News

In April, 39 Mason students attended the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at University of Wisconsin­–Eau Claire, where they made new friends, networked, and gained experiences that will help them in their studies and careers.

The George Mason Faculty Alumni Awards are given yearly to a faculty member who graduated from Mason. The Faculty Alumni Award is given to someone who has contributed to a cultural scholarship or community at Mason. This year, the Honors College awarded Dr. Blake Silver, Rabbi Bruce Aft, and Professor Maoria Kirker for their service to the University. They were recognized for reflecting core Honors College values through their courses, challenging students to consider other perspectives, and integrating DEIJ in daily classroom settings.

The Honors College invites guest speakers to share their expertise with students. One such speaker was Andrew White, a Mason alum and author of "Hell Followed with Us," a Young Adult novel that addresses issues of transgender legislation. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn from his experiences. This is just one example of the many opportunities for students to connect with experts in their fields.

The Honors College welcomes Julie Coons to the Dean’s Advisory Board.

Mason is launching a six-part YouTube series titled “Our Future, Transformed: Mason Spotlights the World’s Grand Challenges” and hosted by President Washington

HNRS 130: The Politics of Language is an Honors College course at Mason that explores the relationship between language and power structures in society. Taught by Anna Habib, the course covers topics such as linguistic discrimination, inclusive and antiracist language, and linguistic erasure. Students lead discussions and have a range of choices for their final projects. The goal of the class is to increase awareness of implicit biases related to linguistic identity and practices.

Gwendolyne Fields’ life has been defined by a connection to natural landscapes across the world. Growing up outside of the U.S., Fields developed an awareness of how global issues like climate change impacted environmental degradation and species decline in multiple countries.

For Honors College student Rakibul Alam, creative writing was his gateway to advocacy. In 2021, when he was a senior at Westfield High School, he wrote a spur-of-the-moment poem titled “Utopia” about the struggles of Muslim Americans.

The Honors College welcomes Jeffrey Shen to the Dean's Advisory Board.

Honors College student James Condo has trained in the emerging field of Next System Studies, which involves research into questions of systemic design, change, and movements.

Honors College student Emily Synoski, who graduates this month from Mason with a biology degree, has also participated in Georgetown University’s competitive CORE pre-med program, where she and her team pitched an idea to deliver opioid overdose treatment to houseless populations via drones.

During her time at Mason, University Scholar Aloana Hall had internships at the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.