Welcome to our monthly compilation of good news, gathered from the college's faculty and staff! Would you like to include your own news or a colleague's? Send us your details on the CHSS Brag Points form (which also collects information we can share with George Mason's Office of University Branding).
Congratulations to Jessica Hurley, associate professor in the Department of English, who has been elected to a three-year term on the Board of Editors of American Literature, one of the most committed and hardest-working boards anywhere. Hurley’s election is a recognition of her major contribution to the study of American literature and American Literature editors expressed their appreciation for the experience and expertise that Hurley brings.
A shout out to Peter Streckfus, creative writing professor in the Department of English, who was invited to the Biesbosch Museum to give a reading of his poetry, inspired by the depoldering of the Noordwaard. After the Dutch response to Hurricane Katrina, Streckfus became fascinated by Dutch hydraulic engineering. During visits to the Netherlands, he interviewed experts, residents, and stakeholders in the Noordwaard. From these experiences and stories, he created poems such as Chorus and Dussen Castle that will make up part his new book manuscript “Netherlands.”
Congratulations to Olivia Van Hoey, a Global Affairs major, who recently participated in the 2025 Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit, where she learned from experts on U.S.-China relations and networked with fellow students interested in international diplomacy. This opportunity allowed Van Hoey to explore the details of the U.S.'s complicated relationship with China and gain valuable industry knowledge from young professionals entering the field, helping her better connect her Global Affairs studies with her aspirations for a career in Asian international relations. Read more about Van Hoey’s experience.
March 12, 2025