Kathy was a treasured colleague, professor, mentor, and friend to many in our community during her 20 years with the Department of Communication.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences seeks applications for the Graduate Dean’s Challenge Scholarships for 2026. The recipients of this award receive a stipend, funded by generous donations from friends of the college, to help with their educational expenses.

Are you and your students ready for the 2026 CHSS Undergraduate Research Symposium? It will be held on April 23, 1–4 p.m. We need faculty judges for posters and videos; find more information here.

Save the date for Mason AI Day on April 29 at 9 a.m. in Fuse at Mason Square. This all-day event will bring together researchers pursuing foundational questions in AI, faculty integrating these tools into teaching and scholarship, policymakers wrestling with governance, students navigating a shifting landscape, and practitioners deploying systems in the field.

Sign up to record a brief video message of congratulations for our 2026 grads! Messages will be featured in the CHSS degree celebration's pre-ceremony slideshow. It's a fun and meaningful way for faculty, academic advisors, students, and alumni to cheer on our students and let them know how proud we are of all they've accomplished. Multilingual messages are welcome to showcase the many languages that make up our community.

Please let your students know that George Mason University Foundation scholarships are available and are open to all continuing undergraduates, admitted transfers, and graduate students.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is offering faculty an opportunity for early summer funding. Work on the project would run from May 25 to August 9. Submit a proposal for a WAC early summer funding project before April 20. WAC solicits proposals from all departments, programs, colleges, and schools at George Mason University, including both full-time and part-time faculty.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted a History and Humanities Fair in February for more than 50 elementary and middle school students from City of Fairfax Schools.

Through a remarkable planned gift to George Mason University, Robert “Ken” Hedrick Jr., BA History ’71, has created four endowed scholarships to benefit first-generation students.

This academic year, Samantha “Chevi” Chung has had a research opportunity that few have had by participating in a yearlong workshop at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The theme of Chung’s workshop is “Shakespeare and Black Performing Women,” which ties in perfectly with her thesis. 

Welcome to our monthly compilation of good news, gathered from the college's faculty and staff!

Schrag's book, Great Society Subway, discusses how Metro system showed Lyndon B. Johnson administration’s commitment to egalitarian public investments that reflected the nation’s huge wealth and equally grand ambitions.

Yang discusses the relationship between China and Iran and how it is based on economic interests, not "ideological standard or viewpoint."

The Connection Effect host Bill Groner interviewed Kashdan to explore what curiosity really is and why it's far more powerful, more complex, and more trainable than most of us realize.

Malinin was awarded the Milan Cortina Olympics fair play award for his sportsmanship after he finished off the podium in the individual figure skating event.

Tabarrok discusses the dynamics of prediction markets after millions of dollars in bets were placed on Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death.