Katarina Benson

Last year, Fall for the Book’s annual Writers in the School series reached nearly 1,200 K-12 students in the Fairfax County Public Schools with their Writers in the School series. The program, organized by the George Mason University-based festival, is designed to introduce students to authors and encourage interest in reading and writing.

Elizabeth Foy has been an anchor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at George Mason University since 2014. As lab manager, she oversees the preparation and distribution of all chemistry materials required at both the Fairfax and Science and Technology campuses. In recognition of her dedication and excellence while managing nearly 100 lab class sections per week, Foy has been named August Employee of the Month.

When Hannah Dabney, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies ’23, arrived at George Mason University, has just returned from Samoa where she served as a Peace Corps Ridge to Reef Resilience Promoter Volunteer, helping communities balance environmental protection with local development needs. The path between those two points wasn't linear, and Dabney couldn’t be happier about that.

Stephanie Shanahan, a human resources assistant in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University, is known for being able to do it all. In their letters of support, her colleagues emphasized her attention to detail, reliability, and willingness to help. In recognition of her dedication, expertise, and unwavering support of the CEC community, she has been named July Employee of the Month.

This April, 63 George Mason University students presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond. NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research across disciplines. This year marked George Mason’s highest attendance to date, and many students were able to attend due to support from the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR). 

Caitlin Horan, assistant dean of graduate academic services in George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, has transformed the graduate services team. Referred to as the “heart” of the Costello graduate team, Horan is known for her innovation, student advocacy, and strong organization skills. For this and more, she is being recognized as the May Employee of the Month.

In January, George Mason University senior Angela Victoria Rojas Rivera represented the university at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC). Led and hosted by Harvard University, NCRC is the largest student-run research conference in the United States. Only 200 students are selected to attend. 

At the end of January, three George Mason University students presented their research at the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa) Undergraduate Research Showcase at the Capitol in Richmond. Now in its second year, the event gives undergraduates from each of NURVa’s 13 member universities an opportunity to present their research to state legislators and fellow researchers alike. Students worked with faculty through George Mason’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) to refine their work and apply to the selective event.

January Employee of the Month Oscar Ferrufino is a member of George Mason University’s Essential Employees group, so he is one of the first to respond when severe weather is forecasted. A heavy equipment operator in Facilities Management, he has been an integral part of the Facilities and Campus Operations department for almost 20 years. Since 2006, his work has helped make George Mason’s campuses a better place. 

Sue Slocum, professor in the Tourism and Events Management Program at George Mason University, received a Fulbright Specialist Program award in support of a project on how best to prepare students for jobs in Tajikistan’s tourism economy. She went for a month to advise and collaborate with faculty from the International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan.