Honors College Faculty Awards

gsehgal2 — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 15:04:12 +0000

Honors College Faculty Awards gsehgal2 Fri, 04/28/2023 - 11:04

In This Story

The Honors College congratulates Dr. Blake Silver, Rabbi Bruce Aft, and Professor Maoria Kirker on receiving awards this year. These faculty members were recognized for their service to the University, their innovative courses, and the support they provide to students. Each of these faculty members reflects core Honors College: challenging students to consider other perspectives, and integrating explorations of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion in classrooms.

Professor Maoria Kirker, Dr. Blake Silver, and Rabbi Bruce Aft (left to right)

The George Mason Faculty Alumni Awards are given every year to a faculty member who graduated from Mason. Dr. Blake Silver received his Bachelor’s degree from Mason and his PhD from the University of Virginia. The Faculty Alumni Award is given to someone who has contributed to a culture of scholarship or community at Mason. According to Dr. John Woolsey, the Director of Faculty and Curriculum Development for the Honors College, Dr. Silver is particularly dedicated to his students. “From his first couple years as a faculty member, he took on quite a few students who did the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.” Whether in the classroom or through his support of co-curricular research opportunities, Dr. Silver works to increase student access to research and professional development experiences. Dr. Woolsey says, “It’s an award that is meant to recognize that many of our best faculty were also Mason students.”

The Honors College often invites independent scholars, professionals from a range of fields, and others with advanced expertise to instruct courses as adjunct faculty. These adjunct faculty, Dr. Woolsey notes, “want to connect with students, hear about their experiences, and to build relationships where they may mentor and work closely with them.” The Mason Adjunct Faculty Award recognizes that type of professor. “Our adjuncts bring a lot of diverse perspectives and opportunities for our students.”

Bruce Aft is a retired Rabbi and winner of this year’s Adjunct Faculty Award. When the Mason Hillel Community asked the Honors College to create a Judaic Studies course, Rabbi Aft took the lead. Connecting students with speakers from the Religious Studies Department and the Greater Washington area, Rabbi Aft's class broadens students’ understanding by introducing them to a variety of perspectives, covering a range of topics.

Maoria Kirker is this year’s Stearns Center Adjunct Award winner and the winner of Mason’s Distinguished Librarian Award. She has partnered with the Honors College for ten years, instructing Honors College for six of them. She teaches Honors 110: Principles of Research and Inquiry and also Honors 260: Access to Higher Education. Dr. Woolsey notes that both faculty and students who have worked with Professor Kirker consistently have positive experiences, noting also her leadership in the Honors College curriculum: “a lot of the best stuff that goes on in Principles of Research and Inquiry, she created.” This is the second time that Professor Kirker has won the Stearns Center Adjunct Award. Dr. Woolsey said, “Adjuncts in particular are bringing a lot of perspective and experiences to our students that [tenure track] faculty can’t necessarily bring all the time.”

Congratulations to Dr. Silver, Rabbi Aft, and Professor Kirker on receiving these awards.

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Awards

Tahmina Rahman is Mason’s 2021 Academic Advisor of the Year

Mariam Aburdeineh — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 16:58:31 +0000

Tahmina Rahman is Mason’s 2021 Academic Advisor of the Year Mariam Aburdeineh Thu, 04/29/2021 - 12:58

Tahmina Rahman is the 2021 Academic Advisor of the Year.

Tahmina Rahman in George Mason University’s Honors College has been named the V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year, in recognition of outstanding care and commitment to supporting undergraduates’ academic achievement.

Nearly 800 students nominated 130 advisors from across the university for the award.

“Winning this award is a reminder of the generosity and kindness of my students,” Rahman said. “I have always been blessed to work with wonderful students, and the Honors College students at Mason have been among the most kind, respectful, and amazing students I have worked with thus far in my career.”

Rahman, who is originally from Bangladesh and immigrated to the United States at age 6, said working with students and helping them persevere and achieve in their academic journey is her favorite part of the job.

When Hannah Milikich, a junior double-majoring in biology and chemistry, went to her first academic advising appointment, she said she was very nervous and did not know what to expect. But Rahman’s kind and welcoming nature immediately put her at ease.

“Ms. Rahman helped me figure out everything I needed to know about my schedule and how to prepare for classes moving forward,” Milikich said.

“I love how proactive she is, which she always shows by asking questions about my future plans and how I want to prepare,” Milikich said, adding that if Rahman wasn’t an expert in a specific area, she would do the research and refer her to people and resources who could help. “You really can’t find a better, more helpful advisor.”

In Rahman’s nominations, students also wrote about how she has also been a source of support, motivating them to strive for their personal best.

“This award wouldn’t have been possible without the support, unconditional love, and welcoming spirit of my Honors College colleagues, my supervisor Vanessa Correa, and the advising community at Mason,” Rahman said. “I wouldn’t be able to effectively advise my students if I couldn’t lean on and learn from my colleagues.”

The top 10 Mason advisors who received the most student nominations were also recognized by the university:

Robert Yi, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Michael Hurley, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Claudia Borke, College of Engineering and Computing
Krystal Dains, College of Engineering and Computing
Jaclyn Beasley, School of Business
Maria Perez, College of Health and Human Services
Valerie Olmo, College of Science
Thomas Winston, College of Engineering and Computing
Sara Simanski, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Lori Yi, College of Visual and Performing Arts

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