Faculty/Staff Newsletter

A new study by Li-Mei Chen reveals that digital health resources, while still inaccessible for many people, offer many benefits, including improved mental health and social connection.

Gilbert Gimm, Panagiota Kitsantas, and Phillip Zane co-author a new chapter in The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability, offering a comprehensive picture of cannabis use among people with disabilities and recommendations for future research.

February 11, 9 am - 4 pm and February 12, 9 am - 1 pm |  Science and Technology Campus |  Register Here 

Join this in-person 1.5-day in-depth SBIR/STTR Grant-Writing Course to start your journey of applying for an NIH SBIR or STTR grant. This is a hands-on course during which participants learn the particulars of each section of an application, gain an understanding of the review criteria, and finish with a Phase I grant development timeline and draft language for a specific aims page to discuss with a NIH Program Officer. The timing for this course is particularly helpful for those intending to apply through the NIH Omnibus solicitation with an April 5 due date.

In-person Wednesday Writing Sprints: Every Wednesday, 10:30-12 pm, hosted by Writing Fellow Thalia Goldstein from College of Humanities and Social Sciences. RSVP required. These events will be in-person, in JC 239A. Please RSVP here to receive the calendar invite.  

Virtual Friday Writing Sprints: Every Friday, 9-11 am. Hosted by Writing Fellow Jeff Moran from the College of Engineering and Computing. Click here to join. All virtual write-ins take place on Microsoft Teams.

The call for abstracts for the APHA 2026 Annual Meeting and Expo is open, and this year's meeting theme is “Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan.” Submit an abstract on this critical topic or another current or emerging public health issue, or volunteer to be an abstract reviewer and help shape the academic program. The submission deadline is March 31.

Annual performance reviews are due on February 16, 2026. As a reminder, the link below will lead you to the CPH annual performance review guidance. Scroll down and click on performance and development.

In addition, don’t forget to try out the Faculty Activities Tool now in RedCap. Once you have it completed, we can download a copy for yourself. Try it out here.

Because we are transitioning from a fall APR to a calendar year APR, reviews will span the following time period: August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. Following this academic year, the timeframe will be from January 1 – December 31.

Please share with your students: This program is designed to support the pursuit of excellent undergraduate research at George Mason. One prize of $1,000 is available for the spring 2026 semester. The research paper should be an essay or longer paper that makes an original argument based on research and synthesis of secondary and/or primary sources and should include a list of works cited. Undergraduate theses are allowed, as are research proposals if they include a literature review. The award is for one academic year and is not renewable. Criteria, eligibility, and application requirements are available here.

If so, have them explore the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) website. Membership is free to undergraduate students! Many CPH faculty are GSA Fellows. This brief article may be helpful to both you and your students: The Power of an Undergraduate Membership to GSA. If you have any questions, contact Cathy Tompkins, ctompkin@gmu.edu

February 2 | 3 – 4 pm | Virtual

Please join us for monthly opportunities to network and discuss faculty and student matters—whatever may be on your mind. 

Calendar invites, including the Zoom link should already be on faculty calendars. If not, please contact Cathy Tompkins, ctompkin@gmu.edu.

February 13 | 12:00 - 12:30 pm | Zoom

CPH Lightning Talks are a great way to learn about your colleagues’ work and to determine commonalities and possible collaborations. Each presenter has 5 minutes to discuss their work and then there is time for questions at the end.

Calendar invites have been sent to faculty. Contact Cathy Tompkins, ctompkin@gmu.edu with questions.

February 23 | 1:30 - 3 pm | Zoom

The Staff Council Leadership Team invites all wage staff, classified staff, and AP faculty in the College of Public Health to join us for our spring Staff Council Business Meeting. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, share your voice, and connect with colleagues.  

You should have already received a calendar invitation containing the zoom link. If you did not, please contact Allie McKay (amckay4@gmu.edu).

Have topics, ideas, or questions you'd like addressed? We encourage you to submit them in advance using this Microsoft form. We're pleased to share that Dean Perry will be joining us for a portion of the meeting and will be available to answer questions as well. 

We look forward to seeing you then! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Staff Council Leadership Team (Kelly Beckwith, Terri Ann Guingab, Allie McKay, and Katie Spaulding) with questions about the event.

We are excited to begin planning for the spring 2026 graduation events and need your help to make them a success! We're assembling a dedicated committee to organize key activities, including the award ceremony, degree celebration, and reception.

This committee is vital for ensuring a memorable experience for our graduates. Key responsibilities include:

✅Planning event logistics and themes.

✅Coordinating the various ceremony components.

✅Selecting the student speaker for the degree celebration.

We'll meet once or twice a month to keep things organized and on track.

If you are passionate about celebrating our students and would like to contribute, please email cph@gmu.edu to express your interest by February 13.

George Mason’s Leadership Legacy Program is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. This is a program for George Mason faculty and staff who are committed to furthering their leadership knowledge and strengths. Learn more about the program and how to apply. Applications are due Friday, March 20.  

Have information you would like shared with the students in the College of Public Health? Submit them to the Student Weekly Newsletter.

OSA publishes a Weekly Student Newsletter for both Undergraduate and Graduate students. We invite you to submit announcements to this newsletter via our submission form. Announcements can include events, internships, research opportunities, academic deadlines, jobs, etc.

The newsletter is sent to students each Thursday, and submissions are due by Tuesday at 5 pm to ensure they are included in that week’s edition. Any questions, please contact cph@gmu.edu.

April 23 | 9 am - 4 pm | Fairfax, Mason Square, and SciTech campuses

The University is expecting over 200 Junior Patriots and their parents, aiming to offer them a glimpse into George Mason’s work through engaging activities for children aged 2-18.

The University would love to include the College of Public Health in this year's event—a day filled with smiles and engagement for faculty, staff, and their Junior Patriots. While the website isn't updated for 2026 yet, it provides insight into the variety of options offered last year. Diane Dipietro, faculty and staff engagement assistant in Mason’s Human Resources is available to discuss ideas, help brainstorm, and share more information about the event. If you would like to take a lead in helping to coordinate a CPH event please contact Cathy Tompkins (ctompkin@gmu.edu) by March 2.

February 9 | 11:30 am -12:30 pm followed by lunch | Multipurpose Room | RSVP here

Join the Dean for "A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, and Protect," with Rebecca Winthrop, a leading global authority on education, the director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Winthrop is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in life, work, and as an engaged citizen. She leads cutting-edge research and initiatives aimed at transforming education systems around the world to better support children's learning and development.

February 16 | 1-2 pm | In-person and online

As part of the Dean Reappointment Review process, deans are asked to prepare a written statement highlighting their accomplishments and outlining their vision for the future. Dean Perry will hold a public Dean’s Town Hall to discuss her statement, which will be publicly available, and respond to questions. Additional details about the Town Hall will be shared at a later date. 

February 2 | 3:30–4:45 pm | Van Metre Hall, Room 113, Mason Square | RSVP Here

The Department of Health Administration and Policy is hosting the next D.C. Health Economics Seminar featuring Sarah Miller, associate professor at the University of Michigan. Miller will discuss new research on whether guaranteed income affects health outcomes, including short-term improvements in stress and food security. Light refreshments will be provided, and registration is encouraged.

February 4, 2026 | 12 – 1 pm | Zoom

Join the Faculty Development Committee in a discussion about AI’s impact on teaching and learning. CPH faculty and students will share their experiences with AI-powered intelligent tutors built by CPH faculty, AI-assistance in grading, and other methods of using AI to enhance workflows.

February 4 | 12 - 1:30 pm | Multipurpose Room

The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and Research Development Services are hosting this brown bag session on funding sources for well-being research and scholarship. Learn more, connect and network with like-minded researchers across the university. Bring your lunch, your questions, and your curiosity. Dessert and drinks will be provided. RSVP to Ali Weinstein (aweinst2@gmu.edu).

February 4 | 1:30 - 3 pm | Zoom | Register Here

External funding is often essential for faculty research, scholarship, and creative activity. Private foundations have always served as important sources of support, especially for topic areas outside federal funding agency priorities. Writing a foundation grant application often involves more than a straightforward project description; these applications must also be strategically targeted and tailored to foundation priorities. In this session successful George Mason foundation grant awardees, along with our George Mason Director of Foundation Relations, will share their experiences and tips for submitting foundation applications. Attendees will also learn about university rules of engagement with foundations and gain insight on best practices for foundation grant writing. Join Faculty Affairs and Development, along with the Office of Research for this workshop and others in the series.

February 26 - NOTE DATE CHANGE | 1 - 2 pm | Zoom | AIEM-Teach Level 2 | Register Here 

Explore faculty mental health strategies for improving the environment and addressing barriers to concerns. Contact Rachel Yoho with questions.

All CPH employees can join in—this includes adjuncts, GRAs, and wage staff. Participants may walk anywhere, anytime, within each weekly time frame, counting their steps, and then report the steps they’ve walked by midnight the immediately following Monday. 

Report your steps no later than 11:29 pm on the Monday after each Monday-through-Sunday challenge week. The first week of walking is February 2-8. Report steps on February 9. Report your preceding week’s steps here.

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