This is the College of Science biweekly newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, visit science.gmu.edu.

A message from Dean Cody W. Edwards

According to traditional African wisdom, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.”

The spirit of collaboration is woven through all we do in science. More hands make for lighter load yet healthy collaboration does take significant time and effort with commitment to a shared goal and vision. The university’s Grand Challenge Initiative is encouraging our domain experts to branch across the college, the university, their academic, government and industry networks to build innovative, multi-disciplinary scientific engines, focused on shared transformational goals. Many are energized by the engagement and innovative ideas which have surfaced that we will collectively bring forward in the process.

This time of year, we tend to reflect on partnerships formed, lessons learned, progress made, and successes achieved. I am thrilled at our progress on a number of important initiatives: prioritizing our strategic plan initiatives and processes, formalizing the Administrative Assessment recommendations, fostering collective dialogue and ideation regarding workload policy, building and strengthening our student and industry advisory boards to better understand our value and growth opportunities, transparent communications regarding our budget and as our college and university navigate through numerous changes across academia and our university.

College leadership and Dean Edwards are coordinating GCI proposal efforts, requesting titles, abstracts, personnel plans, and budgets by December 8 at 5 p.m. Submissions will be reviewed December 12 for alignment, collaboration opportunities, and guidance on next steps. Recommendations on whether and how teams should proceed will be provided before winter break, ahead of the February 2 deadline. View more details in Pat Gillevet's email from Tuesday, November 25. 

By Colleen Kearney Rich

Amanda Haymond Still, BS Chemistry ’13, PhD Biochemistry ’17, came to George Mason in 2009 as a University Scholar in the Honors College and never left. There are many reasons why she stayed, but she now has a new one: She’s leading the College of Science’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). 

The Dean’s office recently shared updates on searches for the Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Innovation, and College Affairs and the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, outlining roles, timelines, and responsibilities. See Dean Edwards' email from November 25 for more details. 

For the Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Innovation, and College Affairs role, view the position posting and information on how to apply. 

Due to a consistently elevated volume of position description submissions, George Mason’s Workforce Planning/Class and Comp is currently advising units to expect around a one-month turnaround time on average for new position requests. See Myisha Washington's email from November 25 for more details. Please reach out to College of Science HR should you need assistance drafting a position description. 

With winter quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to review the Inclement Weather/Emergency Closure Policy and begin discussing flexible work options with your direct reports. 

Students in EVPP 480: Sustainability in Action, led by ESP Assistant Professor Jennifer Sklarew, built eight raised garden beds at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture in Alexandria, allowing local residents without garden space to grow their own food. Meanwhile, students gained hands-on sustainable agriculture experience.

by Buzz McClain

George Mason alumna Brennan Collier turned two self-designed degrees in geology and environmental science into a career. Collier is now senior vice president of strategic sales and part owner of ATCS, a Virginia-based engineering consulting firm that works with regional public and private clients in transportation planning and roadway design, traffic engineering studies, construction management, and other aspects of transportation infrastructure. 

by Gabby Womack

A new statewide climate assessment, spearheaded by the Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University, combines centuries-old weather logs from Thomas Jefferson with modern data. AOES Assistant Professor Luis Ortiz told 29 News warmer temperatures, heavier rainfall, and more flooding now, compared with Jefferson’s 1700s records, confirm that Virginia’s climate has shifted dramatically.

by Ashleigh Hollowell

VR-based behavioral-health treatments are gaining evidence for phobia, PTSD and SUD relapse prevention, yet adoption hinges on reimbursement. Math professor Padhu Seshaiyer told Behavioral Health Business that combining AI and VR could make therapy scalable, personalized, and cost-effective, but only if payers catch up. 

George Mason is committed to free expression and fostering an environment where diverse perspectives thrive. To support this commitment and to meet Virginia Code 23.1-401.1, which mandates that universities develop and share policies on free expression, the university encourages all employees to review George Mason’s free expression policies and materials. 

You are invited to join the university in celebrating all of its collective 2025 achievements at the annual holiday party on Thursday, December 11 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Dewberry Hall.

You can also attend the holiday party at SciTech on Monday, December 8 or at Mason Square on Tuesday, December 9. 

National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Abstract submission deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Please share with your students. Abstract submission for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is due December 5. NCUR 2026 is scheduled for April 13-15, 2026 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, VA. For more information, visit the NCUR Website.

OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact
Submission deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Fall Celebration is virtual on December 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Share with your students. Students can register here. Learn more at celebration.oscar.gmu.edu.

New Internal Deadline for George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI)
Submission deadline: Monday, December 8, 2025 | 5 p.m.
Per the email from Pat Gillevet on 11/25, the GCI is moving into a new phase with an internal college deadline set for Monday, December 8, 2025. Our college's senior leadership, working with Dean Edwards, seeks to connect with all college-based GCI project teams to coordinate the college's GCI proposal submissions. Submit your GCI proposal for college consideration by December 8, 2025. 

Learning Assistant Poster Session
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 10 a.m. to noon. | Exploratory Hall Atrium
Celebrate the work of our College of Science Learning Assistants (LAs) as they present posters reflecting on their teaching experiences, their students’ learning, and new instructional initiatives that they have implemented. 

Study Leave Applications
Now through Monday, January 12, 2026
Study Leave Applications are being accepted for tenured and term instructional faculty now through until January 12, 2026. For more information regarding the application and requirements, please visit the Faculty Study Leave Page.