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.