The Mason Spirit

I spent eight years connected to the military: four in the Reserve Officer Training Corps in college and four on active duty as an Air Force officer. My first assignment as a new lieutenant was to get a master’s degree from Stanford University. The air force was building its computing capacity and had identified people…

Continue Reading Wingman, Leader, Warrior

As I write this, I can see the beautiful snow in front of our house—no one has walked through the white blanket that covers everything. While I love its beauty, at some point I will need to walk through the snow, leaving behind a trail of footprints that others may follow. I liken that image…

Continue Reading Greetings, Mason Alumni

More Grammar Goofs Please do not publish letters like the one from Raoul Drapeau, who took a misguided stand on the who/whom issue. He, and his sixth-grade teacher, represent a shrinking minority who believe those rules recorded by a group of monks in the Middle Ages (at least those who survived the Black [Death]) were…

Continue Reading Letters from Our Readers

It is indeed a privilege to serve as the new president of the George Mason University Alumni Association. Mason was a wonderful place for me as a student, and I smile when I think about its bright future. The great part of being alumni is that our Mason story continues. During my two years as…

Continue Reading Dear Mason Nation

Interdisciplinary work, in the classroom and in the research laboratory, has always been a hallmark of George Mason University. We appreciate interdisciplinary endeavors and believe that breakthroughs most likely will come not from the core of a discipline but at the boundaries between the disciplines. Cutting-edge programs, such as our new degrees in bioengineering, environmental…

Continue Reading Crossing Disciplines

About 13 years ago, I was getting ready to give a talk on activities at Mason. I was meeting with then-vice president of university relations Helen Ackerman, MA English ’86, and we were talking about what universities do. What we came up with was the old faithful, that is, teaching, research, and service, and we…

Continue Reading Sometimes a Great Typo

In April, the George Mason University Alumni Association honored the 2010 alumni award recipients at the Celebration of Distinction. This annual ceremony has evolved into a hallmark event for the university at large, and a look at the awardees reveals why. The work of our alumni in leadership, research, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and leading-edge thinking helps…

Continue Reading A Time for Inspiration, Reflection, and Looking Ahead

Every year, George Mason University takes in about 5,000 new undergraduates. Half are freshmen, and half are transfers. A large part the transfer group comes from Virginia’s community colleges. It is this group of students that most remind me of myself. My parents didn’t go to college. My father had two years of high school;…

Continue Reading Opening Doors

The Results Are In I read in the most recent Class Notes about two Mason grads who were recently elected [to public office]: David Bobzien, BA Government and Politics ’94, to the Nevada Assembly, and Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, to the Virginia House of Delegates. Do you have a current list of Mason grads…

Continue Reading From Our Readers

Checking In I was a nurse and worked a bit when we moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I’m in the older-than-65 age group and still keep my license active. I have been thinking about taking a refresher [course]. The nurses of today have it so much easier than we did. I have two beautiful…

Continue Reading From Our Readers