Category: Newsletter

Meet Hannah King, Staff Senator and Communications Manager, College of Education and Human Development 

Role: I’m the Communications Manager for the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). This includes managing all of our internal communications, flagship social media channels, working with the central George Mason communications team, and overseeing all of our communications projects including written pieces, photography, and videos. 

George Mason journey: I started at George Mason in January 2022 as a part-time Communications and Events Specialist in the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management within CEHD. This was my first job after college, and I primarily worked on current student programming and communications within this role. During the spring 2022 semester, I partnered with our CEHD Student & Academic Affairs team to plan our CEHD Degree Celebration as we didn’t have anyone in that role at the time, and this helped familiarize myself with George Mason processes and teams, while learning more about our college. After the Degree Celebration, I was promoted into a full-time Communications and Event Coordinator role within the college and worked in that role for around a year before moving into my current role. I’ve had a lot of amazing opportunities for professional and personal growth during my time at George Mason, and I look forward to continuing my journey here.

Best thing about working George at Mason:  I believe the best part of working at George Mason is the community. I’m so fortunate to have an amazing team where I learn something new every day. There are so many wonderful people here, and it’s a place where various perspectives and voices are included and valued.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: I wanted to serve on the Staff Senate because I believe it’s important to advocate for staff voices and ensure we are a part of the decision-making process. I also want to give back to the community and help cultivate an inclusive, welcoming culture.

At the end of the day: I believe we are stronger when we work together. When we support one another and work together, we create a stronger culture and an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and ready to continue making George Mason a place where people want to come to work and go to learn.

Meet Stephanie Atkins, Staff Senator and Office Manager, Mason LIFE Program

Role: My role here at George Mason is Office Manager for the Mason LIFE (Learning Into Future Environments) program. For those not familiar with the program, it is a postsecondary program that provides an inclusive and supportive university experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is an academic program within the College of Education and Human Development. I am often the first and main point of contact for anyone wanting to get more information about the program, which is the best part of my job. Daily tasks include answering questions from students, overseeing the HR process for all the student-wage and non-student wage support staff, and providing administrative support to all administrators and other stakeholders in the program.

George Mason journey: I am now a proud double George Mason alum, having gotten both undergraduate (BA Sociology ’98) and most recently, my master’s degree (MAIS ’23). After having spent most of my career as an administrator at a private preschool, I joined the staff at George Mason in April 2015. I previously served on the Staff Senate 2015 until 2022 before rejoining again this year.

Best thing about working at George Mason: The best thing about working at George Mason is interacting with the students. Seeing the growth from a shy, unsure first-year student to a confident, capable graduate at the end of their four-year journey is amazing!

Another wonderful thing about George Mason is the diversity of the student body, faculty, staff, and university community. I am proud to work at such a thriving university, welcoming environment, and with others who are passionate about the mission of the university.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: When I joined George Mason in 2015, I realized that I was doing the same thing that I had done as a commuter student in the late 90’s… I was coming to campus, doing my job, and then leaving. I didn’t venture out of my office in Krug Hall much, if at all. I thought back to hearing the Staff Senate presentation at my orientation and decided that would be a great way to learn more about other departments, get outside my comfort zone, and interact with more of the university community. I enjoyed my previous stint with Staff Senate and after taking time off to devote time to completing my graduate degree, I am happy to return to the Staff Senate to continue the mission of advocating for staff, educating staff about benefits and resources available, and appreciating all that George Mason has to offer.

At the end of the day: I love being part of the Mason LIFE program. I love that George Mason is an inclusive community for many different people, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As the saying goes, George Mason is better together and diversity is definitely one of our strengths.

Meet Jackie Krehbiel Staff Senator and Admin and Finance Coordinator, SciTech Campus Executive Office

Jackie Krehbiel Staff Senator and Admin and Finance Coordinator, SciTech Campus Executive Office

Role: I am responsible for managing and analyzing financial performance for the Science and Technology Campus Executive Office Revenue and Operations budgets. I process, track, and reconcile financial transactions and produce monthly reconciliation reports through TouchNet, MicroStrategy, and Banner. Part of my responsibilities include assisting the Executive Office Associate Director of Administration with the Science and Technology Campus Advisory Board and performing administrative duties for the Science and Technology Leadership Council. I am also responsible for maintaining the SciTech Campus and Potomac Science Center websites and information boards across the campus. I am the Telecom Coordinator and Equipment Liaison for the office. I also greet, direct, and assist visitors, customers, and students with accurate and reliable information while providing a welcoming atmosphere in the reception area of the Executive Office.

George Mason journey: I previously was employed at a major university in my hometown and after moving to Virginia and watching the youngest graduate from high school, I wanted to return to work in higher education. I initially began my employment as part-time in the department of Environmental Science and Policy in September 2018 and transitioned to fulltime eight weeks later with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety/Lab Safety at the Science and Technology campus in November 2018. In November 2022 I joined the staff of the Executive Office.

Best thing about working at George Mason: The best thing about working at George Mason is the opportunity to develop strong, close, working relationships with an immensely talented group of people from across all campuses. While having distance and diversity between our campuses, there is a closeness among the university population that looks and acts quite similar to family dynamics.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: Serving on the Staff Senate allows me the opportunity to be a voice for our workforce, to learn and grow as an individual, and becoming familiar with the needs of such a multifaceted and dynamic group of people. As I work with this group, they instill in me the desire to think beyond myself and see the bigger picture of service to the community instead of only just self-service.

At the end of the day:  We, as Staff Senators, are collectively engaged in helping our fellow colleagues across all campuses and in doing so we are supporting each other with optimism as we strive to bring about change and the willingness and drive to do so. In the words of The Dalai Lama, “Optimism doesn’t mean that you are blind to the reality of the situation. It means that you remain motivated to seek a solution to whatever problems arise.”

Meet Lisa Shapiro, Staff Senator and Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship programs, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact

Lisa Shapiro, Staff Senator and Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship programs, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact

Role: As Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship programs, I create and manage several programs geared towards student innovators, faculty researchers, founders, and early-stage startups assisting them with their business venture explorations. On any given day, I am at the Mason Innovation Exchange (The MIX) incubator working with a George Mason student who would like to start a business but doesn’t know how to get started.

George Mason journey: As a two-time George Mason alum, BA Psychology ’03, M.Ed ’06, full-time employee, and now George Mason student mom, I am a proud member of the Mason Nation. While studying, I also served as a GRA for Dr. Nada Dabbagh, and from 2020 to 2023, I served as the Program Coordinator of the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) which is the state-wide Commercialization program that assists Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups on their path to success. As an entrepreneur and through ICAP, I discovered my passion for working with entrepreneurs.

Best thing about working at George Mason: Having the autonomy to create and do what I love. In Spring 2024, I created the MIX Student Innovator Mastermind, the first of its kind, to assist young George Mason entrepreneurs who seek to create and grow a business venture – but need additional support. Regardless of their major or year, this dynamic community of ten or more driven student innovators come together weekly to move the needle forward on growing their business. The Mastermind helps to supercharge their ideas through peer-to-peer collaboration and shared wisdom by being a part of a community of like-minded go-getters. They get valuable entrepreneurial advice by meeting and hearing from experts each week to teach them entrepreneurship fundamentals, grow their network, and to learn about helpful resources smoothing their path to success.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: I joined the Staff Senate to deepen my understanding of George Mason’s diverse units, foster collaboration, and advocate for staff needs. I want to expand my knowledge of our goals and initiatives of the different colleges, departments, and offices, to collaborate and network more with colleagues, and advocate for the needs of staff university wide. I have already met so many wonderful staff that I did not know and learned about their work.

At the end of the day: I am doing work that I love, and I feel valued for my contribution.

Meet Tiffany Sandstrum, Staff Senator and Senior Academic Advisor, School of Kinesiology

Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

Role: I work with undergraduate students in the Kinesiology program. I advise them on classes and work with them to ensure that they are meeting their goals while they are at George Mason and what they need to do to be successful in the future. Many of my students plan to go to graduate school so we look at prerequisites as well to make sure that they are ready to apply at the appropriate time.

George Mason Journey: I started my George Mason journey in January 2011 in the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (now School of Systems Biology) as a part-time Office Assistant. I became full time in 2013 with the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism as an Administrative Assistant. During COVID I was given the opportunity with the School of Kinesiology to be an Academic Advisor and I have thrived. I love working with our students! I am thankful for the many opportunities that George Mason has afforded me as an employee and thankful to my supervisors who have given me opportunities to grow.

Best thing about working at George Mason: For me, working with the students is the best part of working at George Mason. I look forward to orientations for new students, working with them while they are here and seeing the happiness in them and their families at graduation. They are the reason we are here and I look forward to working with the students for many years to come.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: All staff need to feel like they are represented and that they have a safe space to talk about their work lives at George Mason. I am happy to be that safe space and represent the SciTech campus so that hopefully we can get more services on the SciTech campus.

At the end of the day: I am happiest when I am helping others.

Meet Jariatu Bah, Staff Senator & Office Manager

Jariatu Bah, Office Manger, Academic Affairs Office, CHSS

Role: I am responsible for overseeing the CHSS Academic Affairs Office as the Office Manager. My duties include managing the Academic Affairs reception area, handling student walk-ins for various Academic Affairs teams, scheduling meetings for the Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Affairs teams, as well as for the Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs. Additionally, I handle HR coordination tasks such as processing the hiring of instructors for unit courses and student workers. I am also responsible for submitting Graduate Assistants contracts and coordinating the CHSS Graduate Dean’s Challenge and Undergraduate Outstanding Student Process and coordinate awardee notification and payment with the CHSS Advancement team.

Mason journey: I initially became part of the Mason from 1999 to 2001 and then returned in 2010 as a part-time wage staff. I transitioned into a full-time role as a classified staff employee in 2011.

Best thing about working at Mason: The best part of working at Mason is its wonderful diversity of faculty, students, and staff.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: I feel like it’s time for me to give back by sharing the administrative skills and knowledge that I’ve gained over the years. Additionally, I plan to enhance my professional development growth by gaining a better understanding of working in a diverse institution and collaborating with other Mason staff members from different backgrounds.

Meet Timothy Diggins, Staff Senator & Administrative Specialist

Timothy Diggins, Administrative Specialist, Mechanical Engineering, College Engineering and Computing. Photo by: Creative Services/George Mason University

Role: I support the Department of Mechanical Engineering in a number of ways. I manage our office spaces on the Fairfax and Sci-Tech campuses, coordinate department hiring, plan the department’s major events like Senior Capstone Day, maintain the department’s website, and manage our student office assistants. I also serve as an academic advisor and am working to overhaul our onboarding process for graduate students.

Mason journey: I joined Mason in May of 2021 after working in higher education for two years. Joining the university in the midst of the pandemic and starting remotely was a strange experience, but the fantastic Mechanical Engineering and College of Engineering and Computing team made the transition easy. This summer, I began my master’s in Higher Education and Student Development in order to continue my career development.

Best thing about working at Mason: The most rewarding thing about working at Mason is that I’m able to pursue various professional interests and fold them into my current position. Taking advantage of the continuing education opportunities at Mason and learning from others has been an amazing experience.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: In a large organization with such a diverse staff, advocacy work is essential to maintaining a quality workplace. Joining Staff Senate gave me the opportunity to learn how to do this kind of work to benefit Mason as a whole. It also gives me the opportunity to network outside my unit and learn about all the other work happening on campus.

At the end of the day: Working with others to improve campus and support others is incredibly satisfying. Mason has transformed in many ways during my short time here, and I’m excited to see where the next few years takes us.

Meet Lei An Ilan-Garcia, Staff Senator and Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Risk, Safety, & Resilience

Lei An Ilan-Garcia, Staff Senator and Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Risk, Safety, & Resilience

Role: Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is a part of Risk, Safety, & Resilience (RSR). EHS collaborates with the university community to ensure a safe workplace and learning environment. EHS provides resources and programs relevant for Mason faculty, staff, and students. I work as an Industrial Hygiene Specialist where some of my duties include providing safety training and conducting assessments that pertain to workplace health and safety (i.e. indoor air quality, noise hazards, respiratory protection, etc.). More information about EHS and RSR can be found, here.

Mason journey: I joined EHS as an Industrial Hygiene Specialist in June 2022. Prior to working at George Mason University, I worked as an Environmental Health Specialist at various local agencies and inspected restaurants, public swimming pools, and tattoo parlors. In addition to working for EHS, I’m also pursuing a Master of Public Health here at George Mason University.

Best thing about working at Mason: I love the work-life balance here at Mason and the opportunities for personal and professional development. I also enjoy working with my colleagues, and I couldn’t ask for a better team!

Why serve on the Staff Senate: I want to support and advocate for my fellow Mason staff in any way I can and joining Staff Senate provides me that opportunity.

At the end of the day: I enjoy working at Mason, and I’m glad I can help fellow Mason staff by being a part of a group that maintains workplace health and safety.

Meet Megan Neff, Staff Senator and Event and Scheduling Coordinator

Megan and her energy filled Dachshund Pomeranian, Chewy, who is her fur-child and never leaves her side.

Role: In my role within University Events, I am the scheduler for all student events. I oversee all 25live requests submitted by registered student organizations (RSOs) and assist those students in planning successful events. Part of my role is to oversee our checklist process which was put in place to assist RSOs in planning and managing the larger events they throw. I also play a role in coordinating and running our overall university commencements in spring and winter. Last spring commencement I had the role of lining up and leading all of the graduates in their processional walk from Wilkins Plaza to EagleBank Arena, a pretty cool experience for sure. After that experience I have been tasked with continuing in the role of overseeing all outdoor operations we handle for commencements and degree celebrations.

Mason journey: My Mason journey started in 2016 when I started my undergraduate degree here. During my time in undergrad, I worked for Event Services for 3 years, and during my last year of employment served as the President of the Student Advisory Board advocating for my fellow student staff. I also served on 2 committees within the Advisory Board that assisted with coordinating student employment training and planned numerous events for the staff as well. I was a police cadet on campus from 2018- 2020 where I, along with my fellow cadets, conducted traffic control, patrol, and expanding our community presence. In 2020, I graduated with a BA in Criminology, Law, and Society. In 2021, I returned to Mason in a full-time position working for University Information (now Campus Information and Visitor Services) where I managed the university information desks and switchboard. In 2022, I switched positions to be in my current position within University Events. I also started a Juris Master’s in criminal justice at our Antonin Scalia Law School in January 2022, I am currently in my second to last semester of the program and will be graduating this December!

Best thing about working at Mason: The family that Mason’s environment creates. Over my entire time at Mason the friendships I have created have been the most memorable. At this point, all of my good friends I have met through one of my many jobs over the years at Mason.

Why serve on Staff Senate: Serving on Staff Senate just felt like the next best step in growing even more as a Mason staff member. I have always enjoyed being an advocate for others but also gaining knowledge. I thought this role would be the best of both worlds, especially since I love to connect with those outside of my day-to-day.

At the end of the day: I am a proud Mason alum and staff member who values every opportunity Mason has provided me. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Staff Senate and hope to grow even more in this role.

Meet Tabatha Hargrove, Staff Senator and Student Support Coordinator

Tabatha Hargrove. Photo by: Creative Services/George Mason University

Personal background: Dr. Tabatha Hargrove is a native of Suffolk, Virginia and is married with four children. She has a Miniature Pinscher dog named Tangie. As hobbies, Tabatha loves to read, roller skate, bake, and spend time with family.

Professional journey: Tabatha has over ten years of experience working in higher education. She has worked for the state for six of those ten years and transferred to George Mason in September 2022. She loves working for George Mason because the university is innovative and forward thinking. Her position allows her to embrace her broad-based background to serve each student holistically.

Professional background: Her broad background based in both Academic and Student Affairs includes the following: career and academic advising, tutoring and writing center supervisor, college success specialist, academic coaching and advising, as well as teaching and program administrator. This background has given her the knowledge, skills, and ability to help serve students in the Honors College as the Student Support Coordinator.

Why I serve on the Staff Senate: Tabatha joined the Staff Senate in August 2023 and although new to the Senate, she has served in the same capacity at her previous institution. Tabatha looks forward to serving and advocating for staff, along with helping her fellow staff senate colleagues on the Staff Engagement and Rewards committee and the Staff Senate’s 25^th anniversary event.