Alumni

This former rower is racing toward the finish of her accelerated master’s

Sarah Holland — Fri, 02 May 2025 18:40:51 +0000

This former rower is racing toward the finish of her accelerated master’s Sarah Holland Fri, 05/02/2025 - 14:40

Monika Blakely, BS Information Technology ’24, has lived all over the world, but her time at �� has been particularly special. From rowing with the women’s rowing team to working as an influencer with ShopMason, this soon-to-be double George Mason graduate has left her mark on Fairfax Campus.

Photo provided

Blakely plans to graduate in spring 2025 with a master’s in management from Costello College of Business, completed through the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

What inspired you to combine information technology and management?

My long-term goal is to be a project manager, and I think it’s useful to know both the technical side and the management side to understand how to be effective as a project manager. It also gives me the flexibility to do what I want in a different career path, if that ends up being right for me. I had extra spaces in my undergraduate classes, so I added the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program for management.

Tell me about your internships.

Currently I have two internships. The first is with Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED). I started there in fall 2023 as a social media intern. I thought local government was interesting. I’d never been involved in that industry before and wanted to learn more about who’s involved and what they do for the city. I figured I’d try it and see if I liked it, and I did! I became a marketing fellow with FCED in spring 2024, and I am now a part-time programs associate.

My second internship is with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). I’ve been a public relations intern there since summer 2024.

What classes would you say have set you up for success at your internships?

Senior Capstone, for one, because I think that’s been the most similar to real-world problem solving. We worked with different concentrations in the IT department. We had people doing web development, programming, cybersecurity, and so on, seeing how those different skill sets can contribute to that one broad end goal.

GBUS 653 Organizational Behavior has also been helpful, just learning about different learning styles, how your learning style can fit in with others, and so on.

How have your extracurriculars impacted your work in the classroom?

Teamwork and communication are probably the biggest things. In rowing, you have different parts of the boat, different strengths coming together, and you have to work to stay in sync. Sometimes when you work in a team, it’s not always ideal for you. You have to learn how to work with other people, how to adjust your learning style to fit with theirs, and how to make compromises with decisions that won’t be agreed on.

My roles at FCED and GDIT helped me improve my communication skills. Even if you don’t work within your team, you’re working with other sections, and you always have to cross-collaborate. So, with FCED and GDIT, you have people from different backgrounds and different departments, which taught me how to collaborate effectively across teams to deliver a clear, unified message.

ShopMason also helped strengthen my communication skills, because you’re constantly collaborating with students and departments across the university and you have to come together to share a clear and engaging message. That experience has helped me better contribute in classroom discussions, group projects, and presentations.

Blakely, 6th from left, with the staff of FCED. Photo provided.

What are you most proud of from your time at George Mason?

Being involved in different organizations and meeting a bunch of people I probably wouldn’t have connected with otherwise. I’ve been involved in organizations that reflect my culture and my studies, like the Japanese Student Association, the National Society for Black Engineers, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Connecting with students similar to me has made the university experience worth it.

What makes George Mason special?

As the daughter of military service members, I’ve lived on different military bases around the world, and I think what makes George Mason special is that it has a space for everyone. There are cultural organizations, religious groups, interest groups...everyone can find a place to belong here, and that’s not the case everywhere.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

If there’s a skill you want to develop or an interest you have, pursue it in undergrad when you have the time and space to do so. You never know when those skills will be useful, and if you’re passionate about your work, people will notice.

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Graduate student uses the healing power of art to help other veterans

Katarina Benson — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:59:31 +0000

Graduate student uses the healing power of art to help other veterans Katarina Benson Mon, 04/28/2025 - 11:59

Death has been the constant companion in Steven Luu’s life—from war-torn Vietnam to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. But through art, Luu, now a master of fine arts (MFA) student at ��’s School of Art, within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, has discovered peace, purpose, and a path to healing.

“All of my artwork is about revisiting,” said Luu. “Art is not to forget, but to express.”

Luu wasn’t yet born when his unlikely odyssey began 50 years ago this month, following the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese Army in April 1975. Nearly a year later, he came into the world as his family’s life was upended by war and political upheaval. His father, a South Vietnamese government official, along with his grandfather and uncle, were lost in the war, and the family home was confiscated. When Luu was just a year old, he and his family were sent to a re-education camp, where they endured harsh poverty and uncertainty.

When he was 7, Luu and his family managed to escape Vietnam by sea, in search of freedom in a small boat packed with refugees. Their harrowing journey lasted more than two months; by the time of their rescue by the British Royal Navy, nearly half of the passengers perished from starvation. Luu was just shy of his 8th birthday when he was forced to help push lifeless bodies overboard—a memory that has haunted him since.

After years of adversity in trying conditions in refugee camps in Hong Kong, Luu and his family made their way to the United States in 1991. Following his high school graduation in 1995, he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force and became a medic, driven by a desire to save lives after witnessing so much suffering, and determined to do everything he could to prevent others from enduring the same fate. His 20-year career in the U.S. military included deployments to the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, often alongside special operations units.

Luu with one of his works. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“I have seen the worst part of humanity,” said Luu, who will turn 48 later this year. “And it stays with you.”

In 2012, while serving in Afghanistan, Luu was severely wounded. His lengthy convalescence at Walter Reed Medical Center, then located in Washington, D.C., marked a turning point. There, a hospital official introduced him to the healing power of art by providing him a canvas and drawing utensils.

“In that moment, I saw art as a way to let something inside me out, without having to say it,” said Luu, who while working on his degree also serves as documentarian for Mason Exhibitions.

He found making art incredibly therapeutic. Sculpture, especially using raw and rigid materials like concrete and epoxy resin, has become a personal healing ritual.

Although he had no formal art background, Luu knew he had found his voice. After earning a BA in theology from Catholic Distance University in 2010, he applied to George Mason’s School of Art, earning his BFA in sculpture in 2022. He recognized that art was more than a way to help himself, it also allowed him reach other veterans grappling with the same guilt and isolation he felt after leaving the military. He’s on track to complete his MFA in 2026.

All of his sculptures are made with recycled materials. “Like me, these materials have been given a second chance at life,” Luu said.

Artist Peter Winant was the director of George Mason’s School of Art when he first saw Luu’s early drawings in 2017.

“There was something really deep in them,” Winant said. “Some form of truth that few of us could approach.”

That truth now fuels Luu’s mission to help other veterans navigate their own trauma—a mission he pursues with deep purpose and gratitude for the opportunity. He creates art with a focus on mental health and uses his story to encourage others to find their own form of expression.

In 2024, the U.S. Air Force invited Luu to work with Wounded Warriors, teaching recovering airmen about the healing power of art, and how to channel their experiences into creative expression. He’ll do the same this November, during a weeklong George Mason conference for 400 recovering veterans spanning all military branches. The week will conclude with a public art exhibit featuring the veterans’ creations.

His solo exhibition Steven Luu: A Path to Healing & Transformation is on display through May at the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. It is a powerful testament to one man’s journey through unimaginable pain and his unwavering pursuit of peace.

“Art is the one universal language—it’s always been the language of humanity,” said Luu. “I cannot physically fix what happened in the past, but at least I have closure. Like life as a whole, you adapt in art to survive.”

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Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:55:13 +0000

Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:55

In This Story

Gregory Koblentz

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For Army Major Geoffrey Mattoon, the path to and through higher education wasn’t a straight line; it was a deliberate decision shaped by years of military service, a background in science, and a desire to meet the rising challenges of national security in a tense world.

Army Major Geoffry Mattoon: ‘I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training. The Schar School offered that balance.’ Photos provided.

“I’ve always had an interest in chemistry,” he said. “But once I realized that the math side wasn’t where I wanted to focus, I started looking at how science could be applied more practically. I eventually found that the military and higher education could give me that path.”

Mattoon started his career through a four-year Army scholarship and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His first 10 years of service saw him take on various roles, such as logistics, until he found his way to a field that was both intellectually challenging and urgently relevant: the Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) functional area and its Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense and response efforts.

“CBRN really caught my attention because it requires a different level of critical thinking,” he said. “It’s science through the lens of national security, and that intersection has always fascinated me.”

After a decade of field experience, he was selected for Advanced Civil Schooling, an Army program that allows officers to pursue graduate education in specialized fields aligned with military needs. ��’s Schar School of Policy and Government stood out when choosing where to study.

“I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training,” Mattoon said. “The Schar School offered that balance.”

Mattoon received his diploma at the 2024 Schar School Degree Celebration.

Unlike other programs in the area he considered, the Schar School’s master of biodefense program provided a curriculum that combined the technical depth of biodefense with the broader strategy of international security. It wasn’t just about how biological threats work; it was about how governments respond, how policy is made, and what happens when things go wrong.

“The reality is, biological defense is one of the hardest CBRN domains to detect and respond to,” Mattoon said. “It’s ambiguous. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. And that makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important.”

The transition from full-time service to graduate school could have been jarring, but for Mattoon, it was energizing. He credits the Schar School with providing an environment where real-world experience wasn’t just welcomed but essential.

“I didn’t come in with a deep academic background in policy,” he said. “But I found a program that helped me bridge my experience in the armed services with deeper insight.”

That bridge started with foundational courses in nonproliferation and strategy, taught by faculty with both academic and operational experience. Professors including Master of Biodefense graduate program Director Gregory Koblentz helped frame current and future biological threats within a historical and geopolitical context, giving Mattoon tools he could immediately apply—not just in theory but in future roles that directly impact national readiness.

“I remember working on a literature review about postattack biodetection systems,” Mattoon said. “It was my first time looking at open-source analysis from a policy angle. That process helped me get back into academic writing, and more importantly, it grounded me in how programs work—or don’t work—at the federal level.”

The Schar School’s location in Northern Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., was another key advantage. Evening classes and hybrid course options allowed Mattoon to balance academic demands with ongoing professional development. Being close to federal agencies, think tanks, and laboratories gave him a clearer sense of how policy is made, debated, and implemented.

“You’re not just studying theory,” he said. “You’re meeting people who are doing the work.”

Mattoon received his master’s degree in May 2024. He is now serving as an Army CBRN plans officer for the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is in a position where everything he has studied will translate directly into the defense of the homeland through management of the CBRN Response Enterprise (CRE).

“We talk a lot in this field about preparedness—about saving lives, minimizing human suffering, and ensuring our forces are ready for what comes next,” he said.

He also pointed out that the journey isn’t only for those already in uniform. One of the things he hopes prospective students take away from his story is that there’s no wrong time—or background—to pursue occupations in CBRN defense or response or for the military.

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George Mason entrepreneurs win big at the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition

Greg Johnson — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:34:46 +0000

George Mason entrepreneurs win big at the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition Greg Johnson Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:34

“Let me be clear, innovation has always been, and will always be, the solution to the world’s challenges,” said Patriot Pitch emcee Patrick Soleymani, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement at ��'s Costello College of Business. “Innovation transforms potential into power and drives us forward as an institution, community, and ultimately a civilization.”

Patriot Pitch emcee Patrick Soleymani addresses packed house in the Johnson Center Bistro. Photo by John Boal Photography

As emcee of the 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition, presented by 22nd Century Technologies Inc., Soleymani addressed the packed house. Eight final teams—two from each track—had been refining their business models with their mentors and practicing their pitches for several weeks in preparation for the afternoon’s competition.

Housed within the Costello College of Business, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) led the programming efforts and organized the final pitch event on Thursday, April 10. Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business, reiterated the importance of entrepreneurship and what it meant to the college’s namesake.

“In 1976, Donald and a partner founded Century Stair Company, which grew to become one of the largest stair manufacturers on the East Coast,” he said. “His passion for entrepreneurship is here with us, in spirit. Today, we are honored to have his trusted former business partners, Joe and Peg Contrucci, with us in the room.”

�� President Gregory Washington was also in attendance, along key stakeholders from the George Mason entrepreneurial ecosystem.

After Ava Uppal, BS Marketing ‘19, interviewed technology founder and executive Sid Banerjee (founded Clarabridge that was acquired by Qualtrics in 2021 for over $1 billion) in an illuminating keynote discussion, the competition commenced—this time with a record amount of prize money.

Mason's Choice Award winners. Photo by John Boal Photography

One by one, finalist teams in the STEM, Social Impact, General Entrepreneurship for Undergraduate Students, and General Entrepreneurship for Graduate Students and Recent Alumni tracks took the stage to make their pitches to four judges—subject matter experts chosen for each track—and to the audience of George Mason community members. Following each 5-minute pitch, the presenting team fielded questions from the judges. Students in between classes quickly filled the back of the Johnson Center Bistro as they cheered on their classmates and friends.

Anticipation filled the air as another Costello alumnus and community leader, Jason Howell, BS Accounting ‘97, took the stage to announce the winners:

STEM

First place: Barty AI (Sahil Jagtap)
Second place: Q Haven (Caden Green)

Social Impact

First place: CarbonSecure (Maddie Gray, Maha Raja, Ryland Plodpluang, Juan Zambrano-Lozano)
Second place: The Allocated at Delia’s House (Marisela Zelaya Delcid, David Osorto)

General Entrepreneurship Undergraduate

First place: Valor (Caleb Fink)
Second place: NOVAFoam (Ethan Ford, Trevor Geissler, Mikhail Ivanov, Stephano Barra)

General Entrepreneurship for Graduate Students and Recent Alumni

First place: Viralbite (Emmanuel Nwokeabia)
Second place: EchoPods (Raghu Manjunatha, Pooja Manjunatha Swamy)

George Mason Emmanuel Nwokeabia presenting Viralbite. Photo by John Boal Photography

Following each track of presentations, audience members scanned a QR code on the screen to vote for the separate Mason’s Choice Awardees. The winners were The Allocated at Delia’s House and Viralbite.

Emmanuel Nwokeabia, a 2024 graduate of the Costello College of Business, received the most prize money—$13,000 between his two awards. “This was more than a win—it was a powerful encouragement to pursue my vision. I encourage anyone with an idea to take that bold step, and see how the world responds,” said Nwokeabia.

The 2025 Patriot Pitch Competition showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the Costello College of Business and ��. Approximately 250 audience members attended to watch the innovative concepts and products being pitched.

2025 Patriot Pitch participants

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CEHD alumnus finds success on the waves

Colleen Rich — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:14:28 +0000

CEHD alumnus finds success on the waves Colleen Rich Mon, 04/14/2025 - 16:14

Since he first stepped onto campus more than 35 years ago, David Horna believes �� helped put him on a path to success.

Dave Horna. Photo provided

Or, more appropriately, a wave of success.

A 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the College of Education and Human Development, Horna can be found these days in sunny Cocoa Beach, Florida, teaching surfing lessons. Big Wave Dave, as he is known to patrons and students at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, credits his current occupation to his experience at George Mason.

“Being a surf instructor is one of the best gigs you can get in surfing,” Horna said in a phone interview between surf lessons. “What put me at the top of the list was having a George Mason BSEd. You can see the thread of George Mason in not just the education I got, but how it opened doors [for me].”

Horna grew up in nearby Clifton, Virginia, and spent many of his summers competing in boogie board contests in Virginia Beach and Ocean City, Maryland. So, finding him in the ocean these days is not surprising.

Inspired by his mother, who was a third-grade teacher at several schools in Fairfax and Prince William counties, Horna attended George Mason as a commuter student and fondly recalls building friendships while working out at the fitness center on campus. His curriculum and professors at George Mason also left a lasting impression on him.

While still a student, he served as a guest expert at WJFK Radio (106.7 FM) in Washington, D.C., where he was on a modern exercise panel with an Air Force colonel and a George Washington University professor who chaired a research center. This segment sparked Horna to pitch to his health sciences professors on the idea of fulfilling his internship requirement at the radio station, where he worked on former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy’s show.

“George Mason was creative enough and open minded enough to give me an opportunity,” he said. “They said, ‘Why don’t you pitch us? Tell us why and how this fits in with health sciences.’ I said, ‘I’m going to create a health segment for the show.’”

His dip into media led him to his first job with then-start-up E&E (Environment and Energy) News. The publication, which covered policy, government, environment and energy, and business development, began with just six reporters before reaching a newsroom of 65 across the world when it was acquired by Politico in 2020.

Horna started as an account executive, and by 2009, he had become a partner in the firm and was at a crossroads in his career. He was proud of the company he had helped build but was ready for a new challenge.

Dave Horna catching a wave. Photo provided

“I wanted to do something for me, for my soul,” he said. “I wanted to surf big waves.”

Horna moved to Puerto Rico and spent the next six years surfing, training, and practicing yoga while also working as a sales consultant and freelance writer for several publications. During that time, he spent six months in Hawaii, surfing the legendary North Shore in Oahu. He also made surfing excursions to Ireland, France, and California.

For nearly a decade, Horna has lived in Cocoa Beach, just five miles south of Cape Canaveral Space Station. Through his consultant work with SOFX, a media and networking company focused on the special operations community, he met CEO Sam Havelock Jr., a retired Navy SEAL. Havelock, who was also a surf instructor, suggested to Horna that he look into teaching.

Since 2022, Horna has taught private lessons five days a week, in addition to helping at surf camps and working in Ron Jon’s Surf Shop on the weekends. He has had students as young as 5 and as old as 70.

One of his proudest moments was helping a 16-year-old who had just one arm due to a birth defect. By the end of the two-hour lesson, the teenager was up on the board and riding waves. “He was so stoked. I was so stoked. You can’t write me a paycheck big enough to see that guy’s smile,” Horna said. “Surfing makes people’s lives better. It’s healthy, it’s therapeutic. I get to be the person who helps somebody find that.”

Horna believes George Mason opened the door to his surf instructing job, too. When he interviewed for the position, his supervisor was intrigued by his degree in health sciences. Through his education Horna knows, for example, the role that dorsiflexion—the backward bending and contracting of the foot or hand—plays in the placement of the toes in the “ready position” on the surfboard.

“It is one of the most crucial things because when they are in that position, they’ll glide into the waves,” Horna said. “You want to have everybody ready because everything happens so fast out there. It’s my job to get them ready.”

And he proudly displays his alma mater when in the water, often wearing a gray George Mason shirt during lessons. “I want people to know that they’re getting instruction from a �� graduate,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in that. The school did a lot for me.”

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Chemistry PhD receives U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship

Katarina Benson — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:23:09 +0000

Chemistry PhD receives U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship Katarina Benson Mon, 04/14/2025 - 12:23

A'Laura C. Hines, a physical chemistry PhD candidate at ��, has been awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship. The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program provides full tuition, an annual stipend, and a summer internship at a DoD facility.

The program emphasizes hands-on learning and mentorship to prepare scholars for careers in defense technologies after graduation, supporting them with financial resources while they study and gain practical experience.

"It is incredibly humbling to be recognized for my hard work," said Hines, reflecting on the honor. “The offer for full funding allows me to focus on accelerating my research progress.”

For Hines, the comprehensive support offered by the DoD SMART Scholarship was a major draw. In addition to funding her graduate degree, the scholarship guarantees a government civil servant job upon graduation, providing both job security and an exciting career path in the defense sector.

Hines's journey in science began at George Mason, where she earned her BA in chemistry in 2013. As an undergraduate, Hines spent time researching synthesized cooking oils as an alternative to diesel fuel using mass spectroscopy. She also studied the mechanism of methanol ice formation using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to simulate ice formation in interstellar environments.

Hines in the lab. Photo provided

Currently, as a PhD candidate, Hines is actively involved in George Mason’s Clayborne Research Group where her graduate research initially focused on nanoscale aluminum clusters using density functional theory (DFT). Inspired by her participation in NASA’s Dragonfly Guest Investigator Program, her current work explores computational studies of molecular co-crystals in astrophysics and astrochemistry.

The Dragonfly Guest Investigator Program facilitated Hines's collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she participated in a Planetary Science Summer Internship. This program pairs students with NASA scientists to bolster early career opportunities in STEM fields. During her internship, Hines investigated the behavior of complex mixtures of organic and aqueous ices pertinent to Titan's conditions, directly contributing to NASA's exploration objectives.

"The program has been transformative, providing me with hands-on experience and expanding my scientific horizons," said Hines.

Hines said that her George Mason mentors, including Gerald Weatherspoon, College of Science’s associate dean for undergraduate and graduate student affairs, have been a source of encouragement and inspiration. Her research advisor, acting associate dean of faculty affairs in the college and chemistry professor Andre Clayborne, introduced her to computational chemistry and has been instrumental in helping her understand and explore new areas of research.

Hines offers this advice to aspiring STEM students: "Believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Build connections and seek research opportunities early." She encourages all eligible students to consider applying for the DoD SMART Scholarship.

Looking ahead, she envisions a career as a research scientist, leveraging her experience to continue making discoveries and collaborating with top scientists in her field.

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City of Fairfax Mayor, ’83 Alum Catherine S. Read to Deliver Degree Celebration Keynote

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:21:13 +0000

City of Fairfax Mayor, ’83 Alum Catherine S. Read to Deliver Degree Celebration Keynote Andrew J Schappert Thu, 04/03/2025 - 11:21

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In an ironic turn of events, the 2025 Schar School of Policy and Government Degree Celebration keynote speaker did not attend her own graduation from ��.

Mayor Catherine S. Read: ‘The university mailed me my diploma which I didn’t have framed until I was elected mayor. It has a place of prominence in my office at City Hall now.’ Photo by Sarah Heaton (BA Film and Video Studies ’24)

“I finished in December 1983,” said City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine S. Read. “There were no December ceremonies back then. The university mailed me my diploma which I didn’t have framed until I was elected mayor. It has a place of prominence in my office at City Hall now.”

Read, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in government and politics (the degree was conferred with the Class of ’84), will address some 400 graduating Schar School students across all disciplines and degree programs on Wednesday, May 14, at 4:30 p.m. at EagleBank Arena on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus.

Read was elected as the first women and the first George Mason graduate to lead the university’s hometown of more than 24,000 residents in 2022. She won reelection last year.

Originally a theater major, she nurtured and expanded her interest in legislative advocacy work at George Mason, eventually finding leadership roles in nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. She has worked for many years on public policies such as the Breastfeeding Bill (2015), the Virginia Values Act (2020), and the abolition of the death penalty in Virginia (2021). Her advocacy focuses on issues that impact the quality of life in Fairfax City and across the commonwealth.

Last year, Read was elected to serve on the Alumni Chapter Board of George Mason’s Schar School of Public Policy and Government for 2024-26.

She currently serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), and Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Additionally, she serves on the Virginia Poverty Law Center Advisory Board and the Equality Virginia PAC Board.

A city resident since 2000 in the Daniels Run Woods, Providence Square, and Fairchester Woods neighborhoods, Read has most recently worked with local nonprofits on legislative advocacy and messaging and continues to occasionally host shows for Fairfax Public Access.

She is the mother of three adult children and resides with her husband, Tom Greeson, and their dog, Reggie.

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Tony Skinn earns contract extension through 2029-30

Katarina Benson — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:49:02 +0000

Tony Skinn earns contract extension through 2029-30 Katarina Benson Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:49

�� Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis has announced a contract extension for men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, through the 2029-30 season.

Coach Tony Skinn. Photo by George Mason Athletics

The 2024-25 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Skinn has quickly established himself as one of the top young head coaches in the nation.

He is the fastest George Mason coach to 40 wins in school history and has totaled the most overall victories (47) of any George Mason bench boss over their first two seasons in Fairfax. His A-10 winning percentage (.667) is by far the best in the program's 12 years in the league and his overall winning percentage (.703) is the best of any George Mason coach over their first two campaigns.

Skinn led the Patriots to a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, the program’s first NIT victory since 2004 and a school record-tying 27 overall victories this season.

"We are thrilled that Tony Skinn will continue leading our men’s basketball program," Lewis said. "There is no better ambassador for our university. Tony truly embodies what it means to be a Patriot. Under his leadership, we secured our first A-10 conference title and have elevated our national profile in the process. As one of the most dynamic young coaches in the country, retaining Tony was a top priority for our university. With him at the helm, the program’s brightest days are still to come."

This past season, Skinn guided the Patriots to the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Green & Gold set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.

George Mason tallied a school-record 18 home victories in 2024-25. The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time ever and won five-straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from Jan. 8-Feb. 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time and was just the fourth 10+ game winning streak in school history.

Skinn is a national finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, given to the nation’s top minority head coach, and the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a Division I head coach who wins with integrity both on and off the court.

“I’m proud of what we’ve built over these two years, most importantly because of where we’ve built it,” Skinn said. “George Mason gave me an opportunity 20 years ago, and without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It means the world to have reestablished the championship culture we took so much pride in as players here. I appreciate the continued support of Dr. Washington and Marvin Lewis as we navigate this new college basketball landscape and position ourselves on the national stage.”

George Mason’s elite Patriot Pressure defense ranked in the Top 25 nationally this season and the Patriots led the nation in field goal defense. The team's cumulative FG defense marked aMason school record while its 3-point defense was second best all time.

Skinn has been instrumental in the development of dynamic players who have brought his Patriot Pressure vision to life. Senior Jared Billups became George Mason’s first conference Defensive Player of the Year since 2001 and is a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player.

Jalen Haynes earned NABC All-District First Team honors andwas just the second All-A-10 First Team pick in school history. What’s more, Darius Maddox earned NABC All-District Second Team accolades and a position on the All-A-10 Third Team. Both Haynes and Maddox garnered A-10 All-Tournament accolades after shining on the national stage in DC this March.

Skinn has led the Patriots to 20 wins in each of his first two campaigns at the helm. Last season, he was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, given annually to the nation’s top first-time head coach.

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This alumna’s first feature film is all about Him

Shayla Brown — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:43:42 +0000

This alumna’s first feature film is all about Him Shayla Brown Thu, 03/27/2025 - 09:43

�� alumna Rebecca Wahls’ directorial debut film Him centers on the last five contestants of a reality dating show, who discover that their potential “soulmate” isn’t what he seems to be.

"The screening was a really special opportunity to share the film with the George Mason community, from my old classmates to current students. It was fun to talk with the students who asked such detail-oriented questions during the Q&A and after the screening," said Wahls, BA Theater ’15.

Rebecca Wahls (right) and Kira Omens on set of Him. Photo by Madeleine Murphy.

Wahls received the 2024 Young Alumni Creative Development Award from the Young Alumni Commissioning Project (YACP) for the film, which was screened in the Johnson Center Cinema on March 21.

“We immediately realized this was a topic that inspires big time conversation because a lot of people really don't know much about how reality TV works behind the scenes. For example, contestants aren’t allowed to have their cell phones with them, which is a big part of the film’s plotline,” said Wahls, who is also a writer and producer.

“The core theme of Him is that women in particular have to put on various masks in the different areas of their lives. In this scenario, the face that's being put on them is completely outside of their control,” she said.

Filming took place in January 2023 in Sedona, Arizona, over the course of 17 days. This film, which Wahls describes as an “anxious comedy,” is a partnership between Wahls and Tess Higgins. Higgins originally wrote the story as a stage play, which was previously directed by Wahls in Washington, D.C.

“There are always three movies: the one that you write, the one that you shoot, and the one that you ultimately edit that ends up being the final product. Every step of the way, Tess and I would reach out to people [for advice],” said Wahls.

“We went into production and reached out to everyone we knew who had successfully shot a feature film. Now we're going into editing or music, so we reach out to everyone who has successfully done that. Every round of that there are fewer and fewer people to reach out to, so I think it's a huge achievement to have finished it as quickly as we did and as well as we did,” she said.

After the film was finished, they began submitting it to festivals and sought distribution for it.

A still of the film Him. Image provided.

Wahls said she and Higgins applied for the YACP funds so they could hire a lawyer for the protection and distribution of the film.

“This grant was really essential, and we couldn’t be doing what we’re doing without it,” she said.

The film premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival and has been screened at nine festivals total, including the Richmond International Festival, the Three Rivers Film Festival, the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, and the Ampersand International Arts Festival at the College of William & Mary, where Higgins graduated from in 2015.

In addition to Wahls, there are several other George Mason alumni involved in the film. The lead character Jenna is played by Kira Omans BA Theater ’17, and behind the scenes, Eric Stenmark, BA Film and Video Studies ’13, was the VFX supervisor; Noah Peterson, BA Theater ’18, was first assistant director; and Keenan Gibson, BA Theater ’18, was a production assistant.

Other cast members include Sydney Battle, a co-host of the "Diss and Tell” podcast; Kyle Prue, a TikToker with 1.2M followers; and Troy Baker, a voice actor who originated the voice of ‘Joel’ on The Last of Us video games.

Left to right: Tess Higgins, Margaret Berkowitz, and Rebecca Wahls. Photo by Madeleine Murphy.

Wahls is also active in George Mason’s Acting for Young People (AFYP) program within the Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA).

“From the moment I met Rebecca in her freshman year, she stood out as vibrant and whip-smart,” said AYFP artistic director and MCAA executive director Mary Lechter, who was one of Wahls’ first acting teachers. Lechter and Wahls have remained friends and collaborators.

“I am in awe of Rebecca’s wisdom, artistry, vision, and humanity, and am proud to support her in this and every endeavor,” Lechter added.

“Mary continues to be one of the most influential people in my life and is a huge supporter of this film along with her husband, Kevin Murray. When I think about my [George] Mason family, it's them,” said Wahls, who will direct The 39 Steps for MCAA’s Advanced Actors' Showcase this summer.

After graduating from George Mason, Wahls cofounded the nonprofit theater Who What Where Productions. She also earned her Master of Fine Arts in directing from Carnegie Mellon in 2023 where she was a John Wells Fellow. She currently teaches Acting for the Camera, Musical Theater, and Adaptation at Duke University as an artist-in-residence.

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Change in Plans: Federal Workers, Government Students Find Opportunities in Local Government

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:10:14 +0000

Change in Plans: Federal Workers, Government Students Find Opportunities in Local Government Andrew J Schappert Wed, 03/26/2025 - 12:10

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Federal workers who have lost their jobs and graduating government students would do well to consider state and local government positions. That’s the assessment of John P. Stinner, a 2009 graduate of ��'s master of public policy program.

John P. Stinner: ‘If you’re really looking to make a difference, you can make a difference every day in local government.’ Photo provided

Stinner is now the borough manager of Dormont, a municipality of some 8,000 residents bordering Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

For Stinner, 46, working in local government wasn’t part of the plan. With a master’s degree from Schar School of Policy and Government and considerable, career-oriented experience on Capitol Hill and in international development, the registered Independent imagined his career unfolding in Washington, D.C., or abroad.

But when life led him to Pittsburgh, he discovered something surprising: the immense opportunity and fulfillment of working at the local level.

“I thought it wasn’t sexy. I thought it wasn’t interesting,” Stinner said. “I came to find out that it’s an incredibly engaging job.”

Now Stinner, the borough manager, is a passionate advocate for careers in local government. He believes that many professionals and students of government overlook these positions despite their impact, stability, and competitive compensation.

“There’s a huge need right now in my industry,” said Stinner, who became Dormont’s manager six months ago. “Public service just doesn’t get the same [application] numbers it used to.”

Local government jobs offer attractive salaries, pensions, and excellent benefits, he said. “It’s a six-figure job with great benefits. I have better health insurance than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Stinner’s journey into local government began unexpectedly. After moving to Pittsburgh due to his wife’s career, he found himself exploring new opportunities. A connection at a University of Pittsburgh think tank led him to work in municipal management, and the rest is history.

“If you had asked me as an undergrad [at the University of Wyoming] if I’d be working in local government, I would have told you you’re crazy,” he said.

But as it happened, the skills he developed in international development translated seamlessly into his work with local communities. From economic development to budgeting, transportation to collective bargaining, his leadership role touches a variety of critical issues.

Stinner recalled that a classmate from George Mason landed a position in nuclear nonproliferation policy in Washington, “really big, high-level stuff,” he said. Impressive, yes, but a mentor put things in perspective when he asked, “How many times do you think your friend will actually affect public policy in their career? We affect public policy every day.”

“And I see that as a very rewarding part of my job,” Stinner said. “If you’re really looking to make a difference, you can make a difference every day in local government.”

As for compensation, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) recently signed an executive order making the local officials’ pay equivalent to that of positions in the state government. He also signed an order to bring fired federal workers to Pennsylvania to fill some 5,600 openings in state and local roles.

Additionally, he said, “There’s a ‘gray tsunami’ of all the Baby Boomer retirees, and early Gen Xers are starting to retire as well. We just don’t have the ranks coming in behind to fill those jobs.

“Engage with local government. See what’s available,” he said. “There’s so much work to be done.”

The Schar School is working to assist those considering careers in government, nonprofit, and government-adjacent organizations by offering application fee waivers, discount pricing, flexible and customizable courses, and other programs. Find out more about “upskill” and retooling certificate and degree programs here.

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