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Category: September 2014
As we begin the new academic year 2014-2015, your colleagues in Human Resources and Payroll want to wish you the best and encourage you to explore the many resources at Mason that can contribute to your overall well-being. Whether you are new or have been here for many years, we invite you to explore how Mason helps build community and encourages us to thrive together.
Please start your journey by taking a few minutes to review the New Academic Year Newsletter. We have organized this year’s newsletter around the theme of thriving together, sharing opportunities around campus to help you with your own individual well-being journey. We encourage you to unleash your curiosity and connect with your colleagues in areas of mutual interest. Opportunities abound including Mason’s Day of Service on September 11.
Mason staffers and students Joanne Carter and Alex Seals are the latest recipients of the $250 textbook s cholarships offered annually by Human Resources and Payroll and made possible by an endowment from TIAA-CREF’s Raise the Rate Contest.
Read more about the program and this year’s winners in this Mason News article.
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Senator Highlight: Brett Say
Before coming to Mason I worked for a private-sector engineering firm as a proposal manager where I worked on large government proposals ($20M-$100M). While I gained some great experience in that position, the hours were long and the work was stressful. Moreover, on top of my day job, I was going to graduate school in the evenings here at Mason. While that may sound like a lot to handle (and it could be) I found that spending time on campus and in class helped reliever, rather than add to, my stress. I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing in class and became more and more interested in higher education. This interest drove me to start scanning job openings at Mason and when I saw an opportunity, I decided to make a career change. That was a little over three years ago and I have no regrets.
So why did I join the Staff Senate? It may sound cliché, but I wanted to try to make a difference. George Mason University is one of the largest employers in the state of Virginia and I believe it is important to ensure Mason staff are appropriately recognized and represented. Mason is a wonderful place to work, and it is made wonderful through the efforts of its faculty and staff. I wanted to contribute to that effort. On the Staff Senate, I have served on two committees: Education and Outreach Committee and Awards Committee. The first ensures that staff are kept up to date on the activities and opportunities here at Mason, and the second makes sure staff are recognized for their achievements. I was also recently privileged to serve on the university search committee for a new athletic director, resulting in the hiring of our current AD, Brad Edwards.
What might you not know about me? I grew up in a small town in northwest PA where I spent a lot of time working on the family farm, so while I enjoy wearing a tie to work every day, some coworkers may be surprised to see me in cowboy boots and jeans outside of work. My hobbies are also a little inconsistent; I like to fish but enjoy painting as well (watercolors mostly).
Jennifer Hamilton, Gifts Coordinator, Technical Services, University Libraries, and Cheryl Welch, Support Manager, APTDIE, College of Education & Human Development, were selected as this year’s recipients of the Global Professional Staff Exchange Program. From a robust set of applications, these two were chosen to expand their world view, professional development and global higher education knowledge by working abroad for a week. Jennifer will travel to the University of Basel in Switzerland this fall. Cheryl will visit Mason’s new Songdo, Korea, Campus next spring in what will be her first trip abroad.
In September, Olivia Poisson from the University of Basel will be hosted by Mason’s Office of Global Strategy and other administrative offices on Mason’s Fairfax Campus.
Read more about Jennifer and Cheryl in this Mason News article.
Read more about the program at Mason’s Office of Global Strategy website.
The 2015 GPSE program application period will be held late spring 2015. Look to both the Staff Senate and the office for more details as the time nears.
A heart-felt congratulations to Tricia Freiberg, Medical Assistant, Student Health Center. Know for her flexibility when working with others, Tricia imbues the mission statement of her office with her passion for her work.
Read more about Tricia in this Mason News article.
Learn more about the Employee of the Month Program here.