Mason Staff Senate

Author: Amanda Corrigan

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Featured on Homepage November 2025

December 2025 General Business Meeting Announcement

Wednesday, December 3
10 to 11 a.m. – December Staff Appreciation Bingo!
11 a.m. to noon – Business Meeting

Space Update: Constituents may attend in person in the Main Reading Room at Fenwick Library, Room 2001, or join the meeting via Zoom* (Zoom Passcode: SS123).
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190

Add this meeting to my calendar.

The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at George Mason University. Working closely with university administration, we address concerns that have an impact on the quality of work-life for the George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*The Staff Senate is requiring that virtual attendees join our Staff Senate General Meetings with their Patriot Pass credentials. If you are already signed into Zoom using your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you will be told authentication is required to join, and prompted to sign in. For more information, please access our helpful FAQ document.

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Featured on Homepage Profile of a Senator November 2025

Meet Kat Trejo, Staff Senator and ADVANCE Success Coach, Student Success Coaching   

Kat Trejo, Staff Senator and ADVANCE Success Coach, Student Success Coaching

Role: In my role, I am responsible for transitioning students from the ADVANCE program that come from one of our six partnered community colleges including Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), who have the last names K-O. I ensure they understand what documentation is required of them to continue transitioning over with little to no issues. After matriculation has been finalized, I provide holistic care to my caseload within the Student Success Coaching’s nine focus areas to help students navigate their college experience and discuss all aspects of their life that affect their overall well-being while at George Mason. 

Mason journey: My journey began at George Mason in the summer of 2018 as a STEP Scholar. I graduated in the Spring of 2022 with a Bachelors of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with an individualized concentration in Community Engagement with Displaced Populations. I have always been passionate about the Mason community and being able to assist in bridging gaps for other first-generation students, like myself.  

 Best thing about working at Mason: The best thing about working at Mason is the level of community you can find among students, staff and faculty. Those at Mason truly care about the success of our students regardless of their background or life circumstances. 

 Why serve on the Staff Senate: I chose to serve on Staff Senate because I want to be able to foster discussions around topics we don’t see commonly discussed as it relates to student and staff/wage employees success and well-being. In a time where our institution is under attack, I think the best way forward is to continue fostering difficult discussions with a community care lens since we are all in this fight together. 

 At the end of the day: I have a true passion for service and commitment to those who come after us. As staff, we not only keep our students going but we keep each other going as well. Giving back to the very people who put in countless hours of love, empathy and problem-solving into all student cases should be talked about, celebrated and discussed about how to continue making things easier and more accessible for them to keep up the good work. 

 

 

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November 2025

Supervision Collective: November Meetup

Join the University Life Supervision Collective for an interactive discussion, Leveraging Strengths to Build Stronger Teams on Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 2 to  3 p.m. Get ready to unlock StrengthsFinder to support your team in illuminating complementary team dynamics. This interactive hour will help you:

  • Consider how Strengths can inform team dynamics
  • Understand tools to support the use of Strengths on your team
  • Leverage Strengths on your team and encourage the use of Strengths

In the session, participants will:

  • Explore how Strengths show up on your team in the workplace
  • Examine examples of Strengths Mapping to inform team dynamics
  • Identify a minimum of one strategy to implement in your practice leveraging Strengths

Register now!

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Featured on Homepage November 2025

November 2025 General Meeting Recording

Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, Professor and Director of the George Mason Forensic Science Program
Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, Professor and Director of the George Mason Forensic Science Program

 

The Staff Senate November General Meeting featured professors Mary Ellen O’Toole and Emily Rancourt from the Forensic Science program. For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recording is now available. Note: This recording contains content that may be sensitive for some viewers regarding criminal case investigations. The portion of the recording describing the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory begins at 22:30.

During our general business meeting, Gregg Black, director of emergency management and fire safety, shared an update on campus event security. For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recording is now available.

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October 2025

October 2025 General Meeting Recording

Gregory Washington, President, Office of the President, George Mason University. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University

The Staff Senate October General Meeting featured guest speaker, Dr. Gregory Washington, president, George Mason University.

For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recording is now available.

 

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October 2025

Manager Meetup: Understanding Work Culture — A Continuous Journey

Join the Supervision Collective for an interactive session about workplace culture as an ongoing process that begins at hiring and continues throughout an employee’s time with the organization.

In the session, you will:

  • Reflect on your previous and current work culture experiences and the impact it has on work performance, productivity, and retention.
  • Collaborate by sharing strategies other teams use to foster a positive, consistent, and lasting workplace culture which can be implemented in your own team.
  • Date: Thursday, October 23 at 2 p.m.
  • Register Here

 

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October 2025

November 2025 General Meeting Announcement

Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, Professor and Director of the George Mason Forensic Science Program
Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, Professor and Director of the George Mason Forensic Science Program

 

Wednesday, November 5
10 to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
11 a.m. to noon – Business Meeting

The Staff Senate November General Meeting guest speaker is Mary Ellen O’Toole, professor and director, Forensic Science program. Dr. O’Toole has spent her career studying the criminal mind. One of the most senior profilers for the FBI until her retirement in 2009, Dr. O’Toole has consulted and worked on some of the FBI’s most high profile cases involving infamous criminals. She will be joined by Emily Rancourt, professor and associate director, who works closely with Dr. O’Toole in the Forensic Science Program.

Constituents may attend in person in the Life Sciences and Engineering Building, Room 2402, Science and Technology Campus or join the meeting via Zoom* (Zoom Passcode: SS123).
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190

Add this meeting to my calendar.

The Staff Senate will collect questions in advance for consideration. Please submit your questions using the form below by October 24. Live questions will be accepted, time permitting.

The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at George Mason University. Working closely with university administration, we address concerns that have an impact on the quality of work-life for the George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*The Staff Senate is requiring that virtual attendees join our Staff Senate General Meetings with their Patriot Pass credentials. If you are already signed into Zoom using your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you will be told authentication is required to join, and prompted to sign in. For more information, please access our helpful FAQ document.

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September 2025

Supervision Collective: September Manager Meet-Up

Join the Supervision Collective for an interactive session focusing on preparing for mid-year check-in with your staff members for the current performance cycle. We will discuss strategies and tools to support you and your team in meeting their goals for this performance cycle and the academic year!

In the session, participants will:

  • Identify strategies to engage staff in mid-cycle performance conversations
  • Recognize the importance of revisiting performance goals with staff
  • Identify a timeline for engaging in these conversations with staff members

Registration here!

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September 2025 October 2025

September 2025 General Meeting Recording and Written Follow-Up

The Staff Senate September General Meeting featured guest speaker, Chris Ackerman, Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. Responses to questions not addressed during the session have been collected and published.

For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recording is now available.

Categories
September 2025

October General Meeting Announcement

Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University

Dr. Gregory Washington, president, George Mason University, has been invited as our October Staff Senate meeting guest speaker.

Wednesday, October 1
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
11 a.m. to noon – Business Meeting

Constituents may attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or join the meeting via Zoom* / Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190

Add this meeting to my calendar.

The Staff Senate collected questions in advance for consideration, but the deadline to submit has passed. Live questions will be accepted, time permitting.

The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at George Mason University. Working closely with university administration, we address concerns that have an impact on the quality of work-life for the George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*The Staff Senate is requiring that virtual attendees join our Staff Senate General Meetings with their Patriot Pass credentials. If you are already signed into Zoom using your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you will be told authentication is required to join, and prompted to sign in. For more information, please access our helpful FAQ document.