Mason faculty, staff, and alumni save 10% off tickets for individual performances at the Hylton Performing Arts Center and the Center for the Arts. Some exceptions apply.
Faculty/staff, present your Mason ID to the Ticket Office to claim your discount. Alumni, call or visit the venue Ticket Offices or register to receive communications and your alumni discount code.
Role: I lead the ITS Communications & Marketing team who is responsible for ensuring the George Mason community is informed of all IT-related news, initiatives, and information to keep them connected and protected. Our team crafts and disseminates messages faculty, staff, and students receive regarding new and updated services, maintenance, and outages. We also collaborate with ITS teams on significant projects, partner with other departments to amplify critical information that enhances the teaching, learning, and working experience at George Mason, and explore innovative ways to engage the community through design and social media.
Mason journey: My George Mason journey began in December 2011 with the Division of Instructional Technology (DoIT), which was part of ITU at the time. Throughout my tenure, ITS has seen significant transformations and growth; these experiences have honed my ability to adapt, strategize, and collaborate with diverse individuals across various roles and departments. Beyond ITS, I have had the privilege of participating in initiatives such as the Student Experience Redesign, Emerging Leaders Supervisors Series, and Mason Orientation.
Best thing about working at Mason: The people. Over the past 14 years, I have encountered so many individuals with diverse skills, backgrounds, hobbies, and interests, all of whom have enriched my experience and made me a better contributor to George Mason, my community, and the world. I have formed lifelong friendships, gained trusted mentors, watched students achieve great things, met so many dogs, and cherished every hello received while walking across campus.
Why serve on the Staff Senate: Inspired by my parents, both educators with nearly a century of combined public service, I have always been driven to advocate for the underdog, give a voice to the voiceless, and stand up for my beliefs. In these challenging times, where injustice often feels prevalent, I decided to toss aside my waffling and put my name in the running to join the Staff Senate. If not now, when?
At the end of the day: George Mason has provided me an inclusive and supportive environment to learn, grow, and explore not only as a professional but as a person. It is truly unique to know the work you do contributes to something bigger than yourself, and I’m very grateful to wake up each day with a job that aligns with my personal values.
John Crocker, chemical safety manager in Risk, Safety, and Resilience, was awarded the Presidential Citation at the 2025 Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony on April 15, 2025.
On March 24, 2025, an HVAC unit outside of the University Police and Public Safety Headquarters had a catastrophic failure severely injuring a Facilities and Campus Operations employee. John was in the vicinity, heard the malfunction, and rushed over to the scene of the incident. He found the other employee non-responsive, without a pulse and not breathing. John quickly began administering CPR and the employee regained a pulse, began breathing, and became conscious. It is thanks to John’s keen observational skills, drive to action, and willingness and ability to perform CPR that his fellow George Mason colleague received the necessary medical attention in an expeditious manner.
The Presidential Citation is a non-competitive award intended to recognize those who perform an exceptional deed that may or may not be related to their normal duties. The recipient of the award must have rendered a service or performed a deed at either personal or potential sacrifice that was motivated by good citizenship or a sense of public responsibility. Human Resources accepts nominations via Dynamic Forms. The nomination must include a one page description of the action for which the employee is being nominated.
The Staff Senate will hold an information session and discussion for George Mason classified and non-student wage staff interested in learning about the nomination and election process, the work of the senate, and what senators do. During the presentation, constituents learn about the structure of the senate, how its committees work, the time commitment expected of senators, and there is a Q & A with current representatives.
Wednesday, May 21
10 a.m.
Hosted on Zoom and Merten 1201
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 947 7364 7981 / Passcode: 152397
Add this meeting to your calendar.
Our June General Meeting will feature Lauren Posey, director, State Government Relations.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Staff Senate Recognition Ceremony
10 to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
11 a.m. to noon – General Meeting
Constituents can attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or join the meeting via Zoom*.
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190
Add this meeting to your calendar.
The Staff Senate will collect questions in advance for consideration. We will also be accepting live questions, time permitting. Please submit your questions using the form below by May 23.
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.
Members of the public may attend meetings in person or watch live online.
Written comments are normally accepted until the full board meeting adjourns. See the BOV Meeting Postings page for specific links to submit comments to each meeting.
Annual Planning Conference
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Annual Meeting
Friday, August 1, 2025
Full details and meeting materials will be found on the Board of Visitors website nearer to the date of the meeting.
Recordings of previous meetings can be viewed at the BOV Video Recordings Archive.
Updates from the BOV meeting on May 1
The May 2025 Staff Senate general meeting featured guest speaker Sharnnia Artis, vice president for access, compliance, and community.
For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recording is now available.
New Zoom Security Measures Coming May 2025
On Friday, May 16, 2025, ITS will implement a new security measure requiring all Zoom meetings to use a waiting room, passcode, or authentication for entry. If you currently have a Zoom meeting scheduled on or after the implementation date with no security measure in place, a waiting room will automatically be added to your meeting.
Telecom System Replacement Project Update
The implementation of the police dispatch system and migration to Vonage is complete, as well as the migration of all Fax machines to the new system. The PBX is in the process of being decommissioned, including removing all associated existing hardware and verifying no phone lines remain. Finally, the unification of all Vonage accounts will begin this summer, which will enable 5-digit dialing across the university.
Canvas Training
Beginning in the summer 2025 term, all courses will use Canvas as the university’s official LMS. Instructors who have not yet participated in Canvas training opportunities or have not begun this transition, please visit the Are You Canvas Ready? website for valuable information, resources and checklists.
Blackboard Storage Reminder
Before July 15, users are strongly encouraged to download and save any materials from Blackboard that they may want or need to keep. Once Blackboard access ends, these materials will no longer be available. You will not have access to these courses in Canvas. If you have any questions or need assistance downloading your materials, please visit the LMS website or contact the project team at [email protected].
Sonya Howell, director of payroll, attended our April meeting and gave a presentation about the Employee Tuition Exemption benefit program. We received a few questions that she didn’t have time to answer during the meeting, but written responses are provided below.
Q: Can the amount that is taken out of our paychecks for 2-3 pay periods (exceeding the amount of the IRS threshold) be shown on our 1098-T? Because eventually we are paying for that part of the tuition. If it is not shown on 1098-T, how do we claim it on our taxes?
A: The amount that is taken out of your paychecks for 3 pay periods only reflects taxes. The amount that exceeds the IRS limit of $5,250 reflects income. This amount is divided into 3 amounts and added to your paycheck as income for which taxes are calculated on and deducted.
The 1098-T is a statement that colleges and universities issue to select students. It provides the total dollar amount for qualified tuition paid by the student in a single tax year. Therefore, what you are paying above is taxes and not the cost of tuition.
Q: Is a graduate certificate from the Antonin Scalia Law School applicable for the tuition exemption? Also, if you live out of state but want to earn a degree, can you qualify for the tuition exemption?
A: Yes, employees can use the tuition exemption on courses for a graduate certificate. You can see all of the eligibility requirements on the tuition eligibility webpage. As long as the individual is a George Mason employee and is eligible per the criteria listed on the tuition eligibility webpage have no bearing on eligibility.
Q: Does the excess have to be reported as tuition assistance when filing your taxes or is it just coupled into your salary deduction?
A: This is a question to pose to a tax accountant. However, the excess amount is reported as income on your W2 for which taxes are calculated on.
I serve as the Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer here at George Mason. In this role, I’m focused on aligning our people strategy with the university’s broader mission. That includes everything from compensation and workforce planning to employee relations and how we show up as an HR team across the university.
I joined George Mason in February 2025, after working in a range of settings—higher education, healthcare, and research institutions. What brought me here was the university’s energy and its clear desire to grow in a way that reflects the community it serves. It’s a place where ideas can take shape, and where people are genuinely invested in the work and in each other. That’s not something you find everywhere.
The best part of working at George Mason? It’s the people. There’s a deep sense of purpose in the work being done across the university. No one is here by accident. Whether supporting students, keeping operations running, or solving problems behind the scenes, folks here show up every day with commitment and care. That motivates me to do the same.
I choose to serve because I see HR as more than a department. It’s a reflection of how an organization values its people. I want to help create an environment where staff feel supported, heard, and have room to grow. That’s what drives a strong, inclusive workplace.
What stood out to me most about George Mason’s culture was the openness. There’s a willingness to evolve here, to challenge outdated systems and look ahead. That mindset creates space to do things differently—not just for the sake of change, but to build something better.
Looking ahead, one of my goals is to help simplify how people experience HR at George Mason. That means clearer communication, better tools, and a stronger emphasis on service. I also want to strengthen how we support professional growth across the university and ensure our people feel seen and valued. We’re building something lasting—and that takes intention.
Since arriving, I’ve been impressed by how much George Mason invests in community. Whether it’s through feedback forums, employee events, or affinity groups, there’s a clear effort to stay connected. That speaks volumes about the university’s values.
At the end of the day, I want people to feel that working at George Mason is more than just a job. It’s a place where what you do matters, where you’re part of something larger, and where we’re working—together—to shape what’s next.
