Campus News

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition

Rena Malai — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:54:53 +0000

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition   Rena Malai Thu, 03/09/2023 - 10:54

In This Story

Unseasonably warm temperatures in the Northern Virginia area this spring have turned blooming dates upside down, and the beloved cherry blossoms are no exception. 

Last year, students at George Mason University joined contestants from around the world to predict the peak bloom date of cherry trees at four global locations—Washington, D.C.; Kyoto, Japan; Liestal-Weideli, Switzerland; and Vancouver, BC, Canada. The international Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition was a huge success and is gaining traction during its second annual run. 

The competition is organized by Mason statistics professors Jonathan Auerbach and David Kepplinger, and Elizabeth Wolkovich from the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia.  

“We’re interested to see how the competition plays out this year,” Kepplinger says. “It’s a great way for our students to get involved in something that’s so interesting to many people. Who doesn’t love the cherry blossoms?” 

Because of the warm temperatures this year, contestants predict the Washington cherry trees will reach peak bloom on March 28 on average, a week earlier than the historic average.

“If you have warm temperatures followed by a cold blast, it can really affect the bloom date,” Auerbach says. “Usually in the D.C. area, peak bloom occurs in early April. But some trees in the Tidal Basin and here at Mason Pond already show signs that flowering is imminent so we’ll have to see.” 

Mason statistics students Sara Alhassani and D.J. Grant provided the closest predictions last year, and Auerbach sees many competitive entries from Mason students again this year. Contestants use a variety of measures like examining weather patterns, soil moisture, past bloom rates, and area rainfall to get the best estimate of peak bloom dates.   

The 2022 peak bloom date in Washington was March 21, and the earliest peak bloom date on record is March 15, 1990.

Competition winners will be announced in May and are eligible for up to $5,000 in cash and prizes.

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Interim divisional deans announced for proposed College of Engineering and Computing

Melanie Balog — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:55:28 +0000

Interim divisional deans announced for proposed College of Engineering and Computing Melanie Balog Mon, 11/16/2020 - 14:55

Ariela Sofer and Sanjeev Setia.

Ariela Sofer and Sanjeev Setia have been named interim divisional deans for the Volgenau School of Engineering and the proposed School of Computing.

Sofer will become interim divisional dean for engineering, and Setia will be interim divisional dean for computing while an international search takes place for permanent divisional deans. Volgenau School of Engineering Dean Ken Ball will lead the proposed College of Engineering and Computing.

“The purpose of these appointments will be to provide leadership and guidance during a time of transition for the two schools,” Ball said. “Both bring years of experience and knowledge in their respective fields to the jobs. They are talented and committed leaders.”

Sofer, the current associate dean for Administration and Faculty Affairs, served as department chair for the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research for almost 16 years. She is a prolific researcher, author, leader, and organizer. She has also held board positions on four different leading professional associations.

Setia, Volgenau’s associate dean for Computing Programs and Initiatives, brings a wealth of administrative experience to the position. In addition to serving as chair of the Computer Science department for two terms from 2011 to 2019, he served as interim chair of the Computer Science department in 2006-07 when Computer Science and Information and Software Engineering merged.

Sofer and Setia agree that obtaining approval from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) is a top priority. The three goals they seek to address at the same time include:

Write the SCHEV proposal for the creation of the School of Computing and the reorganization of the school of engineering into the College of Engineering and Computing;
Develop bylaws and a governance structure for the proposed School of Computing and determine how it will interface with the School of Engineering and other schools;
Take the steps necessary to boost enrollment in Mason’s Tech Talent Investment Pipeline-eligible master’s programs.

“The bylaws should foster and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration in our educational programs, and in research,” Soffer said.

Setia said the biggest and most immediate challenge is boosting enrollments in the master’s programs in computer science, software engineering, and computer engineering.

Actively engaging faculty will be the key to the successful launch of the new structure, the interim deans said.

Mason announces College of Engineering and Computing

Colleen Rich — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:40:00 +0000

Mason announces College of Engineering and Computing Colleen Rich Fri, 10/02/2020 - 08:40

Did you know?

Mason has nearly 5,000 undergraduate students majoring in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, information systems and operations management, cybersecurity and systems engineering—substantially more than Virginia’s other public universities. Mason also leads in master’s students with more than 1,100 enrolled in those disciplines. Including other computing-intensive fields, such as data sciences and game design, pushes the number up even higher.

Learn more

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

The George Mason University Board of Visitors voted Thursday, Oct. 1, to house the new School of Computing and the existing Volgenau School of Engineering in a newly formed College of Engineering and Computing led by Ken Ball, the current dean of the Volgenau School of Engineering.

These organizational changes next need to be reviewed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The School of Computing and the Volgenau School will be led by two interim divisional deans until the search for permanent divisional deans is completed.

The School of Computing will provide a wide array of computing and related courses to students from all backgrounds and at all levels. Beginning with Computer Science, Information Sciences and Technology, and Statistics, the school will eventually include multidisciplinary programs created in collaboration with faculty in Mason’s other colleges who have an interest in teaching and conducting research related to computing.

“The Volgenau School of Engineering has greatly benefited over its history from its strong ties to computing,” said Dean Ken Ball. “The visionaries who founded the engineering school at Mason grounded in computing and information technology would be proud of its evolution and growth as it becomes the new College of Engineering and Computing.”

Many see computing and digital fluency as central to every other discipline and every aspect of business and society, and envision endless opportunities for collaboration with experts in the humanities, health care and business.

The launch of the School of Computing leverages investments from the Commonwealth of Virginia that were driven by Amazon’s decision to locate its East Coast headquarters in nearby Crystal City. With these investments, the university has an unprecedented opportunity to play a leadership role in shaping the future of computing regionally, nationally, and globally while also enhancing economic prosperity and the quality of life for residents in the region and beyond.

“Interdisciplinary collaboration in research and education is a key component of our vision and strategic plan for the future,” said Sanjeev Setia, professor and associate dean for computing programs and initiatives in the Volgenau School of Engineering. “The creation of the School of Computing will elevate the profile of computing both within Mason as well as externally. The School of Computing provides an opportunity to strengthen our rich portfolio of computing programs.”

Mason seeks development partner to build Institute for Digital InnovAtion

Damian Cristodero — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 14:52:00 +0000

Mason seeks development partner to build Institute for Digital InnovAtion Damian Cristodero Tue, 02/04/2020 - 09:52

Read the Request for Proposal

Learn More About the Arlington Forward Project

George Mason University, Virginia’s largest and most diverse public research university, is taking the next major step toward transforming its Arlington Campus by seeking a development partner to design, construct and operate its Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA).

Over the next five years, Mason’s Arlington Campus will undergo a $250 million transformation, which will serve as a critical catalyst in the further activation of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, a dynamic and growing innovation district with a thriving high-tech ecosystem. Funded in part by the Commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program, expansion of the Arlington campus reflects Mason’s standing as the largest producer of tech talent in the state.

“The Institute for Digital InnovAtion will anchor the Rosslyn-Ballston innovation corridor and serve as an engine of research, economic growth, job creation and new tax revenue,” George Mason University President Anne Holton said. “Private, non-profit and public sector partners will be embedded in the innovation district with hundreds of faculty innovators, and thousands of graduate students in tech programs. This confluence of expertise and perspectives will propel the region’s innovation economy in the coming decades.”

The Mason IDIA will be comprised of approximately 400,000 square feet of new building space adjacent to Mason’s existing presence in Virginia Square. It will incorporate advanced cyber infrastructure and green technologies and support a mix of state-of-the-art tech-based research and related education programs, corporate innovation labs, co-working and innovation programs for high-growth ventures, collaboration and convening spaces to support public programming for the Arlington community, ground-floor retail, a below-grade parking garage and a public plaza.

“This will be a game-changer for Mason faculty, staff and students and for our academic, corporate, and community partners,” said Deborah Crawford, Mason’s vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “We envision IDIA as a place where discovery, innovation and learning flourish as individuals, organizations and communities work together to develop, deploy and study the utilization of technologies and systems that advance a more just, prosperous and sustainable world.”

Deadline for submission of proposals is 2 p.m., April 30, 2020.

Mason anticipates the proposal process will conclude in June 2020, after which the university will select a short list of development teams to enter the second stage of the process. The IDIA building is scheduled to open in September 2025.

The RFP can be found here.

Largest-ever group of winter graduates encouraged to live the journey of their own truth

Melanie Balog — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 22:01:23 +0000

Largest-ever group of winter graduates encouraged to live the journey of their own truth Melanie Balog Thu, 12/19/2019 - 17:01

Graduates celebrate at the 2019 Winter Graduation ceremony at EagleBank Arena on Dec. 19. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services.

Alumna Zainab Salbi, BIS ’96, encouraged George Mason University graduates to “be the one that believes in someone else’s dreams,” just as Mason faculty had encouraged her.

Salbi, who founded global relief organization Women for Women International while she was a Mason student, addressed the largest group of winter graduates in university history Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

“My professors believed in me,” said Salbi, who came to Mason as an Iraqi immigrant. “And for that, I cannot tell you the difference they made in my life for believing in this young student’s dreams. ... Mason welcomed me and nurtured me and really supported me to become the woman I am standing in front of you today. For that I am extremely grateful.”

The winter graduating class of 2019 included more than 4,600 graduates and totaled more than 5,000 when counting students earning certificates. They represent 54 countries and 37 states.

Mason Interim President Anne Holton, presiding over the ceremony for the first time, spoke of the graduates using Mason as “a trampoline to life success.”

“May you all bounce high, and may you all bounce far,” she said.

Holton noted that 34% of the bachelor’s degree recipients were in STEM fields, as were 23% of the graduate degree earners. In each ceremony when Holton asked the first-generation graduates—about one-third of the class—to stand and be recognized, warm applause filled the arena.

Salbi spoke at both the morning and afternoon ceremonies, stepping in for the scheduled afternoon speaker, Deborah Willis, PhD Cultural Studies ‘03, University Professor and chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging at the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. Willis had to cancel early in the week because of an illness.

Mason Board of Visitors member Lisa Zuccari, BIS ’89, presented Salbi with an honorary doctor of humane letters during the morning ceremony.

Josi Braithwaite, BA Communication, ’19, gave the student address at the morning ceremony, and Tiffany Dawson, BS Management ’19, spoke at the afternoon ceremony.

Salbi encouraged the graduates to resist the material measures of success at the expense of finding something that truly matters to them.

“Live life out of your own truth,” Salbi said. “Live it today. Now. Not tomorrow, not the day after. For if you deny yourself the most important truth of what your heart longs for, that longing shall always find its way and itch in your mind and your brain of why am I not living my truth today? We can live the journey of our truth every single day.”

Mason, NOVA, Amazon degree program is lauded

Damian Cristodero — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:44:44 +0000

Mason, NOVA, Amazon degree program is lauded Damian Cristodero Mon, 12/09/2019 - 14:44

Adeline Kon/Education Dive

The new four-year degree pathway in cloud computing between George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and developed with Amazon Web Services Educate, has been named Partnership of the Year by Education Dive.

The degree pathway will be launched in the fall of 2020 as part of the ADVANCE Program, Mason’s partnership with NOVA that streamlines paths to four-year degrees, eliminates transfer obstacles and saves students money. The degree will provide a clear path to high-demand careers in cloud computing with Amazon Web Services partners and customers.

“We’re honored to have the cloud computing pathway recognized by Education Dive,” said Michelle Marks, Mason’s vice president for academic innovation and new ventures. “Our students are the real winners. Launching this new pathway through ADVANCE allows us to be responsive to this fast-growing job market and will be a giant step toward creating a tech talent pipeline that reflects the diversity of our region. We’re grateful to have partners that share Mason’s commitment to innovation and access.”

Mason and NOVA faculty worked with AWS Educate curriculum designers to create the Bachelor of Applied Science degree that will equip students with the technical skills and hands-on experience that will prepare them for careers in cloud architecture, cybersecurity and software development.

The degree pathway is open to students who want to begin at NOVA and transfer to Mason, or to students who come to Mason as freshmen.

“We’re really reaching the population that we’ve committed to serve, which is students from all backgrounds and all socioeconomic experiences,” said Liza Wilson Durant, an associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement in Mason’s Volgenau School of Engineering. “The collaboration with AWS helps give our students a competitive edge.”

Arlington Campus celebrates the past, looks to the future

John Hollis — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:15:26 +0000

Arlington Campus celebrates the past, looks to the future John Hollis Wed, 11/20/2019 - 16:15

Learn more about Arlington Forward

George Mason University’s Arlington Campus celebrated its storied past during a 40th anniversary commemoration in Van Metre Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with an eye on an even more promising future.

Mason Interim President Anne Holton joined other university, state and regional leaders in recognizing the university’s positive presence in Arlington since 1979, and its prominent role as a hub for current and future regional innovation.

Holton referenced the “glorious past and present and our exciting future” and Mason’s consistent role within the community over that 40 years when she recalled the origin of the campus in the old department store building next door; its current home in Van Metre Hall, Vernon Smith Hall and Hazel Hall; and the upcoming Institute for Digital InnovAtion. She cited the extraordinary work that has been done on the campus since its outset.

“We’re a partner to this whole Ballston/Rosslyn corridor that is such a factor,” Holton said. “We like to think that Mason has grown up throughout Northern Virginia, growing up helping lead the community and being led by the community. We have a lot to be proud of right here, right now on this Arlington Campus.”

At the heart of the expanded campus will be a state-of-the-art, 400,000-square-foot building that will be home to the new School of Computing, as well as the Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), a university think tank that will welcome more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, researchers, technologists and business leaders from the public and private sectors to anchor the Arlington Innovation District.

“This campus will integrate business, community and education to launch a true innovation district,” said Liza Wilson Durant, the associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement in the Volgenau School of Engineering. “Our vision is for people to live, work and play here.”

State Senator Barbara Favola, a Democrat whose 31st District encompasses parts of Arlington, delivered a unanimous resolution commemorating the anniversary and lauding the Arlington Campus for its achievements.

“You articulated a future that Arlington was proud to buy into,” she said before reading the proclamation.

Christian Dorsey, chair of the Arlington County Board, said the region’s current anticipated growth and dynamism will require “constant innovative thought” that Mason would provide.

“A key hub of that [growth] is a learning institute, which is attracting the kind of individuals who are going to learn and participate in this innovation economy, but who are also going to lead in attracting others to this culture of growth and change and doing so in a responsible way,” Dorsey said.

The campus expansion comes on the heels of Amazon’s decision to open a second headquarters in Northern Virginia.

Virginia’s largest public research university, Mason currently enrolls more than 6,500 students in its computing programs, but expects to grow that to more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students in computer science, computer engineering, information technology and other related fields by 2024.

To meet increased demand for highly skilled graduates, the university has pledged to invest more than $250 million over the next five years to grow programs, hire additional faculty and expand its physical presence in Arlington from its current 700,000 square feet adjacent to the new Amazon headquarters to 1.2 million square feet.

Most recently, the state pledged $235 million over 20 years to invest in undergraduate and graduate tech talent degree programs.

“It is an ongoing effort to make sure Virginia is the best educated state in the nation,” Holton said. “Mason is a big part of that.”

Mason has help in the effort with partners like Growth4VA, a broad, bipartisan coalition founded by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It includes state business, education and political leaders who see education as the state’s top competitive asset.

Ardine Williams, Amazon’s vice president of people operations and Amazon HQ2 workforce development, said that her company has long held that the region’s abundance of tech talent was why Northern Virginia was selected as the site of its second headquarters. Williams also lauded Mason for its major additions that will produce even more job-ready graduates.

“Integrated real-world challenges will assure that Mason students are ready,” she said.

Mason officials envision the IDIA and the Arlington Innovation District serving as an engine of research development, economic growth, job creation and new tax revenue, while drawing on the university’s strong relationships with other organizations in the region, including private, nonprofit and public-sector partners.

“We will be using all of our different talents to raise up this corridor from Ballston all the way to Rosslyn, and we are so proud of it,” Holton said.

Third Annual Thanksgiving Celebration of Diversity

4429684e-ae8d-405e-870a-3b7aefe68162 (Martha Bushong) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 14:27:56 +0000

Third Annual Thanksgiving Celebration of Diversity 4429684e-ae8d-… Thu, 11/14/2019 - 09:27

Thanksgiving as an American tradition has a rich and varied history. Much of what actually happened in the winter of 1621 in Plymouth (or 1619 in Jamestown) has been turned into myth, but the core concept of coming together to share a meal, conversation, and laughter has always rung true.

Keeping that truth in mind, we asked each Volgenau School of Engineering department to donate two pies (homemade or store-bought) for a gathering on Tuesday, November 26 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the Nguyen Engineering Building. We invite the entire VSE community come together enjoy conversation, laughter, and a slice of pie at the Third Annual Volgenau School of Engineering Thanksgiving Celebration of Diversity.

Much like the initial attendees at the Plymouth Thanksgiving, our gathering will be filled with people who have different experiences, customs, traditions, and tastes. For this reason, we welcome the international array of flavors or types of pie – sweet, or savory, flan, or quiche, or a classic American apple pie – all varieties are welcome.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs

Colleen Rich — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:10:00 +0000

Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs Colleen Rich Thu, 11/07/2019 - 11:10

A concept design for the Institute for Digital Innovation at Mason's Arlington Campus.

George Mason University will receive $235 million from the state as part of the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP) announced Thursday by Gov. Ralph Northam. The funding will support Mason’s role as a producer of graduates in high-demand fields and spur the expansion of the Arlington Campus.

"This initiative is an investment in Virginians," said Gov. Northam. “Virginia’s tech sector will continue booming only if we can train the workforce those jobs require. With today’s announcement, we are educating a workforce that will fill jobs at hundreds of tech companies around the commonwealth, including at Amazon, helping boost our economy and quality of life in every corner of Virginia.”

Mason Interim President Anne Holton joined Northam and other university presidents at Virginia State University for the announcement. The commonwealth has signed memorandums of understanding with 11 universities as part of the TTIP.

"Mason’s strategic role in the Tech Talent Investment Program confirms our standing as a significant producer of diverse tech talent in Virginia,” Holton said. “We’re grateful to state officials for their confidence in our ability to continue to deliver high-demand tech talent for decades to come.”

The first of two MOUs that Mason has executed with the commonwealth calls for the state to invest $125 million in Mason to produce a cumulative total of 7,538 master’s graduates in tech fields over the next 20 years. This represents three times more graduates annually than Mason produced in 2019. Mason will match that $125 million, for a total investment of $250 million.

The second MOU calls for the state to invest $110 million in Mason to confer 8,410 undergraduate degrees in tech fields over that same period, about one-third more graduates annually than Mason produced in 2019. Mason is not required to match these funds.

In all, Mason will produce about 30% of 25,000 additional graduates in tech fields over the next two decades to serve region and state employers, including Amazon.

The state funding will support the expansion of Mason’s Arlington Campus, which will include the Mason Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), the anchor of an “innovation district,” inspired by similar districts established around the country by research universities and their partners. Holton said that IDIA and the innovation district will highlight many of the values that have defined Mason’s success over the past half-century—research, innovation, access and diversity—while also contributing to economic growth and job creation along the Ballston-Virginia Square corridor.

The Mason IDIA will draw on the university’s partnerships with private, public and community organizations in Arlington and house Mason’s tech-related research and education programs, as well as incubator/accelerator programs, start-ups, high-growth businesses of all sizes, and academic and community partners.

“The Mason Institute for Digital InnovAtion will bring together more than 200 faculty from across 10 Mason colleges and schools, uniting related research and innovation and producing thousands of career-ready graduates for the innovation economy each year,” said Deb Crawford, Mason vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “In addition, the co-location of Mason faculty and student innovators with corporate-sector partners speeds the path to commercialization of university-invented technologies, including through start-ups and established companies.”

The university will share more details about IDIA on Nov. 20 at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Arlington Campus, with state officials and Amazon representatives in attendance. That event will kick off the Arlington Forward speaker series for 2020 that will highlight the university’s role in the innovation district project.

Just as the anniversary celebration will reflect the past and present of the Arlington Campus, so does the state support for the project, Holton said.

“The commonwealth’s investment in Mason is an endorsement both of what this university has achieved and what we can accomplish together as we deepen Mason’s impact throughout the National Capital Region and around the state,” Holton said.

Gov. Ralph Northam met with Mason leadership in October to look at plans for the proposed expansion of the Arlington Campus. From left, Mason Chief of Staff Dietra Trent, Northam, Volgenau School of Engineering Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement Liza Wilson Durant and Vice President of Government and Community Relations Paul Liberty. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Office of Communications and Marketing.

Gov. Northam gets updates on Mason’s Innovation District plans

Colleen Rich — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:19:28 +0000

Gov. Northam gets updates on Mason’s Innovation District plans Colleen Rich Wed, 10/23/2019 - 12:19

Volgenau's Liza Wilson Durant, Gov. Ralph Northam and Mason's Chief of Staff Dietra Trent look over plans for the Innovation District in Arlington. Photo by Lathan Goumas.

George Mason University leaders met with Gov. Ralph Northam in Arlington last week to discuss Mason’s planned Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) and other changes to the Arlington Campus.

Liza Wilson Durant, a professor and associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement within the Volgenau School of Engineering, gave the governor a tour and provided details about the IDIA, which will be located in a new 400,000-square-foot building planned for the university’s Arlington Campus.

The IDIA will become the hub of an Innovation District in Arlington by housing more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, technologists and business leaders from the public and private sectors.

Wilson Durant was joined by Mason’s Chief of Staff Dietra Trent and Vice President of Community and Government Relations Paul Liberty.

She said Gov. Northam enjoyed the presentation.

“He was very supportive of our plans,” Wilson Durant said, “and our ideas to support the development of innovative technologies and have a larger impact on the economy in and around Arlington and the larger commonwealth.”

Campus News

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition

In This Story

Topics

Interim divisional deans announced for proposed College of Engineering and Computing

Mason announces College of Engineering and Computing

Did you know?

Learn more

Mason seeks development partner to build Institute for Digital InnovAtion

Read the Request for Proposal

Learn More About the Arlington Forward Project

Largest-ever group of winter graduates encouraged to live the journey of their own truth

Mason, NOVA, Amazon degree program is lauded

Arlington Campus celebrates the past, looks to the future

Learn more about Arlington Forward

Third Annual Thanksgiving Celebration of Diversity

Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs

Gov. Northam gets updates on Mason’s Innovation District plans

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition