June 26, 2026

The Office of Research publishes this weekly media report to assist with keeping up with news relevant to research at George Mason. It includes news items about recent research of consequence by current George Mason faculty. Items and topics are identified using Google alerts, scientific email newsletters, the media tracker Talkwalker and by monitoring George Mason departmental social media accounts. Stories are sorted by academic unit and, if available, by topic. If stories about George Mason research are not captured by the report, email Elizabeth Grisham. 

College of Education and Human Development

Dorothy Hayden, MS ’22, Advances Public Health Innovation Through National CDC Fellowship

cehd.gmu.edu

6/23/26 – The author of this piece writes, "For Dorothy Hayden, MS ’22, being selected for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) E-Learning Institute Fellowship represents the continuation of a career focused on public sector learning, technology, and organizational development."

 

She writes, further, "A Training and Development Consultant with the Virginia Department of Health and a graduate of two master’s programs, Hayden has spent her career working at the intersection of technology, organizational learning, and public service. Her selection for the fellowship reflects both the depth of that experience and a continued commitment to building her practice at a national level." more

College of Engineering and Computing

The People Who Get AI Don’t Lose Jobs 

NEXFORD UNIVERSITY 

6/18/26 – Mary L. (Missy) Cummings, Professor and Director of Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC); First American Bank Chair, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), discusses artificial intelligence. more 

Faculty Honored With Presidential Awards 

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING 

5/14/26 – Read about faculty in the College of Engineering and Computing who received awards at a recent reception. more 

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

George Mason Research Initiative Examines Subversive Campaigns & Prepares Students For Communication Careers In New Areas 

gmu.edu 

6/23/26 – Sergei Samoilenko is Associate Professor, Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) and Co-Founder of the Character Assassination Research Lab. Read about research by Samoilenko and members of his team and how it fits with George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative. more 

The Forum: What Does It Mean To Be An American? 

CVILLE RIGHT NOW 

6/22/26 – Michael O’Malley, Professor, History, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), participated in this program. more 

Carolina Curious: How Could AI Data Centers Affect Community Health? 

WFDD.org 

5/4/26 – Neha Gour, Research Assistant, Center for Climate Change Communication (4C), Doctoral Candidate, Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), discusses data centers in this story. more 

Birch Presented Research In Germany 

historyarthistory.gmu.edu 

6/22/26 – Rachel Birch is a doctoral student studying history in George Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). 

 

The author of this piece writes, “The Heidelberg Center for American Studies invited Rachel Birch, as one of twenty global scholars, to participate in their 2026 Spring Academy on March 23 through March 27 in Heidelberg, Germany. Her presentation, ‘The Narrative Dissonance of Idealized Womanhood: Forging Distinct Culture of Print and Power in the American West,’ focused on her use of digital methods examining nineteenth and twentieth century religious print culture produced by women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout the week, each participant shared their research for twenty minutes and then engaged in a forty-minute discussion and critique of their work.” more  

The HERO Mindset Episode 6 With Dr. Todd Kashdan 

TJ Trent (via YouTube) 

6/19/26 – Todd Kashdan, Professor, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), discusses why purpose is one of the most powerful forces in human flourishing and how curiosity serves as a catalyst for growth, adaptation, and meaning. He also examines how individuals can navigate uncertainty, overcome challenges, and create lives driven by intentional action rather than passive reaction. more 

College of Public Health

Study Links Maternal Obesity To Childhood Obesity 

LIFE TECHNOLOGY 

6/23/26 – The author of this piece writes, “Recent research conducted by the George Mason University College of Public Health sheds light on a concerning trend—the link between maternal obesity and childhood obesity. The study, which analyzed data from a large cohort, found a significant association between maternal obesity during pregnancy and the likelihood of children becoming overweight or obese at a young age.” more 

Exploring Caregiving, Trust, & Health: A First-Generation Student’s Research Journey In Public Health 

publichealth.gmu.edu 

6/22/26 – This piece is a Q&A with G. Thomas Wilson, II, a doctoral student in George Mason’s College of Public Health. more 

Building Confidence Through Research 

publichealth.gmu.edu 

6/22/26 – The author of this story writes, “For first-generation student Victor Guzman, a Bachelor of Social Work alum (BSW ’26) and Master of Social Work (MSW) student, research is a pathway to understanding people, building community, and creating meaningful change. His recent research project, “Review of Long-Term Impacts of Youth Engagement Activities,” highlights not only the power of research in public health, but also the vital role of mentorship in guiding students along the way.” more 

College of Science

Christova Provides Expertise On Algae In Reflecting Pool 

WUSA9 

6/24/26 – Rosalina Christova, Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Policy, Faculty Fellow, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), College of Science, comments in this story. more 

The Elephant Management Paradox 

farmer's weekly 

6/20/26 – The author of this article highlights research by Konrad Wessels, Associate Professor, Geography and Geoinformation Science, College of Science, and co-authors. more  

Hakeem Oluseyi: Quantum Physics Breaks Every Human Intuition | Full Interview 

Big Think (via YouTube) 

5/22/26 – Hakeem Oluseyi is Affiliate Faculty, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science. more 

Byne Worked To Advance Tuberculosis Diagnostics 

College of Science (via Instagram) 

6/17/26 – Check out work by class of 2026 biosciences doctoral graduate Ahana Byne. more 

Costello College of Business

Center For Government Contracting Researcher Among Authors Of Paper 

business.gmu.edu 

6/17/26 – Stephanie Halcrow, Senior Fellow, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, Costello College of Business, is among the authors of: “The Power of Speed: Contracting as the Competitive Advantage.” See link to access paper. more 

Schar School of Policy and Government

Democratic Socialists Think Fatigue With Mainstream Politics Could Open Paths To Victories In Midterms 

Good Morning America 

6/17/26 – The author of this article writes, “Lewis George, a D.C. council member, is one of several democratic socialists running for office across the country who hope fatigue with Trump and frustration with Democrats will inspire voters to consider alternatives to establishment candidates. She advocates pushing back against the Trump administration, particularly when it comes to cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted earlier this month showed Lewis George with a double-digit lead over former D.C. council member Kenyan McDuffie, a Democrat.” more 

If Beijing Radios, Say You Are Busy 

TAIPEI TIMES 

6/20/26 – Ethan Connell is Assistant Director at the Taiwan Security Monitor and a graduate student in George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Jonathan Walberg is Associate Director of the Taiwan Security Monitor. He is also a doctoral student at the University of Virginia, and a Fellow at the Center for Security Policy Studies. They are the authors of this piece. more 

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