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For the past two years, Patricia King has been the office manager in Research and Innovation Initiatives in the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI). During that time, she has taken on incredible amounts of responsibility with ease and revolutionized the office. Her Employee of the Month nomination included nine letters of support from her colleagues.��

“If ORIEI had its own employee of the month award, Patricia would have been a worthy choice in almost any month over the last two years. As much as any employee I have worked with in 14+ years at George Mason, Patricia's daily conduct and demeanor exemplify integrity, careful stewardship, and thriving together,” said Christopher DiTeresi, associate vice president for Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA).��

Rebekah Hersch, associate vice president of Research and Innovation Initiatives, said, “You know when you interact with Patricia, you will be met with graciousness and an openness to address your question or concern.”��

David Myers, animal care program manager for ORIA, echoed Hersch’s praise “For the two years I have been working with Patricia, I have been very fortunate to have the support she brings to my unit. Patricia is extremely hard-working, dedicated, friendly, and supportive. She has always responded with enthusiasm and a smile even when I knew she already had a bunch of other tasks on her plate.”��

“Patricia listens attentively to our problems, engages in thoughtful discussions on best practices and solutions, and keeps us informed every step of the way,” said Peng Warweg, assistant director of research operations in the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnership. “On numerous occasions, we had faced situations where new knowledge and skills were needed. Patricia takes on these challenges by seeking advice from experts or learning new skills on her own.”����

Andre Marshall, ORIEI vice president, said, “Ms. King has provided leadership during an incredibly difficult time of transition... She has been critical to our continued support of researchers throughout the university.”��

“Patricia consistently demonstrates exceptional work ethic and integrity by going above and beyond to support and help her colleagues. When I reach out to Patricia with a question about a process or adjacent office matter, Patricia doesn’t simply tell me what I need to do, she initiates the legwork and provides a personal introduction to the person with whom I need to connect,” said Heather Arnold, research development associate, who also called working with Patricia “a bright spot in my work week.”��

Alison Landsberg, a professor in the Department of History and Art History and director of the Center for Humanities Research (CHR), said, “I’ve worked on a range of tasks with Patricia and in every case she has performed above and beyond expectations. We at the CHR have benefited enormously from her ever-growing skillset, and her positive attitude. Mason is lucky to have ����!�Ũ�ĜO����� the years that we have worked together, I found Patricia to be a dependable, honest, and enthusiastic colleague. ��Even in these times of change and uncertainty, Patricia manages to stay on track with deadlines, ensuring the ORIEI units continue to operate efficiently. She is currently supporting three large units under ORIEI which is an incredibly heavy lift!” said Heather Aleknavage, administrative assistant and project coordinator in the Office of Risk, Safety, and Resilience.��

How did you come to Mason:������

I came to Mason after 12 years working in the Virginia Community College System. I was excited by the opportunity to work with and support research at ������. I grew up in Northern Virginia and was very much aware of George Mason’s excellent reputation and was particularly attracted to the idea of supporting the amazing research work being done by the university.��

Best day on the job:����

My best day on the job was the day I found out I would be receiving this award. I was very surprised, and I am deeply touched that members of the team I support took time from their very busy schedules to submit nominations on my behalf. I am grateful to work with my team and deeply appreciate this award.��

What do you like best about working at Mason:��������

What I like best about working at Mason would be the employees and students I work with. My colleagues are brilliant, professional, and kind people. Respect and kindness are modeled by the leadership in ORIEI, and they set the tone and serve as examples for our employee team. We support each other and work to help each other be successful in our jobs. I frequently work with other George Mason offices, and I have been fortunate to meet many good people who are willing to help when needed and are happy to collaborate. Working with the student employees is also very rewarding. Our student employees bring energy and fresh ideas with them and are a joy to work with.�� ������

What do you like to do when you’re not working:������

I love to read. I also enjoy puzzles and board games. I am a novice knitter. I love both cats and dogs, and enjoy spending time with my feline companion Louie, and my grand dog Rodeo. I love music and I collect vinyl records. I enjoy genealogy, and I am a big fan of Finding Your Roots with Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. I also enjoy UK comedy panel shows.��