Faculty/Staff Newsletter

Graduates from the George Mason University College of Public Health are thriving, with 91% of undergraduates and 85% of graduate students reporting positive career outcomes in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, with undergraduate outcomes rising by nearly 5%.

Still need to get your COVID, Flu, RSV, or Pneumonia vaccination? CPH is partnering with Employee Health & Well-Being to offer free vaccinations. 

November 12, 2024 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm | Population Health Center

All George Mason employees and family members are encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is required.

A heartfelt congratulations to Carolyn A. Taylor for receiving the College of Public Health Distinguished Alumni Award.

Taylor, a dedicated health care leader and passionate educator, has been a pillar of the George Mason community for decades. With four George Mason degrees, including her PhD, and a legacy of service through the Carolyn A. Taylor Scholarship Endowment, she continues to impact the next generation of public health leaders.

Taylor is a long-standing member of the College Advisory Board and the proudest Patriot you will ever meet.  We are so proud to have her on our team, shaping the future of healthcare and public health. 

November 6, 2024 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm | Zoom

Attend the upcoming Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure Forum, get assistance with preparing your research, scholarship and creative statement, and learn more about faculty writing support.

Every First Friday of the Month | 9:00 am - 11:00 am | Horizon Hall 5018
Every Non-first Friday | 9:00 am - 11:00 am | Virtual

Are you interested in having a community of support and accountability for your writing? Every Friday, the university offers Faculty Writing Sprints.

While primarily online, NEW! this year, the group will meet in-person on the first Friday of each month.  

The next in-person Friday Writing Sprint will be on Friday, November 1. Registration is required, please use this link.  

For the non-First Fridays, there are two options for the Friday online writing support:  

Join Faculty Writing Fellow Jeff Moran, College of Engineering and Computing, for the virtual Friday Writing Sprints. Meeting link.    

Join Faculty Writing Fellow Sheri Huerta, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, for the virtual Women’s Accountability Group. Meeting link.

January 8 - 9, 2025 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm | Location TBA

Our schedule for each day of the retreat is as follows:

8:30 am - 9:00 am — Introductions, Coffee & Light Refreshments

9:00 am - 11:00 am — Writing Sprints 

11:30 am - 12:30 pm — Lunchtime Panels on Zoom 

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm — Writing Sprints  

Registration coming soon!

Nominations are currently open and will close on Friday, November 1: 
Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award and Online Teaching Excellence Award 

It is a simple process to complete a nomination using this form. 

November 1, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Zoom

Don’t miss the final CPH Lightning Talk of the fall 2024 semester.
The presenters include:

James Metcalf, GCH - Three Easy Tips to Enliven your Oral and Written Communication

Iulia Fratila, GCH - Exploring Cannabis Drug Education and Health Communication

Elaine Hicks, Fenwick Library (CPH Library Liaison)

Here is the Zoom link.    

Study leave applications for both term instructional faculty and tenured faculty for the 2025-2026 academic year will be due on Monday, October 28, 2024 (close of business today)!

Click here for more information about study leave for tenured faculty and here for study leave for term instructional faculty.

If you are interested in a study leave, and have any questions, please contact Cathy Tompkins (ctompkin@gmu.edu).

Attend the upcoming Renewal, Promotion and Tenure Forum, get assistance with preparing your research, scholarship and creative statement,  learn more about faculty writing support or discover Mason’s  graphic design support.  

NIH’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences has released its new strategic plan for 2025-2029. Have a look at their priorities.

Mason Summer Team Impact Grants: Apply by November 22 to lead a team of undergraduate students in your project through a Summer Team Impact Project Grant. 

PAR-24-273: Advancing Healthcare for Older Adults from Populations that Experience Health Disparities . 

NOT-OD-24-169: Updating the Definition of Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in NIH-Supported Research. 

The Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories (AITC) for Aging Research program is requesting applications for the fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards competition. NIA has earmarked $40 million to fund technology demonstration projects in AI approaches and technology to improve outcomes for older Americans and their caregivers. Learn more and submit your application by January 15, 2025.  

November 15, 2024 | 10:30 am - 11:30 am | Virtual

Learn more about Mason's intensive grant writing bootcamp which will run January – May 2025. The bootcamp provides a structured grant writing timelineand mentorship to Assistant Professors planning to submit an NSF CAREER application in July 2025.  

Please register (required) here.

George Mason ITS now provides 24/7 phone support to faculty, staff, and students at 703-993-8870.

24/7 Canvas support is available through the “Help” link in Canvas. 

Walk-in ITS support on the Fairfax Campus is located in Innovation Hall 226, and is available Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 7:00 pm and Friday 8:30 am- 4:00 pm.  

In the College of Public Health, Matt and Rene may now be reached through a new office number: 703-993-1428. Use this number to report issues with CPH conference rooms and classrooms (2500, 2405, 2409, and the labs).

Matt and Rene are generally available Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. You can also submit a ticket online or send an email for assistance.

Our students and alumni are extraordinary and we want everyone to know it.

We want to hear about your rock stars and high achievers to share their stories with prospective students and the world!

Email Jenn Pocock (jpocock@gmu.edu).

October 30, 2024 | 9:00 am - 11:00 am | Zoom

Our wellness is one of our most valuable commodities, and health equity is when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of wellness.

The Leadership Center of Arlington 2024 Racial Equity Summit will convene thought leaders from around Virginia to discuss how we can ensure everyone has an opportunity to be healthy.

Experts with backgrounds in policy, community programs, and the maternal health crisis will share how they work toward equity in Virginia every day. Presenters will address the state of Virginia's health, social drivers of health, best practices in wellness, and how they impact the future.

November 4, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Multipurpose Room & Online

Learn to Use Improv Skills to Elevate Your Personal and Professional Communication Skills: A CPH Faculty Development Workshop featuring Prep Rally

The College of Public Health Faculty Development Committee are inviting experts in communication and improv to help you transform how you communicate, whether you're preparing for an important presentation or building stronger relationships with your students and clients. Bring your ideas and communication challenges to this interactive and FUN session open to CPH faculty and staff.

This immersive learning session will sharpen your ability to connect, engage, and lead with confidence. Lunch will be served.

RSVP by November 1.

November 18, 2024 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | Multipurpose Room
November 19, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Zoom

Learn about the practice of Verbal Aikido® in this introductory session hosted by Sarah Atif, University Ombuds Office. Verbal Aikido® is an effective and peaceful means to deal with verbal attacks and negativity. VA practice aims at creating a safe space to gradually engage in conflict, to understand conflict dynamics and look at the constructive side of conflict.

This professional development event will be offered twice:

Register for the November 18 in-person session
Register for the November 19 online session

December 10, 2024 | 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | The HUB, Corner Pocket

Come celebrate the end of the semester and the holiday season in your tackiest holiday sweater with fellow CPH faculty and staff at The HUB Corner Pocket Game Room. We'll have private access to billiards, table tennis, arcade games, VR games, video games, board games and more! Food, beer, and wine will be provided! 

Please RSVP by December 3rd. 

HAP pulls ahead of OSA this week as HAP’s Naren Durbha returns as top individual walker.

Participants may walk anywhere, anytime, within the weekly time frames, counting their steps, and then report their CPH unit affiliation along with the steps they’ve walked.

At the end of the semester, the unit with the most steps (proportionally) will be awarded a prize and take the trophy! Report your steps by noon on the Monday after each Monday-through-Sunday challenge week.

Report October 21 - October 27 steps by 12:00 pm TODAY, October 28.
Bookmark this link to report your steps and get stepping!

Every Tuesday | 12:00 pm | Peterson 2800  

Join us for CPH yoga on Tuesdays! You are welcome to stay for as much or as little of the class as you are able and we hope to see many of you there! If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Tompkins.

Every Thursday | 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Peterson Lobby  

Walk with your CPH colleagues! Get updates or schedule an impromptu walk through our walking group on MS Teams.

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