Many George Mason University students have put the finishing touches on their last exams, papers and research projects, and now they will be recognized for their efforts in a grand ceremony.
On Thursday, more than 500 students are graduating with master’s and doctoral degrees at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate Convocation, taking place from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Patriot Center.
Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, will be the featured speaker.
Three programs will be graduating their first-ever students. The Department of Public and International Affairs will graduate their first doctoral student from the political science program. The History of Decorative Arts program graduates its first master’s student, while the Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies program recognizes its first graduate with a computational social science concentration.
George Mason University president Alan Merten will be on hand for the ceremony.
Then, on Friday morning, more than 2,000 students will graduate at the college’s Undergraduate Convocation, held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Patriot Center.
Douglas Greenberg, Professor of History and Executive Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University, will be the keynote speaker.
The Green Machine band will be present to welcome the record number of graduating students. In addition, the dean’s office will recognize student winners of departmental awards.
"I'm looking forward to seeing all the attendees and celebrating with the biggest group of graduating students in the college's history," said Jack Censer, dean of the college. "Congratulations, Class of 2012!"
Graduates, faculty, staff and guests should visit the convocation event pages first (links on righthand sidebar). For more detailed location information, including where to go after convocation, visit the Graduate Convocation Information and Undergraduate Convocation Information links, listed on the righthand sidebar and on chss.gmu.edu/events.