increased state funding. Working in partnership with the university, we have a tremendous opportunity to become its advocates. If you are interested in helping with this endeavor, please contact the Office of Alumni Affairs.

As your Alumni Association president, I am committed to increasing communications with alumni. We hope you will let us know where life has taken you and what you are doing. If you haven't already signed up on our online alumni directory, please take the time to do so by visiting the alumni web site at www.gmu.edu/alumni. Doing so will help us keep in touch with you through MasonWire, the association's monthly e-newsletter.

Myriad athletic, cultural, and arts events and performances take place each year at the university, and the association hosts special activities at a number of these events. I encourage you to get involved. Whether it's attending a university event or helping with association activities, you can help strengthen our organization through your involvement.

Best wishes for a great year!

Catherine A. Lemmon, BA '86, MA '93