As we begin the 2025-26 academic year, CHSS is pleased to share several faculty leadership transitions. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members whose new roles reflect their exceptional contributions and offer exciting opportunities to expand their impact:
CHSS appointments
Dean’s Office
Devon Johnson is serving as the Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs for the fall semester while Marguerite Rippy is on research leave. Devon will continue to serve as the Director of Graduate Programs in CLS during this appointment.
Local academic units
Wesley Buckwalter is serving as the chair of the Department of Philosophy.
P. Daniel Chen is serving as chair of the School of Integrative Studies.
Rachel Lewis is serving as interim director of the Women and Gender Studies Program for AY2025-26.
Liang Luo joins George Mason from the University of Kentucky. She is serving as the chair for the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.
Research centers
Lisa Gilman is serving as director of the Institute for Immigration Research.
John Kotcher is serving as interim director of the Center for Climate Change Communication (Mason 4C).
University appointments
Melissa Brockelman-Post is serving as Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs for the university. She will continue to have a 20% commitment of workload to the Department of Communication.
Xiaomei Cai is serving as Director of Faculty Development and Career Enhancement in the Office of the Provost Faculty Affairs & Development team. She will continue to have a 25% commitment of workload to the Department of Communication.
Elizabeth Freeman is serving as the interim executive director of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. She will continue to have a 50% commitment of workload to the School of Integrative Studies.
Andrew Rudd is serving as Interim Director of Fundamentals of Communications role after having served as the Associate Director of Fundamentals of Communication for the last year.
September 02, 2025