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A last word of thanks

Today I finish my service as President of George Mason University and I have a last word of thanks for all the members of this […]

My closing report to the Board of Visitors: a tribute to the faculty and staff of George Mason University

President’s Report to the Board of Visitors July 26, 2019 Seven years ago you entrusted me with the leadership of this remarkable institution. It has […]

It’s time to celebrate high-quality community colleges

A co-written column with AT&T Tennessee President Joelle Phillips in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, July 23, 2019 For over a third of American undergraduate […]

A parting op-ed: Mason delivers extraordinary value to region and state

My op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 17, 2019 In just a few decades, George Mason University has emerged as the largest and most diverse […]

Katherine G. Johnson Hall: an inspiring addition to Mason

When it comes to building and sustaining an organizational culture, symbols matter a great deal. Given the importance we attach to diversity and inclusion at […]

Sustainable development is on all of us

Inspired by the Declaration on University Global Engagement (endorsed by more than 100 universities and higher education associations) and with the support of the Rockefeller […]

Mason graduates largest, most diverse class

  Members of the largest and most diverse graduating class in George Mason University history were urged Friday at the 52nd annual Spring Commencement to […]

Commencement Speech by UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL  SPEECH AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT  George Mason University, 17 May 2019 Good morning everybody! It’s a great honour to be here […]

Digital credential gives grads an edge on the competition

George Mason University’s Mike Fasil doesn’t feel much like a trailblazer. But 21-year-old information systems and operations management major from Springfield, Virginia, will be among the university’s […]

Public-private partnerships in higher education

The P3.edu conference hosted last week at Mason turned out to be remarkably informative and thought-provoking. The conference brought together a high-level group of leaders […]

Mason’s Deb Crawford explains university’s role in tech talent pipeline

George Mason University’s Deborah Crawford appeared on the “Kojo Nnamdi Show” on WAMU-88.5 FM on Thursday as part of a panel discussing the impact of Amazon’s […]

Mason, Amazon stress importance of public-private partnerships

George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera, sitting on a panel with an executive from Amazon and two of the people who helped bring the tech […]

Happy and engaged Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Some promising news first: despite the abundance of misinformation, Americans are aware of the fact that our planet is warming up […]

Eradicating sexual violence

Last Tuesday, at the invitation of Student Government, I participated in a town hall meeting addressing the university’s continued commitment to sexual violence prevention. The […]

Mason-led Small Business Development Center expands to Manassas

George Mason University will play a greater role in the growth of small business within the state of Virginia with the opening of a new […]

University of strivers

The current admissions scandal (see Frank Bruni’s take in the New York Times, for example) sheds a light on a sinister side of today’s higher […]

Aspen Prize celebrates societal impact of community colleges

 Community colleges are essential to American higher education. Their ability to provide wide access is unmatched by any other type of institution. They are […]

Mason sponsored research spending reaches $149 million

George Mason University reported an all-time high of $149 million in sponsored research expenditures for fiscal year 2018, making good progress toward the university’s strategic goal of […]

His software evaluation model is used by thousands of companies

Jeff Offutt, a 2019 Outstanding Faculty Awards winner, says teaching is part communication, part leadership and part empathy. Jeff Offutt, a professor of software engineering […]

Questions about recent law school hires

Over the last few days I have received a number of complaints about our law school’s decision to recruit U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh […]

Mason graduates find quick success in the workforce

More than 80 percent of Mason’s graduate and undergraduate degree earners in 2018 reported positive career outcomes within six months of graduation, achieving a university […]

Digital certification to prepare graduates for tech-driven world

George Mason University is among the first universities in the region to launch a digital certification program, which will ensure that all students—regardless of their […]

Mason has 11 graduate programs in top 50 of U.S. News rankings

  George Mason University has 12 graduate programs ranked among the top 50 in new rankings released by U.S. News and World Report on March […]

Mason research pinpoints another factor in Great Recession bank failures

Bank failures attributed to the Great Recession had several root causes. But a George Mason University study by Jerry Hanweck and Anthony Sanders, professors of finance in the School of Business, […]

A conversation with Amazon at Mason

  George Mason University hosted a community dialogue with Amazon on its Arlington Campus on Thursday, providing a window into the tech giant’s plans for […]

Mason ranks 11th  nationally in cybersecurity education

George Mason University was ranked 11th nationally by Cyber Degrees in its recently released top-20 list of institutions with top cybersecurity programs. Mason was also ranked […]

Strada Education Network awards $1 million grant for employment pathways

Strada Education Network recently announced a $1 million grant to support the creation of education-to-employment pathways for students participating in ADVANCE, George Mason University’s innovative partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The three-year grant […]

Decluttering our work at Mason

I haven’t escaped the Marie Kondo decluttering fever. My drawers are emptier and my closet walkable again. Parting with bags of clothes was less painful […]

Racism on campus: Learning from old yearbooks

Lest we try to brush off the controversy over blackface photos in college yearbooks as a problem of other academic institutions in more southern latitudes, […]

Excellence within reach: 2018 report

Read the 2018 President’s Report to learn more about how George Mason University provided access to excellence in 2018. Our impact was greater than ever. […]

Schar School’s Fuller, Gov. Northam deliver economic forecast

As many in the audience of nearly 600 regional business leaders already knew, 2018 was a pretty good year for the Washington, D.C., regional economy. […]

Leading the commonwealth in computing

When Deb Crawford, George Mason University’s vice president for research, assembled the data for the state’s pitch to bring Amazon to Northern Virginia, the numbers […]

Mason and the U.S. Navy partner to promote STEM activities

Two teams of George Mason University seniors majoring in mechanical engineering are spending this semester applying what they’ve learned to a U.S. Navy-sponsored senior capstone […]

Mason ranks among nation’s best employers for diversity

George Mason University is one of the nation’s best employers for diversity, according to a just-released evaluation by Forbes and its online statistics partner Statista. […]

Mason online programs trending upward in U.S. News rankings

George Mason University has some of the nation’s top online programs as evaluated by U.S. News & World Report in its just-released 2019 rankings, with several […]

Mason’s winter graduation class largest in history

George Mason University held its largest Winter Graduation ceremony in university history at EagleBank Arena on Thursday, with more than 4,400  students earning degrees. This year’s class […]

Welcome back: looking forward to another exciting year!

Dear colleague, Welcome back! I hope you had a pleasant winter break. We enter the new year coming off three major developments that promise to […]

Higher education and economic growth: Speech to the Virginia Bankers Association

Speech to the Virginia Bankers Association. Richmond Convention Center. January, 10, 2019.  Thank you for inviting me today. It is not every day that a college […]

Mason named a top-tier research university once more

George Mason University has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s top research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. […]

R1: What it means to be listed again among the most research intense universities

Below is a message I shared this afternoon with the Mason community. Dear Colleague: I am delighted that the new Carnegie Classification of Institutions of […]

670 million thanks

We were told $500 million was too high a goal for a young university with a young alumni base like ours. We went for it  anyway, […]

Radio interview on the decline of international students and other trends (Spanish)

I enjoyed being interviewed by Guillermo Fesser on Spanish leading radio station Onda Cero last week. I’ve always admired how he can blend serious journalism […]

We’re ready, Amazon!

Liza Wilson Durant, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement at the Volgenau School of Engineering. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications Liza Wilson Durant knows […]

Ten Things I’m Grateful For

Happy Thanksgiving to all friends at Mason and beyond! My in-house positive psychologist Beth Cabrera recommends that you speak your gratitude out loud, not just today, […]

Welcome Amazon: Mason is primed and ready

Media highlights impact of Amazon’s HQ2 decision on our region and university

The Federal News Network’s “What’s Working in Washington” show/podcast hosted Opus8 CEO Tien Wong, Greater Washington Partnership CEO Jason Miller and myself for a roundtable […]

George Mason to support Amazon with large-scale expansion of Arlington Campus

George Mason University is announcing a large-scale expansion of its Arlington Campus to grow its computing programs, advance research in high-tech fields and rapidly increase […]

Make America welcoming to international students again

My op-ed in the Washington Post, November 13, 2018 The number of people from other countries who choose to come to the United States to […]

Welcome to our neighborhood, Amazon!

Today, Amazon announced that it will establish a second headquarters in Arlington. This is great news for Virginia, the greater Washington region and our university. […]

Mason’s Cowen, Pearlstein discuss capitalism, morality and economic growth

Two of the nation’s leading economic thought leaders met on Mason’s Fairfax Campus on Nov. 1 to debate the correlation between capitalism, morality and economic […]

Stronger than hate

Opening of the women’s and men’s basketball season. EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, VA. November 6, 2018.  I am very excited about the new basketball season.   […]

Solving the security clearance backlog

The latest White House debate over security clearance reform was brought to George Mason University’s Arlington Campus on Tuesday when senior officials from Congress, the […]

Striving to build a more tolerant, pluralistic society

Dozens of colleagues at Mason have expressed their condemnation of remarks made by an adjunct instructor on television in recent days and have stated that […]

Gov. Northam joins George Mason, NOVA to announce gifts to ADVANCE

Gov. Ralph Northam joined representatives from George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College on Monday to announce gifts in support of the ADVANCE partnership. […]

Access to excellence: Higher education’s innovation imperative

Speech to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, October 30, 2018 The history of higher education in America has been one of ever-expanding […]

Board approves renaming Founders Hall to Van Metre Hall

Founders Hall, one of two major academic buildings on George Mason University’s Arlington Campus, was officially renamed Van Metre Hall after Mason’s Board of Visitors […]

A new statue at the Scalia Law School

The momentous unveiling of the Antonin Scalia statue at the law school last week, in the presence of five Supreme Court Justices, reminded me of something […]

Working to eradicate sexual violence

Sent to students, faculty, and staff early this week: Dear Patriot: I know that the last few days and weeks have been difficult for survivors […]

Raising awareness of sexual assault on campus

As the senate judiciary committee hearings continue, I’m struck by the staying power of the myths that surround sexual assault and the treatment received by […]

Mason receives NSF grant to attract more women, minorities to STEM fields

A team of researchers from George Mason University has received a National Science Foundation grant to introduce a more active-learning approach that would improve student […]

Mason growing in size and stature at the same time

Below is a message I shared today with faculty and staff: Dear Colleague, This fall, we welcomed the most impressive incoming class in George Mason […]

Intelligence forum highlights Mason’s role as facilitator for discussion

George Mason took center stage on C-SPAN on Tuesday night by hosting an esteemed panel of former U.S. intelligence officials at the “Secrets, Presidents and […]

Universities around the world must reaffirm commitment to global engagement

  I was invited this past July to speak at the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative event at the United Nations headquarters in New York. My message: […]

Forbes ranks Mason among top 50 public universities

George Mason University was ranked No. 49 nationally among public universities in Forbes’ latest evaluations. A total of 251 institutions were ranked. “Mason is serious about […]

Mason named one of D.C. region’s largest employers

George Mason University has been recognized as one of the largest employers in the Washington, D.C. region, according to the Washington Business Journal. Mason is […]

Welcome back message to the university community

Dear colleague, Welcome back! I hope you had a pleasant and invigorating summer and are as excited as I am about the new academic year. […]

ShanghaiRanking names Mason among top 300 universities worldwide

George Mason University was one of only four schools in Virginia and four in the greater Washington, D.C., area to be included among the prestigious 2018 […]

Tom Davis re-elected as rector of Mason’s Board of Visitors

The George Mason University Board of Visitors (BOV) capped its annual planning conference Friday by re-electing Thomas M. Davis as rector and voting in four members of its Executive […]

Schar School fellow creates tool to boost women VC entrepreneurs

The idea that venture capital firms prefer to invest in companies led by men inspired Ruta Aidis to do something about it. The economist, who is a […]

Mason leads Congressional staff briefing on DHS Centers of Excellence

George Mason University’s Anthony Stefanidis recently used his role as the director of Mason’s Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis Center (CINA), a Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence […]

A happy parent I met last night

I received this note from an old friend this morning. It made my day. A reminder of why we do what we do. A happy […]

2018-19 Tuition at Virginia’s Public Universities

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) just published its 2018-19 Tuition & Fee Report, a comprehensive summary of trends and a comparative […]

Mason welcomes four to its Board of Visitors

Four community leaders have been appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to George Mason University’s Board of Visitors. Ignacia S. Moreno, Paul J. Reagan, Edward Rice, […]

Beware the myth of the college dropout billionaire

During a recent trip to the Bay Area, I noticed that downtown San Francisco is blanketed with higher education advertising. Not just from West Coast […]

Mason to play a role in a regional consortium devoted to infrastructure

George Mason University is among a consortium of seven schools based in the Mid-Atlantic Region that has been awarded an initial annual sum of more […]

Homeland security summit brings government, academia together at Mason

George Mason University alumnus Christopher C. Krebs said he keeps two basic questions in mind when preparing to deal with critical homeland security issues. “So […]

Climate change is everyone’s business – We are still in

It’s been a year since President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, a multilateral effort to combat climate change […]

Mason’s School of Business ‘at the forefront of business for good’

In July 2012, George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera committed the university to supporting the United Nations Global Compact, which calls on institutions to align […]

Unilever CEO Paul Polman, commencement speaker, on career success

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, is the featured speaker at Mason’s 51st Spring Commencement Ceremony Friday, May 18, 2018. Q: Why is it important for […]

New Richmond Fed president urges Mason students to be ‘lifelong learners’

                                  Never stop learning. That was the message Thomas […]

Mason named one of America’s best employers

George Mason University is one of America’s best employers, according to a new evaluation by Forbes. George Mason is ranked 54th among 500 top midsize […]

Mason a pivotal player in region’s biohealth objectives

Prof. Stephen Fuller‘s influential roadmap for Greater Washington highlights “Biological and Health Tech Services” as one of the seven strategic clusters that will drive our […]

Pell Grant recipient graduation rates show Mason is delivering inclusive excellence

With Kirk Heffelmire A central part of Mason’s mission as the largest and most diverse public university in the state is to provide educational opportunities […]

A visit from Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin

At Mason last week, Thomas Barkin made his first public appearance since joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond as President and CEO in January. […]

My column in the Chronicle of Higher Education on donor involvement

You have likely seen news reports on a recent controversy regarding some past gift agreements at the university. The Washington Post ran an editorial on […]

#ChooseMason

National Decision Day for high school seniors is May 1. For students (and their parents) who have been accepted into one of Virginia’s universities, congratulations. […]

Mason at forefront tackling Northern Virginia’s opioid epidemic

George Mason University on April 19 hosted a daylong symposium to examine ways to eradicate the opioid crisis in Northern Virginia, an event that gathered […]

Mason leads public-private partnership discussion with P3•EDU conference

George Mason University this month held a two-day conference with higher ed leaders, business executives and industry media to discuss the impact of public-private partnerships […]

Fewer international students coming to the U.S. should be a top policy concern

With Kirk Heffelmire In preparation for my coming Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond board meeting, where we plan to discuss, among other things, how recent […]

Mason poised to deliver on state’s cybersecurity objectives

State lawmakers are considering a major investment in cybersecurity research to be operated from Northern Virginia. This is exciting news for Mason. We’ve been a […]

Unilever CEO will be keynote speaker at Mason’s 51st Commencement

Unilever CEO Paul Polman, who has been recognized for his commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility, will be the featured speaker at Mason’s Spring Commencement. […]

A conversation with WGMU’s “The Spin Room”

WGMU’s Erik Truong and Alexis Whitted recently invited me onto their discussion show, “The Spin Room.” We covered a lot of ground in 30 minutes! […]

“To a Degree” podcast

Last week I had the pleasure of being a guest on the “To a Degree” podcast, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Host […]

Survey: Mason graduates earn highest salaries in dozens of majors

George Mason University boasts the highest paid graduates in the country in a wide range of occupations—from biology and education to homeland security and fine […]

Mason is going global

An increasing number of Mason students are taking advantage of study abroad opportunities to develop their global competence, a crucial learning outcome in the 21st […]

Doctor Honoris Causa – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

It was an incredible honor to be back in Madrid this week to receive my alma mater’s Honorary Doctorate in company of family, friends, and […]

The immense value of education

This week I will be heading to Spain to receive an Honorary Doctorate from my alma mater, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). To say that […]

Mason bolsters Virginia cybersecurity efforts by partnering cities, counties

Virginia counties figure to be at the front lines in the battle for cybersecurity, so George Mason University’s J.P. Auffret and Angelos Stavrou are helping them formulate a more […]

Students to tell our story in Richmond

When meeting with state lawmakers, I am never bashful about rattling off some of the university’s achievements: Largest public university in the state One of […]

The two-way value of international students

The international flow of students is invaluable for students themselves and a good deal for the United States. Last week, I was on a panel […]

Discussing higher ed investment with the Virginia Senate Finance Committee

I appreciated the opportunity Tuesday to speak to the Virginia Senate Finance Committee about the accomplishments and needs of our public universities. I started by […]

Fuller delivers update on region’s economic future

In the face of decreasing federal spending and the damage inflicted by the 2013 budget sequestration, the 2030 Group of business leaders in the Washington, […]

Helping Virginia become the best-educated state

George Mason University last year accounted for 57 percent of the four-year public university undergraduate enrollment growth in the commonwealth according to a new report […]

Mason scientists develop urine test that could lead to early TB detection

Scientists at George Mason University have developed a nanotechnology that for the first time can measure a sugar molecule in urine that identifies tuberculosis with […]

New ventures in online education: A conversation with Michelle Marks

Q. Why devote an office to Academic Innovation and New Ventures? A. It’s important for this university to devote an office to academic innovation and […]

Why did Google choose Zurich?

Earlier this week I wrote an op-ed for Spanish daily El País (“Bringing Zurich to Spain“, in Spanish), where I argue that the presence of […]

A Perfect Mess

Should the goal of a university system be to provide a reasonable, uniform level of quality for all students, or to let universities pursue their […]

Midterm strategic plan update

Strategic plans collecting dust on shelves are as common as they are useless. So are static plans built on a presumption of a predictable future and […]

Making students safe for ideas

In “The Partisan Divide,” our rector, Tom Davis, (also a Schar School professor and former Congressman) describes an ever-polarized Congress void of politicians willing to […]

Tribute to a trailblazer: Hazel Johnson-Brown

Prof. Hazel Johnson-Brown was a pioneer in life, in the U.S. Army and at George Mason University. Her uniform, as the first Black woman to […]

Three from Mason tapped for top federal positions

The White House has nominated George Mason University’s David C. Williams to the United States Postal Service Board of Governors. Williams, who joined Mason’s Schar […]

Three from Mason make Washington Business Journal’s ‘2017 Power 100’

The Washington Business Journal’s annual ranking of influential local business leaders list, the Power 100, includes three representatives from the Mason Nation. George Mason University president Ángel […]

To eradicate sexual violence, stop blaming the victim

On Oct. 13, Professor Walter Williams, an eminent scholar in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, wrote a syndicated column that included comments about […]

College presidents come together to support Dreamers

Colleges and universities across the country are speaking up in support of protecting undocumented students who were until now protected under the Deferred Action for […]

Roger Wilkins Plaza: a fitting tribute to a great man

Tribute to Prof. Roger Wilkins. North Plaza (now Roger Wilkins Plaza), Fairfax Campus, Oct. 12, 2017   Thank you for joining us in celebrating the […]

New School of Business dean a quick study

Maury Peiperl admits he still is in “learning mode.” The dean of George Mason University’s School of Business has been on the job only since August. Even […]

A good measure of Mason’s ROI

With Kirk Heffelmire One of the statistics that best measures the value of a college or university is its student loan default rate. A low […]

Mason’s Fuller presents inaugural economic forum

Noted George Mason University economist Stephen Fuller updated his 2015 regional economic roadmap for an invited group of 250 business and policy leaders at an […]

Growth4VA campaign highlights critical roles of state universities

The most vibrant regions in our country – Silicon Valley, the North Carolina research triangle, or the Route 128 corridor near Boston, to name a […]

Countries with more top universities are the most economically competitive

With Kirk Heffelmire In keeping with an annual tradition (see here, here, and here), we present the latest comparison between the density of top-ranked universities […]

Statement on the DACA decision

To the Mason community, Today, the Trump administration announced that it will no longer accept applications under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program […]

Mason ranked as a top college for adult learners

George Mason University is ranked fifth nationally as a best four-year college for adult learners, according to an analysis by Washington Monthly magazine. The top 100 […]

Shattered Dreams

Published in Public Purpose, The Magazine of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Summer 2017 edition. (Access pdf here) Children who were brought […]

Aug. 13 message to the Mason community

  My message Sunday to the Mason community following the incidents in Charlottesville. Dear Patriots, Like most of you, I am deeply disturbed by the […]

Mason receives multi-million dollar award from the DHS

George Mason University has been selected by the Department of Homeland Security to lead its Center of Excellence in Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis. The […]

The power of collaboration

We are fortunate in Virginia to have autonomous state universities governed by their own separate boards. Other states govern their universities as a system under […]

Online Virginia Network Authority to oversee enhanced educational opportunities

The Online Virginia Network board met for the first time July 14 and has set the stage for the program that is expected boost the state’s economy […]

Mason selects NIH executive to lead College of Health and Human Services

George Mason University has named Germaine M. Louis dean of the School of Health and Human Services, selecting a deeply committed educator, administrator and researcher […]

Students design robot to improve daily lives of the mobility impaired

An aging baby boomer population, and a growing shortage in the critical medical personnel needed to take care of them, pose some very serious challenges, […]

Global trade matters

One of the points that I emphasized last week at The Global Entrepreneurship Export Exchange (E3)  in Washington D.C. is that universities have an integral role […]

Mason’s longest-serving president, George Johnson, passes away

Dear Colleague, I am sad to report that George Johnson, our university’s fourth and longest-serving president, died today. It is hard to exaggerate the impact […]

Mason unveils plans for Innovation District on West Campus

After three days of workshops where 180 stakeholders brainstormed ideas for developing George Mason University’s western portion of its Fairfax Campus, a vision of an […]

We’re putting less of our collective money where out mouths are

With Kirk Heffelmire When it comes to higher education, we putting less of our collective money where our mouths are. According to a recent report from […]

Immigrant Scientists

In my latest op-ed in El País (Spain’s leading newspaper) I argue that Spain should celebrate, not lament, the fact that more and more of its scientists […]

Higher ed arithmetic

Some aspects of higher education are maddeningly complex, but other aspects are as simple as basic math. Public universities’ expenditures equal roughly what they get […]

Why our partnership with NOVA is so important

From: President2President , Chapter 10: Pathways to Success: Easing the Transition to Four-Year Universities with Comprehensive Guidance and Institutional Support, by Ángel Cabrera For many, […]

Washington Economic Roadmap continues to unfold

With Kirk Heffelmire One of our primary roles at Mason is to drive the local economy through innovation and entrepreneurship, continually reassess the economic landscape, […]

At Mason, graduation success doesn’t vary by ethnicity

A report released last week by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows what we’ve unfortunately come to expect: that completion rates for Black and Hispanic […]

Nuance, imagination and empathy

Dr. Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), included this paragraph in his “Dean’s Gazette” last August. At the time, you may […]

Komodo dragon blood leads to new wound-healing discovery for Mason researchers

Inspired by the Komodo dragon blood’s germ-fighting abilities, George Mason University researchers have created a new way to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria while spurring the body’s […]

Mason faculty award honors longtime civic leader Williams

By Preston Williams The 123 Club was created 30 years ago by top business leaders to bring attention to the needs of a growing Mason. […]

NASA grants to fund research of airline accident prevention technology

The Center for Air Transportation Systems Research in the Volgenau School of Engineering was recently awarded two grants from NASA to study modern airline accidents and prevention strategies. The […]

America’s loss of international students is Canada’s gain

With Kirk Heffelmire As American universities face a softening of international student demand, Canadian universities are reporting significant increases in undergraduate applications from abroad over the past […]

Remembering Robinson Professor Roger Wilkins

Dear Colleague, This week, we lost one of our brightest stars. I’m saddened by the news that retired Robinson Professor Roger Wilkins has died. Wilkins’ […]

Why open borders are crucial for innovation

Washington Post op-ed: American innovation has been the envy of the world for the last century. Our ability to discover scientific breakthroughs, invent disruptive technologies […]

Some indication of weakening international student interest

I wrote last week about how the immigration policy changes post 9/11 hurt America’s share of the world pool of international students. I also expressed concern […]

American universities are less global than you may think

The United States attracts more international students than any other country in the world. Yet, relative to our size, we are far from the lead, […]

Are we “great equalizers”?

With Kirk Heffelmire Horace Mann famously described education as society’s “great equalizer”, our instrument to give people a chance to be successful regardless of their background. […]

A new treasure on the National Mall

On Sunday I visited the newest addition to the National Mall — the National Museum of African American History and Culture — with a group of Mason […]

Plus ça change…

–Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same) “Among the current faculty are many capable […]

Immigrants play pivotal role in education, innovation

On Tuesday evening I appeared on PBS NewsHour to discuss the important role that immigrants play at our universities and in our economy. According to […]

Statement on the immigration ban executive order

Dear Patriots, On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that blocked entry into the United States for citizens of seven predominately Muslim countries. It […]

At ‘Mason Lobbies,’ students tell our story

Much is at stake for us these days in Richmond, as the General Assembly convenes for its 2017 session. For the next few weeks I will […]

For solar startup, lessons learned in Mason’s Innovation Lab were key

By Damian Cristodero For Shane Trexler, the story of Centennial Generating is also the story of how the Innovation Lab at George Mason University can […]

How does Virginia measure up in university research investment?

Virginia ranks 14th but has scarcely moved over the past decade in the National Science Foundation’s research and development expenditures, the latest of which have […]

New dean, new ambitions to transform Mason’s School of Business

By Melanie Balog In a short time, George Mason University’s School of Business has become a leader in the National Capital Region and an important […]

Study abroad!

No matter how intellectually stimulating, resourceful and diverse, a college campus may be, there is one crucial learning experience you cannot have unless you leave […]

You belong at Mason

Dear Patriot, Our mission defines us as an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world. This was […]

The outstanding economic value of a Mason degree

With Kirk Heffelmire The national default rate on student loans continues to decline, even if modestly, according to the latest federal data. Mason’s rate inched up but continues […]

Justice Kagan lauds “remarkable judge and teacher” at Scalia dedication

In case you missed it, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan delivered a remarkable speech on Thursday at the dedication of the Scalia Law School in honor of […]

Mason and the National Museum of African American History and Culture

The opening last week of the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a landmark occasion for our country. I’m proud to say […]

Sharing Mason’s faculty research accomplishments and needs on Capitol Hill

The case of alumna Aya Mohamad Nabil Hijazi

With Solon Simmons, Vice President Global Strategy and Professor, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution At George Mason University we teach our students the importance […]

Mason partners with Northern Virginia Chamber to connect regional business and academia

George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced a comprehensive partnership on Wednesday to strategically link Virginia’s largest public university with the […]

Scientist-entrepreneur Chip Petricoin combines research with business

George Mason University’s Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin finds himself stepping out of the lab and into the boardroom as his discoveries form the basis for new […]

Mason MBA project leads to relationship with DC Water

By Damian Cristodero Maureen Holman, chief of sustainability at DC Water, is eager to work again with students from George Mason University, and hopes George […]

Humanities, too, is where the jobs are today

By Dr. Zachary M. Schrag Professor and Director of MA Program in History | Department of History and Art History As the fall semester began, […]

Higher ed’s inequality problem

In June I had the pleasure of presenting at the Future Trends Forum, an event organized by the Bankinter Innovation Foundation (the Foundation, on whose board I […]

Alumni giving is on the rise, but it must grow faster, farther

With Janet Bingham, President, George Mason University Foundation Alumni giving is on the rise at George Mason University. Between 2015 and 2016, the number of alumni […]

We need everyone’s commitment to end sexual violence

Dear Patriots, In the past four days, two Mason students in separate incidents reported that they were sexually assaulted. By now, you’ve received two notices […]

Universities vital for dynamic economies

With Kirk Heffelmire As we’ve argued before (see here and here), there is a strong correlation between the concentration of top-ranked universities in a country and […]

Five myths about student debt

With Kirk Heffelmire When you see on the cover of the August 2016 issue of Consumer Reports the quote, “I KIND OF RUINED MY LIFE […]

Strategic Goal #1: Innovative Learning

I look forward to next week’s planning retreat with all our deans and senior administration, an opportunity to pause from our daily jobs and come together to […]

Philanthropy in higher ed in the U.S. and Spain

Many thanks to the president of Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Francisco Mora, for the invitation to keynote his conference on philanthropy in Spanish universities.  UPV is a young, […]

Mason graduates make their mark

George Mason University graduates have a significant impact on the business communities of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., as 88 percent of all graduates take […]

Mason Teams with Vencore to Help Agencies Beef up Cybersecurity

By Damian Cristodero A new partnership between George Mason University and Vencore seeks to help organizations understand the value of data before cyberattacks strike and […]
Sean Mallon, Mason's new associate vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University

Successful Entrepreneurship Takes More Than a Good Idea

By Michele McDonald Sean Mallon’s goal is to turn good ideas into great companies. Mallon joined George Mason University in April as vice president for […]

Mason co-hosts event to help small businesses meet global leaders

George Mason University, Entrepreneurs Organization and the Global Situation Room, in partnership with Dell Corporation, will bring together representatives from more than 30 nations to […]

Thank you for a great year of hard work and achievement

Dear Colleague, It has been a remarkable year for George Mason University, one of progress and achievement. Together, we helped a record 8,500 students complete […]

Law School Naming Gift

  FROM:           Ángel Cabrera TO:                  Members of the Faculty Senate RE:                  Law School Naming Gift Resolution DATE:            April 29, 2016   […]

Evenly distributed opportunity

With Kirk Heffelmire We like to think about universities as the great equalizers of our society, the institutions that give everyone a shot at a […]

Dean Peggy Agouris Says Research Partnerships Are Key to Medical Advances, Breakthroughs

By Michele McDonald As the dean of George Mason University’s College of Science, Peggy Agouris leads a dynamic collection of researchers focused on converting scientific […]

Analyzing Politics in Washington, D.C.

By Damian Cristodero George Mason University senior Ryan Thornton is at his desk in the Washington, D.C., offices of Quorum Analytics at 7:30 every morning. […]

Mason Incubator Produces Business Solutions and Opportunities

  By Damian Cristodero College campuses are places where ideas can grow into real-world solutions. In 2009, Anup Ghosh, then chief scientist in the Center […]

World Affairs Council names Mason “Educator of the Year”

Last night in Washington, I had the honor of accepting the World Affairs Council-DC Educator of the Year Award on behalf of our university. The […]

Harold Morowitz and what it means to be a great professor

This week George Mason University lost a great scientist and colleague.  It also lost a great professor. Harold Morowitz leaves a legacy of extraordinary scholarship and, more importantly, […]

Few American students study abroad. Many more should

More than 40% of first-year undergraduate students in America say they intend to study abroad.  By the time they are done with school though, fewer […]

Advancing a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion

Dear Mason Patriot, One of the first things I experienced when I became president of George Mason University was hearing people talk about the extraordinary […]

Access vs. excellence

Many of the discussions I had with legislators in Richmond during this year’s session dealt with the inherent tension between increased regulation to contain cost […]

Virginia among the best states in college completion rates

Graduating on time is essential to getting a good return on one’s investment in a college degree.  Access and completion are the two factors that determine our ability […]

Spring break is prime time for international service learning

Spring break can be a time of learning and transformation.  Many of our students every year dedicate their break to service projects, some with global […]

Diversity at Mason

With Kirk Heffelmire Ask any member of our community what attributes describe George Mason University best and you’re likely to hear “diversity” on top of the […]

Critical doing

I recently wrote an article (“Critical Doing”, Presidential Perspectives: Innovative Concepts to Achieve Campus Transformation) where I argue that critical thinking, the hallmark of American […]

A multidisciplinary symposium to advance security research

By Provost S. David Wu. Mason will host the second annual Provost’s Multidisciplinary Research Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the Mason […]

Mason achieves highest Carnegie research classification

This was a momentous week in the history of our university. Having just become a university in the seventies and a doctoral-granting institution in the […]

Public universities getting more effective and efficient

With Kirk Heffelmire The rate of degree production and the cost per degree at public institutions both improved over the past decade. This means that […]

Mixed news on state support for higher education

Good news first: state support for higher education increased last year. Newly released data by researchers at Illinois State University show an increase of 4.1 percent in state support […]

#MasonLobbies

Hopefully snow and ice won’t get in the way of tomorrow’s Mason Lobbies day.  Every year around this time, a student-led delegation from Mason pays a visit […]

Myth and reality of college graduate underemployment

The stereotype of the college graduate working as a barista or at other low-wage service jobs is sometimes used to question the value of a […]

Mason, a hot spot on region’s ‘Roadmap’

“The Roadmap for the Washington Region’s Economic Future” runs through George Mason and other area universities that can help produce the talent and ideas that […]

Mason, Inova ring in new year with crucial partnership

Happy New Year! But first, Happy Old Year! In case you missed it: While faculty and staff were on their well-deserved holiday break, Governor McAuliffe late last […]

Learning does not end at graduation

I very much look forward to celebrating the academic accomplishment of the 4,000 students graduating on Saturday. A customary piece of advice in these circumstances is […]

Serious games, serious tech transfer

I had the opportunity to tour the Virginia Serious Games Institute again yesterday.  Located in our Science and Technology Campus, VSGI helps students, faculty and other entrepreneurs […]

A college degree, the surest path towards a good job

Before you rush into getting your welder’s certificate, don’t rule out going to college quite yet. There are clearly many attractive technical careers that can […]

Bienvenido a Mason, Chef José Andrés!

I’m thrilled to welcome to the Freedom and Learning Forum chef José Andrés, a world-renowned culinary innovator, social entrepreneur, author, educator, television personality, and humanitarian […]

At Mason, Personal Touch Builds Pipeline to Student Internships, Jobs

    By Damian Cristodero When Christian Adounvo makes an acquaintance, it’s not with the intent of landing a job. Sometimes it just works out […]

Mason-Led Team Unveils “Roadmap” to Keep Regional Economy Competitive

By Buzz McClain George Mason University economist Stephen Fuller is set to present a comprehensive plan to policymakers and business leaders next month outlining how […]

Mason and MITRE: Partners in Research and Education

By Preston Williams For George Mason University and the MITRE Corporation, the talent pipeline flows in both directions. Career-ready Mason graduates join the MITRE workforce […]

Steering the Washington regional economy

It’s not surprising that our local media is paying increasing attention to the health and future of the Washington regional economy (see examples here and here). The National Capital […]

Study abroad should become the norm

The good news first: the number of international students in the U.S. and the number Americans studying abroad are both growing. Then the not so good: only […]

Racism has no place at George Mason University

Dear Patriots, Racism has no place at George Mason University. We are not isolated from race-related incidents occurring across the nation. Just last evening, a […]

See you at the game on Friday night

Our men’s basketball team tips off its season at 7 p.m. Friday at EagleBank Arena. This will be our first game under new coach Dave […]

Student debt trends

With Kirk Heffelmire As we discussed here, the decline in state support is shifting the burden of higher education to students and their families.  A direct consequence […]

Mason among best universities in adding value

When we evaluate a university’s outcomes–graduation rates, employment success, etc.–how much of it is a function of what the university does, and how much is determined by things […]

Mason alumni returning to World Series

The George Mason Patriots, er, Kansas City Royals are back in the World Series! We’re more than happy to mix in a little royal blue […]

A welcome to Dr. Scott Ralls, new NOVA president

George Mason on Friday formally welcomed to the Mason Nation family the new president of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Dr. Scott Ralls. In his […]

Why we are building a well-being university

By Kathleen deLaski, via The Washington Post My father spent his life openly searching for meaning. He served as deacon of our Presbyterian Church, followed […]

A weekend to remember

This past weekend we saluted future Mason students, current Mason students, and past Mason students. In the span of a few days, the university hosted […]

Thank you, Senator Colgan

https://youtu.be/R8q6GtyYIug?t=21m50s Virginia’s current and past governors and dozens of leaders in business, government, and civic organizations gathered on September 25 in the Hylton Center (Science […]

When public funding of higher education dwindles, where does the money go?

With Kirk Heffelmire If you’re interested in the funding of state universities and the rising cost of tuition, I recommend you have a look at […]

Mason Provides Learning Solutions for Corporate and Government Workers

By Michele McDonald George Mason University is transforming how business and the government use continuing education for employees. The region’s top employers want a multidisciplinary […]

Debating excellence vs. access in higher education

George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera joined Georgetown University President John DeGioia and George Washington University President Steve Knapp for a panel discussion on The Future of […]

National Work & Family Month underscores year-round work-life efforts

With Linda Harber, Vice President Human Resources/Payroll & Faculty/Staff Life National Work & Family Month, in October, provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress we are […]

How well do we serve those who have the least?

With Kirk Heffelmire A sad reality across higher education is the fact that family wealth not only affects the probability of getting into a good college, […]

A milestone in D.C.’s emergence

I was glad to see Mason included in Washingtonian magazine’s “50 Moments That Shaped Washington, DC.,” a recognition of the important role our university has played in building the educational, […]

The Campaign for George Mason University

After years of preparation, I am very excited to move into the public phase of a campaign to raise $500 million in gifts for George […]

Mason graduates fuel region’s economic engine

When I arrived at Mason three years ago, College of Education and Human Development Dean Mark Ginsberg shared one statistic I still find quite remarkable: about one-half […]

Welcome to Business Matters

Look around the world. You will often find that at the heart of a thriving economy is a world-class research university. During the past 40 years, […]

Mason and Northrop Grumman Work Together to Build Innovative Cyber Security Degree Program

  By Damian Cristodero When Peggy Brouse read a story this summer about hackers shutting down the engine of a cruising Jeep Cherokee, she immediately […]

Mason Committed to Being a Leader in Producing Career-ready Graduates

By Damian Cristodero Christine Cruzvergara is often asked for evidence that George Mason University is a leader in producing career-ready graduates. Mason’s director of career […]

Mason Appoints New Director of the Center for Regional Analysis

By Buzz McClain George Mason University has named Terry Clower as the new director of the Center for Regional Analysis. Clower was previously the director […]

Excellence and equity in American universities

With Kirk Heffelmire Yesterday I had the pleasure of discussing the present and future of higher education with the co-founder and chief of The Carlyle Group, […]

Why it matters that we develop our research capabilities

With Kirk Heffelmire I appreciated the opportunity to tell the Mason story in this Washington Post profile appeared in the print section today.  As we discuss there, […]

#GMU19: impressive, diverse class

By David Burge In the last few days the collective enthusiasm of the George Mason University community has reached a fever pitch as we’ve watched […]

A world-class university = a world-class faculty

Congratulations to our faculty for Mason being recognized once again by the Academic Ranking of World Universities as one of the top 200 research universities in the […]

What’s in a website?

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to visit our new home website. I hope you like it as much as I do. […]

Bienvenidos: Governor’s summit highlights Hispanic enrollment growth

Today on the Arlington Campus, Governor Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe are hosting a Latino Summit to share information about Commonwealth resources and […]

Okay, parents. I get it now.

For years, from all over Virginia, the United States and the world, you have sent your children off to George Mason. You’ve fretted about them […]

Who pays for college?

With Kirk Heffelmire Much has been said and written about the ballooning ($1.2 trillion and counting) student debt in the U.S.. But what does that […]

The new face of success

Has someone ever described you in a way that was spot-on but in terms that you yourself had never considered? I had an experience like that […]

Over-qualification, a dangerous term

Thanks to Spain’s Fundación CYD and the Conference of University Presidents, I moderated a panel yesterday at a conference on the employability of college graduates in the […]

A life between two higher education systems

Congratulations to the Spanish Fulbright Association on its 25th anniversary and a heartfelt thank you for inviting me to join in the celebrations with a […]

Thanks for a great year….and for a bright future

Dear Colleagues, Summer is traditionally the time when we look back on the academic year and reflect on our accomplishments. We have many to celebrate, […]

W. T. Woodson High School Graduation Speech

Thank you Woodson Class of 2015 for inviting me to be part of your special day. And thanks to my son Alex, who’s graduating with […]

Idea Power: Business, Academia and the Sustainable Development Goals

I returned last night from the United Nations-sponsored Global Forum for Responsible Management Education (which I had the honor to MC) inspired and optimistic about the […]

Lowest student loan default rate means real value for students

A college degree should help build – not mortgage – a student’s future. And a Mason degree does just that. I am pleased – but not […]

What college presidents discuss

I’m spending the day at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Council of Presidents. In the odd chance you’ve been wondering what presidents discuss when […]

Thank you, Peterson Family

Today was a tremendous day in the continued trajectory of our university. In a ceremony this afternoon we announced a $10 million gift from the […]

State task force recommendations will make campuses safer

Dear Mason Community, The Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence, of which I was a member, recently developed a list of 21 recommendations […]

What’s in a name?

In case you haven’t heard, starting July 1, the emblematic Patriot Center on our Fairfax Campus will be known as EagleBank Arena at George Mason […]

Integration and Innovation: the role of higher ed

With Kirk Heffelmire I was delighted to be invited by the Council of the Americas to speak at their annual conference this week.  It is reassuring […]

Announcing Mason’s Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research

Letter to the Mason community: Dear Patriot, Yesterday, we took a major step towards our goal of becoming one of the nation’s top research universities: […]

A new game plan for Washington’s economy

For more than three decades, the Washington area economy grew relentlessly, driven by increasing federal expenditures feeding local suppliers. Between 1980 and 2010, the local […]

Freedom to learn

If you have never attended Mason’s International Dance Competition, don’t miss the opportunity this coming Thursday (4/16, 7 p.m., Center for the Arts). It is […]

Sharing the Mason story with Kojo Nnamdi

I greatly enjoyed my radio visit Wednesday afternoon with NPR’s Kojo Nnamdi on WAMU, 88.5. In a wide-ranging interview that you can listen to here, […]

Update on work against sexual violence

Letter to the Mason community. Dear Patriot, In August of last year, I invited a group of faculty, staff, students, and community members to come […]

Dean Polsby on Freedom of Speech

Dear Member of the Mason Community, I want to share with you this letter from Mason School of Law Dean Daniel D. Polsby, concerning freedom […]

What makes metro Washington a great place to go to college

With Kirk Hefflemire The value and attractiveness of a university is not only on campus, but across the local area as well. The American Institute for […]

Freedom and Learning Forum welcomes Cuban journalist Yoani Sánchez

Robert Jarvik, an American physician who invented an artificial heart, once said, “Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear, and no concept […]

Cyber security risks and opportunities

The same tools that have made us more productive and interconnected–namely the Internet and the cellphone–have also made us more vulnerable. It’s not just our […]

Ranking matters

We do not measure our university’s success by media rankings. We measure it by the impact we have on our students, our community, and the […]

Alternative spring break: learning by engaging in real-world issues

Spring break doesn’t need to be a time to pause learning.  It can be an opportunity to accelerate it. That’s the theory and practice behind […]

Update on the 2016 budget

Dear Member of the George Mason University Community, The Commonwealth of Virginia’s 2015 legislative session came to a close last week, and I’m pleased to […]

Liberal education at its best

It was terrific last week to see two dear colleagues, Lance Liotta and Paul D’Andrea, honored in Richmond among 13 Virginia Outstanding Faculty. The honors included […]

Universities are strategic economic drivers

With Kirk Heffelmire “Right next to a world changing city, there’s a world changing county” is one of the powerful lines in Fairfax County Economic Development […]

Big Data, Big Opportunity

With Kirk Heffelmire Every time you search on Google, shop on Amazon, update your status on Facebook, use a navigation app on your smartphone, or click […]

A new world for college admissions

The chart from UCLA’s Cooperative Institutional Research Program (via The Chronicle of Higher Education) needs little explanation.  The majority of students in the early seventies sent […]

Why We’re Building a Well-Being University

As highlighted in our 10-year strategic plan, we want George Mason to become a well-being university. We want to provide an environment in which students, […]

Decline in public support keeps driving tuition inflation

With Kirk Heffelmire As we have written here before, one of the major drivers of rising tuition prices in state universities has been the decline in state support. […]

Good reasons to study abroad

Short summary of the travel bloggers summit hosted last Fall by the White House.  I was delighted to be invited to speak and to see […]

Talking Up Mason in Richmond

In Richmond yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a half-hour interview with Woody Evans of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association. We covered […]

Sustainable Development Goals in a University for the World

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been busy this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland asking everyone here to join forces […]

Learning in Davos

Most of us tend to spend the bulk of our professional time with people in our own discipline.  And when we go to a conference, we […]

Carta a los Reyes Magos

I’ve always trusted hard work more than good fortune.  Yet I cannot deny that life ends up being shaped by both, as the famous 20th century American philosopher […]

Mason alumna, our “Person of the Year”

This note from Honors College Dean Zofia Burr and Assistant Dean Andy Hoefer about alumna Audrey Ferguson truly made my day.  Time Magazine got it […]

International students bring much value to our universities and our communities

With Kirk Heffelmire Here’s a ranking in which the United States comes out on top: American universities attract more international students than any other country […]

Letter from the Provost

I share here a letter sent by Provost David Wu to the Mason community today, where he lays out his priorities and his view of the evolution of […]

Top 10 ways to manage stress during finals

Guest blogger: Beth Cabrera With finals week quickly approaching (Dec. 10-17 at Mason) you might think you can’t afford to focus on your well-being. On the contrary, you […]

Thanks to you, Mason Nation

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I’ve always thought Thanksgiving is the most beautiful holiday in the American calendar.  A day when people of all backgrounds, creeds and […]

A university for the world

I was proud to be part of the Mason delegation that received tonight NAFSA’s 2014 Senator Simon Award for our innovative international programs.  The award was given in […]

Mason students help plan Fairfax future

By Cathy Wolfe & Ángel Cabrera As we knew they would, our students played a crucial, proactive role in the three-day “Vision Fairfax Mason” event […]

What can we do to prevent sexual violence on campus?  

I was invited to serve on the Governor’s task force to eliminate campus sexual violence and was assigned to the Subcommittee on Prevention. The subcommittee […]

Tertulia in D.C.

Google translates “tertulia” as “salon,” but this doesn’t quite capture what it means.  A tertulia is a group of people who meet regularly, over coffee, drinks […]

Attached at the hip

The secret of a successful, long-lasting partnership is a shared vision about the future. Ever since the City of Fairfax donated the original land for […]

Adjunct faculty

By Provost David Wu Dear Colleagues, I am writing to address an important topic that affects universities nationwide, including George Mason University: Work conditions among […]

To our alumni in D.C. and beyond: Tell our story!

One of the many great things about our university being located near Washington, D.C., is that our students do not have to look far to […]

Mason in Loudoun creates new opportunities

The gates to Mason opened even wider Monday when we officially unveiled our new Mason in Loudoun site, in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). […]

Global corporate citizenship: work in progress

A lot can change in two decades. I went to Cleveland this past week, to the same stage where, eight years ago, a group of business educators […]

Top 10 reasons to study abroad

As we prepare for tomorrow’s official opening of Mason Global Center, I thought it would be timely to share my top 10 reasons why every […]

A beautiful prize – Malala Yousafzay

  What a beautiful thing, for a Pakistani girl who just 2 years ago was shot in the head for defending the right of girls […]

A well-being university

I’ve learned from my wife, from Prof. Nance Lucas, and from other colleagues at our Center for the Advancement of Well-Being that using one’s strengths is critical for one’s […]

Turn off the violence

Eliminating sexual violence from our college campuses is on all of us. We all can and must play a role in eradicating this crime that is […]

The curious relationship between state budget cuts and student debt

By Ángel Cabrera and Kirk Heffelmire In the end, our state appropriation was not cut by 5%, as it was originally announced, but by 3.8%.  Across […]

Arts by George

Congratulations to the entire College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty and staff, board members, volunteers, sponsors and friends who, under Dean Bill Reeder’s leadership, […]

A King salutes the important role of scholar exchanges

My op-ed in El País, Auténtica marca España | Opinión | EL PAÍS (True Spanish Brand, in Spanish) celebrates King Felipe’s decision to visit with Spanish academics […]

Business School Ethics

My views on ethics in business schools, this week on BBC World Service – Business Daily. Meaningful steps in the right direction have been taken but […]

The value of a college degree has more than tripled in 30 years

By Ángel Cabrera and Kirk Heffelmire Don’t let the critics fool you: the economic value of a college degree is not declining but growing–even as tuition continues […]

Higher ed on the global agenda

It’s comforting to see higher ed every once in a while make it to the global agenda.  That’s what happened in Spain last week at the U.S.-Spain Council, the […]

Philanthropy and academic integrity

Every once in a while I receive questions about gifts the university has received, about the intentions and motivations of our donors, their ideology, their […]

Update on the Virginia State Budget

A letter to the Mason community, Sep. 2, 2014 Dear Patriot, Recently, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a tax revenue shortfall for the 2014-16 biennium […]

Highlights from Opening Convocation

Kudos to Professor Wendi Manuel-Scott for an inspiring, energizing, thought-provoking and profound lecture during New Student Convocation. If you haven’t heard it already, these may […]

A year in (brief) review

It’s been a productive year at George Mason University on many counts. This academic year we welcomed the largest freshman class in our history, as […]

Top workplace 2014

I’ve always felt that George Mason University is not just a great place to go to school, but also a great place to go to […]

Bienvenido Mr. Fulbright, and congratulations!

The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase […]

A tale of two systems

The rector of Spain’s Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, a selective Jesuit university with some of the country’s most reputed programs in business, law and industrial engineering, invited […]

Sustainability and resilience at George Mason University

Scientists have been telling us for years that atmospheric CO2 and other gases derived in part from combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial processes […]

David Rubenstein’s Commencement Address

David M. Rubenstein, Patriot Center, May 17, 2014. Congratulations to all of you who will shortly receive a degree as a result of your hard […]

Celebrating Provost Peter Stearns’ legacy

My contribution to the celebration of Provost Peter Stearns’ legacy, May 12, 2014 I don’t think my kids have ever been as impressed by any […]

Did we deliver?

As 7,695 students prepare to receive their Mason degrees this week, it’s timely to ask: did we deliver on our promise to them? Was their […]

What is a great college?

Eduardo Padrón, one of the most impressive educators in the U.S., was kind enough to include me among a group of university leaders who spoke at […]

DisruptED

According to the Oxford dictionary, to “disrupt” something is to interrupt it “by causing a disturbance or problem”. It can also mean to “drastically alter […]

Solving complex policy problems: A new school built on existing strength

After months of consultation with the provost, the faculty and members of the administration, I decided to bring to the Board of Visitors in May […]

The classroom of the future

Discussions of innovation in higher education tend to be dominated by projections on how technology will enable new forms of distance education.  Yet perhaps the […]

Exporting talent, not a bad deal

In today’s El País (Spain’s leading daily), I argue that exporting management talent, entrepreneurs and professionals to other countries is not necessarily bad news for […]

Top 10 reasons to be excited about Mason Korea

1. The new Mason Korea operates in the state-of-the-art Songdo Global University Campus in Incheon, a modern city one hour outside Seoul, and a world-class […]

Bringing the world to campus

This week, Mason announced a new initiative aimed at increasing the number of international students  by about 50 percent.  Currently, we have nearly 2,000 international students […]

La clase creativa (The creative class)

Via El Mundo (in Spanish) La prosperidad económica de cada país, región y ciudad en el siglo XXI está ligada a su capacidad productiva e […]

Sexual violence must stop

By Ángel Cabrera and Rose Pascarell Sexual assault is the number one violent crime on college campuses. Across the country, 1 in 5 college women […]

Skipping college by choice is a very, very bad idea

  I’ve always found it annoying, if not intellectually disingenuous, to hear well-educated intellectual elites argue that not everyone needs an education like the one […]

Virginia’s research: back-of-the-envelope calculations

Virginia accounts for about 3% of America’s $14 trillion GDP, yet Virginia’s universities account for about 2% of America’s $65 billion in university research grants. […]

George Mason vs. George Washington: the battle of the Georges lives on!

One of our Mason Ambassadors who guides campus tours for prospective students and their parents likes to conclude her talk at the George Mason statue. […]

On academic boycotts

Several colleagues have asked what I think about the American Studies Association’s resolution to boycott Israeli universities.  My short answer: it is a terrible idea. […]

Diversity is our strength

The announcement this past week that the European Union could be offering an unprecedented aid and trade package to both Israel and Palestine if they […]

New Strategic Plan approved by the Board of Visitors

What a great moment it was to see the George Mason University Board of Visitors unanimously approve our new strategic plan yesterday! The plan, which […]

A tale of two immigrants (and great higher education)

You probably already know the story of the guy on the left.  I told a piece of it during my inauguration last april.  Like many […]

2012-13: A year in review

Had you told me when I arrived at George Mason University that so much of real significance would be accomplished and so much progress would be […]

We are careful stewards

I announced yesterday that the Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel on our Fairfax Campus will be converted into a residential, dining and instructional facility […]

White House college ratings and Mason’s impact

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan paid us a visit today as part of his college value and affordability listening tour.  College access has become one […]

Dear Colleague, I am deeply saddened to tell you that we have lost a dear friend and colleague, Michael R. Kelley, Distinguished Service Professor, faculty […]

Same-sex marriage and university competitiveness

On October 9, the George Mason University Faculty Senate approved the following resolution concerning our current inability to offer to same-sex married couples the same […]

Governor McDonnell Congratulates 2014 Virginia Teacher of the Year

Governor McDonnell Congratulates 2014 Virginia Teacher of the Year. And so do I! Not only because Melissa Porfirio is a Mason alumna, but because it […]

Changing the world, one student at a time

Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell and I had lunch today with a terrific group of undergraduate resident assistants.  Rose asked them to share […]

The Bi-County Parkway will be good for your university

Business and political leaders from around the region have asked me how the proposed Bi-County Parkway connecting Prince William and Loudoun Counties will affect George […]

Go to college, young men and women, go to college!

By Ángel Cabrera and Callie Le Renard, Innovations, Sept. 2013, 27-34. “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.” This quote was made […]

Creating a New Compact Between States and Public Higher Education

If I appear a bit concerned about the funding of public universities, well, I am.  Earlier this summer the American Association of State Colleges and […]

The A in STEAM

School of Music piano students shone last night at a recital to raise funds to purchase 23 new Steinway pianos.  Surrounded by friends of the […]

S-CAR: MLK March on Washington 50th Anniversary

Mason’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (a pioneer and reference in the field) played a key role in organizing today’s celebration of Martin Luther […]

Lesson #1 to #GMU17 (class of 2017)

Convocation address, Aug. 23, 2013 Are you ready to start this new adventure? Are you sure? Well since you insist, here goes Lesson 1: Who […]

Is the classroom obsolete?

By Ángel Cabrera and Callie Le Renard, via The Huffington Post: Traditional colleges insist in treating all students as if they’re the same. They’re not.Demographics have […]

The times they are a-changin’

What surprises me the most about the announcement by former employer, Thunderbird School of Global Management, of a strategic alliance with higher education company Laureate […]

Letter to the Mason Community – July 2013

It’s been one year since I joined George Mason University, and I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for helping Beth, Alex, Emily and me feel at home from the moment we arrived. Thank you for helping us understand and appreciate this very special institution. But most importantly, thank you for all you do for Mason. As I learned about the multiple elements of the Mason community, I have been constantly impressed and inspired by the caliber of people I have encountered, their professionalism and dedication to our students and to making our university the special place it is.

Innovation and entrepreneurship in Spain: “Yo creo (en) un mundo mejor”

Fundación Bankinter, an innovation think-tank sponsored by Spanish bank Bankinter and on whose board I serve, invited me last week to speak during in the occasion of […]

Innovación y educación superior, Universidad de Los Andes

I had the pleasure of visiting Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá this past weekend.  I had several discussions with the President and board, the […]

The real return of education is not cash but choices

Northern Virginia Community College Commencement Address Fairfax, VA, May 19, 2013 Good afternoon.  It is a true pleasure to welcome the Northern Virginia Community College […]

Inauguration Speech

A most heartfelt thank you to all students, staff and faculty for putting together a memorable and uniquely Mason inauguration event. Thank you also to […]

Globally minded leaders, essential to business survival

I was recently invited by CDC Development Solutions to speak at their 4th annual conference on International Corporate Volunteerism.  The question I was asked to […]

Inauguration matters

It’s taken me a while to come to terms with this tradition in American higher education to inaugurate new college presidents with great pomp and […]

Join the Global Elite

My article “Join the Global Elite” with Gregory Unruh appears in the May edition of the Harvard Business Review.  It draws from our book “Being […]

Reddit “Ask Me Anything”

Thank you to all students who participated in last week’s “Ask Me Anything” on Mason’s Sub-Reddit.  I really enjoyed content and format.  Social media does […]

Washington and higher education

I’ve been spending some time reading about how the Founding Fathers of the United States thought about higher education   (one interesting perspective on this […]

#justdivein (or why I use social media)

I was invited by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities to write about why and how I use social media in my role […]

Empathy, the glue that holds a business together

What a treat it was to be able to spend time this week with Bill Drayton (Ashoka), Carly Fiorina (ex HP) and Julie Rogers (Meyer […]

Global Competitiveness Requires World-Class Research Universities

It’s common knowledge that the U.S. has the best research universities in the world.  And the numbers seem to support this claim: according to a […]

Freedom & Learning Forum

  Since I arrived to George Mason University last summer, I was inspired by the University’s motto.  Our motto, “Freedom and Learning,” connects our academic […]

If you want to be an entrepreneur, go to college!

By Callie Le Renard and Ángel Cabrera It’s become fashionable to question the value of a college degree.  Leave aside the fact that many leading […]

Youth Unemployment and Access to Higher Education

By Callie LeRenard and Ángel Cabrera In January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the national unemployment rate at 7.9%, which is down from a […]

New Mason Vision open for commentary

It’s been a remarkable experience to see an entire community of very diverse people, with very diverse backgrounds and ideas, come together to produce a […]

Will Internet kill the old university?

I was recently interviewed by Moisés Naím (international affairs expert, award winning columnist, former business school professor and dean and former Venezuelan minister) for his TV […]

Letter to the Mason Community – January 2013

What an exciting year was 2012! It is hard to believe how much has happened at George Mason University in the mere six months since I arrived. I am delighted with the progress we have made on a number of different fronts and very grateful for the assistance I have received from so many of you.

Equality vs. excellence in higher education: the case of Spain

Spanish daily El Mundo publishes today an interview where I analyze some aspects of Spanish higher education as it compares to the American system. Given […]

How does Virginia stack up in public higher education funding?

By  Callie LeRenard and Ángel Cabrera   This blog has discussed already the changing social contract for higher education and how students across the U.S. […]

Governance matters

I was interviewed this past Dec. 8th by Spanish business daily Expansión (interview in Spanish available here). Among other things, we discussed the differences in […]

Only honorable business leaders can stop corruption

The World Economic Forum’s blog this week is dedicated to combating corruption.  In my contribution I argue that only by changing the dominant value system […]

Spanish unemployment

If I had a penny for every time someone has asked me be about Spain’s economic ills, George Mason University’s endowment would be taken care […]

Realignment? Misalignment? Reshuffling?

All this talk about athletic conference realignments reminds me of M. C. Escher’s Waterfall lithograph, where water flows down through a series of canals to […]

The Mission of the University according to Ortega

A Mason colleague recently directed me to Spanish, 20th Century philosopher Ortega’s essay on the mission of the university (José Ortega y Gasset, 1931, Misión […]

The best university FOR the world

Prof. Tom Lovejoy recently reminded me of the conversation we had over lunch at Barra de Tijuca in Rio last summer, during the Rio+20 U.N. […]

Why we have (public) universities

As we continue the work of producing a new vision for the university, I was reminded of Louis Menand’s piece in The New Yorker: Why […]

The social contract of publc higher education

By Ángel Cabrera and Callie LeRenard Let me add more color to my commentary last week about the public disinvestment in higher education. Though not […]

This time around, the prospect of change may be real

My introduction to the Forum on the Future of Higher Education (better known for its trending hashtag #masonfuture) is provided in the video above (fast […]

#masonfuture trends

It was terrific to see the hashtag for the Future of Higher Ed forum, #masonfuture, atop the global twittersphere totem pole Friday evening (it trended […]

Commencement address – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

On June 22nd, before I arrived to Mason, I had the honor of delivering the commencement speech in my alma mater, the School of Telecommunication […]

Value of a college degree in Virginia

I posted earlier some data from SCHEV indicating variations in earnings of graduates from different Virginia universities. These data, as SCHEV itself recognizes, have some methodological limitations.  But […]

Message from the President

Dear Colleague, On August 17, 2012, the Board of Visitors adopted a resolution that charged me with the creation of a new Strategic Vision for […]

The Cost and Value of Higher Education

By Ángel Cabrera and Callie LeRenard Commentators around the nation are asking fair questions about the rising costs of higher education and the value students […]

Higher Education, Immigration & Entrepreneurship

By  Ángel Cabrera and Callie LeRenard In a prior blog post, we argued that world-class research universities drive competitiveness in a global economy more and […]

Video: Mastering Complexity

World Economic Forum, Video from the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012, Tianjin, China. What are the core competencies for leaders in today's interdependent and hyperconnected world?

Strategic Shifts: The Future of Human Capital

Link to a blog entry and video from the World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012, Tianjin, China.

Higher Education Matters

It is common wisdom that the U.S. is home to the best universities in the world, regardless of who does the assessment. In this case too, 85 of the top 200 universities in the world (and 8 of the top 10) are American. However when we normalize for population, Switzerland is the clear leader followed by a number of other European countries, Israel and Australia. The U.S. comes in 9th. And yes, we should care.

Commencement address

Here’s the video from my 2012 commencement address at my alma mater: the Telecommunications Engineering School at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.  My part is at […]

Alumni Association Welcome Video

The Alumni Association welcomes President Cabrera and enthusiastically embraces his collaborative spirit, as conveyed in his welcoming video message to alumni. Mason President Ángel Cabrera’s 2012 […]

Updates

As a follow up to the email message by Dr. Merten and me on June 7, I want to provide an update about organizational changes coming in the next few weeks.

Today I Begin My Service as President

Today I begin my service as President of George Mason University. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of great university leaders and I am proud to have as colleagues faculty and staff who are among the most innovative and dedicated in higher education.