On September 29, George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication (Mason 4C) celebrated their accomplishments and embraced their future at a special event at the new Fuse building in Arlington.
The evening recognized the work of Mason 4C founding director and Professor Emeritus Ed Maibach. A Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Communication, Maibach started the center 18 years ago and has been at the forefront of climate change communication nationally and globally. Under Maibach’s direction, the center launched several successful programs, including: Climate Change in the American Mind (polling project with Yale University), the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, Climate Matters, and republicEn.
He is handing off the reins to George Mason alum John Kotcher, who will serve as the center's interim director. Kotcher, PhD Communication '06, is a research associate professor who started at the center in 2012 as a graduate research assistant.
Will Baker, chair of the Mason 4C Advisory Council, thanked Maibach for his work at the center and announced the creation of the Edward Wile Maibach Founding Director's Fund. The fund will support the new director and address the growing and urgent needs of the center.
Andre Marshall, George Mason's Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, also reflected on Maibach's lasting impact before a video tribute to the outgoing director. Maibach and Kotcher closed out the night with remarks on the past, present, and future of the center and its importance in continuing to help advance public engagement and climate change communication.
Photo credit: Mark Finkenstaedt.
October 01, 2025