Faculty/Staff Newsletter

Nursing Professor Kyeung Mi Oh is testing how a “reminiscence therapy” app can strengthen emotional health and connection for people living with memory loss.

Kevin Cevasco, supported by the Gates Foundation, is assessing infectious disease recruitment strategies.

Research by Melissa Perry, alumna Sumaiya Safia Irfan, Michael Bloom, Helen Chin, Jenna Krall, Anna Pollack, and College of Science faculty and staff highlights compelling evidence that neonicotinoid pesticides, insect killers commonly used in farming, may reduce sperm quality.

November 17 | 11:30 am | PHC Multipurpose Room

Matthias von Schwanenflüegel is a visiting HAP affiliate faculty member from Germany. Lunch to follow his talk.

The Winter Graduation Degree Celebration is right around the corner, and the college is in need of volunteers to assist at the Degree Celebration. Our college’s degree celebration will be a joint event with CEC and take place on December 17 at 4 pm. Volunteers will be asked to arrive about 1 hour before the event.

We are looking for individuals who are willing to assist with check-in or serve as a Marshal.

The college requires a minimum of 1 volunteer from each department to assist with the event. If you are able to help, fill out this form and OSA will be in touch.

Early Stage Investigators (less than 10 years since PhD, no R01/equivalent) can apply to the NIH Early Stage Reviewer Program. Others may try emailing their CV (and a brief paragraph on their expertise) directly to the Scientific Review officer who manages a study section of interest or to a Fellowship Study Section. Learn more about how reviewers are identified here.

In addition, the American Heart Association is seeking peer reviewers. More information here.

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (www.voaagrants.us) accepts proposals from state agencies (including state universities). Last year state proposals were accepted from March to May. Consider planning ahead for next year.  

In response to guidance from the CEPH Accreditation site visitors, the Curriculum Committee of the College of Public Health is bringing forward a series of recommendations for best practices regarding content and formatting of syllabi across the College.

Please note that faculty are required to have a syllabus for each course that follows the University’s guidance for minimum requirements for all syllabi, which includes a standard Common Policy Addendum. Additional items described in this attached file and presented in this attached template have been identified by the CPH Curriculum Committee as recommendations only, though faculty are encouraged to include them as appropriate for their courses. 

Additionally, in accordance with federal guidelines, the syllabus must align with accessibility standards outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. ATI provides guidelines for creating accessible documents. Instructors may have questions or concerns about specific terminology. We encourage instructors to consult leadership within their LAUs as well as the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning for guidance on such matters.

Faculty can register now for the University’s Faculty Writing Retreat running  January 7 and 8. This retreat will be hosted both in-person and online. Register here. For those who participate in-person, free lunch and snacks will be provided on both days.

The retreat offers an approach for uninterrupted writing time and a supportive and collegial community of peers to boost your writing productivity. Participants work on a variety of research and creative projects at all stages of completion. Faculty members who have participated in past retreats report that they are very helpful in completing writing tasks, both large and small.

Additionally, faculty, postdocs and graduate students can find a community of support and accountability through the Stearns Center weekly Faculty Writing Sprints. Offered every Friday (virtual) and Tuesday (in-person), these are a great way to prioritize writing projects and engage with a community of colleagues.

The Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, online only. Registration is required. Sessions are focused on teaching, student success, and relevant policies and resources. If you are a CPH adjunct faculty member, please attend if you are able.

Since 2022, eduroam has been George Mason's primary Wi-Fi network, offering secure and seamless access across all campuses and at hundreds of participating institutions worldwide. While many users have already transitioned to eduroam, please be aware that MASON-SECURE will be permanently shut down on December 19, at the end of this semester. For details, see MASON-SECURE Retirement FAQs.  

To ensure uninterrupted connectivity, ITS encourages all campus Wi-Fi users to switch to eduroam as soon as possible. To get started, select eduroam from the available Wi-Fi networks and log in with your full George Mason email address (NetID@gmu.edu) and Patriot Pass Password. For more information, visit its.gmu.edu/eduroam. 

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact ITS Support at 703-993-8870 or its.gmu.edu/chat.

November 17 | 12 – 1:30 pm | Merten 1202
November 19 | 12 – 1:30 pm | JC Room 311B

 ITS is hosting Intro to Patriot AI events for faculty, staff, and students. These hands-on sessions are designed to introduce this suite of AI tools and provide tips and best practices to set users up for success—no prior experience required. Whether you're exploring PatriotAI for personal growth or professional innovation, the training will help you build confidence and clarity. For registration and full details, visit Mason 360.

December 16 | 4 - 6 pm | The HUB, Corner Pocket

Celebrate the end of the semester. Details and RSVP to come.

November 17 | 4:30 pm | Johnson Center Cinema | RSVP

Staff, faculty and students are invited to view to the film Cooked: Survival by Zip Code. A guided discussion with Iulia Fratila (Global and Community Health) and Amy Page (Social Work) will follow the screening.

November 18 | 12-1:30 pm (lunch 11:30-12 pm)  |
George’s, 3rd Floor Johnson Center

This CECIL event will examine the impact of misinformation and disinformation on individuals/communities, institutions, and especially vulnerable groups. Participants will explore ways to promote equitable access to trustworthy information and prevent harm from false narratives in our never-ending sea of news and information online. The event will also address the well-being challenges of navigating this overwhelming and emotionally charged media. 

The goal of the event is for the panel to lay the foundation of the issue and then lead us into collaborative roundtable discussions where hopefully new connections are made, as well as pathways for joint projects, research, partnerships, and volunteerism.

Presented by HR and Staff Council
November 20 | 2:30 - 3:30 pm | Zoom

Whether retirement is decades away or just around the corner, join the HR Benefits team to learn all about retirement. We'll cover savings options, consultation opportunities, and what the process looks like at George Mason. Planning now can provide peace of mind and help ensure you’re on the right track for the future you envision!

This session is designed especially for classified staff and A/P faculty. A calendar invite has been sent. Email tguingab@gmu.edu for the link.

December 11 | 10 am–3:45 pm | Mason Square | Register

Join the Department of Health Administration and Policy for a one-day symposium featuring experts from George Mason University, the German Embassy, the University of Bremen, and more.

Learn about innovative solutions to strengthen the long-term care workforce through policy, training, technology, and global collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Patriot Pantry Drive over the past two weeks. We have received many thoughtful donations, and the drive will continue until December 15. Someone from the HAP department will stop by every Friday to pick up items.

Now through December 15

Support students facing food insecurity this holiday season by donating non-perishable food and hygiene items to marked drop-off boxes in all CPH department suites or by contributing online.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS
Food: Pasta, rice, canned tuna/chicken, soups, mac & cheese, vegetables, snacks, peanut butter, cereal, instant oatmeal, vegetarian/vegan options. 
Hygiene: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, period products, razors, laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper.

Nutrition & Food Studies takes the lead this week, but HAP is very much a contender. T Rebmann was top individual stepper again last week.

Reporting for November 10-16 is due today by 11:59 pm. All CPH employees can join in—this includes adjuncts, GRAs, and wage staff. Report your preceding week’s steps here.

PUBLICHEALTH.GMU.EDU

Access the CPH brand toolkit, including new CPH logos here.

View the newsletter archives here.