As an integral part of the greater community, George Mason University has continually strived to build and maintain a multitude of partnerships, provide a variety of services and programs geared toward the region we serve, and explore research that enhances the quality of life for all. 

Through Community Connections, you can learn more about how Mason engages with and enhances our shared community. 

Mason Korea joined forces with General Motors (GM) Korea to revitalize a youth home in Incheon's Bupyeong area through a collaborative beautification project. Student, faculty, and staff volunteers, including Mason Korea Campus Dean Joshua Park, worked diligently to bring a mural concept to life. This marks the second consecutive year of partnership between Mason Korea and GM Korea's mural painting project, underscoring a shared commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. Read more.

The Jack Wood Award highlights the outstanding contributions of faculty, staff, students, businesses/not-for-profits, community members, and elected officials/staff who demonstrate leadership in fostering mutually beneficial relationships between the university and the community. This distinction honors former Mayor Jack Wood, who played an instrumental role in establishing George Mason in Fairfax and establishing Town-Gown relations between the university and the community.
 
Nominations are due by March 19. Self-nominations are welcome. Read more.

George Mason faculty and students are highly engaged in the pursuit of novel scientific endeavors. Since receiving its first patent in 1996, George Mason has been awarded 296 U.S. and international patents, a testament to the university’s bold approach to problem-solving and perseverance in creating solutions. Our scholars are addressing the grand challenges of our time including combatting substance abuse, strengthening energy grids, fighting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), making aircraft safer and more. Read more. 

Anamaria Berea, an associate professor of computational sciences at George Mason, led an interdisciplinary team that designed a part of the LifeShip payload—an archive to preserve our Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage.

The digital portion of the LifeShip payload, similar to the Voyager Golden Records, contains diverse content including videos, global aspirations, scientific materials, historical records, and cultural artifacts intended for future humans to access. If it lands successfully, the payload will be placed on the Moon after 45 days [early March] and live there for posterity.

“Not only my face, voice, name, and work will be on the Moon for future generations, but George Mason University’s legacy too.” Read more. 

George Mason's network of 25 Small Business Development Centers served more than 11,000 customers, providing no-cost counseling and training services to local entrepreneurs across the state. Learn more. 

A team of student fellows at Mason Korea's Center for Security and Policy Studies received a grant from the Mason Impact program to support their research on improving water quality in Incheon's Seunggi-cheon stream.

The project, "Enhancing Water Quality Management of Seunggi-cheon in Incheon, South Korea: A Region-focused, Low-cost, Nature-based Approach," produced a comprehensive dataset that helped pinpoint areas of elevated pollution in the stream using advanced statistical techniques.

"Through collecting and analyzing water samples, we gained insights into environmental security that could inform policies not just for this river, but for others in Korea and beyond," said global affairs major Minji Kim. Read more.

Callie Brownson, BS in Sport Management 2016, made history as the first female chief of staff in NFL for the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Later that same year, she made history again by becoming the first female position coach to oversee tight ends during an NFL game.

Now, she’s tackling a new role as USA Football’s senior director of high performance and national team operations. Brownson will be a key member of the staff charged with selecting and leading the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams that represent North America on the global stage, including flag football’s upcoming Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Read more. 

Traci Kendall is the Executive Director of Operations, and Community and Local Government Relations at George Mason University. She’s been with George Mason since 1996 and is one of the longest serving members of the Government and Community Relations team. Traci’s been instrumental in establishing the university’s Town Gown relations.

Traci and the Local Government Relations team work to “pave the way for good relationships, partnerships, and understanding between the university and neighboring communities that we serve.”

She has a knack for establishing a congenial rapport with others and navigating diplomatic issues with a cool demeanor. Traci’s connections with colleagues throughout the university and in the external community are keys to making successful partnerships for George Mason.

“I’m inspired by the people I’ve worked with over the years. So many people are passionate about their work and eager to be of service or share their expertise with community.”

During her tenure, Traci has led the development of several hallmarks to assist external community members. 

Traci and her team work to win the community’s hearts and minds by developing awareness of George Mason as a resource that can help community members in their everyday life (small business counseling, health services, summer camps, recreation, entertainment, and more) and as a trusted partner that engages the community.

“Helping others to discover the university in new ways energizes me. When someone says, ‘Oh wow, I never knew that,’ it excites me,” she said. “It is rewarding to broker positive feelings toward the university, or at least how my office is handling something, even when the issue at hand might be causing distress or controversy in the community.”

Like many Mason Nation fans, Traci’s favorite Mason memory involves the 2006 Final Four run. She reminisced, “I have never experienced a time when the whole university community – students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community – felt so incredibly connected over a singular experience. It was really an amazing time to be at Mason.”

Traci loves to travel! “Whether exploring the DMV, the nation, or the world, I love checking out new places, architecture, and natural beauty,” she stated. “I live and work in order to travel!”

Some of her previous treks include a six-country tour of the Alps with a ride on the Bernina Express and a boat tour on Lake Como.

What has been her favorite destination? There are a couple standout experiences. “Swimming with the dolphins with my then 9-year-old daughter in Cozumel was remarkable,” she recalled. “I remember thinking how truly happy I was in that moment.”

Another memorable occasion for Traci was ringing in the 2023 New Year with her now adult daughter in Iceland. “Iceland exceeded my expectations. We saw the Aurora Borealis and ate local foods. We spent that cold night watching fireworks as we entered into 2023,” she recalled.

What’s next on her itinerary? Traci and her daughter will cruise the fjords of Norway this summer. She also has a trip to Thailand and Cambodia booked for 2026. 

Feb. 18 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Celebrating the Life of President Jimmy Carter | Mason Square: Van Metre Hall Auditorium, Room 134

Feb. 20 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Galileo’s Science Café: Chagas Disease | The Manassas Museum| 9101 Prince William Street | Manassas VA 20110

March 6 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Visionary Voices: A Conversation with J.H. Cullum Clark | Hylton Performing Arts Center

March 28 & 29 | 8:00 p.m. | 2025 Mason Dance Company Gala Concert | Center for the Arts, Concert Hall, Fairfax Campus

Office of Government and Community Relations

relations.gmu.edu

703-993-8846